Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

70: Chapter 66 Thank you Brother Lu (Please follow)

70: Chapter 66 Thank you Brother Lu (Please follow)

On the evening of July 6th, Xu Jin still hadn’t encountered the green-clothed man.

Xu Jin even began to wonder if this mysterious green-clothed man was truly an evil demon who had already been dealt with.

That would be too sad.

July 7th was the day of the Pill Room Tutor Gan’s examination.

The examination, originally scheduled for several days earlier, had been delayed for quite a few days due to the surprise incident involving the searching demons.

Despite the delays, Xu Jin once again witnessed a scene reminiscent of his previous life’s teachers conducting surprise English recitation exams, where lamentation was widespread.

Many disciples even skipped that day’s morning class to cram.

It wasn’t that they weren’t trying, but they just couldn’t memorize it.

What to do?

Take Qian Xiaohu, for example.

Xu Jin had warned him before, and he had spent more than two hours every day reciting, but whenever he recited, he would easily fall asleep.

Finally, Xu Jin advised him to combine the simple illustrations in the pharmacopoeia and imagine them as vegetables or plants he was familiar with for easier memorization.

That helped a little.

Fortunately, although Tutor Gan called it an examination, it wasn’t actually full text recitation.

It was a spot test.

This made Xu Jin, who had memorized the entire text, feel somewhat at a disadvantage.

Each disciple was only required to randomly pick fifty types of herbs from the pharmacopoeia and describe their appearance, properties, and common locations.

Those who were lucky enough to draw the ones they remembered rejoiced at their good fortune.

Those who drew the ones they hadn’t memorized cursed their bad luck.

The majority were still making an effort, and there were quite a few lucky ones.

After the last mission during this Star-pointing Season, out of the remaining fifty-five disciples, forty-two passed.

Qian Xiaohu also barely made it.

Each pass rewarded the disciple with a Mental Awakening Pill.

A Mental Awakening Pill as a reward was still quite significant for these disciples, worth five taels of silver.

During the previous mission, Xu Jin’s team of ordinary disciples reaped the most, averaging upwards of four hundred taels each, while other teams got a bit less, ranging from one hundred taels to three hundred taels.

This was mainly because they hadn’t completely wiped out the ambushers.

“Tomorrow, there will be a make-up exam.

The day after tomorrow, according to the arrangements of the Taoist Institute, all disciples who chose the Pill Room chores will go to the mountains for three days to complete this month’s duties.

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

Before departure, each of you should go to the Foreign Affairs Hall to collect the backpacks, herb hoes, and other tools needed for entering the mountains, as well as the common medicinal herbs of Green Mountain and the Heaven and Earth Strange Objects Manual,” Tutor Gan explained after the examination.

“Additionally, those who have officially become members of the Star Patrol Guard, if you have patrol tasks in the coming days, it would be best to switch to another task; otherwise, apply for leave at the Foreign Affairs Hall.” At this point, Tutor Gan paused noticeably, his gaze sweeping over Xu Jin, Qiao Ruonan, Luo Geng, and Hong Gang.

“As instructors, I’d especially remind you to consider switching to participate in this excursion.

Moreover, try to participate in each mountain excursion hereafter.”

As Xu Jin and others looked on, Tutor Gan suddenly stood up, pointed towards the depths of Green Mountain in the distance and said, “Green Mountain is vast and stretches for thousands of miles, rarely trodden by humans.

Born of nature, it is filled with riches everywhere.

Yet alongside its treacherous terrain, deep within the mountains, live countless wild beasts, and even fierce beasts that have swallowed starlight, as well as Star Beasts possessing Star Cores and natural Star Patterns, making it extremely dangerous.

Our woodcutters, medicine gatherers, and hunters of Jinshan County dare not venture more than fifty miles into the mountain.

They are aware of the various treasures deep inside Green Mountain but dare not enter.

It’s possible to enter and pick treasures but not to return alive.

However, you are different.

Your missions to gather medicine and search for Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures are not only chores but also important tasks of the Taoist Institute, thus each monthly mountain trip will definitely be overseen by an expert.

Even if you encounter Star Beasts deep inside Green Mountain, your safety is somewhat assured.

And with your cultivation levels, gathering various medicinal materials is easier.

Therefore, I strongly recommend that you do not miss the Institute’s monthly opportunity to enter the mountain.

Especially disciples from modest backgrounds.

This is an important channel for you to obtain cultivation resources at this stage.

It is even the most important channel for you to gather Starlight from the Star Tower at this stage, without equal.

From ancient times to now, the poor focus on scholarship while the rich on martial prowess; I do not wish to overemphasize the importance of cultivation resources.

That’s all I have to say; it’s up to you now.”

Having said that, Tutor Gan turned and, with a faint scent of medicinal herbs, returned to his Pill Room.

Xu Jin, Qian Xiaohu, Qiao Ruonan, Sha Youtian, and Hong Gang seemed enlightened.

Tutor Gan was probably hinting at them, just short of stating it explicitly.

If the family cannot provide enough support, then you must strive yourself!

After class, Lu Xianbing actively approached Xu Jin and spoke at length about the benefits of the Star-picking Order.

He repeatedly mentioned the benefits of the Martial Arts Secret Realm, urging Xu Jin to hasten his breakthrough to the Sixth Layer of Dining Dawn, stating that it was second only to Cultivation in importance.

Though Xu Jin already knew this, he took to heart this favor shown by Lu Xianbing.

“Oh, by the way, Brother Lu, you mentioned that the Martial Arts Secret Realm has rankings.

What rank are you?

With your strength, you must be doing well, right?” Xu Jin suddenly thought of this and casually asked.

In an instant, Lu Xianbing looked as if he had been hit by frost, “Don’t even mention it.

All my matches are against those scoring within ten points, and I’ve only won three out of five battles, with my ranking still below a millionth place.”

“Three out of five victories is still very impressive.”

Xu Jin was actually somewhat surprised, as in his view, with the talent and strength of Lu Xianbing, he should have achieved five consecutive victories upon entering the Martial Arts Secret Realm.

Yet there were only three wins.

It seemed that focusing on the Star Skill path was the right choice.

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

Xu Jin knew there was no limit to the number of times, and he was aware of the relevant details, but he wanted to know if Lu Xianbing had only fought five matches, or if five matches a day was his upper limit?

“Of course not, theoretically, the number of martial learning sessions in the Martial Arts Secret Realm is unlimited, as long as you have Starlight, but it’s related to your Divine Soul Power.

My Divine Soul Power, when at full state, can only support me for five matches, and to continue, I would need to take a Rejuvenation Pill.

But I need to save the Rejuvenation Pills for the Great Gathering Star Pattern,” Lu Xianbing explained clearly.

“I see.”

Xu Jin understood that, as of now, five matches a day were Lu Xianbing’s upper limit.

And Xu Jin’s daily upper limit was six cases.

Indeed, the Clearing Soul Star Pattern is formidable.

“By the way, you have already broken through to the fifth layer of Dining Dawn, so your Small Star Gathering Pattern should be ready, right?” Lu Xianbing suddenly asked.

“Almost, just the final touch, within a day or two.”

Xu Jin would have liked to acknowledge it, but Ning Yuchan hadn’t announced it to him yet.

But it seemed that Lu Xianbing was somewhat puzzled by his fast cultivation speed.

But no matter, he would get used to it eventually.

On their way, Xu Jin suddenly realized that he and Lu Xianbing were on the same path, both heading towards the Star Patrol Guard’s military camp.

“Brother Lu, what is this?” Xu Jin was a bit puzzled.

“Same as you, going to the Star Patrol Guard to arrange the patrol duties; the day after tomorrow we’re heading into the mountains.”

“You’re also going into the mountains?

I thought with your cultivation resources, you wouldn’t need to go,” Xu Jin said.

“How can I not lack cultivation resources?

It’s just that my family has some savings which allow me to have a bit more for cultivation, but it’s definitely not ample.

Like Rejuvenation Pills, I take one a day, Mental Awakening Pills twice a day, Star Refilling Pills four times a day—that’s one hundred and twenty taels of silver a day, three to four thousand taels a month.

The family’s supply to support my consumption is quite substantial.

Moreover, it’s not just me alone in my family who is cultivating.

But even these resources are not enough.

I should be able to take two to three Rejuvenation Pills a day, and that’s just the low-grade ones.

There are also top-grade Rejuvenation Pills that are doubly effective and cost a hundred taels each, which I still can’t afford.

So, I must go into the mountains.

I must get more cultivation resources!

On the path of cultivation, one must strive!” Lu Xianbing said.

After listening, Xu Jin fell silent.

Lu Xianbing’s words had outright stunned him.

By this calculation, his over 1,800 taels of silver would only suffice for half a month of his cultivation.

Damn, if someone like you, a second-generation cultivator and an official’s second-generation, strives so hard, calculates so carefully, and competes so intensely, how are ordinary people supposed to live?

Suddenly, Xu Jin felt that he had been a bit too relaxed lately.

He must compete!

He must!

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

“For what?”

Lu Xianbing was somewhat puzzled.

And others like Qian Xiaohu, Hong Gang, and Qiao Ruonan, who were traveling the same path, also reflected upon their dialogue.

At the Star Patrol Guard camp, they met Flag Master Cui Tianqi, and after checking the patrol duties, it was quite coincidental that Xu Jin, the team leader, was scheduled for July 10, and Lu Xianbing, the team leader, was scheduled for July 11.

Both of them within the time frame for heading into the mountains.

Immediately, adjustments were made; Xu Jin was moved up to tomorrow, while Lu Xianbing was pushed back to July 13 for patrol duty.

Among the Star Patrol Guards, there were not only disciples practicing in the Taoist Institute but also many who had left the institute with no hope of Star Casting; they rarely went into the mountains anymore.

On the night of July 7, the green-clothed men did not appear.

On the morning of July 8, after the early class ended, Xu Jin dressed neatly, leading a team of Star Patrol Guards, began patrolling Jinshan County City.

The main task was to patrol the four gates, the pier, and the main streets; there was basically nothing significant.

However, the institute had arranged this mainly to deter people with bad intentions and to stabilize the public’s mind.

For decades, compared to the county guard with not so good military discipline, Jinshan Taoist Institute’s Star Patrol Guard was indeed the stabilizer of Jinshan County City.

On the West Gate Pier, Xu Jin led the team on patrol.

A laborer carrying a load suddenly paused, inadvertently giving Xu Jin a few more glances.

His gaze followed Xu Jin’s figure.

A hundred breaths later, as Xu Jin and his team finished inspecting the entire pier and began to leave, this young laborer suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground.

Seizing the opportunity of falling, he sat on the ground while holding his shin, continuing to scrutinize Xu Jin, observing him clearly.

After Xu Jin left, this young laborer carrying the load slowly got up, murmured, “He really does look like him!

Could it make a few taels of silver?”