June, 1762 of the Dou Calendar.
Yan Prefecture, Jinshan County, within the Jinshan Dao Academy.
The sky was on the verge of brightening, Dawn was approaching.
Amidst the urgent sound of clappers, a group of apprentices from the Jinshan Dao Academy yawned and got up, then proceeded with the daily routine of life's great event - going to the latrine.
Xu Jin was no exception.
However, before going to the latrine, Xu Jin first returned to his room and took out three or four pebbles he had picked up from his small bag before entering.
Inside the latrine, there were useful bamboo slips, which were not only rough for wiping but, crucially, were reused.
After one apprentice finished using it, the next would swish it in a bucket of water and continue using it.
As for the water, no one knew how often it was changed; it was already murky.
Just based on this point, Xu Jin, who had transmigrated here a few months ago, couldn't stand it.
He desperately wanted to transmigrate back. Although the chance was slim, he had to try.
Having been in this world for over three months, Xu Jin no longer thought about long legs, slender waists, or long black hair, nor about beer, lobster, or spicy hot pot. Xu Jin only wanted the cheap and convenient toilet paper from his previous life.
However, this was not the most fundamental reason why Xu Jin urgently wanted to transmigrate back.
After taking care of his personal needs, Xu Jin followed the crowd of apprentices to the morning class square of the Jinshan Dao Academy, quickly found his spot, took off his shirt, revealing a bony frame.
In the center of his chest, a circular Star Mark about the size of a baby's fist was vaguely visible. The Star Mark was the same color as his skin, with only the lines faintly discernible.
In the entire morning class square, except for a small number of females, almost all the male apprentices had taken off their shirts like Xu Jin.
However, most of them were strong; Xu Jin's bony frame was unique.
The body Xu Jin had transmigrated into had some issues.
A moment later, a ray of light suddenly appeared in the east. The urgent sound of metal and stone hitting the ground appeared at the edge of the square. A woman in a light green tight-fitting outfit, with a slender figure and a green veil covering her face, leaning on a crutch, appeared at the front of the square like a whirlwind.
Although he had seen this scene hundreds of times, each time it left Xu Jin somewhat shocked.
Even the fastest runners in his previous life couldn't run as fast as this Instructor Ning with a Lame .
This was Instructor Ning Yuchan, the Instructors for their current session of the spring Star Pointing gathering. The youths called her Iron Crutch Ning, and some called her Ning Rakshasa. Many youths privately called her Lame Ning, but Xu Jin dared not.
“Celestial Phenomenon appears, Canxia Style, begin!”
Immediately, the youths stepped forward, slightly squatted, and held their hands in front of them as if embracing something. Facing the first ray of light, they slightly closed their eyes, appearing relaxed yet not entirely so, and began to inhale and exhale, facing the morning glow.
Each inhale and exhale lasted for ten seconds.
In just a moment, changes occurred in the bodies of these hundreds of youths, and the levels were clearly distinct.
One youth, with just one breath, had the Star Mark on his chest begin to shine, emitting faint Starlight. With each inhale and exhale, the Starlight from his chest Star Mark had already covered his entire chest and abdomen. The Starlight had even covered his hands and was spreading towards his right leg.
Instructor Ning Yuchan's gaze towards this youth was clearly the most satisfied.
There were also more than ten youths whose chest Star Marks also shone with faint Starlight, but the Starlight from their chest Star Marks mostly only covered their chest and abdomen, with only a few individuals having the Starlight spreading towards their hands.
There were also over forty youths whose chest Star Mark's radiance only spread within their chest and abdomen with each inhale and exhale.
As for the remaining three hundred or so youths, their chest Star Marks, like Xu Jin's, remained dim and lusterless. Occasionally, the radiance of their chest Star Mark would light up, but it would quickly dim again.
Instructor Ning's gaze scanned these youths.
There are only a few days left. She wonders how many more youths can successfully solidify their Star Marks.
At this moment, Xu Jin was also diligently circulating the Canxia Style, while simultaneously visualizing the Star Mark on his chest in his mind and imagining the glow between heaven and earth being inhaled into his mouth and then sent into the Star Mark.
He was extremely focused.
With each inhale and exhale, the Star Mark on Xu Jin's chest also began to flicker with faint Starlight, but whenever it lit up, the Starlight would quickly extinguish again.
However, it was clear that as the Canxia Style continued, the duration of the Starlight from Xu Jin's chest Star Mark also grew longer and longer.
The possibility of it completely lighting up was also increasing.
Even Instructor Ning Yuchan's gaze towards Xu Jin became more frequent.
Xu Jin was slightly special, and she still hoped that this youth would successfully solidify his Star Mark.
Suddenly, Ning Yuchan's gaze flickered towards Xu Jin's direction, because Xu Jin's rosy lips, which were performing the Celestial Phenomenon, suddenly turned bluish, and the color drained from his face rapidly.
“It's happening again!”
Sighing inwardly, Instructor Ning Yuchan hobbled towards Xu Jin. Before she could reach him, Xu Jin had already let out a muffled groan and collapsed to the ground.
Just like the previous times, Xu Jin's lips were bluish, his heart pounded like a drum, his body was drenched in sweat, and his mouth was wide open, gasping for breath. His right hand trembled as he reached for the leather pouch at his waist, but he couldn't grasp it.
Before Instructor Ning arrived, a youth named Qian, who was beside Xu Jin, had already skillfully taken a heart-saving pill from Xu Jin's waist pouch and fed it into Xu Jin's mouth.
“Just circulate the Canxia breathing technique, don't do any visualization.”
In a moment, Xu Jin's breathing began to stabilize, and the bluish color on his face gradually faded. Only then did Ning Yuchan leave, leaving a remark, “You are not feeling well, so don't practice today.” She shook her head helplessly as she spoke.
This Xu Jin's talent is not bad, but his body has problems, and they are congenital.
Xu Jin also had a helpless look on his face.
This kind of situation has occurred three times since he transmigrated here.
Furthermore, based on Xu Jin's not-so-extensive medical knowledge learned from online popular science in his previous life, this body most likely has congenital heart disease.
The original owner probably died because of this.
And he has triggered it four times during cultivation.
This is also the fundamental reason why Xu Jin wants to transmigrate back.
The world before him is still very novel. It is said there are Star Art Masters who can chase stars and catch the moon. Xu Jin is still very eager to explore it, especially since he has the opportunity to Cultivate now.
But this body seems to have congenital heart disease. He always feels like there's a large stone pressing on his chest, making it difficult to breathe. When he Cultivates to a critical point, it triggers an attack, causing his cultivation to fail.
If the illness becomes severe one day, he will simply die.
No matter which world he is in, living is the most important thing.
Moreover, the reason the original owner's father spent everything to send him to this Jinshan Dao Academy was because there was a possibility of curing his serious illness here.
Of course, it was only a possibility.
Therefore, Xu Jin is very eager to transmigrate back.
He doesn't want to die.
Although his previous body wasn't a muscular hulk, it wasn't bad either.
Normally, it's basically impossible to transmigrate back, but Xu Jin feels that maybe he can try, because he has figured out how he transmigrated here.
He wants to try if he can transmigrate back using the same method.
During the May Day holiday, while traveling in Longdi, Xu Jin passed by a dilapidated small temple. It turned out to be a Wuhou Temple. Xu Jin went in to look around and pay his respects.
The Daoist monk guarding the temple strongly recommended their Wuhou Temple's Star Protection Altar, saying that although it couldn't extend life, it could increase blessings and dispel disasters.
Anyway, there was no harm in it. Xu Jin had a little understanding of this aspect, and with the idea of 'better safe than sorry,' Xu Jin spent a hundred yuan to try it.
The Daoist monk didn't charge much, but the ritual he prepared was quite good.
Incense and candles, oil lamps, jade ritual objects, a ritual robe, and a sacrificial text of a few dozen characters.
He instructed Xu Jin to wear the ritual robe, step on the nine stars, light the star lamps (oil lamps) and incense and candles one by one, and then let Xu Jin silently recite the sacrificial text nine times. After that, Xu Jin arrived here.
Now, Xu Jin wants to try if he can transmigrate back using this Star Protection ritual.
Since discovering that this body was ill, Xu Jin has been preparing for this matter. Now, he is only missing the last jade ritual object.
“Morning class dismissed.”
With Instructor Ning Yuchan's announcement, the three-hour morning class ended.
Almost everyone looked exhausted. This Canxia Style was extremely draining.
However, today Instructor Ning Yuchan did not leave immediately. Instead, she looked at the tired youths and suddenly said, “This session of Star Pointing will end in seven days. The Star Marks imprinted on your bodies will also disappear after seven days.
In the last seven days, I hope you will cast aside all distracting thoughts and wholeheartedly Cultivate and study, striving for Star Pointing.
Even if you successfully achieve Star Pointing within the final deadline, you can still receive a C-minus evaluation and still be able to Cultivate Star Art.
But if you fail Star Pointing.”
Ning Yuchan's gaze swept over the youths who had not yet successfully achieved Star Pointing, “Not to mention that your families may not be able to afford the huge sum of two hundred taels of silver needed for a second Star Mark imprint, even if they can afford it and you successfully achieve Star Pointing, the evaluation you receive will at most be an unranked D-grade, and whether you can Cultivate Star Art is still uncertain.
So, in these last seven days, all of you, give it your all!”
After speaking, the iron crutch paused slightly, then stepped out over ten meters. With a few leaps, Ning Yuchan disappeared.
Xu Jin slowly got up and let out a helpless sigh.
He did want to give it his all, but as soon as he did, he would have an attack and be on the verge of death.
He could only try that Star Protection ritual.
Now, his Star Protection ritual is all prepared, only lacking a jade ritual object, which is actually a jade tablet.
He has also found the jade tablet, but jade objects are quite expensive everywhere. The jade tablet he found costs five taels of silver, and he is still short by two taels.
It's just that no matter where you are, shit is hard to eat, and money is hard to earn.
At noon, after hurriedly attending two lessons of the Six Arts of Star Martial, Xu Jin had been worrying about how to make money. Suddenly, the gatekeeper called out his name.
“Xu Jin, someone is here to visit!”
Joy first appeared on Xu Jin's face, but then it turned to worry.
He had no relatives or friends in this Jinshan Dao Academy. The person who came to visit him must be the original owner's father, Xu Dajiang.
Xu Dajiang was extremely good to the original owner, or rather, to Xu Jin. He would visit every half month, and even the current Xu Jin could ask him for anything.
It was also thanks to the care of this cheap Old Dad, Xu Dajiang, that the transmigrated Xu Jin's life was still bearable.
The problem now is that Xu Jin wants to transmigrate back.
“Dad! Jiang'er.”
At the entrance of the Jinshan Dao Academy, Xu Dajiang, carrying a bundle, and a graceful young girl were eagerly looking forward.
“Xu Jin!”
“Brother!”
Seeing Xu Jin coming, his younger sister, Xu Jiang, happily waved.
As before, the family of three sat down under the large willow tree not far from the Dao Academy entrance. His younger sister, Xu Jiang, opened the bundle and took things out.
“Brother, these are your clean clothes for changing. Later, you can take off your dirty clothes, and I'll take them back to wash and bring them back to you next time.”
“Brother, this is the wheat cake I baked myself this morning. It's still soft.”
“Brother, these are the broad beans I stir-fried. They're very crispy.”
“Brother, these are the bullfrogs Dad caught in the field. I boiled them and then fried them in oil. They're delicious. Quickly try some.”
After sitting down, 14-year-old Xiao Jiang'er's mouth and hands didn't stop. She kept taking things out.
Xu Jin was not polite and ate heartily.
The Dao Academy provided meals. Those who hadn't successfully achieved Star Pointing could only eat until they were full. Xu Jin was weak, so Xu Dajiang would give him extra silver to buy some good food to supplement his body. Although it wasn't much, Xu Jin saved it all.
This was not a complaint; on the contrary, Xu Jin was very clear that Xu Dajiang had already given everything for Xu Jin.
“Dad, Jiang'er, you eat too.”
Xu Jin spoke while eating, and seeing that Xu Dajiang and Xu Jiang only nodded but didn't eat, he didn't stop with his hands either. While eating himself, he also fed them.
Experience from previous visits had made Xu Jin understand long ago that if he didn't feed them, this father and daughter would absolutely not eat.
They were both planning to save it for Xu Jin to eat.
After only a few bites, Xu Dajiang found an excuse to move to the side, unwilling to eat more of the good food.
After eating, his younger sister, Xu Jiang, fetched water from the nearby river. “Brother, lie on this stone, and I'll wash and comb your hair. Look at your hair, what has it become?”
Xu Jin responded awkwardly and obediently lay down.
The second problem after transmigrating was having long hair.
Xu Jin, who used to have short hair everywhere, was at a loss when faced with his own long hair.
Although he had made some progress in managing it recently, it was still messy, the kind where hair flew everywhere.
Every time his younger sister, Xu Jiang, came, she would wash and comb Xu Jin's hair.
Under the big willow tree, sunlight scattered lightly. Xu Jin lay on the large green stone, and his younger sister, Xiao Jiang'er, held a small wooden comb, her face full of affection as she combed Xu Jin's hair. A gentle breeze swayed.
He had never experienced this kind of peace, neither in his previous life nor in this one.
Having a younger sister is also quite nice, Xu Jin thought.
A younger sister who is so graceful, gentle, and lovable is hard to find even with a lantern.
After a while, Xu Jiang finished tidying Xu Jin's long hair and tied it up, combing it neatly. Xu Jin himself felt refreshed.
“Xu Jin, how is your Star Pointing coming along?” At this moment, Old Dad Xu Dajiang, who had been avoiding for a while, also came over.
“Not yet.” Xu Jin said gloomily, “I feel like I'm close, but then the illness acts up again.”
“Alas!”
Xu Dajiang sighed deeply. There wasn't a trace of disappointment in his eyes; only worry and pain.
Even his younger sister, Xu Jiang, became nervous, “What should we do? Brother's Star Pointing this session is almost...”
Xu Dajiang glared at her, and Jiang'er pursed her lips, “It's not like your brother isn't trying. I feel that if he tries hard, he can definitely succeed in these last few days.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Jiang'er nodded repeatedly.
After speaking, Xu Dajiang directly took out a small cloth bag from his Arms . “Xu Jin, this is two taels and three qian of silver. You can buy some extra good food to supplement your body. Don't be stingy, you need to eat your fill to have the energy to Cultivate and achieve Star Pointing well.
Dad has plenty of strength now and can earn silver!”
“Exactly, exactly, I can also mend and wash clothes to earn money,” Xiao Jiang'er quickly added.
Xu Jin's lips moved slightly, but he finally took the small cloth bag.
“Dad, Jiang'er, be careful on your way.”
Back in his room, Xu Jin's mood was somewhat complicated.
He wondered if that Star Protection ritual could successfully send him back?
What if it succeeded?
He was a little reluctant to leave this younger sister.
After pondering for a while, Xu Jin still got up and asked for leave from the Instructor who taught the Six Arts of Star Martial. He had enough silver, so he needed to prepare the items for the Star Protection ritual.
Let's just survive first.
The original owner probably died from the illness. Xu Jin has been in this world for three months, and adding his two lives together, he's only in his early twenties. He hasn't lived enough yet.
In the past three months, Xu Jin had already inquired clearly about the information and prices of the items he needed to purchase.
After going around, he bought the necessary incense and candles, oil lamps, and copper bells. He entered a jade shop he had inquired about several times before. The shopkeeper already recognized Xu Jin.
“Young man, you're here again!”
“Shopkeeper, I'm here to buy that jade tablet. Did you save it for me?”
“Yes, I did. The price is five taels of silver.”
“Shopkeeper, you see how sincere I am. Can you give me a little discount? I'll be a regular customer in the future,” Xu Jin said with a smile.
He was poor, so every little bit saved was a gain.
The shopkeeper glanced at Xu Jin, thought for a moment, and then handed the jade tablet to Xu Jin on a tray, “Young man is indeed sincere. Four taels and eight qian, this is the most this old man can do.”
“Thank you!”
The things needed for the Star Protection ritual were basically all there. Next, he needed to arrange for potential affairs after his death, and then find a place where he wouldn't be disturbed to set up the altar and perform the ritual.