Chapter 128: Star Treasure!

Not long after, Nantian Wang arrived and took away three spots.

Jiang Changkong closed the door and began taking stock of his gains.

9,090,000!

Nine million units of Essence.

First, step into the Star Vault realm.

Jiang Changkong decisively leveled up. The power within his body surged violently as the Indestructible Diamond Divine Art advanced to the middle-grade.

The Star Gate condensed, half-illusory and half-real, as vast Star Power poured into his Dantian.

The Power Runes grew thicker and more robust, with terrifying power rising within.

Next were the Mystical Tai Chi Art, the Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan, the Blazing Sun Art, and the Spirit Control Art.

All five martial arts leveled up simultaneously. The Star Sea within his body expanded boundlessly, and the Star Power continuously refined, its quality improving.

Buzz

A strange suction force emanated from the Star Gate. The Star Sea in his Dantian suddenly trembled, each rushing into its corresponding Star Gate.

Jiang Changkong’s vision went dark. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark world.

In this dark world, five half-illusory, half-real gates stood, surrounding him.

He stood at the center, his form faint and transparent, as if made of light.

Was this his Soul Body?

Boom

The next moment, the five Star Gates simultaneously radiated their corresponding lights, inhaling and exhaling vast Star Power, illuminating the dark world.

Then, a surge of immense blood energy swept in, coalescing into a flesh-and-blood body that sat cross-legged within the Indestructible Diamond Star Power.

The insights from the five martial arts, along with more complex pathways and knowledge about cultivating the Star Vault, flooded into his mind.

The Star Vault—blood energy, Star Power, and the human soul—all concealed within the Star Gate. This was the Star Vault.

Sitting within the vast Star Power, Jiang Changkong contemplated the upgraded martial arts.

The five Star Gates continued to change, flickering with faint, strange lights. The gates interconnected, sealing the space within the Star Gate.

Locking away blood energy, soul, and Star Power.

Star Power surged, flowing through the Star Gates and circulating rapidly within his body. The five Power Runes swayed, entwining around the Indestructible Diamond Star Gate, with one end extending to connect to the flesh-and-blood body.

The seated flesh-and-blood body pulsed with immense blood energy, like a primordial beast. Though motionless, it could stir Star Power and create waves.

After a long while, Jiang Changkong opened his eyes, his consciousness fully restored.

Outwardly, he appeared utterly ordinary, like a regular person, because everything was now concealed within the Star Gate.

With a single thought, the Diamond Treaded Fire, golden flames dancing.

The Taiji rotated, solidifying into substance.

Through Internal Vision, within his Dantian, only the five Star Gates remained. Star Power flowed through the gates, circulating within his body.

In an instant, the five Star Gates transformed simultaneously. The other four gates all shifted into Indestructible Diamond Star Gates, inhaling and exhaling Diamond Power.

“The Star Vault realm—enough to instantly defeat my former self.”

Jiang Changkong felt the immense improvement within his body. Defeating his former self with a single move was entirely possible, and it would only require a casual strike.

Now, could he battle against late-stage Star Vault cultivators? What about peak Star Vault?

As he grew stronger, Jiang Changkong became increasingly uncertain. For now, he still had enough Essence to continue improving.

Jiang Changkong: Early-stage Star Vault

Middle-Grade Martial Arts:

Indestructible Diamond Divine Art: Beginner: 1/15,000

Mystical Tai Chi Art: Beginner: 1/15,000

Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan: Beginner: 1/15,000

Blazing Sun Art: Beginner: 1/15,000

Spirit Control Art: Beginner: 1/15,000

Essence: 705,979.5

For low-grade middle-tier, reaching Beginner required 5,000; for middle-grade, it required 15,000!

“Three times as much?”

Jiang Changkong continued leveling up. The Star Power within his body and the insights from the five martial arts improved once again.

The Star Gates grew even more solid, and a terrifying aura emanated from Jiang Changkong’s body.

Still five times, Minor Completion 75,000!

Without stopping, he continued to upgrade.

The Star Power within his body kept increasing and refining, and in a short time, he advanced to a new level.

Jiang Changkong: Late Star Vault

Mid-Rank Mid-Grade Martial Arts:

Indestructible Diamond Divine Art: Major Completion: 1/375,000

Mystical Tai Chi Art: Major Completion: 1/375,000

Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan: Major Completion: 1/375,000

Blazing Sun Art: Major Completion: 1/375,000

Spirit Control Art: Major Completion: 1/375,000

Essence, Qi, and Spirit: 255,979.5

“Nine million Essence, Qi, and Spirit, just gone like that.”

Jiang Changkong’s heart was bleeding. He had to find a way to fleece Nantian Wang.

And it had to be a thorough fleecing.

Even another nine million Essence, Qi, and Spirit wouldn’t be enough for him to upgrade to Star Spirit.

Just reaching Perfection in five martial arts would require over nine million.

Now, fourth-rank Star Stones had already shrunk in value.

Fifth-rank ones had shrunk too—only a thousand sixth-rank Star Stones could yield a million Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

At that price, even Nantian Wang couldn’t afford it, right?

Even if he could, his family would surely strip this prodigal son of his fat.

“Last time with the Moon Stones, I didn’t understand the market. This time with the Yang Stones, I absolutely cannot give them away easily.”

Jiang Changkong got out of bed, ready to go out.

Checking the time, it was already evening. His breakthrough had taken quite a while.

Having earned such a large sum, Jiang Changkong decided to treat them to a meal so they could all celebrate together.

The group didn’t stand on ceremony and enjoyed a lavish feast together.

By the time they returned to the school, it was very late. Vice-Principal Mu Jinhong had also tagged along for the meal and gifted him a weapon.

A fifth-rank high-grade blade, identical in style to his own.

“Thank you, Vice-Principal.” Jiang Changkong took the blade—it suited him perfectly.

“As long as you like it.” Mu Jinhong smiled. “You rest first. Early tomorrow morning, someone will come to take you to the Starlight Distortion Land. I’ll go find your principal.”

Jiang Changkong smiled but didn’t go over to disturb him.

Yu Beilin was basking in glory these days, with Mu Jinhong, a late Star Vault cultivator, constantly hovering around him.

The teachers of Jiangshui City School all admired Yu Beilin, crowding around him to seek advice on how to nurture geniuses.

He returned to his room to rest.

Early the next morning, Jiang Changkong woke up bright and early.

Jiang Haibo arrived again. As the person in charge, he naturally had to oversee the trip to the Starlight Distortion Land.

Behind him were seven others: Luo Yunchen, Nantian Wang, and everyone who had purchased a spot yesterday.

“Lord Jiang.” Jiang Changkong cupped his hands in greeting.

Jiang Haibo’s face darkened, not giving him a pleasant look. “Let’s go.”

Jiang Changkong curled his lip, not bothered.

Although he wanted to build more connections, he couldn’t let it cost him Star Stones.

The group followed Jiang Haibo out of Jiangshui City, where a military vehicle awaited.

The vehicle’s body was made of a special alloy, with Starlight concealed within. Jiang Changkong touched it—even with his strength, he couldn’t break it.

“Changkong.”

Nantian Wang’s plump face was full of smiles. “Thank you, brother, for your generosity.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

I feel like you’re here to humiliate me on purpose, aren’t you?

He had the urge to pin this fatty to the ground and give him a good thrashing.

Glancing at the others, he noticed they occasionally looked his way, covering their mouths as if trying not to laugh.

What was going on?

Laugh all you want. Once we’re inside, unless you have incredibly good luck and directly obtain Yang Stones before coming out…

If I run into you, I’ll make sure your fat grows another layer.

The vehicle sped along, and through the window, Jiang Changkong spotted several cars nearby. “Those vehicles?”

“They’re from Anding Province. As a neighboring province to an Ordinary Province, they have more slots.”

Nantian Wang patted his plump body and said, “Once we’re inside, stick close to me. Given our friendship, I’ll look out for you.”

Jiang Changkong glanced at Nantian Wang, noticing two middle-aged men beside him. Their auras were restrained, likely due to special equipment, making it impossible for him to gauge their depth.

“This time, the situation is special. The higher-ups have allowed those at the late stage of the Star Vault to enter.”

Luo Yunchen chimed in, “Changkong, be careful once we’re inside. We’ll all stick close to Tianwang.”

“Alright,” Jiang Changkong replied calmly.

“Will you head to a Major Province afterward?” Nantian Wang asked.

“No, I have matters to attend to,” Jiang Changkong refused outright. Even if he were to go, it wouldn’t be with Nantian Wang.

Nantian Wang tried to engage him in conversation a few more times, but Jiang Changkong appeared too indifferent to bother, and Nantian Wang eventually lost interest.