Chapter 81: Shadow Hero and Ming Ji (Seeking follow-up reading, seeking monthly tickets)

"Whoa, you can even instant-cast the Star Light Shield now. Not bad progress."

Just as Xu Jin was pleasantly surprised, the cyan-clad person's voice appeared again, and his figure also appeared before Xu Jin like shattered light and shadow.

"It's been so long, I thought you had been suppressed or killed, and was even prepared to burn some paper money for you," Xu Jin took the smile off his face and hummed.

"You were looking forward to my death that much?"

The cyan-clad person was dissatisfied. "There are many people who want to kill me, and many who can kill me, but in Yanzhou, there are none who both want to and can. You were missing me?"

Xu Jin hummed twice, then suddenly asked, "You disappeared for so long, was it because of the Great Search for Demons incident?" Xu Jin asked directly, not intending to hold it in anymore.

Before, he didn't dare to ask.

Now that he had some understanding of this cyan-clad person, even if he asked, he shouldn't flip out.

The cyan-clad person was silent for a long time before saying, "Do you think I am a demon?"

"I'm not sure."

"Is it very important to you whether I am a demon or not?" the cyan-clad person asked.

This time, it was Xu Jin's turn to be silent.

This question was not easy to answer.

Is it important whether one is a demon or not?

Xu Jin was not pedantic, but he still had a distinct stance.

For example, he hated the Blood God Sect demons very much; for example, when he was on a mission in Heshui County, he extremely hated those bandits who harmed the common people, especially that Zhao Zhen who harvested and dismembered children.

He only regretted not killing him more thoroughly; if there were another chance, he would want to skin him and pull out his tendons.

If the cyan-clad person was such a person, then it was very important.

"If you really are a demon, then I have to take a good look at whether you are the kind of demon I think you are!" After a long time, Xu Jin gave his answer.

"The kind of demon you think you are?"

The cyan-clad person suddenly laughed. "I thought you were going to act chivalrously on the spot and kill me, this Shadow Demon."

"Shadow Demon?"

"I am Seeing Qi Shanye. The Heavenly Yang Shang Xinggong has wanted me as the Shadow Demon. The demon searched for in Jinshan County City a few days ago was me!"

Xu Jin's expression suddenly tightened, and his body sat up straight. Looking at Seeing Qi Shanye's cyan-clad back, his expression was complex.

"However, twenty years ago, the Jianghu called me the Shadowless Strange Hero, then it gradually spread to Shadow Hero, and later, I became the Shadow Demon. In recent years, I became the demon searched for by the Heavenly Yang Branch Palace."

"If you are looking for the demon searched for a few days ago, I am it!"

"If you are looking for a demon in the literal sense, then I shouldn't be!"

Seeing Qi Shanye said slowly, sighing secretly.

If it were someone else, he would absolutely not explain.

From hero to demon, it was nothing more than the ups and downs of this human world.

Those who cling to this are mostly ordinary people.

It was only this special youth who caught his eye; otherwise...

Suddenly, Xu Jin laughed, beaming with joy. "If what you say is true, then you shouldn't be the demon I think you are."

"Whoa, you kid, your guts are quite big, daring to overturn the case for me!"

Seeing Qi Shanye's expression suddenly relaxed. He was also very afraid.

Afraid that this kid's values wouldn't align with his, wouldn't his hard work be in vain?

He didn't know if he could find a suitable candidate in the remaining time.

"Do you know the result of the Great Search for Demons a few days ago?"

"I thought they were catching a demon, but I didn't expect that the real demon behind the scenes was actually the Mountain Master of the Heavenly Yang Branch Academy, Zhou Qingzhu. It is said that he was the one who shouted the loudest during the Great Search for Demons," Xu Jin laughed.

This news was gossip.

The Heavenly Yang Branch Academy had such a big commotion, it couldn't be hidden.

Although the official side didn't express anything, this matter had already spread like wildfire, let alone within the Dao Academy.

"Not catching me? Not reporting me?"

"I only kill real demons!"

"You kid!" Seeing Qi Shanye laughed.

"By the way, can you show your true face, so that if you die in the future, I won't have to worry about collecting your corpse!"

"You were looking forward to my death that much!"

Seeing Qi Shanye turned around like a whirlwind, flicked his hand, and gave Xu Jin a big brain-flick, also revealing his true face.

A slightly long square face, long eyebrows like sticks, quite dark, and a face full of hard stubble brought out ten parts of vicissitudes. The originally sharp eyes now looked at Xu Jin, becoming much gentler.

"Since you aren't afraid, I'll tell you about my origin, and the origin of the things I taught you, so you don't bring a fatal disaster upon yourself by accident!"

Seeing Qi Shanye lectured for over half an hour.

He spoke of the various aspects of the Lingji Shang Xinggong, the reasons why he was branded a demon, and the origins of the Clarity Soul Star Pattern he taught Xu Jin.

Of the three major Star Palaces existing in the world today, even counting the Lingji Shang Xinggong which was slaughtered and forced to seal its gates, each palace possesses at least one secret inherited Star Pattern.

But only the Lingji Shang Xinggong's secret Star Pattern pertains to the divine soul.

The weak have no diplomacy, let alone the power of definition.

Therefore, cultivators who carry the inheritance of the sealed Lingji Shang Xinggong have already been branded as demons.

"So, as long as one cultivates the inheritance of the Lingji Shang Xinggong, they are a demon and will be hunted down?" Xu Jin asked.

"How is that possible!"

Seeing Qi Shanye sneered, "The three major Star Palaces and the high-ranking officials of various nations all have people who cultivate the secret arts of the Lingji Shang Xinggong. As long as you have the status, use them freely."

"But if you don't have an identity, using them is a capital crime!"

Xu Jin was silent.

This was about power. In his previous life, there were many similar things; he understood.

"Afraid?"

Xu Jin shook his head.

"Rest assured, you are the seedling I chose, I won't harm you!"

"You have two choices. The first is to only learn the Star Patterns of my Lingji Shang Xinggong. Star Patterns are internal, while Star Arts are external; as long as you don't actively display them, outsiders cannot know what Star Patterns you have cultivated. If a suitable opportunity arises in the future, just find me a successor to pass it on; I no longer have the time for that," Seeing Qi Shanye said.

"Hmm? You don't have that time anymore, what do you mean?" Xu Jin asked in surprise.

"Don't interrupt, you will know in the future."

"The second choice is for me to teach you the complete inheritance of the Lingji Shang Xinggong, but when using Star Arts, you must avoid being seen. If seen, you must kill; otherwise, given your current position, it will surely bring about a fatal disaster!"

After speaking, Seeing Qi Shanye lowered his head, staring at Xu Jin. "Which one do you choose?"

Xu Jin met Seeing Qi Shanye's gaze, but his heart was calculating, how should he choose?

Only learn star patterns?

That should be the safest.

Learning star techniques, he might want to use them, and the possibility of exposure would exist.

But...

"Before making a choice, I want to ask a question?"

"Speak."

"Is your Lingji Shang Xinggong very weak? Twenty years ago, you were one of the four great Star Palaces of the world; how could you be beaten into sealing your mountains and gates?" Xu Jin asked.

Xu Jin's question seemed to touch a sore spot for Seeing Qi Shanye. "Weak? Our Lingji Shang Xinggong is not weak at all."

"Twenty years ago, I was the Hu Hu Dianzhu of the Lingji Shang Xinggong's Yanzhou branch. At that time, I could easily crush the branch hall master of any other Shang Xinggong by myself."

"In the past twenty years, the main palace of the Heavenly Yang Shang Xinggong sent a pursuit group to hunt me down, and I killed three of them. The Cangming Branch Palace sent a pursuit group to hunt me down, and I killed four of them."

"Later, there was a worldwide wanted notice, and they even used the town-palace star artifacts."

"But I still come and go freely in this world."

"In recent years, the Heavenly Yang Shang Xinggong branch hall master Hu Xuechuan gathered over ten people, brought star artifacts, and set up a net to hunt me down, but they still couldn't do anything to me!"

"You say, is it weak?"

"Sounds like, not weak!" Xu Jin said.

"Instead, it's very strong!"

"Yes, that's why I also can't figure out how our Lingji Shang Xinggong was slaughtered into closing its gates!"

"Twenty years ago, the strength of the Lingji Shang Xinggong should have been the crown of the four palaces!"

"But when I got the news, it had already locked its palace!"

"If I must find a reason, it is that there are too few disciples like me in our Lingji Shang Xinggong who can obtain the core inheritance; it is too difficult."

After speaking, Seeing Qi Shanye looked at Xu Jin. "Any more questions?"

"Are you wanting me to be your successor?" Xu Jin asked.

"You could say that."

"But this is up to your own will. The matter of the Lingji Shang Xinggong is too heavy; I fear you cannot bear it."

"Follow your heart. In the future, if there is an opportunity, just find a successor for me. That is my only request!" Seeing Qi Shanye said.

"Good, then I choose the second path."

One sheep is driving, ten sheep is grazing.

Learn it first, and don't use it.

If he is really forced into a desperate situation, what if he uses it?

At least he has the ability to use it.

This was Xu Jin's choice and consideration.

"Good, I sense that your divine soul power has increased significantly. Your Clear Soul Star Pattern should have been completely solidified, right?" Seeing Qi Shanye asked suddenly.

"Yes, it was solidified yesterday."

"Quite diligent."

"Still quite diligent."

"Ming Ji?"

"What power does it have?"

"Infinite wonderful uses!"

Xu Jin: "..."

"It can clarify heaven and earth, recognize the four directions, and record the past and future."

Xu Jin still didn't understand.

Xu Jin still did not understand.

"Do you have to blow such a big cow? Did you practice it?"

Seeing Qi Shanye was stunned. "I didn't practice it, but the master who taught me said so, and it has been passed down from generation to generation like this."

"Is there no star technique?"

"Is there no Star Art?"

"Alright."

"Completely open your lower star palace to me."

Just as Seeing Qi Shanye finished speaking, Xu Jin hurriedly asked, "I want to know, you have occupied two of my upper, middle, and lower star palaces. Will it have any impact on my learning other star patterns in the future?"

"Will there be no place to engrave?"

"How could that be? After you forge stars and refine stars, you will only lack star patterns, not complain that there are too many."

"You must know that the star techniques of the middle and high levels in the later stages are all combined through changes in star patterns."

"With these two star patterns, the power of many of your star techniques will greatly increase!" Seeing Qi Shanye said.

"How long will it take to learn this?"

"This is fast, at most a few days."

"Good, come on."

The next instant, Seeing Qi Shanye's palm had already covered Xu Jin's lower abdomen. Although it felt strange, in order to learn the star pattern, Xu Jin still endured it.

"You follow my star power engraving. The star power should be kept flat and upright, but it must not be interrupted."

"Understood."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 82 =====

(End of chapter)