Chapter 99: Scaring Your Son and Eating Soft Rice

In the night, Ning Yuchan was wearing a light green dress, her face covered with a green veil, her straight figure, through the slightly loose dress, could vaguely see a few protrusions.

The iron crutch that originally destroyed the overall beauty also had a very low sense of existence in the night.

Making Ning Yuchan look even more pretty.

Xu Jin's gaze just swept over Ning Yuchan's iron crutch and didn't dare to stay for any moment.

He understood this point.

But Xu Jin was very curious, what was going on with Ning Yuchan's leg injury?

After a cultivator cultivates to the seventh layer of Meal of Mist, their own recovery ability becomes extremely strong, unless it is completely severed and becomes a residual limb, otherwise there is no injury that cannot be recovered.

Even if it wasn't fixed well and grew crooked, knocking it off and letting it grow again would be fine.

And Ning Yuchan was a Condense Star Realm expert?

Actually limping on one leg all the time, this made Xu Jin very curious.

But he didn't dare to ask.

Because Xu Jin knew very well that Ning Yuchan, who was in the Condense Star Realm, didn't have the ability to cure her own leg, and the Academy Head, who was at least a fifth-tier Gather Battle, didn't cure Ning Yuchan's leg either.

Then Xu Jin had even less ability

If she had no ability to cure it, then she wouldn't ask; asking would only be stabbing a knife into Ning Yuchan's heart.

In the words of her younger sister Jiang Er, Ning Yuchan was actually still just a twenty-three-year-old young woman.

"Teacher, why are you here? You could have just called me if you had something to do." Seeing Ning Yuchan arrive, Xu Jin hurriedly invited her in.

"What, can't I come if I don't have anything to do?"

Ning Yuchan retorted as soon as she spoke, but Xu Jin hurriedly laughed, "How could that be? If I had known you were coming, I would have prepared some melons, fruits, and snacks in advance."

"Shameless!"

Suddenly, Ning Yuchan frowned, "Why does your courtyard smell so foul?"

"Uh..." Xu Jin was extremely embarrassed; the stench from the recent marrow-cleansing had surprisingly not completely dissipated yet.

Before Xu Jin could explain, Ning Yuchan's beautiful eyes widened, and she suddenly asked, "Did you just undergo marrow-cleansing? This should be your first time tonight, right?"

Xu Jin nodded, "Yes, I tried cultivating after swallowing two Superior Tui Fan Dan, and I didn't expect to undergo marrow-cleansing."

The surprise in Ning Yuchan's eyes was exactly the same as Qi Shanye's just a moment ago.

To be able to undergo marrow-cleansing on the first time cultivating, this cultivation talent was truly...

Ning Yuchan remembered that she had achieved her first marrow-cleansing after two days of cultivation, and she had been called a genius among geniuses by the Academy Dean; then what did this make Xu Jin?

"This is Superior Tui Fan Dan, six pills in total, keep them."

Ning Yuchan suddenly threw over a pill bottle, "After you finish three marrow-cleansings using ordinary Tui Fan Dan, take one pill every morning and evening for three days; it should allow you to achieve your fourth or even fifth marrow-cleansing."

Once you have used up all six of these Superior Tui Fan Dan, come find me.

At that time, I will perform Star Infusion Body Tempering for you, which can allow you to achieve five or even six marrow-cleansings. By then, when you Forge Star, there is a high probability that you will be able to forge a Superior Star Core," Ning Yuchan said.

Xu Jin was quite surprised.

Old Qi had just told him about this matter, but now that Ning Yuchan had come, she was talking about the same thing, and she had already prepared the Superior Tui Fan Dan for him and was even preparing Star Infusion Body Tempering for him.

Ning Yuchan was truly teaching him as a disciple.

She was truly good to him.

Xu Jin wondered, how should he repay Ning Yuchan in the future?

For such a great favor, if he asked about the price of the Superior Tui Fan Dan and hoped to pay it off with silver, that would be unreliable, or even ungrateful.

Since he couldn't ask for the price, he would just accept it.

When he had the ability in the future, he would just find ways to repay her.

Subsequently, Ning Yuchan told Xu Jin quite a bit about Forge Star ranks.

Ordinary disciples of various academies, including many wandering cultivators, even if they could Forge Star, most of them forged Inferior Star Cores.

Like in Jin Shan Academy, only a portion of the Middle Courtyard disciples and Inner Courtyard disciples could forge Middle-grade Star Cores.

But disciples who forged Superior Star Cores were extremely rare.

Like in Jin Shan Academy, those who could forge a Superior Star Core each year would be one or two at most; in some years, it might even be zero.

It wasn't just because of the Superior Tui Fan Dan; even if one underwent marrow-cleansing six times and achieved a Flawless Body, the probability of forging a Superior Star Core was only fifty percent.

As for the probability of forging a Supreme Star Core, that was one in ten thousand.

Jin Shan Academy had never seen one; even in the National Academy or the major Star Palaces, it took years or even decades to produce one genius who could forge a Supreme Star Core.

The difference between forging an Inferior, Middle-grade, Superior, or Supreme Star Core lay in the true difference at the starting point.

This huge gap at the starting point could not be compensated for in any way before the Gather Battle Realm; even after reaching the Gather Battle Realm, it could only be slightly compensated for.

If one said that from Forge Star to Refine Star, Ninth Layer, every time one increased a layer of cultivation, the Star Power increased by one fold, and from the Forge Star Realm to the Forge Star peak, and then to Refine Star, Ninth Layer, the total Star Power increased by ten times, then this ten-fold increase foundation was based on the total amount of Star Power contained within the Star Core forged during Forge Star.

If the total Star Power of an Inferior Star Core was five, then the total Star Power of a Middle-grade Star Core was ten, the total Star Power of a Superior Star Core was fifteen, and the total Star Power of a Supreme Star Core was twenty.

From the Forge Star Realm to the Forge Star peak, the total Star Power of these four grades of Star Cores would sequentially become ten, twenty, thirty, and forty.

And by the time they reached Refine Star, Ninth Layer, the total Star Power of these four grades of Star Cores would sequentially become one hundred, two hundred, three hundred, and four hundred.

The gap would become larger and larger, and it could not be narrowed.

After Condense Star, the gap would be even larger.

This was also why, during the Battle of Qianye Island, Ning Yuchan could crushingly kill two Condense Star Realm experts while facing them one-on-two.

It lay in the fact that when Ning Yuchan forged her Star, she forged a Superior Star Core, while those Baidou Sect followers most likely had Inferior Star Cores.

"Cultivate well, seize the time, and it's best to complete all the tempering before the Autumn Exam." After clarifying these things, Ning Yuchan left.

After Ning Yuchan left, for some reason, Old Qi did not return.

Xu Jin was not in a hurry; instead, he began to cultivate again, while simultaneously experiencing the changes after undergoing marrow-cleansing once.

First, the total amount of Star Power increased by ten percent; under the blessing of the Mingji Star Pattern, Xu Jin sensed this very clearly.

Second, the speed at which Star Power circulated within his body had indeed accelerated; this point was not too obvious, and an ordinary person probably wouldn't notice it.

But Xu Jin's Clear Perception Star Pattern gave Xu Jin an extremely clear perception.

The speed at which Star Power surged within his body had increased by about five percent.

If this change were understood using some knowledge from Xu Jin's previous life, it would be that the initial velocity of the bullet had increased, so the lethality had also increased.

Finally, Xu Jin felt that his internal organs were more transparent and relaxed; it should be that his body's foundation had also been strengthened.

These changes, when implemented into specific changes, were simple.

The maximum distance of the Star Arrow increased by another foot, becoming thirteen feet, about four point three meters, and the firing speed also increased.

Old Qi didn't come, so Xu Jin began to cultivate basic Star Arts; Star Rope, Star Mist, and the Conceal Image Star Pattern were all being practiced within the Star Lamp.

Late at night, Tian Zhang, who was sitting cross-legged cultivating in the quiet room, suddenly sighed and looked helplessly out the window.

"Again!"

"Why haven't you left yet? You're staying in Jin Shan County; are you addicted to this?" Tian Zhang sighed helplessly.

"I'd like to leave, but why don't you ask Dong Zhao to lend me a hand and help me break through the blockade of Hu Xuechuan's Star Setting Compass? He is the Master of the Yanzhou Branch of the Tianyang Star Palace; by borrowing the power of the branch's grand formation, he has locked me within Yanzhou. As long as Dong Zhao attacks him with all his might for a quarter of an hour, leaving him no time to activate the Star Artifact Star Setting Compass, I can break out of Yanzhou and destroy the Star Setting Compass's lock," Qi Shanye said.

Tian Zhang glanced at Qi Shanye and said nothing.

"Then what the hell are you talking about! With so many years of relationship, do you have the heart to let me die and be captured?" Qi Shanye played the emotional card.

"Alright, if you have something to say, say it quickly."

Tian Zhang knew this old friend's personality too well; once he played the emotional card, there must be something going on.

"Heh, nothing much, just need a few bottles of pills," Qi Shanye said.

"What pills?"

"Superior Tui Fan Dan, give me two bottles!"

Once these words were spoken, Tian Zhang's eyes widened sharply, "Damn it, why don't you ask for two bottles of Spirit-Setting Golden Pills?"

"If you are willing to give them, I am absolutely willing to take them."

"I don't have any!"

"Teacher, it was this morning," Xu Jin made up casually; breaking through this morning was better than breaking through the day before yesterday, which was less scary.

"If I don't have any, how can I give them!"

Seeing Tian Zhang refuse so decisively, Qi Shanye also pulled a long face, "Fine, then don't blame me for doing everything to ruin things! When you and your wife are intimate, believe it or not, I'll suddenly appear and scare you into lifelong impotence?"

Tian Zhang glanced sideways at Qi Shanye, "Just you, and you can scare me? I crawled out of a sea of corpses and blood; can I still be scared by a ghost shadow like you?

Why don't you come and try tonight, and see if I'm impotent tomorrow!"

Qi Shanye wasn't angry, just said gloomily, "If I go to scare you, that would be stupid! I'm going to scare your eldest son and second son; I dare say, one scare and it'll be a hit!"

"You!"

Tian Zhang was furious, "Old Qi, do you still want your face? I've discovered, how have you changed?

Your old face is too thick.

You actually want to scare the juniors?

Even the Grand Master's personal disciple wouldn't be this fast, right?

"Then give me the pills! If it were in the past, I'd just crook my finger and someone would send them; why would I need to come to you!" Qi Shanye said.

"The problem is, even if I compare myself to the you of the past, I'm still far off. If I crook my finger, no one will send them to me either.

Two bottles, even if you wanted my life, I couldn't get them," Tian Zhang said helplessly.

"Then one bottle!" Qi Shanye retreated.

"One bottle?"

Tian Zhang's eyes widened, "Then you might as well scare my two sons into impotence!

Do you know how many Dao Merits it takes to exchange for one Superior Tui Fan Dan?"

"Even with my rank, it takes seven hundred Dao Merits to exchange for one!

One bottle is seven thousand Dao Merits.

I serve as the Star Patrol Guard Commandant of Jin Shan County, and I only get two thousand four hundred Dao Merits a year; you're asking me to work for three years for nothing!"

"Eight pills!" Qi Shanye made a concession.

"Five pills, five pills at most." Tian Zhang still gave a number.

"Seven pills."

"Five pills."

"Six pills!"

"Five pills!"

"Six pills at least."

"Five pills!"

"Fine, then I'll just go scare your sons; I'll scare them every day, every month, scare them into impotence, scare your daughter-in-law silly!"

"You!"

Tian Zhang glared, "Then six pills!"

Hearing this, Qi Shanye finally breathed a sigh of relief; although the Superior Tui Fan Dan provided didn't exceed that little girl's, it was tied, which wasn't bad.

With these Superior Tui Fan Dan as a foundation, Qi Shanye felt that Xu Jin completing six marrow-cleansings should be a sure thing.

Even the extremely rare seven marrow-cleansings were possible.

Star-Picking Tower, First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm.

Xu Jin looked at the Star Light Message flying in front of him, and when he saw the source was 【Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon】, he skipped it directly, not even looking at the content.

This woman was scolding him again.

Either "Despicable Qi Tian Da Sheng" or "Cowardly Sage."

It was fortunate that sending a Star Light Message cost at least one hundred taels of silver, otherwise, Xu Jin could have scolded this woman into autism.

No need to go against silver, right?

Not having come for a night, Xu Jin's ranking dropped from seventy-fifth to ninety-seventh.

It should be the ranking drop caused by his points being surpassed.

【Challenge】

At this very moment, the First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm matched Xu Jin with all combatants within the top one hundred.

Basically, among the top one hundred combatants, there wasn't a single weak one; not only was their cultivation at the Meal of Mist, Seventh Layer peak, but their practical combat experience was also extremely rich.

But looking at Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon's ranking, Xu Jin didn't have any hesitation. If Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon, this woman, could kill her way to tenth place, then there was no reason Xu Jin couldn't kill his way through.

A winning streak all the way.

After a seven-game winning streak, Xu Jin's ranking jumped to eleventh in the First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm.

Xu Jin chose to continue challenging.

Immediately, a line of information appeared before his eyes.

【The top ten in the Practice Arena Secret Realm cannot be surpassed by points; you must defeat any member within the Practice Arena Secret Realm to move up one ranking.】

【If the Star Master you are challenging is not in the secret realm and cannot respond to the battle, you can try challenging someone with a higher ranking.】

【If a Star Master in the top ten of the Practice Arena Secret Realm is challenged and does not enter the secret realm to respond to the battle for three consecutive days, they will automatically drop one ranking.】

Three consecutive rule reminders appeared.

It actually prevented certain drawbacks.

For example, after someone killed their way into the top ten, they would hold back and not go online to respond to battles, then obtain the Star Light rewards of the Practice Arena Secret Realm ranking.

The rule of dropping a ranking if one doesn't respond to a battle for three days eliminated this possibility.

But this rule made Xu Jin realize that he had to bully that woman once.

【Challenge】

【The tenth-ranked Star Master of the First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm, Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon, has agreed to the battle; the battle is about to begin.】

【Terrain: Swamp Jungle】

Almost the moment Xu Jin appeared, Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon's gnashing-teeth scolding from the opposite side sprayed over.

"I thought you were dead!

I sent you so many Star Light Messages, why didn't you reply to a single one?

And you didn't challenge me either?

Why?"

That voice, that expression, was exactly like a resentful woman.

"Let me put it this way: the seventh layer of Meal of Mist is the foundation of Star Forging and the foundation of cultivation.

"How is that possible?"

"Have you forgotten the battle record between you and me before?"

Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon was speechless for an instant; it seemed there really was such a possibility.

Her battles against the Qi Tian Da Sheng Equaling Heaven had always been more losses than wins; it would be good if she could win one out of ten matches.

"Then... then why didn't you reply to my Star Light Message? I sent you so many; would it kill you to reply to one?" Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon scolded angrily.

Hearing this, Xu Jin felt it was strange.

Why did it feel like a girlfriend scolding her boyfriend for not replying to WeChat?

"I didn't reply to your Star Light Message for a reason." Xu Jin originally wanted to start fighting directly and bully her to death.

But thinking of this woman's Star Light Message bombardment, Xu Jin felt it was better to explain, so as not to be harassed by her in the future.

After all, having to read a scolding Star Light Message every time he entered the Star-Picking Tower, and being reluctant to spend huge sums of money to scold back, was quite stifling.

"What reason?

I really want to know, what reason made you so busy that you didn't even have time to reply to a Star Light Message? Even the Emperor, even the Master of the Star Palace, isn't as busy as you, right?" Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon scolded.

Xu Jin looked up at Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon, "Is there a possibility that I can't afford to send them?"

"Can't afford to send them?"

Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon was stunned; almost at the same time, Xu Jin also shouted, "Time is running out, let's fight!"

In an instant, the Flying Fei Xing Bu exploded, and as he closed in, the Star Arrow blasted out.

Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon's feet also flashed with star light, her figure spinning rapidly, and she actually successfully avoided Xu Jin's Star Arrow attack.

After exchanging blows more than a dozen times, both sides' movement techniques were extremely exquisite, and each time they could explode star light from impossible directions to dodge attacks.

Xu Jin was also quite surprised.

This was the first opponent who could exchange blows with him in the Practice Arena Secret Realm for more than ten seconds after he forged the Star of Divine Soul.

It could be seen that this Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon had made great progress recently.

Especially the Flying Fei Xing Bu, which was not only in a Great Perfection state.

She even knew the tricks Xu Jin had pondered himself about exploding the Flying Fei Xing Bu to change direction from impossible parts of the body.

No wonder she could rush into the top ten.

However, that was all.

Since the subtle approach didn't work, he would use violence.

The next moment, Xu Jin instantly rushed within five feet of Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon, and before Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon could retreat, the Star Ring suddenly swung out continuously.

Every time the Star Ring swung out, it made Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon stagger backward, her figure unstable.

When the third Star Ring swung out, Xu Jin smashed a Star Ray onto Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon's chest.

In an instant, Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon was smashed and exploded!

Victory!

【Qi Tian Da Sheng Equaling Heaven, congratulations on entering the top ten of the First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm ranking. Please enter the Practice Arena Secret Realm at least once every three days, otherwise your ranking will drop.】

【If your current ranking can be maintained for seven days, then you will be rewarded with three wisps of Star Light.】

Subsequently, Xu Jin casually challenged the ninth place in the Practice Arena Secret Realm, who happened to be there.

Responded to the battle.

There was no great suspense.

Won in twelve seconds.

Challenged the eighth place, won in fifteen seconds.

Challenged the seventh place, not there.

Up to this point, under continuous challenges, Xu Jin had a clear understanding of his own strength.

His gaze couldn't help but look at the three people in the top three of the First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm.

That was his goal.

【First place in the First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm: Stepping on the Star River】

【Second place in the First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm: Shadow in the Moon】

【Third place in the First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm: Nothing More Than That】

Top three.

Or even first place!

Kill his way into first place in the First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm, then maintain it to receive rewards; he could receive seven wisps of Star Light every seven days, one wisp a day, and that day would be two hundred taels.

A daily wage of two hundred taels!

This was a super high salary; where could he find that?

Dominating the ranking for a year, Xu Jin would become a wealthy man.

Xu Jin had already decided that after he took the top three in the First-Tier Practice Arena Secret Realm, he must dominate the ranking for more time.

This was a bargain picked up for free.

Just as he was pondering, suddenly, several more Star Light Messages flashed in.

Xu Jin instinctively didn't want to look.

He didn't have many friends in the Star-Picking Tower, just Ning Yuchan, Lu Xianbing, Wu Dong, and the Hall Master of the External Affairs Hall, Ceng Shuo, and then Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon.

Nine times out of ten, it was Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon scolding him again.

But the next moment, Xu Jin saw his Star Light in the Star-Picking Tower suddenly rise rapidly.

【Master of Stars: Qi Tian Da Sheng Equaling Heaven】

【Star Light: 279 wisps】

Xu Jin's eyes widened sharply; he clearly remembered that the Star Light he possessed before was 139 wisps, so how did it suddenly increase by 140 wisps?

Did Star Light fall from the sky?

Is it possible?

Absolutely impossible.

If the Star-Picking Tower had such a bug, it would have gone bankrupt long ago.

Xu Jin immediately clicked on the Star Light Messages he hadn't looked at just now; in an instant, the content presented made Xu Jin's eyes widen again.

【Master of Stars Qi Tian Da Sheng Equaling Heaven, Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon has gifted you two hundred wisps of Star Light.】

【Master of Stars Qi Tian Da Sheng Equaling Heaven, according to the Star-Picking Tower rules, for direct gifting of Star Light, the Star-Picking Tower will collect a thirty percent tax. You received two hundred wisps of gifted Star Light, and the actual Star Light received is one hundred and forty wisps.】

【Now you have Star Light, right? I'm sorry, I didn't know before that you couldn't afford to send Star Light Messages; I apologize to you. Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon】

For a moment, Xu Jin's eyes widened inexplicably.

There was such a super rich person?

Two hundred wisps of Star Light represented at least twenty thousand taels of silver.

Twenty thousand taels of silver!

Even the Jack Ma of his previous life wouldn't give it away so casually, right?

Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon, this woman, just gave it away casually; what kind of immortal identity is this?

What kind of background?

And what surprised Xu Jin even more was the Star-Picking Tower's tax, which directly deducted thirty percent.

Damn it, isn't this the Apple tax from his previous life? Why is it everywhere?

Could it be any darker!

What Xu Jin complained about even more was that this kind of gift was actually a direct gift, without asking if he agreed or not?

But then again, there shouldn't be many fools who wouldn't want silver given to them, right?

Xu Jin began to think seriously: if a 【Reject/Accept】 option appeared, how would Xu Jin choose?

The answer is: I don't know.

Because it didn't give him this choice.

【Why haven't you replied to my Star Light Message yet? Now you have Star Light, right? If it's not enough in the future, I'll send you more. Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon】

Xu Jin: "..."

This woman had even confused Xu Jin.

Stupid rich?

【What do you mean?】

In the end, Xu Jin squeezed out this sentence; he felt a bit guilty about hardening his heart to trick her out of more Star Light.

【Qi Tian Da Sheng, it doesn't mean anything. How about this, reply to my Star Light Messages whenever you see them in the future, okay? Consider this as compensation. Also, if you have time, come to the Star-Picking Tower to spar with me three times a day, also consider that as compensation, can you? Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon】

Xu Jin was even more confused.

This woman's attitude changed too fast.

Before, it was "Despicable Qi Tian Da Sheng" and "Cowardly Sage" at every turn.

Now she started calling him "Qi Tian Da Sheng" and even said it was compensation.

What could Xu Jin do?

He had already received the Star Light, could he still say no?

At least Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon still had value for sparring.

【Okay】

Xu Jin replied with two words.

Just as these two words were replied, Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon's sparring challenge was sent over.

Xu Jin was speechless, then silently clicked to agree to the battle.

This was a bit like starting to eat soft rice.

But immediately, Xu Jin shifted the blame to the Star-Picking Tower.

If your Star-Picking Tower had a rejection function for this Star Light gift, it was unlikely he, Xu Jin, would eat this bowl of soft rice.

It's all the Star-Picking Tower's fault!

After three consecutive matches, Xu Jin successfully sent Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon away.

For the sake of the Star Light, Xu Jin dragged the time of each battle to two minutes.

It could be considered giving Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon a chance to improve, and at the same time, honing his own practical combat ability.

An opponent with Flying Fei Xing Bu at Great Perfection and who could instantly cast at least four types of Star Arts was still relatively rare.

On the morning of July 18th, after finishing his morning cultivation, Xu Jin continued to practice the basic Star Arts Star Mist and Star Rope within the Star Lamp.

Subsequently, he directly acted as a sparring partner for Lu Xianbing, incidentally honing the movement technique he was pondering.

Nowadays, Xu Jin could not only explode the Flying Fei Xing Bu under his feet, but his palms, elbows, and even his buttocks, waist, and shoulders—any position where Star Power could reach—could all explode the Flying Fei Xing Bu.

That movement technique transition was called eerie.

It could already directly transcend the laws of physics of his previous life.

At noon, Xu Jin received a notification from the servant: gather at the Martial Arts Hall at the fourth quarter of the Wei hour for the monthly exam.

(End of chapter)