Chapter 63

"Recently, due to the chaos of the demons, your cultivation courses have been disrupted, but all problems have been solved; starting from tomorrow, the academy will return to normal order." This was the first sentence Ning Yuchan said in the Martial Arts Hall.

To be honest, he hadn't seen Ning Yuchan for many days; seeing her again was still quite pleasing to the eye.

Xu Jin's perspective was purely appreciative.

Although she would lean on an iron crutch when walking, she still had a graceful and charming feeling.

Especially when lecturing, Ning Yuchan would put the iron crutch aside and sit there, very quiet, like a person in a painting.

"The first thing in class today concerns the Small Gathering Star Pattern.

Up to now, five disciples have completed the inscription of the Small Gathering Star Pattern.

The ranking for the Small Gathering Star Pattern inscription has been released, and the rewards will also be issued." When saying this, Ning Yuchan's gaze lingered on Xu Jin for a few breaths, with a bit of a reminder to Xu Jin.

Xu Jin nodded very sensibly.

He had to pretend; he couldn't say it.

Ning Yuchan's words left the disciples present in suspicion.

Many people were looking around at quite a few geniuses.

The one who received the most attention was naturally the first of this year's Star-Pointing, Yue Daqi; most disciples believed that Yue Daqi should be the first to successfully inscribe the Small Gathering Star Pattern.

Xu Jin was also a bit curious; there were five of them—who could they be?

Lu Xianbing must be one, right?

Counting from June 22nd when the Small Gathering Star Pattern was taught, to today, July 6th, it had been 14 days; although there was a day or two delayed by missions in the middle, succeeding in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern in about ten days was considered fast.

"Lu Xianbing, succeeded in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern in eleven days, certified by two instructors, is the first place in this Small Gathering Star Pattern inscription speed, and will receive a bottle of Refreshing Elixir and three low-grade Star-Replenishing Elixirs."

In an instant, the disciples were in an uproar, their gazes shifting from Yue Daqi to Lu Xianbing; Xu Jin was no exception.

But Xu Jin wasn't surprised at all.

In the cultivation system, currently, it seemed that only in the first step of Star-Pointing was the auxiliary effect of external forces very small.

But after successful Star-Pointing, whether it was cultivation speed or the speed of inscribing star patterns, the influence of external forces became very large.

Just like the cultivation of the Meal of Mist Realm—the speed with elixirs and without elixirs differed by several times.

Who was Lu Xianbing?

The top official second-generation and cultivation second-generation in Jin Shan Juncheng; his father was the Prefecture Commandant of Jin Shan Juncheng—could he lack cultivation resources?

Not to mention anything else, he couldn't lack Refreshing Elixirs that cost thirty taels of silver each.

And that was the kind he took two of every day.

His own talent was already very high, and he cultivated very hard; it was normal for him to be first in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern.

If it weren't for the fact that Xu Jin had already secretly succeeded in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern, he would definitely have complained: "You, an official second-generation and cultivation second-generation, are still so hardworking—how are we supposed to live?"

In fact, this was also a misconception for many people.

Many people subconsciously thought that official second-generations, cultivation second-generations, and wealthy second-generations were mostly lawless.

Actually, that wasn't the case.

This was the effect of "good news doesn't leave the door, bad news travels a thousand miles."

Were there such second-generations?

Yes, absolutely.

But were there hardworking ones among the second-generations?

Yes, and the proportion was even higher.

"Ren Xiaoxiang, succeeded in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern in twelve days, ranking second, will receive six Refreshing Elixirs and two Star-Replenishing Elixirs; Luo Geng, succeeded in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern in thirteen days, ranking third, will receive three Refreshing Elixirs and one Star-Replenishing Elixir."

"Yue Daqi, Yu Guan, succeeded in inscribing on the fourteenth day; although they didn't enter the top three, the academy still has rewards, each rewarding one Refreshing Elixir and one Star-Replenishing Elixir."

Among the worshipful and envious gazes of the disciples, Luo Geng felt quite proud.

His Star-Pointing speed was average, but his cultivation speed and the speed of inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern were extraordinary.

Being third in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern made Luo Geng regain quite a bit of confidence.

Especially when he competed with Xu Jin for the spots in the middle and outer academies earlier, being surpassed by Xu Jin had actually dealt a significant blow to Luo Geng's confidence.

Today, this confidence had completely returned.

Although Luo Geng's ability to compete for third place was largely due to the help of his uncle Luo Kexing—especially during these days when the academy was under lockdown—his uncle could still help him.

"Alright, come and collect your rewards."

When the bottles of elixirs were issued, Ning Yuchan's gaze swept over Xu Jin again inadvertently, fearing that Xu Jin's temperament wasn't enough and he couldn't suppress his desire to compete.

But to Ning Yuchan's surprise, Xu Jin was very calm.

Actually, for Xu Jin, the ranking was a false name; the rewards were the real thing.

Lu Xianbing getting the first-place reward was correct.

But the rewards I, Xu Jin, got were double yours, and I got an extra Refreshing Elixir.

Not to mention the second and third places.

Especially when Luo Geng's gaze, which was like a declaration of war, fell on Xu Jin, Xu Jin simply disdained it.

We aren't in the same weight class.

Why would I compete with you!

Have you ever seen an elementary school student compete with a kindergarten kid!

Of course, kindergarten kids like to compete with elementary school students.

"Those who haven't succeeded in inscribing the star pattern, don't be discouraged; the Academy Head said that anyone who can succeed in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern within a month will be rewarded with one Star-Replenishing Elixir as an incentive." Ning Yuchan's words made many disciples happy again.

One Star-Replenishing Elixir was twenty taels of silver.

"The second thing in class today concerns the Great Gathering Star Pattern.

Since some people have already succeeded in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern, the Great Gathering Star Pattern isn't too far away either.

The previously announced rewards are valid. Moreover, anyone who succeeds in inscribing the Great Gathering Star Pattern within three months will be rewarded."

"The third thing in class today is to tell you about the Star-Plucking Token. You all saw Xu Jin and Lu Xianbing being rewarded with Star-Plucking Tokens a few days ago, right?"

As soon as this was said, many people turned their gazes toward Xu Jin and Lu Xianbing again, full of envy.

"I believe many of you know about the Star-Plucking Token, and even more know about the Star-Plucking Tower.

I can tell you this: the importance of the Star-Plucking Token is no less than Star-Pointing.

Future cultivation, and even the transmission of arts, many missions, and even martial arts competitions will be conducted in the Star-Plucking Tower.

Currently, there are two ways to obtain a Star-Plucking Token.

One is academy rewards.

Academy rewards are very simple: those who perform excellently in various missions will be rewarded with a Star-Plucking Token by the academy.

The second way is when your cultivation breaks through to the sixth layer of Meal of Mist, you can buy a Star-Plucking Token from the academy yourself.

One Star-Plucking Token costs a welfare price of one thousand taels of silver for academy disciples; among the merits you have established, five small merits can also be exchanged for one Star-Plucking Token."

In this lesson, Ning Yuchan talked about a lot of things regarding the Star-Plucking Token, but they were all general knowledge.

And the subsequent transmission of Star Art cultivation techniques would be taught more privately.

Because each disciple's cultivation progress was different.

Ning Yuchan said that anyone whose cultivation broke through to the fifth layer of Meal of Mist could go to her alone to receive new Star Arts and cultivation techniques.

Of course, even if Ning Yuchan hadn't said that, Xu Jin intended to find her after class.

In class, many disciples asked many questions about cultivation, and Ning Yuchan answered them one by one.

Xu Jin had encountered many of these questions, but he had found the answers himself using the thinking methods of his past life.

After the big class ended, Ning Yuchan pointed her iron crutch and sped away like a green light.

Xu Jin also stood up, intending to find Ning Yuchan.

Unexpectedly, Qian Xiaohu and Qiao Ruonan surrounded him first.

"Brother Jin, they have all succeeded in the Small Gathering Star Pattern; you should be soon too, right?" These two could be considered the closest to Xu Jin among the disciples.

"Hmm, soon, probably in a few more days."

Xu Jin responded casually, because he didn't know where Ning Yuchan would announce his results; after answering, he asked casually, "What about you two?"

"It will take me at least seven or eight days at the fastest," Qiao Ruonan said.

"I estimate it will take more than ten days," Qian Xiaohu said.

"Hmm, keep working hard; spend the silver earned from previous missions early and buy some Refreshing Elixirs or Mind-Steady Elixirs. You can slow down the progress of body tempering, because once you succeed in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern, your body tempering speed will increase exponentially," Xu Jin said.

"Eh, Brother Jin, how do you know?" Qian Xiaohu was a bit slow.

Just as Xu Jin was about to answer, suddenly, Luo Geng's voice rang out, "Xu Jin is right; after succeeding in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern, star power will increase exponentially, and the body tempering speed will indeed increase exponentially."

"Like me, after succeeding in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern, my body tempering progress these past few days has been advancing by leaps and bounds.

I estimate that in three or four more days, I will be able to break through to the fourth layer of Meal of Mist." Luo Geng took the initiative to come over to explain, and at the end, he pretended to ask Xu Jin inadvertently, "By the way, Xu Jin, what level is your cultivation at, and how long until you break through to the fourth layer of Meal of Mist?"

This last sentence was the point.

Luo Geng had failed during the middle academy competition; this time, he specifically took advantage of the opportunity of getting third place today to show off.

Young people, the desire to compete.

Understandable.

One could only say, Luo Geng—a true youth!

"Me?"

Xu Jin naturally understood Luo Geng's thoughts and immediately asked back with a smile.

"Yeah, yeah, I think you're almost breaking through to the fourth layer of Meal of Mist, right?" Luo Geng looked expectant, wanting to know Xu Jin's answer.

"Hmm, I've already broken through!" Xu Jin said straightforwardly.

"What? How is this possible?"

Luo Geng was stunned, looking at Xu Jin with a face full of surprise; he felt like he had heard wrong.

No.

Xu Jin hadn't even succeeded in inscribing the Small Gathering Star Pattern, but he had.

How could Xu Jin's progress in breaking through to the fourth layer of Meal of Mist be faster than his?

He even had his uncle's help.

"What's impossible about it!"

Xu Jin smiled, and suddenly his mind moved, drawing star power.

On his hands and ankles, wherever his skin was exposed, starlight suddenly shone.

In an instant, Luo Geng was dumbfounded, his eyes widening sharply!

"Fifth layer of Meal of Mist!?"

Xu Jin smiled, withdrew the starlight, and drifted away; he had to find Instructor Ning Yuchan—he had a belly full of questions.

Not far away, Yu Guan, who was about to come over to talk to Xu Jin, was also stunned by this scene.

Damn it, how could this cultivation speed of eighty-three days of Star-Pointing be so monstrous!

He, Yu Guan, had Star-Pointing in thirty-nine days, with Yi-grade talent, the number one person under Jia-grade talent, and it had only been six days since he broke through to the fifth layer of Meal of Mist.

And Xu Jin...

In the distance, Lu Xianbing watched this scene, surprised, and also thoughtful.

(End of chapter)