Chapter 137: I'm About to Cry from the Losses

In the fiery space, the black-and-white Taiji Diagram danced out, causing the surrounding Star Demons to shatter one after another.

Nantian Wang and the others stood to the side, their calves trembling.

How on earth did the peak of the Star Vault get in?

Were all those soldiers’ instruments broken?

After clearing away all the Star Demons, Jiang Changkong turned his gaze back to them.

Nineteen people—four had just been killed, leaving fifteen.

Eight guardians and seven geniuses from the Major Provinces.

“All of this is yours. Farewell.”

Nantian Wang cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Seeing this, the others all showed signs of retreating: “It’s all yours. Until we meet again.”

“Wait.”

A smile appeared on Jiang Changkong’s calm face. “In such a hurry to leave? Don’t you want these things?”

“Huh?”

The group halted, looking at him with confusion.

Of course they wanted them, but would he give them?

You already said it’s all yours, and we can’t snatch it from you.

Jiang Changkong revealed a friendly smile. “We’re good friends. How could I keep it all to myself?”

Nantian and the others: “…”

What’s the meaning of this?

Luo Yunchen was slightly taken aback. “Could it be… you’re going to share it with us?”

Li Changtian and Ji Chengming grew excited. “Changkong, we’re the best of brothers.”

We just made our stance clear—we stood by Jiang Changkong’s side.

These words must be meant for us, to share with us!

“I knew it. With the relationship between us, you wouldn’t treat me like this.”

Nantian Wang seemed to feel the warmth of spring, a smile blooming on his face. “From now on, you’re my best brother, Jiang Changkong.”

“That’s right. From now on, you, Jiang Changkong, are our brother.”

The others chimed in excitedly.

They thought there was no hope left, but now Jiang Changkong was offering to share—this was an incredible stroke of luck.

As they spoke, the group eagerly stepped forward, heading toward the broken stone stele.

“Hey, wait.”

Jiang Changkong’s calm voice stopped them, his expression serene. “Nantian Wang, you call me a brother, so there’s something I have to say. I’ve always considered you a friend, yet you keep trying to trick me.”

“I consider you a friend too,” Nantian Wang quickly replied.

Jiang Changkong said coolly, “A thousand low-grade fifth-tier Star Stones for three spots, taking advantage of my ignorance of the market—is that something a friend would do? And then you even called Luo Yunchen and the others to come buy at a low price?”

Nantian Wang defended himself, “I offered you a favor before, but you refused. Besides, friendship is friendship, business is business. You lost out, but you can’t blame me.”

“You make a good point. I lost out, so much that I almost cried.”

Jiang Changkong’s face remained calm. “So now, I’m going to do some business with all you brothers. I’ll selflessly share the Star Stele, and you can selflessly share your Star Stones too.”

Everyone: “…”

After all that talk, you just want Star Stones, huh?

“Star Stones are no problem,” Nantian Wang said cheerfully. “Good brothers should share. Here are five hundred top-tier fourth-grade ones.”

As he spoke, he took out five hundred Star Stones from his jade pendant.

Jiang Changkong snatched the jade pendant from his hand. “Good brother, this is business now. That’s not enough—I’ll take what I need myself.”

Nantian Wang: “…”

This is outright robbery now.

“Don’t get worked up. This is business. Let’s set aside our friendship for now.”

Jiang Changkong examined the jade pendant, his tone indifferent. “Hand over the Star Stones, and you can all copy a portion from the Star Stele.”

“Changkong, just copying a portion…” Nantian Wang looked troubled. “Can’t you give it to me?”

What he wanted was the Star Stele itself!

Jiang Changkong glanced at him and said:

“How about this: hand over the Star Stones, and I’ll withdraw from the competition. You can fight over it however you like, deal?”

“This is my Star Stone, take it. Between brothers, no need to be polite.”

“If you’re polite with me, you’re not acknowledging me as a brother.”

A crowd quickly gathered, each handing over their Star Stones.

Compared to a Star Stele, what were a few Star Stones worth?

Jiang Changkong happily collected the Star Stones. Although there were no sixth-tier ones, seventh-tier ones were out of the question.

But these people carried quite a few fourth- and fifth-tier Star Stones with them.

“Changkong.” Li Changtian and Ji Chengming looked at him pitifully.

We were just on your side. We shouldn’t have to hand over Star Stones, right?

“Don’t worry, brothers. You won’t lose out by handing over your Star Stones. Later, you can copy this Star Stele.

Then, I’ll take you to the Taiyin Star Stele, where you can copy another one.” Jiang Changkong patted his chest confidently.

Nantian Wang and the others grew excited: “There’s another Star Stele? The Taiyin Star Stele?”

“Heh, you deal with this Star Stele first. As for that Taiyin Star Stele… it seems you’re out of Star Stones?”

“We’ll owe you. We’ll write you an IOU.”

The group quickly responded.

Jiang Changkong scoffed: “Your guardians should have Star Stones on them.

Also, things are peaceful now. You shouldn’t hold onto your weapons, potions, and such.”

Since Star Stones were no longer an option, he had to settle for other items.

As for IOUs?

He couldn’t be bothered with them. Once they left this place, their positions would reverse.

By then, their fathers or backers would show up. Would he dare mention the IOUs?

He couldn’t take the Star Stele with him, so he might as well squeeze them dry now. Once they left, they’d go their separate ways and never cross paths again.

The guardians looked miserable. They had no choice but to hand over their Star Stones, along with their weapons and potions.

After thoroughly stripping them clean, Jiang Changkong led them to the stone stele: “Let’s all go together, copy it collectively, and then you can fight over it however you like.”

The group arrived before the Star Stele. Like the broken stele before, it was covered in tadpole-like script.

There were also twenty diagrams depicting a man with a blurred face holding a sword, accompanied by energy circulation pathways.

Mid-tier mid-grade martial art: Profound Yang Art: Beginner: 0/15000.

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Profound Yang Art?

Is my Special Starstone still valuable now?

Seems like it’s not worth much anymore.

With so many people copying it, even if it doesn’t become common, it’ll be close.

Of course, some might still buy it, but they definitely won’t offer a high price.

“Ancient divine script, the same as the script on the Star Steles that appeared before.”

Nantian Wang stared at the tadpole script on the Star Stele, filled with excitement.

“You recognize the script on it?” Jiang Changkong asked.

“No.” The group shook their heads. “Some old-timers do, but we don’t usually have access to it.”

They had no paper or pens, but they had clothes, and there was Star Demon Blood nearby. They copied the script directly onto their clothes, not missing a single one of the twenty diagrams.

After cross-checking multiple times to ensure there were no errors, they carefully stored the copies away.

Jiang Changkong also made two copies. Once everyone had finished copying, he retrieved the four Spatial Equipment from the slain individuals before leading them to the Taiyin Star Stele.

He should be thankful their Spatial Equipment was high-grade enough not to have been shattered.

Perhaps it was because Jiang Changkong had triggered the Star Stele earlier, causing it to erupt and expend too much energy.

A group of people arrived before the Taiyin Star Stele without suffering from being frozen, only feeling a bit colder.

After copying it together with them, Jiang Changkong said, “Li Changtian, Ji Chengming, let’s go. We’ll leave this place for them to fight over.”

“Oh.” The two hesitated for a moment before taking their guardians and following him away.

Once they were far from the crowd, Li Changtian asked in confusion, “You really don’t want that Star Stele? The power contained within it is truly terrifying. If one could absorb and utilize it, it would be enough to create a High-Rank Martial Artist.”

Jiang Changkong sighed softly, “Do you think if I could take it, there would still be a share for you?”

The key point was, he couldn’t move it.

Even after the Star Stele had erupted and its power had been depleted once, he still couldn’t move it.

Since he couldn’t move it, what else was there to do?

Once they left this place, he wouldn’t be able to compete with them for it, so of course, he had to make a run for it first.

As for who would ultimately claim the Star Stele, that was beyond his control—whoever had the ability could take it.

The four of them: “…”

So that’s how it is. No wonder he was so generous, letting each of us copy a portion.