The dark figure that suddenly rushed out from the roadside startled Xu Jin, and while retreating, he assumed the stance of the Big Dipper Killing Fist.
"Jin Ge, it's me!" The dark figure suddenly stepped forward and spoke.
Borrowing the Starlight, Xu Jin recognized the person, "Liu Ji?"
"Jin Ge, it's me! Jin Ge, please help me too, I also want to succeed at Star Pointing." Liu Ji said anxiously.
"Hmm? I've told you all my experience with Star Pointing, truly, I haven't held anything back!" Xu Jin said sincerely.
Seeing Liu Ji's anxious look, Xu Jin roughly understood; in the past two days, Qian Xiaohu, Sha Youtian, and others had successively succeeded at Star Pointing, which made Liu Ji, who had been confidently claiming he was about to succeed at Star Pointing, a little flustered.
"Jin Ge, please, help me! If I can't succeed at Star Pointing, I'm finished!"
Flustered, Liu Ji immediately wanted to kowtow to Xu Jin on the spot. Xu Jin quickly stopped him; he couldn't just accept this kowtow.
After thinking for a moment, Xu Jin carefully said, "Liu Ji, I heard from the Senior Brothers who have already succeeded at Star Pointing that taking Waking Spirit Pill might help a little with Star Pointing. You can buy a few to try."
Liu Ji had a bitter expression, "I bought them! I've already taken four, but I still haven't succeeded at Star Pointing."
"Then... I only know this much. Just hold on a little longer, there are still several days left. You're so hardworking, you should be able to succeed at Star Pointing." Xu Jin encouraged him.
"Jin Ge, I heard from Senior Brother Luo and the others that if you take one Waking Spirit Pill each morning and evening class during the last few days, the probability of succeeding at Star Pointing is still quite high. How about you help me!" Liu Ji suddenly said.
Xu Jin was stunned, and suddenly realized.
This kid knew about Waking Spirit Pill, had already taken four, and came to him again, so he wasn't asking for experience or insights at all, but for silver.
"Liu Ji, you know my family's situation, there's really no surplus money. Even if I wanted to help you, I can't." Xu Jin said sincerely.
Xu Jin did have a few Waking Spirit Pills in his hand, but those were his cultivation resources, related to his future and the safety of his whole family, and absolutely could not be lent out.
If he had the ability, Xu Jin would help others, but he would never be a bleeding heart.
"No, Jin Ge, as long as you want to help me, you can help me." Liu Ji said anxiously.
Xu Jin looked puzzled, somewhat confused.
"The Tianhe Gang in Prefecture City has long put out word that as long as someone who has succeeded at Star Pointing is willing to step forward or act as a guarantor, they can lend one hundred taels of silver directly without collateral.
Jin Ge, you have succeeded at Star Pointing, you are qualified. You just need to show up, and you can help me, please!" Liu Ji said anxiously.
"Once I succeed at Star Pointing, I'll return it immediately!" Liu Ji added again.
Xu Jin stared fixedly at Liu Ji, his expression suddenly turning cold.
Damn, he didn't expect that Liu Ji, who was in the same dorm, would be such a scumbag.
Asking for a loan with the Tianhe Gang as a guarantor, this wasn't helping someone, this was selling Xu Jin to help him, Liu Ji.
And acting as a guarantor, why didn't he ask Luo Geng who guided him?
"You think I'm stupid? Get lost!"
Xu Jin immediately turned hostile and shoved Liu Ji, making him stumble.
Don't mention it, just two days after starting Body Tempering, plus the Blood Replenishing Pill and Foundation Solidifying Pill, Xu Jin's small frame had begun to rapidly become stronger.
"Jin Ge, please!"
Liu Ji wanted to kneel down and beg again, but Xu Jin went straight into the dorm without looking back, not giving him a chance at all.
Looking at Xu Jin's disappearing back, Liu Ji, who had been half-kneeling, slowly stood up, his face gloomy.
"Jin Ge, Jin Ge, Liu Ji asked me to help him borrow silver, saying that someone who has succeeded at Star Pointing can borrow one hundred taels of silver from the Tianhe Gang immediately as long as they are willing to sign a written agreement. I was going to refuse, but he was going to kneel and kowtow to me, so I couldn't bring myself to..."
"You agreed?" Xu Jin, who had just lain down, suddenly opened his eyes when he heard Qian Xiaohu's words.
"Not yet, I just said I'd think about it and talk about it tomorrow." Qian Xiaohu stammered.
"You want to agree?" Xu Jin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Seeing how pitiful he was..."
"Pitiful?"
Xu Jin sneered, "Then think about it, what if he doesn't succeed at Star Pointing?"
Qian Xiaohu's expression became serious, and just as he was about to say something, Xu Jin continued, "Also, do you think the Tianhe Gang would lend you one hundred taels of silver based on just your written agreement because your face is big, Qian Xiaohu? Or because your background is strong? Your strength is strong enough for them to do you a favor? Or is it for those few percent interest?"
"Jin Ge, I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Jin Ge." Qian Xiaohu, who had understood, looked grateful.
It's good that he understood. Xu Jin's guidance to Qian Xiaohu could only go this far. If he still didn't listen to advice, then there was nothing he could do.
Only now did Xu Jin completely understand that this fellow Liu Ji wasn't treating him like a fool, but was searching for a fool like finding a needle in a haystack. If he could fool one, it would be a success.
From now on, not only should he stay far away from such people, but he should also be wary whenever there is contact.
***
Morning class on June 14th was as usual, but after the noon break, Qian Xiaohu woke Xu Jin up early and hurried to the Martial Arts Hall in the Outer Courtyard of the Dao Academy.
After succeeding at Star Pointing, some of the content in the Six Arts of Star Martial class was different and taught separately.
The Six Arts of Star Martial were Killing, Tracking, Forging, Medicine Inquiry, Beast Taming, and Sea Exploration.
Currently, only the first four arts were offered. Among them, the Killing and Tracking courses were taught separately for those who had succeeded at Star Pointing and those who had not.
Xu Jin and Qian Xiaohu arrived relatively early, but there were already more than a dozen teenagers seated in the Outer Courtyard's Martial Arts Hall. After Xu Jin and Qian Xiaohu found a place to sit down, Instructors Cui Tianqi arrived about ten minutes later.
Instructors Cui Tianqi had a full beard, was extremely burly, like a human bear, making people feel intimidated.
Xu Jin counted, a total of sixty-three people came.
This meant that in this Star Gathering Season, out of over 460 people, only sixty-three had succeeded at Star Pointing so far. The success rate for Star Pointing was less than two percent, which was quite low.
"Hmm, seven more people have succeeded at Star Pointing, not bad." Instructors Cui Tianqi's gaze swept over Xu Jin, slightly surprised. He still had a deep memory of this teenager who was escorted back by the County Guard.
Especially the reason, 'no hope of Star Pointing, feeling depressed'. At that time, he felt like beating someone.
He didn't expect him to actually succeed at Star Pointing.
"Since there are new people, today's class, as usual, will be about the most basic Star Power usage methods for the Big Dipper Killing Fist. This will continue until the end of this Star Gathering Season. Those who don't want to listen can leave." Cui Tianqi said.
Hearing this, Yue Daqi, who was sitting alone, stood up, cupped his fists in salute to Cui Tianqi, and left. Then Ren Xiaoxiang and Zhou Du, who ranked second and third in Star Pointing, also saluted and left.
However, only three people left.
"Alright, Lu Xianbing, you first demonstrate your Big Dipper Killing Fist to these new Junior Brothers." Coach Cui said.
Lu Xianbing was a tall teenager with long arms and legs, a resolute face, and a sturdy build, clearly from a good family.
Upon hearing this, he first saluted the Instructors and all the teenagers. As he shifted his feet and assumed the starting stance of the Big Dipper Killing Fist, Star light lit up on his neck hidden by his clothes, his hands, and his left ankle.
"Fourth Level!"
"He's at Canxia Fourth Level!"
"So fast!"
The teenagers exclaimed, and Xu Jin and Qian Xiaohu also looked envious.
Celestial Phenomenon Fourth Level Star Martial Artists were highly sought after in Prefecture City.
"He Yin Yang!"
With a low shout, Lu Xianbing continuously blocked with his hands, and suddenly blocked out a circular, semi-circular Star Shield, holding it in front of him.
As if demonstrating, Coach Cui casually picked up a long spear and thrust it towards the Star Shield Lu Xianbing had put up. The momentum was extremely fierce, with the sound of air breaking.
Lu Xianbing only slightly pushed the Star Shield, and it firmly blocked the long spear, which then fell to the ground.
With another movement, it was Qi Wan Shi.
He continuously struck with his fists and feet. With each strike, whether it was the tip of his foot or the surface of his fist, a layer of Star light would cover it. The Star light would dissipate when it hit a solid object.
With the final strike, Lu Xianbing directly punched the bluestone next to the Martial Arts Hall.
Boom!
Stone chips flew everywhere.
A one-inch deep fist print was directly blasted into the bluestone. Several teenagers sitting nearby were startled and kept backing away.
"This is called Star Mang, including the Star Shield created by the first form, He Yin Yang. Both are practical combat methods of the Big Dipper Killing Fist, the most basic and lowest level Basic Star Art, but a Star Art that must be activated through Star Martial Moves.
But don't underestimate it because it's a Basic Star Art. The most basic is the most important, and at critical moments, it's even more important."
While Lu Xianbing was shocking everyone, Coach Cui began to explain.
The Big Dipper Killing Fist is divided into four Realms: Beginner, Minor Accomplishment, Great Accomplishment, and Completion.
These four Realms are mainly distinguished by whether Star Mang can be produced. Being able to blast out Star Mang or a Star Shield after completing one form and three Moves is Minor Accomplishment. Being able to produce Star Mang with any Move is Great Accomplishment. Being able to produce the corresponding Star Mang or Star Shield with a wave of the hand or foot without using any Moves is Completion.
But Minor Accomplishment is easy, Great Accomplishment is difficult, and Completion is even more difficult!
Those with exceptional talent can reach Minor Accomplishment in three to five days and Great Accomplishment in two to three months, but reaching Completion requires two to three years of hard work.
Most people can reach Minor Accomplishment in two to three months, and perhaps Great Accomplishment in two to three years, but reaching Completion is hard to say.
If the Big Dipper Killing Fist can be cultivated to Minor Accomplishment, it is not only extremely practical, but the speed of Body Tempering will also greatly increase. If one or two forms can be practiced to the Minor Accomplishment Realm, the time to break through to Celestial Phenomenon Fifth Level will also be greatly reduced.
Afterward, Coach Cui personally demonstrated the Big Dipper Killing Fist. With every movement, Star Shields and Star Mang appeared at will and could appear in any position, which made Xu Jin feel horrified.
Isn't this a human Gundam?
Looking at the shocked eyes of the teenagers, Coach Cui with the big beard still enjoyed their surprised and worshipful gazes. He talked about many details of how the Big Dipper Killing Fist's force was activated, especially the effect of the speed and sequence of force on Body Tempering. Many people were confused, but Xu Jin listened with rapt attention.
He verified it one by one with what he had practiced in the star lamp, and many doubts were suddenly clarified.
Many teenagers also practiced on the spot and asked Coach Cui for guidance.
After listening for a while, Xu Jin simply immersed his mind in the star lamp and practiced directly within the star lamp.
Practicing on the spot consumed a lot of Star Power, and before Canxia First Level, Basic Star Art, which is Star Shield, could not be produced.
Practicing within the star lamp, Xu Jin didn't worry about Star Power consumption and could exert his full strength. When he encountered Star Power stagnation or didn't understand something, Xu Jin would go directly to ask Cui Tianqi, then pretend to make a few Moves, and immerse his mind back into the star lamp to practice.
In this situation, time passed quickly, but Xu Jin's progress was also huge.
More than an hour later, after repeated asking for guidance and practicing, Xu Jin was able to produce a Star Shield every time he performed the Big Dipper Killing Fist and the He Yin Yang form within the star lamp.
Of course, he could only produce a Star Shield after completing one form and three Moves, which counted as the first form, He Yin Yang, reaching Minor Accomplishment. The second form, Qi Wan Shi, was also almost there.
"Alright, I'll teach up to here today. If you have any questions, you can also find me privately." Coach Cui with the big beard instructed and left first, but many teenagers were still practicing hard and contemplating on the spot.
Another half an hour later, Xu Jin felt it was about time and it was almost time to eat, so he prepared to leave.
His mind left the star lamp and returned to the Spirit Fight Platform. Xu Jin subconsciously glanced at the jade tablet.
Suddenly, he found that there was an extra line of text on the Star Altar Jade Tablet.
【First-Order Spirit Fight Platform】
【Platform Master: Xu Jin】
【Received the favor of the Star, worship once daily, can obtain a wisp of Starlight】
【star lamp: one】
【Cultivable items: zero】
【Star Art: Basic Star Shield, can be solidified】
【Can be upgraded】
Xu Jin understood Star Art Basic Star Shield and the like, but what was this 'can be solidified'?
Subconsciously, Xu Jin was no longer in a hurry to eat. He immersed his mind and began to study it again.