Chapter 49: Gaining the Star Weapon

BOOM!

When the Star Burst Seal exploded, it emitted a deafening sound and a blinding light cluster, covering an area of roughly one meter and a bit more.

Here, we must commend Niu Gui’s keen eyesight.

The detonation point was perfect.

Right between the two cultivators of Meal-Cloud Sixth Layer and Meal-Cloud Fifth Layer.

The exploding light cluster precisely engulfed both of them.

Or rather, it swept over them.

For a Meal-Cloud Fifth or Sixth Layer cultivator, a Star Burst Seal that fully covers them is an instant kill.

But if it only grazes them, it’s at most a severe injury.

In an instant, piercing screams erupted.

The Meal-Cloud Sixth Layer cultivator lost an entire arm and half his shoulder; blood gushed wildly, and his ribcage was plainly visible.

The Meal-Cloud Fifth Layer cultivator, standing sideways, had half his arm obliterated; his chest and abdomen were shredded, and the white bone of his pelvis was faintly visible.

Severe injuries, but not fatal.

The other four rogue cultivators were utterly stunned by the scene.

Where was the promised crushing victory?

In the same instant, Niu Gui and Xu Jin lunged forward simultaneously, their long knives slashing in rapid succession.

Strike while the enemy is wounded.

At this moment, half a second was enough to kill.

Behind Xu Jin, Qiao Ruonan reacted fastest and also charged toward the others.

Just as Qiao Ruonan, Song Ye, Fang Zixing, Qian Xiaohu, and the others engaged the remaining four Meal-Cloud cultivators, Xu Jin and Niu Gui had already achieved their kills.

Niu Gui drove his long knife straight into the wound on the Meal-Cloud Sixth Layer cultivator’s chest and abdomen, twisted it, and in a deafening scream, the cultivator died on the spot.

Xu Jin was even more cautious—he slashed down, forcing the Meal-Cloud Fifth Layer cultivator to stagger backward, then launched a basic Star Arrow with startling suddenness, following the blade’s momentum to strike first at the wound on the opponent’s waist and abdomen, where it exploded.

The scream had barely begun when Xu Jin severed his head with a single slash!

At that same moment, Xiong Tiegun, atop the large boulder behind them, finally reacted and sprang to his feet.

The battle had simply changed too quickly.

Less than two breaths had passed.

Their strongest fighter, Yue Chong, had been shredded into pieces; the main combatants—the Meal-Cloud Sixth and Fifth Layer cultivators—had been wounded and slain.

According to pre-battle plans, Xiong Tiegun’s sole duty was to hold the rear and prevent the Patrol Star Guards from escaping; no one expected the battle to turn like this.

After a second of thought, Xiong Tiegun leapt off the boulder and charged toward the Patrol Star Guards, ready to join the fight.

But at that very moment, the battle shifted again.

Xu Jin and Niu Gui, having just used the momentum to kill the Meal-Cloud Sixth and Fifth Layer cultivators, exchanged a glance and simultaneously charged toward the Meal-Cloud Fourth Layer cultivator.

The latter realized something was wrong, swung his staff to push back Song Ye, and turned to flee.

Niu Gui hurled his long knife—it veered slightly, the tip piercing the fleeing cultivator’s buttocks, but still sent him stumbling.

Xu Jin caught up and drove his blade through the man’s back, piercing straight through heart and lungs.

A twist—and he was dead!

Three left!

And Xiong Tiegun, who had just charged forward dozens of meters, happened to see this—he froze, his eyes narrowing sharply!

“Damn it, how the hell are all of you so useless!”

Muttering this, Xiong Tiegun turned and ran again.

He fled!

Xiong Tiegun slung his iron rod over his shoulder, scrambled up the hill in three quick bounds, and vanished into the tangle of rocks.

Neither Xu Jin nor Niu Gui pursued.

First, don’t chase desperate enemies; second, they’d all seen each other’s faces—there’d be plenty of chances to settle this later.

The remaining three— one Meal-Cloud Fourth Layer and two Meal-Cloud Third Layer cultivators—were now surrounded by Qiao Ruonan, Qian Xiaohu, Fang Zixing, and others, outnumbered four to one.

One-on-one, their cultivation base still held an advantage.

But four against one? Numerical superiority couldn’t be offset by mere cultivation levels.

Moreover, with Yue Chong slaughtered and Xiong Tiegun fleeing, their morale and courage were shattered.

Even if Xu Jin and Niu Gui stood idle, within three breaths the two Meal-Cloud Third Layer cultivators were annihilated; within one breath, the Meal-Cloud Fourth Layer cultivator was surrounded and killed!

The battle was over!

The disciples stared at the corpses littering the ground, then at Xu Jin and Niu Gui, and suddenly felt as if they’d survived a near-death ordeal.

Niu Gui was especially moved.

What had seemed a certain death sentence had been reversed by a single powerful seal Xu Jin had acquired.

“Brother, no need to say more—if you ever need anything, just say the word.” After the battle, Niu Gui punched Xu Jin lightly, then sat down on the spot, panting.

Though the fight hadn’t lasted long, the toll on their energy and willpower had been immense.

Xu Jin smiled, nodded, and took the water bag Niu Gui offered, gulping it down greedily. “Rest for half a watch, then move out,” Xu Jin said.

The group sat down right there, amid the corpses, eating and drinking as if nothing had happened.

In just a few days, this band of greenhorns had become hardened warriors.

War changes people the most.

“Xiaohu, go through the bodies.”

“Go through the bodies” meant looting the corpses.

After killing enemies, you at least had to gain something.

Qian Xiaohu had already gained experience in this over the past few days.

These rogue cultivators and bandits often carried valuables on their persons.

In a life of cutting throats, when trouble struck, who had time to go home for treasure?

Of course, some would hide their wealth in secret places or give it to family.

But most carried it on them—usually sewn into inner garments, inner armor, or even waistcloths, in small pockets for important items like silver notes; some even hid them in their shoe soles.

“Holy hell, these guys are loaded—every one of them has silver notes and elixirs,” Qian Xiaohu, leading the looting, exclaimed repeatedly.

The poorest one had at least a hundred taels in silver notes.

The Meal-Cloud Sixth Layer cultivator carried six hundred taels in brand-new silver notes and two vials of Star-Replenishing Elixir.

The Meal-Cloud Fifth Layer cultivator had five hundred taels in silver notes and one vial of Star-Replenishing Elixir.

The other four carried between one hundred and nearly four hundred taels in silver notes.

Normally, a Meal-Cloud Third or Fourth Layer rogue wouldn’t carry this much wealth.

But Xu Jin immediately understood—it was payment, or the price paid to hire these men.

There might have been other incentives, but the cash was likely all there was.

These were death-seeking mercenaries—they only moved when paid.

Most carried it on them, and now it all fell into Xu Jin’s group’s lap.

Judging by these rates, one layer of cultivation was worth at least a hundred taels; Star-Replenishing Elixir was extra. So Xiong Tiegun, who fled, must have carried at least seven hundred taels, maybe more.

What about Yue Chong?

Yue Chong, the Star-Refining Second Layer cultivator?

A few breaths later, Qian Xiaohu, covered in blood, grimaced and said, “Brother Xu, there were silver notes, but they were torn and soaked in blood. Most elixir vials were shattered—only one intact vial remains.”

“The sword!”

Suddenly, Niu Gui spoke up: “The long sword Yue Chong used was a Star Weapon—probably the most valuable item here.”

Qian Xiaohu quickly fetched the sword; it was still intact.

After washing it clean, the loot was tallied.

Silver notes totaled 2,200 taels, with over a hundred taels in loose silver.

They collected nine and a half vials of Star-Replenishing Elixir—97 pills total. These rogue cultivators each carried more than one vial of Star-Replenishing Elixir.

It made sense: for cultivators, especially those living by the blade, star power was paramount. Once their star power was depleted, their combat strength plummeted—they had to always carry extra Star-Replenishing Elixir.

From Yue Chong’s shredded remains, the only intact vial they found, after cleaning, turned out to be the more valuable Spirit-Reviving Elixir—an entire vial.

Then all the spoils were laid out before Xu Jin and Niu Gui.

In just two days, this squad’s rules had been established—or rather, Xu Jin’s authority had been cemented.

Xu Jin was about to speak and distribute the loot when Niu Gui suddenly said: “Xu Jin, take the Star Weapon long sword. A high-quality Star Weapon long sword is worth about two thousand taels, but the Star Seal you just used was at least a Third-Rank Seal—two thousand taels wouldn’t even buy that.”

“The Star Weapon long sword goes to him—any objections?” The first sentence was to Xu Jin; the second, to the others.

“No objections!”

“If not for Brother Xu’s Third-Rank Seal, we’d all be dead. The Star Weapon must go to him.”

The disciples all voiced their approval; Xu Jin didn’t refuse, and happily took the Star Weapon long sword.

The blade felt cool in his hand, yet strangely comfortable. With a thought, star power surged into it, and instantly, a foot-long streak of starlight blade energy erupted—its sight chilled the soul.

Xu Jin was overjoyed.

With this Star Weapon, his combat power would surely double.

“2,300 taels in silver, 97 Star-Replenishing Elixir pills worth 1,940 taels, one vial of Spirit-Reviving Elixir worth 300 taels—total 4,560 taels. I and Xu Jin each take two-tenths; the rest you divide evenly.”

“Want silver? Take silver. Want elixirs? Take elixirs—just match the value.” Niu Gui then took charge of distributing the rest; the disciples were delighted, and no one objected.

I just encountered a Peak Star Refinement expert; I thought I was dead, but somehow I survived—and even made a fortune.

Anyone in this situation would be thrilled.

“Alright, calculate your share and take it!” Xu Jin said with a smile.

“Wait!”

Suddenly, a voice came from the hilltop; everyone looked up and saw a man standing atop a pear tree, sword in arms, looking down and smiling, “These riches should be mine!”

(End of Chapter)