Chapter 148: Anding Province President

Jiang Changkong pondered for a moment, not rushing over.

He took out his phone and contacted Tang Ruoxi: “Do you know about Star Attraction Stones?”

At this hour, Tang Ruoxi should have been off work.

Tang Ruoxi replied instantly: “Yes, you’re not thinking of going to get one, are you?”

“Mm, on the way here, I ran into five people discussing it. Do you know the location? I’ll go get it ahead of time,” Jiang Changkong replied.

Tang Ruoxi: “I know. First, send me your location. By the way, weren’t you supposed to take a ride here?”

“I walked. Taking a ride is too slow.”

Jiang Changkong sent his location.

Tang Ruoxi: “…”

Taking a ride is too slow?

You walked here? Impressive.

“It’s a bit far from you, but I don’t recommend going. This time, people from the Major Province Martial Arts Association will get involved,” Tang Ruoxi said.

“I’m currently the president of the Major Province Martial Arts Association,” Jiang Changkong said indifferently. “Don’t worry, as long as no mid-stage Star Spirit appears, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

He hadn’t fought against a mid-stage Star Spirit before, so he couldn’t say for sure.

But he should be able to win, right?

“You’ve already become this terrifying?”

Tang Ruoxi added a shocked emoji: “Be careful of them. Don’t underestimate any opponent, because they might have Star Spirit Armor.”

Star Spirit Armor!

Jiang Changkong’s first thought was: rich people!

Would sixth-tier Star Spirit Armor come with sixth-tier Star Stones?

Nantian Pang and the others didn’t have a single one.

It seemed there were still some wealthy people in Anding Province.

Tang Ruoxi sent a location, and Jiang Changkong navigated directly toward it.

Without approaching the five people, Jiang Changkong strode away.

The Star Attraction Stone wasn’t too far. At his current speed, it would only take about half an hour.

Switching to the Profound Sun Step and combining it with the Spirit Control Art, Jiang Changkong moved as if treading on sunlight.

Half an hour later, Jiang Changkong arrived at the foot of a small hill.

The Star Attraction Stone was inside this hill, and occasional roars of Star Demons echoed from within.

The dense forest was overgrown with weeds. As Jiang Changkong stepped into the thick woods, he heard voices talking nearby.

“President, it’s just a Star Attraction Stone. Why do you need to handle it personally?”

“Yeah, President, we can handle it. You’re a Star Spirit expert, after all.”

“What do you know? Obtaining the Star Attraction Stone won’t just earn us the research institute’s favor—it’ll also catch that person’s attention. This Star Attraction Stone is important. I must handle it personally to ensure nothing goes wrong.”

A rough voice chimed in: “That way, that person will take us to grind the Abyss mission.”

“President, you’re being so mysterious. Who exactly is that person, that you value them so highly?”

“From a Major Province.”

The president said sternly: “All of you, pay attention. If anything goes wrong, I’ll skin you alive.”

“Another Major Province?”

Jiang Changkong frowned slightly, wondering if this Major Province mission was like Li Changtian’s—unimportant and overlooked.

If it was that kind, there probably wouldn’t be much to gain.

He quickened his pace and, in no time, caught up with the Martial Arts Association members.

There were four in total, their Star Power fluctuations unconcealed. The leader was an early-stage Star Spirit, while the other three were at the peak of Star Vault.

Without stopping, Jiang Changkong continued forward.

“Someone just passed by,” the president said grimly, urgently shouting.

“President, are you joking? Who passed by?” the other three laughed in disbelief.

Looking around, there was no one—not even a ghostly shadow.

“What do you know? I’m going ahead.”

The president cursed angrily and rushed forward.

Jiang Changkong showed a hint of surprise, not expecting this early-stage Star Spirit to be able to detect him.

Could it be that the other party was carrying something like a Primal Martial Compass?

For a large Martial Arts Association, having such an item was not unusual.

But it didn’t matter—an early-stage Star Spirit would be unable to snatch the Star Attraction Stone from him.

Passing through the dense forest, a cave appeared ahead. Inside, two powerful surges of Star Power were fluctuating intensely.

Jiang Changkong entered the cave directly. At its end was a spacious area where two hideous-looking Star Demons were resting.

Roar!

Jiang Changkong’s arrival, without any attempt to conceal himself, startled them.

The two Star Demons immediately unleashed their Star Power, a violent force surging through the cave, causing the entire space to tremble.

Stones fell as if the cave were about to collapse.

Jiang Changkong was prepared. The Taiji Diagram expanded, instantly enveloping the cave and suppressing the two Star Demons.

Under the Taiji Diagram, the two peak Star Vault Star Demons were pressed flat to the ground, their violent Star Power forcibly forced back into their bodies.

Only then did he survey the rest of the area, searching for the Star Attraction Stone.

A pile of stones was stacked inside the cave, ranging from palm-sized to the size of a human head, numbering no less than a hundred.

Activating the Spirit Control Art, Invisible Star Power swept through, causing all the stones to float into the air.

A single earthy-yellow stone, emitting a faint starlight, hovered quietly in the air.

“This should be the Star Attraction Stone.”

Jiang Changkong took the Star Attraction Stone, snapped a photo, and sent it to Tang Ruoxi.

“That’s it, exactly,” Tang Ruoxi replied instantly.

Jiang Changkong pressed his right palm down, and the Taiji Diagram surged into the bodies of the two peak Star Vault Star Demons.

Blood seeped from the seven orifices of the two Star Demons, and they perished on the spot.

“Put down the Star Attraction Stone.”

A cold shout echoed as the bear-like, burly president, dressed in black robes and black boots, finally arrived.

Jiang Changkong held the Star Attraction Stone, looking at him indifferently. “I don’t want to hurt you. Step aside.”

“What arrogance.”

The president snorted coldly, unleashing a vast surge of Star Power that caused the cave to tremble violently. “I’ll wait for you outside. You won’t escape.”

Jiang Changkong frowned slightly. He dug out the Star Stones, extracted the Essence from the corpses, and strode toward the cave entrance.

The cave was too cramped for a proper fight; outside was the ideal place to act.

As soon as he stepped outside, the president’s burly figure radiated boundless starlight.

The starlight was dazzling, golden, and heavy, making him appear like a towering mountain.

“I’ll say it once more. Hand over the Star Attraction Stone, and I’ll let you leave,” the president said sternly.

“One palm strike, and you’ll know to retreat.”

Jiang Changkong’s expression remained calm. He raised his right hand, releasing Blazing Sun Star Power. Golden flames danced in his palm as the five Power Runes within his body vibrated simultaneously.

The president’s expression darkened. A heavy, earthy-yellow greatsword appeared in his hand, and his golden, heavy Star Power rippled outward.

Hum!

The ground began to undulate strangely, turning into a muddy swamp-like terrain, with soil covering Jiang Changkong’s ankles.

“Mountain-Shifting Sword!”

The president shouted softly, moving swiftly across the swampy ground. His greatsword descended like a mountain, carrying immense pressure.

An aura of weightiness and majesty emanated from it.

Jiang Changkong’s gaze remained indifferent, still relying on a single palm strike.

Jiang Changkong’s palm struck the greatsword, and terrifying Blazing Sun Star Power erupted.

Boom!

Clang!

The impact sounded like metal striking metal. As the violent Star Power swept through, Jiang Changkong stood unmoved, while the president slid back over ten meters.

The Blazing Sun Star Power melted the soil on his feet, and the ground solidified, ceasing its undulations.

Jiang Changkong raised an eyebrow. His single palm strike had only forced the president back, leaving him completely unharmed.

However, he didn’t dwell on it and prepared to leave.

“Stop right there.”

The president let out a cold snort, his figure instantly appearing in front of Jiang Changkong, blocking his path.

“I only seek treasure, I do not wish to kill.”

Jiang Changkong’s expression gradually turned cold.

“What arrogance. You merely pushed me back a few steps.”

The president snorted coldly, a thick earthy-yellow light bursting from his body: “Leave the Star Attraction Stone, and I will not trouble you further. I will even invite you to join the Martial Arts Association.”

Jiang Changkong said no more, flipping his right hand to reveal a long blade.

Gentle sunlight, the blazing sun just beginning to rise.

The president let out a deep shout, his heavy sword trembling as the earthy-yellow light flared brightly: “Come—”

A flash of the blazing sun blade passed, and the earthy-yellow light shuddered, instantly dimming. The president’s vision went dark, and he fell unconscious on the spot.

Jiang Changkong approached him, searching around. What a poor bastard, and he still had the nerve to be president.

Fifty Fifth Rank Mid-Grade Star Stones.

No wonder he had to find someone to carry him through the abyss—he was doing so poorly.