Chapter 66: Thank You, Brother Lu (Requesting Follow)

On the evening of July 6, Xu Jin still did not wait for the man in green robes.

Xu Jin even began to wonder if this mysterious man in green robes was truly a demon, and had already been eliminated.

That would be too tragic.

July 7 was the day of Master Gan’s examination for the Alchemy Chamber.

The exam had been scheduled several days earlier, but was delayed due to the sudden manhunt for demons.

Despite the delay, Xu Jin once again witnessed the same scene he remembered from his past life: students groaning under the stress of an impromptu English recitation check.

Many disciples even skipped morning cultivation to cram day and night.

It wasn’t that they weren’t trying—they simply couldn’t memorize it. What could be done?

Take Qian Xiaohu, for example.

Xu Jin had warned him before; he spent over an hour each day memorizing, but whenever he tried, he fell asleep.

In the end, Xu Jin advised him to use the simple illustrations in the Pharmacopoeia, imagining the herbs as vegetables or plants he already knew.

That helped a bit.

Fortunately, Master Gan said it was an exam, but in reality, it wasn’t full-text recitation.

It was a random selection.

This made Xu Jin, who had memorized the entire text, feel slightly disadvantaged.

Each disciple was randomly assigned fifty herbs and asked to describe their appearance, medicinal properties, and common habitats.

Those lucky enough to draw herbs they’d memorized cheered with relief.

Those who drew unfamiliar ones cursed their bad luck.

Most were diligent; many were also lucky.

Of the fifty-five remaining disciples from this Star-Seeking Season’s last mission, forty-two passed.

Qian Xiaohu barely passed.

Each pass recipient received one Soul-Returning Pill.

For these disciples, one Soul-Returning Pill was still significant—it was worth five taels of silver.

During the last mission, Xu Jin’s squad earned the most among ordinary disciples, averaging over four hundred taels each; other squads earned between one and three hundred taels.

The main reason was that the ambushers weren’t fully annihilated.

“Tomorrow, there will be a makeup exam. The day after, according to the Dao Academy’s schedule, all disciples who chose Alchemy Chamber duties will enter the mountains for three days to complete this month’s duties.”

“From now on, you must enter the mountains at least once a month, each time for three days.”

After the exam, Master Gan added, “Before departure, each of you must go to the External Affairs Hall to collect your backpack, herb spade, and other tools, as well as the Handbook of Common Herbs and Celestial Treasures of Great Green Mountain.”

“Also, disciples who have become official Star-Seeking Guards, if you have patrol duties in the coming days, better switch them. If you don’t switch, report for leave at the External Affairs Hall.” Here, Master Gan paused suddenly, his gaze sweeping over Xu Jin, Qiao Ruonan, Luo Geng, Hong Gang, and others.

“As your instructor, I’ll add this: you’d better switch and join this mountain expedition.”

“Also, for every future mountain expedition, try your best to participate.”

As he spoke, Master Gan suddenly stood, pointing toward the depths of Great Green Mountain, “Great Green Mountain is vast, stretching thousands of li, sparsely inhabited, naturally endowed with wealth everywhere.”

But beyond its treacherous terrain, deep within the mountains dwell countless wild beasts, even beasts that have swallowed starlight, and star-beasts bearing Star-Core Celestial Patterns—extremely dangerous.

The woodcutters, herb gatherers, and hunters of Jinshan County dare not venture more than fifty li into the mountains.

They know the treasures lie deep within, but they dare not enter.

They might enter to pick up treasure, but they won’t live to return.

But you are different.

Your mountain expeditions to gather herbs and seek celestial treasures are not merely duties—they are vital missions of the Dao Academy. Thus, every month, the Academy deploys experts to guard you.

Even if you encounter star-beasts deep in Great Green Mountain, your safety is guaranteed.

You also possess cultivation bases, making herb collection far easier.

Therefore, I strongly urge you not to miss the Academy’s monthly mountain expeditions.

Especially disciples from modest families.

This is your most important current channel for acquiring cultivation resources.

In fact, it is your single most important channel for obtaining Star Tower starlight—without exception.

Since ancient times, the poor study, the rich cultivate. I need not repeat how vital cultivation resources are.

That’s all I have to say. Decide for yourselves.”

With that, Master Gan turned and walked away, carrying with him a faint scent of herbs, back to his alchemy chamber.

Xu Jin, Qian Xiaohu, Qiao Ruonan, Sha Youtian, Hong Gang, and others were struck with realization.

Master Gan was clearly giving them a hint—he just hadn’t said it outright.

If your family cannot help, you must help yourself!

After class, Lu Xianbing approached Xu Jin voluntarily and explained the benefits of the Star-Taking Token.

He mentioned the Martial Practice Realm’s advantages several times, urging Xu Jin to break through to Meal-Radiance Sixth Layer quickly, saying the Star Tower’s importance ranked second only to cultivation itself.

Xu Jin already knew all this, but he noted the favor in Lu Xianbing’s advice.

“By the way, Brother Lu, you said the Martial Practice Realm has rankings—what’s your rank? With your strength, you shouldn’t be low, right?” Xu Jin suddenly remembered and asked casually.

Instantly, Lu Xianbing drooped like a wilted eggplant. “Don’t mention it—I’ve only been matched against opponents with ten points or less. Five battles, three wins. My ranking is still beyond one million.”

“Three wins out of five is still impressive.”

Xu Jin was somewhat surprised—he’d expected a genius like Lu Xianbing to win all five battles upon entering the Martial Practice Realm. Yet he’d only won three.

It seemed he hadn’t chosen the wrong path—star arts.

Suddenly, Xu Jin realized something else and asked, “Brother Lu, can you only fight five times a day in the Martial Practice Realm?”

Xu Jin knew the number of battles had no upper limit, and he understood the mechanics—but he wanted to know whether Lu Xianbing had only fought five times, or whether five was his daily maximum.

“No way. Theoretically, you can fight as many times as you want in the Martial Practice Realm, as long as you have starlight—but it’s tied to your soul force.”

“My soul force, at full capacity, can only support five battles. To fight more, I’d need to take a Focus-Elixir.”

“But I must save my Focus-Elixirs for the Great Star Pattern.” Lu Xianbing explained clearly.

“I see.”

Xu Jin understood: five battles per day was Lu Xianbing’s current limit.

Xu Jin’s own daily limit was six.

The Clarity Star Pattern was indeed powerful.

“By the way, you’ve already broken through to Meal-Radiance Fifth Layer—your Small Star Pattern should be complete by now?” Lu Xianbing suddenly asked.

“Almost. Just a little left—probably within one or two days.”

Xu Jin wanted to confirm it, but Ning Yuchan hadn’t announced it yet.

But it seemed Lu Xianbing was already suspicious of Xu Jin’s unusually rapid cultivation speed.

But it didn’t matter—he’d get used to it eventually.

As they walked, Xu Jin suddenly noticed Lu Xianbing was heading the same way—he was also walking toward the Star-Seeking Guard barracks.

“Brother Lu, where are you going?” Xu Jin asked, puzzled.

“Same as you—going to arrange my patrol schedule. We’re entering the mountains the day after tomorrow.”

“You’re going too? I thought you had plenty of cultivation resources and wouldn’t need to go?” Xu Jin said.

“Who doesn’t need cultivation resources? My ancestors left some savings, so I have more than most—but I’m far from wealthy.”

“I take one Focus-Elixir daily, two Soul-Returning Pills, and four Star-Boosting Pills—each day costs me one hundred and twenty taels, three to four thousand taels a month.”

“My family’s support for my consumption is already heavy.”

“Besides, I’m not the only one in my family cultivating.”

“But even this isn’t enough.”

“I should be able to take two or three Focus-Elixirs a day—these are low-grade ones. There are superior-grade Focus-Elixirs that double the effect, each costing a hundred taels—I can’t afford them.”

“So I must enter the mountains.”

“I must gather more cultivation resources!”

“On the path of cultivation, you must fight!” Lu Xianbing said.

Xu Jin fell silent after hearing this.

Lu Xianbing’s words shattered his complacency.

By this calculation, his eighteen hundred taels would barely last him half a month.

Damn it—you’re a second-generation cultivator, a second-generation official, and you’re still this driven, this calculating, this competitive—what chance do ordinary people have?

Suddenly, Xu Jin realized he’d grown too comfortable lately.

You must fight!

You must fight!

Xu Jin suddenly stopped, turned, and bowed silently to Lu Xianbing, “Thank you, Brother Lu!”

“What? Why thank me?”

Lu Xianbing was baffled.

Qian Xiaohu, Hong Gang, Qiao Ruonan, and others walking with them had overheard the conversation and were deep in thought.

At the Star-Seeking Guard barracks, they met Flag Master Cui Tianqi. Checking the patrol roster, it turned out—coincidentally—Xu Jin’s turn was July 10, and Lu Xianbing’s was July 11.

Both fell within the mountain expedition window.

They adjusted immediately: Xu Jin moved his patrol to tomorrow, and Lu Xianbing’s was pushed to July 13.

Among the Star-Seeking Guards, there were not only disciples still cultivating at the Dao Academy, but also many who had left the Academy after failing to forge a Star Core—they rarely entered the mountains anymore.

On the night of July 7, the man in blue did not appear.

After morning cultivation ended on July 8, Xu Jin dressed fully and led a squad of Star-Patrol Guards to begin patrolling Jinshan County City.

Their main task was to patrol the four city gates, the docks, and the main streets—there was virtually nothing to do.

But the Dao Academy arranged this mainly to deter villains and calm the people’s hearts.

For decades, compared to the poorly disciplined County Guards, the Jinshan Dao Academy’s Star-Patrol Guards were the anchor of Jinshan County City.

At the West Gate dock, Xu Jin led his squad past.

A laborer carrying a sack suddenly halted his steps, casting several extra glances at Xu Jin.

His gaze followed Xu Jin’s back until he disappeared.

A hundred breaths later, as Xu Jin’s group finished patrolling the entire dock and turned to leave, the young laborer suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground.

Using the fall as cover, he sat on the ground, pressing his calf while secretly studying Xu Jin, taking in every detail of him.

After Xu Jin left, the laborer slowly rose and murmured, “He really does look like him! Maybe I can scrape together a few taels of silver?”

(End of Chapter)