Chapter 58: If Not for War, Please Submit a Formal Petition

Jinshan Dao Academy’s Training Hall.

Xu Jin and his group arrived on time.

Mainly Qiao Ruonan, Fang Zixing, Qian Xiaohu, Song Ye, Hong Gang, Sha Youtian, and others—disciples who had previously accompanied Xu Jin to Heshui County.

After several battles, the bonds—or connections—among them had clearly deepened considerably.

The transformation of battlefield camaraderie was indeed the fastest.

Upon arrival, Xu Jin and the others noticed there were many people; a quick glance revealed over three hundred.

All wore the standard robes of Jinshan Dao Academy and carried the academy’s waist tokens.

Yet they were all the former senior disciples who had previously vanished—now returned.

These senior disciples had all been reassigned to the Great Manhunt for Demons task, and their return now signified that the mission was fully concluded.

Had the demon finally been captured?

A few minutes later, all the instructors, trainers, and flag masters of the Patrol Star Guards arrived; Supervisor Cao Chun landed atop the training hall’s podium and merely stomped his foot—immediately, the entire hall fell utterly silent.

Xu Jin interpreted this as the supervisor’s tyrannical aura, comparable to university night inspections by the disciplinary department in his past life.

A few breaths later, three streaks of light arrived in succession.

Director Tian Zhang, Deputy Head Feng Shu, and Head Dong Zhao.

Xu Jin was curious: how did these three determine their order? Why did they always line up like drawing high and low cards?

“As everyone knows, this time, all disciples of Jinshan Dao Academy participated in the Great Manhunt for Demons task, and our academy successfully captured the mastermind behind the demons. In recent days, we have purged the demonic miasma, bringing peace to the entire Jinshan Commandery.

Our Jinshan City has restored its former tranquility within these few days—all thanks to your efforts!

Now, I shall announce the rewards granted by the National Dao Academy to those who participated in the Great Manhunt for Demons.” Head Dong Zhao said.

“National Dao Academy Decree: All disciples who participated in the Great Manhunt for Demons task shall be awarded one minor merit, and ten strands of Star-Picking Tower starlight. Disciples who have not yet obtained a Star-Picking Token may exchange the starlight for silver at the External Affairs Hall.

Squad Leaders, Team Masters, and Flag Masters who participated in the Great Manhunt for Demons shall each be awarded one minor merit and twenty strands of Star-Picking Tower starlight.”

Xu Jin’s eyes widened sharply!

He understood “one minor merit.”

Ten strands of Star-Picking Tower starlight?

What the hell was that?

The instant he heard “ten strands of starlight,” Xu Jin immediately thought of the starlight on his Combat Platform.

Surely there was no connection between the two?

Previously, Xu Jin had heard that casting stars within the Star-Picking Tower was safer and had a higher success rate, but not everyone could enter the Star-Picking Tower to cast stars.

Could this reward of starlight be linked to entry into the Star-Picking Tower?

Xu Jin observed many disciples’ expressions; upon hearing the reward, they were all visibly excited, clearly satisfied.

After speaking, and once the disciples had finished celebrating, Supervisor Cao Chun stepped forward slightly—the entire training hall fell silent again.

“Jinshan Dao Academy Decree: Disciple Xu Jin, for outstanding performance in the pursuit of demon remnants, has rendered exceptional merit; awarded one Star-Picking Token, and one hundred strands of Star-Picking Tower starlight.”

Xu Jin froze again—this was his reward, and it seemed far higher than those given to the former senior disciples.

Many former senior disciples turned their gazes toward Xu Jin; many wore expressions of outright envy.

Xu Jin, however, was utterly confused—was this Star-Picking Tower starlight really that valuable?

“Jinshan Dao Academy Decree: Disciple Lu Xianbing, for outstanding performance in the pursuit of demon remnants, is awarded one Star-Picking Token and fifty strands of Star-Picking Tower starlight. Disciples Yue Daqi, Ren Xiaoxiang, Yu Guan, and Luo Geng, for outstanding performance in the pursuit of demon remnants, are awarded three minor merits, one Star-Picking Token, and thirty strands of Star-Picking Tower starlight.

All other disciples who participated in the pursuit of demon remnants are awarded two minor merits, twenty strands of starlight, five Supplement-Star Pills, and two Stimulant Pills.” Head Dong Zhao continued announcing. When he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from both stage and floor.

Especially the former senior disciples—listening to the rewards given to these new disciples—their eyes nearly glowed green.

As the applause on the floor subsided slightly, Head Dong Zhao spoke again, “What is Jinshan Dao Academy?”

“The Dao Academy of Jinshan Commandery is Jinshan Dao Academy.

All disciples must remember: safeguarding our borders and ensuring the people’s peace is our academy’s foremost duty!

We were born in Jinshan Commandery, rooted in Jinshan Commandery, sustained by the millions of its people—we must prioritize maintaining Jinshan’s stability, repaying the state above and the people below.”

This was a lecture.

The former disciples bowed in unison, pledging to remember; Xu Jin’s cohort naturally followed suit—none were fools.

Yet Xu Jin was puzzled—was that all the rewards?

We risked life and limb, yet the rewards felt vague and unclear.

A bit of gold or silver would’ve felt more tangible.

After Head Dong Zhao finished his speech, Director Tian Zhang stepped forward suddenly and declared sharply, “Promotion Decree: Disciples Xu Jin and Lu Xianbing, for rendering major merit in the pursuit of demon remnants, meet the criteria for promotion; hereby promoted to Team Master of the Jinshan Dao Academy Patrol Star Guards.”

At these words, every former senior disciple turned their heads at once toward Xu Jin and Lu Xianbing.

Xu Jin felt nothing—he had spent his past life in countless settings, his face hardened long ago; he stood proudly. But Lu Xianbing, under so many stares, grew visibly embarrassed.

This promotion to Patrol Star Guard Team Master finally lifted Xu Jin’s spirits. Team Master of the Patrol Star Guards—should he later be reassigned to a local post, even in the Commandery Guard, he’d be at least a Commandant.

What did Commandant mean?

Beneath the Jinshan Commandery Guard Commander’s office, five Commandants were subordinate.

Solidly mid-level military rank.

In terms of his past life’s military structure, it was roughly equivalent to a battalion commander.

This promotion speed was quite impressive.

And it was said that Patrol Star Guard Team Masters received a monthly salary of fifty taels.

Awesome!

In just six months, he could repay the silver he owed Ning Yuchan.

Of course, he could repay it now—his own silver stash was still substantial.

But Xu Jin had no intention of repaying it yet.

If he repaid too soon, the favor would vanish, and the relationship would grow distant.

Better to keep the debt.

With the monthly salary of a Patrol Star Guard Team Master as his base, his daily expenses would never lack silver.

After Director Tian Zhang finished speaking, it was Supervisor Cao Chun’s turn.

Xu Jin had assumed the usually silent supervisor would say just one line—but instead, he launched into a lengthy lecture.

Or rather, a routine admonition: even after receiving rewards, disciples must not become complacent, and so on.

Supervisor Cao Chun, when lecturing on academy rules, was truly unparalleled!

Xu Jin listened below, lost in thought.

This was likely the true power structure of Jinshan Dao Academy.

Reputation and authority must not be entrusted to others.

Matters concerning reputation and authority were none of Deputy Head Feng Shu’s business.

Xu Jin had already planned to head to the External Affairs Hall after the lecture to claim his reward and find out what exactly the Star-Picking Token and Star-Picking Tower starlight were.

Onstage, Supervisor Cao Chun was still speaking, when suddenly Head Dong Zhao lifted his head, squinted toward the distance, and his eyes darkened with coldness.

Almost simultaneously, Director Tian Zhang also looked up, his entire body erupting in murderous intent.

The disciples listening to Cao Chun’s lecture suddenly felt a chill run through them, their hairs standing on end.

Supervisor Cao Chun also sensed it, halted his speech, and looked up, squinting.

“That will be all for today. All disciples, disperse and cultivate according to academy regulations. Furthermore, demon remnants remain unextinguished—Jinshan Dao Academy remains sealed internally and externally. For the next seven days, no one may enter or leave without official orders—violators will be punished under academy rules!” Head Dong Zhao suddenly ordered.

As the disciples dispersed and stepped out of the training hall, they saw a figure descending from the sky, stepping upon starlight.

Each step he took unleashed a burst of starlight, instantly propelling him a thousand meters across the sky, soaring high and swift like a celestial immortal.

In the instant they saw him, he had already arrived above Jinshan Dao Academy.

At that same moment, Head Dong Zhao also stepped upon starlight and laughed loudly, “Lord Hu, your esteemed presence graces us—we apologize for the tardy welcome!”

But Hu Xuechuan, who had stepped upon starlight, ignored the courtesy—he roared in fury and slammed out a palm, instantly forming a purple-black handprint a thousand meters wide, crashing down upon Jinshan Dao Academy.

More terrifying still, this palm strike covered all disciples of Jinshan Dao Academy within its range.

Beneath the crushing pressure of this palm, not a single disciple could stand upright; they were forced to crouch or kneel, some even collapsing to their knees under the overwhelming aura.

“Dong Zhao, you destroyed my Tianyang Branch Academy—I shall destroy your Jinshan Dao Academy! An eye for an eye!”

“Lord Hu, you overstep!”

Head Dong Zhao laughed loudly, his Star-Locking Ring glowing—immediately, starlight erupted from every direction of Jinshan Dao Academy, flowing into Dong Zhao’s Star-Locking Ring. The instructors, trainers, supervisor, and deputy head all dashed toward the glowing spots, and within an instant, even stronger starlight surged upward, merging into Dong Zhao’s palm.

The next instant, Dong Zhao raised his Star-Locking Ring—the starlight shot straight upward, shattering Hu Xuechuan’s purple-black starlight palm.

At the same moment, Tian Zhang also stepped upon starlight, his Blood Butcher Blade unleashing a hundred-meter-long crimson flash, slashing like a lightning bolt toward Hu Xuechuan.

“Whoever intrudes without cause—kill!” Tian Zhang roared.

Under the reinforcement of Jinshan Dao Academy’s formation, Dong Zhao’s Star-Locking Ring struck repeatedly, coordinating with Tian Zhang’s blade—despite Hu Xuechuan’s strength as Tianyang Branch Academy’s director, he was forced step by step backward, driven out of Jinshan Dao Academy’s boundaries.

Hu Xuechuan, driven out of Jinshan Dao Academy’s grounds by their combined assault, grew even angrier: “Dong Zhao, do you wish to declare war on my Tianyang Branch Academy?”

Dong Zhao laughed long and loud, and with Tian Zhang, struck again—pushing Hu Xuechuan back another hundred meters—and shouted, “Lord Hu, if not for war, walk through our mountain gate and submit a formal petition to enter!”

(End of Chapter)