Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

37: Chapter 33: Who is the Evil Demon?

37 -33: Who is the Evil Demon?

Under the Rejuvenation Pill specially prepared by Qi Shanye, the meant-to-be hour-long engraving of the Clear Soul Star Pattern turned into an exacting hour and a half.

Xu Jin couldn’t afford to skimp on his efforts.

Due to Qi Shanye’s gentle yet consistent Divine Soul Power constantly circling in Xu Jin’s head, Xu Jin was compelled to activate the Drinking Radiance Style and always guard the Upper Star Palace, otherwise, Qi Shanye would notice immediately.

Xu Jin felt that the Clear Soul Star Pattern was finally beginning to take shape.

Yet, even so, the difficulty of engraving the original Star-pointing pattern on the chest compared to the instructors engraving simplified Gathering Star Patterns was an immense hundredfold challenge.

Xu Jin remembered when Ning Yuchan had engraved the simplified Gathering Star Pattern on his chest; it only took two attempts, fifteen minutes each, with a half-hour break — two tries and it was complete.

As for this Clear Soul Star Pattern, it had already been two hours, four hours in total, and it had only just begun to manifest.

If it’s said that this green-clothed man, Qi Shanye, harbored no ill intentions toward Xu Jin, then following the successful engraving of the star pattern, it should prove rather useful.

But what if there were malintent?

That was Xu Jin’s greatest concern right now.

After briefly pondering, Xu Jin fell into a deep sleep.

Today, using that single Rejuvenation Pill, Qi Shanye had drained Xu Jin’s Divine Soul Power completely before departing.

Late at night.

In the quiet room of Jinshan Taoist Institute Governor Tian Zhang, just as Tian Zhang reached for his Blood Shadow Blade, he gently released it and sighed helplessly.

“Coming to me every day, do you have that much spare time?”

Qi Shanye in his green attire slowly appeared in front of Tian Zhang’s window, “Are you just going to watch?

Watch them perpetrate one crime after another within Jinshan County, all under the guise of fighting demons?”

“Isn’t this trouble caused by you?” Tian Zhang retorted.

Upon hearing this, Qi Shanye suddenly burst into cold laughter, laughing several times before cursing, “What’s wrong with you, you castrated fool?

I’m going to forcibly sleep with your wife.

Then rather than coming after me, you would attack your wife, blaming her for being too beautiful?

Coward?

Where is your bloodthirst from twenty years ago?”

Tian Zhang’s chest heaved violently, and murderous intent glimmered in his eyes, “The Court and the National Taoist Institute have already given orders…”

“What if one day the Court orders me to sleep with your wife, would you also prepare the bathwater for me?”

“You!”

Clang!

Tian Zhang’s long blade suddenly unsheathed, pointing at Qi Shanye, “Don’t push it too far.”

“When it comes to your wife, you can’t bear it!

And when it comes to these common folk, you can?

Don’t forget, twenty years ago, who was it that, under the immense pressure of the Tianyang Star Hall, defined the first step for avenging your blood relations?”

After saying this, the figure of Qi Shanye in green clothes suddenly vanished into the distance, leaving only his voice behind.

“I’ve said my piece, now reflect on it yourself.

In this world, everyone fears death and clings to life.

Everyone has their selfishness.

But in the dead of night, you must confront your own heart.”

As his voice faded, Tian Zhang was left deep in thought.

In reality, Tian Zhang didn’t need Qi Shanye’s reminder — the piles of report letters on the desk were enough to tell him that he had to do something.

But under the royal decree to “fully support the Tianyang Sub-Hall in searching for demons,” his options were severely limited.

After a long while, a streak of red light shot up from within the institute, landing directly on the residence of Mountain Master Dong Zhao at the mountain’s peak.

“Welcome, come in.”

As the newcomer landed, Mountain Master Dong Zhao’s voice already echoed.

As soon as Tian Zhang stepped inside, he saw Mountain Master Dong Zhao standing by the window of a small building, overlooking the entirety of Jinshan county city.

“Mountain Master, I need to deploy troops to patrol Jinshan county city!” Tian Zhang said.

“Did you not receive the orders from the Court?”

“I did, but look, Mountain Master!” Tian Zhang promptly handed several letters to Mountain Master Dong Zhao.

“On June 18th, across the county’s six towns and one city, nine murders occurred.

Direct casualties numbered twelve, seven attributed to demons.”

“On June 19th, across the six towns and one city, thirteen murders occurred.

Direct casualties numbered nineteen, nine attributed to demons.”

“On June 20th, across the six towns and one city, fourteen murders occurred.

Direct casualties numbered twenty-six, ten attributed to demons with no evidence found, the Government Office declared all as demon-inflicted.”

“On June 21st, across the six towns and one city, twenty-one murders occurred, direct casualties numbered thirty-nine, all attributed to demons.

“By tonight, with the newly arrived messages, there have been thirty-two more cases across the six towns and one city, with forty-six people dead, all attributed to demons.

“And these are just the deaths; nearly a hundred cases of robbery, violent lootings, and vandalisms occur daily.

“The local factions in the county city are seizing this opportunity to dominate and plunder!

“Mountain Master, chaos has erupted!

“Jinshan County has descended into chaos.

“The complacent inaction of the Government Office and the Taoist Institute has stirred up evil forces across the region, causing chaos and disorder.

“If this continues, all industries will decline, and great turmoil is inevitable,” Tian Zhang spoke with evident agitation.

“The Court and the National Taoist Institute have so ordered, and the Tianyang Sub-Hall watches closely, prioritizing the capture of demons; what more can we do?” Mountain Master Dong Zhao responded.

Not wanting to dwell on demons, Tian Zhang shouted, “Mountain Master, aren’t you aware if the demons exist?”

“How does that matter?

I don’t have the power to define rules.

Even under the pressure of the Star Hall, the National Taoist Institute doesn’t have the power to define right from wrong.

What can we do?”

At this point, Dong Zhao sighed and said, “It can only be blamed that Lingji Star Hall is too conservative.

Every sub-hall has been destroyed, even their Star Hall was sealed.

Who would have thought it would bring such suffering to Chen Country?

In the end, Chen Country, which supported them, had to swallow these bitter fruits.”

“But…

but it’s the common people who are suffering and dying.

If the cultivators from the Star Halls and Taoist Institutes kill each other in a bloodbath, I wouldn’t mind.

But now, those who nourish and support us, our fellow villagers, are dying and suffering every day.

Back then, those villagers jointly petitioned the city with their blood to save my life.

Now, they all look to me as their Governor to protect them, but…” Tian Zhang said with profound regret.

“Protect?

What can you use to protect?”

“Mountain Master, the latest news is that the Fighting God Sect has resurged, and there have already been some disappearances.

It’s not just the Fighting God Sect, the Blood God Sect has also become increasingly active recently, and their Blood Introduction Star Casting Techniques have been found in various county cities.

Mountain Master, if this continues, Jinshan County will surely fall into chaos!”

Dong Zhao gazed steadily at Tian Zhang and suddenly asked, “Do you really want to do something?”

“Of course!”

“Tell me your thoughts,” Dong Zhao said.

Hearing this, Tian Zhang shared his long-considered plan, only for Dong Zhao to shake his head and say, “It won’t work.

Your method might solve the immediate problem, but it won’t provide a long-term deterrent.

Moreover, after this, the new Star Patrol Guards you will have recruited will be immediately dispatched under the pretext of searching for demons.

It’s futile.”

“Mountain Master, it’s better than doing nothing, right?”

“Why don’t you consider another approach?”

“A different approach?” Tian Zhang was somewhat confused.

“Weren’t they about searching for demons?

Then we will actually find a demon to lock up!” Dong Zhao said.

“Mountain Master, I don’t quite understand?”

“The Tianyang Sub-Hall claims they are searching for demons, but they haven’t specified who the demon is!

Blood God Sect could be the demon, Fighting God Sect could be the demon, even those who commit murder and kidnapping could be the demons,” Dong Zhao said, his voice growing lower as Tian Zhang leaned in closer.

After a moment, Tian Zhang suddenly exclaimed, “Mountain Master, this is a huge undertaking!”

“If it succeeds, it could bring Jinshan County twenty years of prosperity!”

“Indeed, but currently I have too few people available.”

“That’s exactly why it has a chance of success.”

After saying this, Dong Zhao looked at Tian Zhang and said, “Are you in?

If you are, I’ll issue a secret order for others from the Taoist Institute to support you.

If not, just pretend this conversation never happened.”

“I’m in, why wouldn’t I be!”

“Twenty years ago, I had nothing and was still willing to risk it all, let alone now.”

“People, when they have nothing, are willing to dare all the more.

The more they have, the less daring they become.

If it weren’t so, Lingji Star Hall wouldn’t have been forced to seal their hall.

My Great Chen would not end here!”

Hearing this, Tian Zhang nodded, “Mountain Master, I will prepare for the worst.”

“Then go.

I will issue the order after dawn.”

Hearing this, Tian Zhang stepped back three steps, bowed deeply, and then turned and left.

******

The next day before dawn, Xu Jin, undeterred by thunder, got up for his morning routine, performed three rounds of Dining Dawn Form, and then returned to the dormitory to engrave star patterns.

His evening time was monopolized by the green-clothed man, so if Xu Jin wanted to complete the engraving of the Small Star Gathering Pattern sooner, he had to rely on the daylight hours.

Although the difficulty of Xu Jin’s star pattern engraving had changed from copying to tracing, tracing also couldn’t be accomplished all at once.

Engraving star patterns under a Star Lamp and on his own flesh were completely different matters.

The first and second rounds ended in failure.

The control of Star Power was still not quite right.

By the third round, Xu Jin had gained much experience.

With the half lotus-like Small Star Gathering Pattern, Xu Jin activated his Star Power and, like drawing, perfectly outlined it, with every branch and detail just right, just as the last branch was forming to complete a perfect loop, his head suddenly pained, and his Star Power trembled.

It collapsed!

Xu Jin opened his eyes and let out a long sigh.

Still not enough experience.

In the future, he should remember that when engraving star patterns, it’s best to maintain his Divine Soul Power at its peak.

Afterward, Xu Jin swallowed a Mental Awakening Pill.

Feeling a slight recovery in his Divine Soul Power, Xu Jin somewhat missed the Rejuvenation Pill given to him by the green-clothed man the previous night.

That Rejuvenation Pill took effect in less than three minutes, and it was like being on a stimulant, so very energizing.

Unfortunately, he was only given one last night.

As for the selling price in the Pill Room, it was thirty taels each.

Although Xu Jin still had some silver, he felt that the Mental Awakening Pill was sufficient for now.

Of course, if needed, Xu Jin would not hesitate to buy it.

In the fourth and fifth rounds, Xu Jin was just continuously outlining, constantly gathering experience.

After the efficacy of one Mental Awakening Pill was exhausted, barely managing to finish lunch, Xu Jin fell asleep headfirst.

In the afternoon, Xu Jin was awakened by the urgent ringing of a bell.

“All newly initiated disciples, gather at the Martial Arts Hall within 15 minutes!” a servant shouted loudly.