Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

Chapter 541: Chapter 228: Bones to Ashes

In the House Affairs Hall of the main hall of the Tianyang Star Hall, Hu Xuechuan was somewhat bored, looking at the blood-red dot on the Star Positioning Plate.

This blood-red dot had been the location of Qi Shanye, whom he had been tracking for three long years.

Just a month prior, this blood-red dot had been in an extremely distant position, so much so that the Star Positioning Plate couldn’t even lock on to its specific direction.

But for the past couple of days, the position of this blood-dot representing Qi Shanye on the Star Positioning Plate had been gradually becoming clear.

At the very least, he was now able to lock on to the direction.

It was to the southeast of the main hall of the Tianyang Star Hall, but beyond that, it wasn’t clear.

However, if he wanted to know Qi Shanye’s exact location, it wouldn’t be difficult.

With a few teleports to the Star-picking Tower in the southeast direction, he should be able to pinpoint Qi Shanye’s approximate location and then pursue him. Whether he could catch up was another matter altogether.

But the most crucial question was, even if he did catch up with Qi Shanye, could he hold on to him? That was the real issue.

Over the span of three years, he had caught up with Qi Shanye four times.

The first time, he severely wounded Qi Shanye and acquired a drop of his essence blood, which allowed him to lock onto Qi Shanye’s position like a leech.

The second time, he caught up with Qi Shanye, successfully trapping him in Yan State. However, that scoundrel used a special Star Artifact to mask his presence, leading to a standoff between them.

He firmly blockaded the entire Yan State, then mobilized official forces to round up Qi Shanye.

In the end, Dong Zhao from the Jinshan Taoist Institute meddled in his affairs, ruining everything and even earning a Miracle Merit, which also spoiled the career of his subordinate, Zhou Qingzhu, who was dispatched to serve on the Galaxy Battlefield.

The third time was when Qi Shanye inexplicably gave up on hiding his presence, allowing Hu Xuechuan to catch up with him successfully.

Sadly, his efforts came to naught, and he was nearly killed by Qi Shanye!

The fourth time was even more enraging. After spending half his life savings, he trapped Qi Shanye within the confines of the Hengsha County city of Dachu. It should have been an easy capture, but Qi Shanye somehow deceived him with a Secret Technique, leading to another costly failure!

He had failed four times already,

half a lifetime’s savings gone,

and his career prospects cast aside.

Fortunately, Hu Xuechuan had some connections in the Tianyang Star Hall. Otherwise, he would have been dispatched to serve on the Galaxy Battlefield just like Zhou Qingzhu.

Now, he was biding his time with a menial job in the main hall of the Tianyang Star Hall, seeing if he could advance to the Sixth Tier.

However, Hu Xuechuan was well aware that with his talent and Divine Soul Cultivation, breaking through to the Sixth Tier on his own was a distant dream.

But if he could get his hands on the Clearing Soul Star Pattern from Qi Tianye, he was certain to advance to the Sixth Tier within five to ten years, with the Seventh Tier hopeful within twenty or thirty years!

But now, the problem was that the four consecutive failures had left Hu Xuechuan somewhat scared.

Even if he caught up with Qi Shanye, so what?

It still resulted in failure!

One careless move could cost him his life.

Last time, his steadfast subordinate Zhu Ju was killed in battle.

”Hall Master.”

Suddenly, his old subordinate Lin Lie appeared behind him.

Lin Lie too was implicated when the Yan State Branch Hall was breached by Demon Arrow Mo Ji, but fortunately, Hu Xuechuan managed to save him.

”How goes the contact?” asked Hu Xuechuan.

”Hall Master, I’ve made contact with five people. Only two are willing to come and lend a hand, despite promises of a hefty reward,” Lin Lie said with a despondent tone.

Hu Xuechuan’s brows furrowed. Indeed, support dwindles when one’s influence wanes.

His old subordinates were no longer at his beck and call.

”Two people, plus the two of us, makes four Fifth Tier cultivators. It’s not enough!”

Hu Xuechuan shook his head. ”Old Thief Qi has grown wiser. If he dares to reemerge after a month and a half, it means he’s confident, perhaps having contacted some remnant of Lingji, emboldening him to roam the Central Plains.”

”So... does the Hall Master mean to give up?”

”Give up?”

The words made Hu Xuechuan ponder for a long while.

It was impossible for him to give up.

After investing so much and seeing his future ruined, how could he possibly give up?

But to risk that slim chance, he who had failed four times already did not dare.

If he failed again this time, next time, forget calling two old subordinates, he might not even be able to call a single one.

How was he to turn the tables?

”It seems I have no choice but to use that method,” Hu Xuechuan murmured.

Hearing this, Lin Lie’s expression changed. ”What does the Hall Master intend to do?”

”If I can’t handle this by myself, then it’s time to find a reliable person to share the burden. I can’t afford to fail again. If I do, I’ll become the laughingstock of the Hu Family and will have no choice but to idly wait for death in this menial position.”

”The Hall Master is wise!”

While Lin Lie complimented him, he internally sneered.

If only the Hall Master had realized this sooner, he might have succeeded already.

”Come, follow me. We’re going to meet someone.”

...

*****

October 16th, in the wee hours of the morning. Thunder Falling Mountain Range, 03:30.

Qi Shanye, Demon Arrow Mo Ji, and Xu Jin, all restored to their peak states, had arrived at the chose location.

”If Hu Xuechuan is already here, but I am not yet finished, feel free to use the Emblem and put your safety first,” Qi Shanye instructed Demon Arrow Mo Ji.

”I’m not stupid,” the grumpy Demon Arrow Mo Ji replied discontentedly.

Without seeing Old Qi’s Disciple, it would have been better.

Seeing him was a source of envy and jealousy!

Why couldn’t he have such a disciple?

”Good, then I will begin!”

The next instant, Qi Shanye began chanting, and suddenly a small tower emitting starlight flew out from inside him. It swiftly expanded against the wind, and in the span of two breaths, it had grown into a nine-story high tower glittering with starlight.

Almost immediately as it touched ground, Star Power from all directions surged into the Star Tower like a tide.