Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation
Chapter 85 - 81: Shadow Hero and Mingji (Seeking Follows and Monthly Votes)

Chapter 85: Chapter 81: Shadow Hero and Mingji (Seeking Follows and Monthly Votes)

"Wow, the Starlight Shield can be instantly activated now, not bad progress," Xu Jin said, surprised at the moment, the voice of the green-clothed man reappeared, and his figure, like shattered light and shadow, emerged right in front of Xu Jin.

"I thought you had been suppressed and killed all this time; I was even preparing to burn some spirit money for you." Xu Jin put away his smile and humphed.

"You want me dead that badly?" the green-clothed man asked, dissatisfied.

"There are many who want to kill me, and many who can kill me, but in Yan State, there are neither who want nor can." the green-clothed man continued, "Are you saying you missed me?"

Xu Jin humphed twice, then suddenly asked, "Have you disappeared for so long because of the searching demons incident?" He decided to ask directly, not planning to hold it in anymore.

Previously, he wouldn’t have dared to ask.

Now that he knew more about this green-clothed man, even if he did ask, it probably wouldn’t lead to a fallout.

The green-clothed man fell silent, and after a long moment said, "Do you think I am an evil demon?"

"I’m not sure."

"Is it important to you whether I’m an evil demon or not?" the green-clothed man asked.

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

It was a difficult question to answer.

Was it important whether he was an evil demon or not?

Xu Jin wasn’t pedantic, but he still had clear stances.

For example, he really despised the Evil People of the Blood God Sect, and the bandits who harmed the people in Heshui County, especially Zhao Zhen who skinned children alive; Xu Jin absolutely loathed him.

Now he only wished he had killed them more thoroughly; if he had another chance, he would skin and debone them.

"If you really are an evil demon, then I have to carefully see whether you are the kind of evil demon I think," Xu Jin finally responded after a long while.

"The kind of evil demon you think?"

The green-clothed man suddenly laughed, "I thought you were going to act the hero on the spot and kill me, this Shadow Demon."

"Shadow Demon?"

"I am Qi Shanye, known in the Tianyang Star Hall as the Shadow Demon, and the very evil demon responsible for the recent major disturbances in Jinshan County city!"

Xu Jin’s expression suddenly turned solemn, his body straightening as he stared at the back of Qi Shanye in his green clothes, his expression complex.

"However, twenty years ago, people in the Martial World called me the Shadowless Strange Hero, then it gradually changed to Shadow Hero, and later, I became the Shadow Demon. In the past years, I have been named the searching demon of the Tianyang Sub-Hall.

If you’re looking for the searching demon from a few days ago, that was me!

If you’re looking for a real demon in the literal sense, then I’m probably not!" Qi Shanye slowly explained, sighing to himself silently.

If it were anyone else, he absolutely wouldn’t have explained.

From hero to demon is just the ebb and flow of life in this human world.

Those who fixate on this are mostly ordinary people.

It was just this young man who was special, having caught his eye, otherwise...

Suddenly, Xu Jin smiled, joyously, "If what you say is true, then you’re probably not the kind of evil demon I had in mind."

"Wow, you’ve got guts, daring to make excuses for me!" Qi Shanye’s expression suddenly relaxed; he was also afraid.

Afraid that this young man’s principles might not align with his, then wouldn’t all his efforts be in vain?

He didn’t know if there would be time to find another suitable person.

"Do you know the outcome of the recent searching demon incident?

I thought we were capturing the evil demon, but it turned out, the real troublemaker behind it was Zhou Qingzhu, the Mountain Master of the Tianyang Branch. He was the loudest in condemning the searching demons," Xu Jin said, laughing.

This news was a rumor.

With the big commotion at the Tianyang Branch, it was impossible to hide.

Although there was no official statement, the matter had already spread far and wide, let alone within the Taoist Institute.

"Not arresting me? Not reporting me?"

"I only kill real evil demons!"

"You kid!" Qi Shanye laughed out loud.

"By the way, can you reveal your true face, so that I can recover your body if you die in the future!"

"You are that eager for my death, huh!"

Qi Shanye spun around like a whirlwind, sharply slapped Xu Jin on the head, and revealed his true face.

His slightly long, square-jawed face, long eyebrows like rods, quite black, and a rugged beard brought out immense world-weariness, his originally fierce eyes now looked much gentler gazing at Xu Jin.

"Since you’re not afraid, I will tell you about my origins, the origins of what I’ve taught you, so that you don’t accidentally bring disaster upon yourself!"

Qi Shanye proceeded to explain to Xu Jin for nearly an hour.

He talked about various aspects of the Lingji Star Palace, the reasons he was labelled as an evil demon, and also about the Clearing Soul Star Pattern he taught Xu Jin.

The existing Three Great Star Halls, including the destroyed Lingji Star Hall, each hall had at least one secret Star Pattern.

But only the Secret Star Patterns of the Lingji Star Hall were related to the Divine Soul.

The weak have no say in foreign relations, nor in how they are defined.

Thus, the cultivators inheriting the teachings of the sealed Lingji Star Hall had been labelled as evil demons.

"So you’re saying, just by cultivating the teachings from Lingji Star Hall, one becomes an evil demon and gets persecuted?" Xu Jin asked.

"How could that be possible!"

Qi Shanye sneered coldly, "The Three Great Star Halls and the high-ranking officials of various countries, many of them practice the secret techniques of Lingji Star Hall. If you have status, you can use them freely.

But if you lack status, using them is a capital offense!"

Xu Jin fell silent.

It was likely just a demonstration of power; having seen many similar scenarios in his past life, he understood.

"Scared?"

Xu Jin shook his head.

"Don’t worry, you are the seedling I have chosen; I won’t harm you!

You have two choices, one is to only learn the Star Patterns from the Lingji Star Hall and use the Star Skills outwardly. As long as you don’t openly show them, outsiders won’t be able to tell what Star Patterns you practice.

"In the future, if there’s a suitable opportunity, help me find a successor to pass on my legacy, I don’t have the time anymore," Qi Shanye said.

"Huh? You don’t have time, what do you mean?" Xu Jin asked in surprise.

"Don’t interrupt, you’ll find out later.

The second choice is, I teach you the complete inheritance from the Lingji Star Hall, but when you use Star Skills, be sure to avoid being seen. If seen, you must kill them, otherwise, with your current status, it will surely bring about fatal trouble!"

After speaking, Qi Shanye looked down, staring at Xu Jin, "Which option do you choose?"

Facing Qi Shanye’s gaze, Xu Jin pondered, what should he choose?

Just learn the Star Patterns?

That should be the safest.

Learning the Star Skills might likely lead to using them and getting exposed.

But...

"Before making a choice, I have a question?"

"Speak."

"Is our Lingji Star Hall very weak? Twenty years ago, it was one of the Four Great Star Halls, how could it have been beaten into sealing the hall?"

This question seemed to touch on Qi Shanye’s sorrows, "Weak? Our Lingji Star Hall is not weak at all.

Twenty years ago, when I was the Sub-hall Master of the Yan State Branch of the Lingji Star Hall, I could easily defeat any other Star Hall’s Sub-hall Master by myself.

During these twenty years, the Tianyang Star Hall’s main hall sent a Chasing Team to hunt me down, and I killed three of their people. The Cangming Branch Hall sent a Chasing Team after me, and I killed four.

Later, there was a worldwide manhunt, even employing the Hall-Crushing Star Artifact.

Yet, I still freely wander this world.

Over these years, the Sub-hall Master of the Tianyang Star Hall, Hu Xuechuan, gathered more than ten people, with Star Artifacts, setting up an inescapable net, constantly hunting me, yet they still couldn’t do anything to me!

You tell me, is that weak?"

"It sounds... very strong!" Xu Jin responded.

"Yes, so I also don’t understand how our Lingji Star Hall was beaten and forced to close!

Twenty years ago, the power of the Lingji Star Hall should have been the crown of the Four Halls!

But by the time I learned the news, it had already closed!

If I have to find a reason, it’s that there were too few disciples in our Lingji Star Hall like me, who could obtain core inheritance, it was too difficult."

After speaking, Qi Shanye glanced at Xu Jin, "Any more questions?"

"Do you want me to be your successor?" Xu Jin asked.

"Sort of.

But it’s up to you. The matter of the Lingji Star Hall is too heavy, I’m afraid you can’t bear it.

Just follow your heart.

If there’s another opportunity later, just help me find another successor, that is my only request!" Qi Shanye said.

"Okay, then I choose the second path."

A single sheep is driven, but ten sheep are herded.

First, learn it, and if not needed, then not used.

But if driven to desperation, why not use it?

At least there will still be something usable.

That was Xu Jin’s choice and decision.

"Good, I sense that your Divine Soul Power has significantly improved, your Clearing Soul Star Pattern must have completely solidified, right?" Qi Shanye suddenly asked.

"Yes, it was just solidified yesterday."

"You’re quite diligent."

Qi Shanye nodded, "Then I will pass on to you two of the Lingji Star Hall’s secret Star Patterns, the ’Mingji’."

"’Mingji’?"

"What is its power?"

"Infinite applications!"

Xu Jin: "..."

"It can understand Heaven and Earth, know all directions, record the past and future."

Xu Jin still did not understand.

"If you understand it completely, you’ll become the Star Lord of the Lingji Star Hall. Just practice it, and you’ll know its infinite applications." Qi Shanye knew Xu Jin wasn’t one to take action without seeing benefit, and after finishing, added, "Once you’ve initially engraved it successfully, it will make you more sensitive to changes in Star Power. It’s said that when perfected, it can cross Heaven and Earth, traversing Yin-Yang and traveling through myriad realms."

"Aren’t you exaggerating a bit? Have you achieved this?"

Qi Shanye was stunned, "I haven’t achieved it, but that’s what my master taught me, and it’s been passed down through generations like this."

"There’s no Star Skill?"

"Ordinary Star Skills you can learn anywhere, but the unique Star Skills of our Lingji Star Hall are all based on these two secret Star Patterns," Qi Shanye said.

"Okay."

"Completely open your Lower Star Palace to me."

As soon as Qi Shanye finished speaking, Xu Jin hurriedly asked, "My Upper, Middle, and Lower Star Palaces, you’ve taken up two of them, will that affect my learning other Star Patterns in the future?

Will there be no room to engrave?"

"How could that be? After you start Star Casting and Refining Star, you’ll only lack Star Patterns, not complain about having too many.

You should know, late-period mid-high tier Star Skills are all derived from combinations of changes in the Star Patterns.

With these two Star Patterns, many of your Star Skills will become much more powerful!" Qi Shanye said.

"How long will this take to learn?"

"This is quick, it should be fine in just a few days."

"Okay, let’s do it."

In the next moment, Qi Shanye’s hand was already on Xu Jin’s abdomen, and though it felt strange, Xu Jin still endured it for the sake of learning the Star Patterns.

"Just follow my Star Power engraving, maintaining a smooth and balanced Star Power, but do not interrupt."

"Understood."