Chapter 166: Jiang Changyue

Anding Bang fetched the Star Stones, and Jiang Changkong left with them.

This time, he didn’t go to the cold pond but simply found a random spot to kill Star Demons.

He kept killing until dusk before finally stopping.

The gains were meager—even when converted, they didn’t amount to ten thousand points of Essence.

There was no other way. He was worried about attracting Star Demons at the late Star Spirit stage, so he didn’t dare go all out.

Checking the time, Jiang Changkong contacted Li Changtian.

“How did it go?” Li Changtian asked nervously.

Jiang Changkong said coldly, “This is your last chance. If you act without reason again, I’ll cut you down on the spot.”

“Don’t worry, we definitely won’t cause trouble this time.”

Li Changtian assured him, then added after a pause, “By the way, Lin Yunwang from the Lin family has set up a stage in Pingan City, saying he wants to settle things with you.”

“I know. I’ll be there on time,” Jiang Changkong replied calmly.

“Alright, be careful. Lin Yunwang is notoriously cunning,” Li Changtian warned.

“Midnight tonight, same place.”

After saying this, Jiang Changkong hung up the call.

Then, he continued hunting Star Demons.

Once he won Lin Yunwang’s Star Stones, he was certain he could perfect another martial art.

The path to the Star Spirit stage still had some distance to go.

He hoped to achieve the Star Spirit stage before building the city—only then would he have absolute confidence.

This abyss wasn’t bad. If he could build a city here, it would be ideal. There were plenty of Star Demons nearby, along with abundant resources.

The condition was that the mineral vein had to be of medium grade.

If it wasn’t, these resources wouldn’t be enough to sustain the city’s development.

Moreover, building a city here would mean competing with Pingan City for interests.

By then, he would have many more opponents.

Sorting out his thoughts, Jiang Changkong changed locations to search for Star Demons.

Before long, he encountered an early-stage Star Spirit Star Demon, killed it, and collected its Star Stone.

Star Spirit-level Star Demons weren’t rare here. In just a few days in the abyss, he had encountered so many—proof of how terrifying the abyss was.

He kept changing locations to hunt Star Demons and waited until 11:30 p.m. before heading to the cold pond.

This time, he didn’t show himself early but hid nearby.

It was better to be cautious.

As midnight approached, Heng Yongxing and Li Changtian arrived. This time, Li Changtian wasn’t wearing a black robe.

Now that they had met Jiang Changkong, there was no need to hide anymore.

Besides them, there was one more person—a middle-aged man. When moving, he used Star Power, and the faintly dispersed fluctuations were enough to make one tremble.

Jiang Changkong’s gaze sharpened—a mid-stage Star Spirit Martial Artist.

The three arrived at the cold pond, scanning their surroundings, but no one was in sight.

“Could it be that Jiang Changkong tricked us?” Li Changtian frowned.

Had this guy taken the money and run?

Heng Yongxing furrowed his brow. It was almost midnight now.

The middle-aged man remained calm, standing to the side without speaking.

“Are you here to settle the score?”

Weeds rustled as Jiang Changkong, clad in black, stepped forward, his voice icy.

As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of Taiyin Star Power dispersed, sweeping toward the three.

The middle-aged man quickly stepped forward, hands behind his back, as golden Star Power erupted to block the Taiyin Star Power.

With a resounding explosion, the two forces of Star Power collided. The ground cracked, dust flew, and the water in the nearby cold pond surged into the air from the impact.

As the Star Power dissipated, neither of them took a step back, though the middle-aged man’s expression darkened, and his hands behind his back trembled slightly.

“Don’t misunderstand.”

Seeing this, Heng Yongxing quickly spoke up: “I mean no harm, I just want to know if the martial art you practice has any connection to my Heng family.”

“No connection,” Jiang Changkong said coldly.

Heng Yongxing paused, then still politely said: “May I ask your identity? Would you be interested in joining the Heng family? The Heng family is willing to offer the position of vice president.

The resources you need for cultivation, stronger Taiyin martial arts—the Heng family will not be stingy.”

“Not interested,” Jiang Changkong said indifferently.

“Uh.” Heng Yongxing opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.

This was too unapproachable—nothing interested him, not even leaving room for negotiation.

Li Changtian interjected: “What about the Moon Osmanthus Cloud? Could you part with it?”

Jiang Changkong said coldly: “No.”

Heng Yongxing sighed and said: “Alright, how should I address you?”

Jiang Changkong fell silent for a moment, then replied coldly: “Jiang Changyue.”

“Jiang Changyue?”

The two were stunned—was this a woman?

Only one character different from Jiang Changkong?

The middle-aged man quietly stood guard beside them, not uttering a word.

“If there’s nothing else, don’t bother me again,” Jiang Changkong said coldly.

Heng Yongxing quickly said: “Wait, would you be willing to suppress your strength and exchange a palm strike?”

“Hmm? You really are annoying,” Jiang Changkong said coldly.

“I’m willing to offer Star Stones—five hundred Fifth Rank High-Grade ones,” Heng Yongxing said seriously.

“I don’t need them.”

“Jiang Changkong does,” Li Changtian spoke up: “You two must be close, right? Actually, Jiang Changkong and I are brothers, very familiar.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Who the hell is your brother, very familiar?

You really know how to flatter yourself!

Jiang Changkong pondered for a moment and said: “Only this once.”

The middle-aged man took out five hundred Star Stones, wrapped them in Star Power, and sent them flying toward Jiang Changkong.

Taiyin Star Power circulated, catching the Star Stones.

“Thank you.”

Heng Yongxing moved, arriving before Jiang Changkong and extending his right hand.

Jiang Changkong also extended his hand, their palms meeting as two streams of Taiyin Star Power converged.

“Hmm?”

Heng Yongxing’s expression changed slightly as he withdrew: “Alright, thank you for holding back.”

“Farewell.” Jiang Changkong turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Heng Yongxing stood where he was, his expression complex, momentarily lost in thought.

“Yongxing, what’s wrong?” Li Changtian walked over and, seeing him dazed, asked curiously: “Did you discover something?”

“Starlight Distortion Land, half a Star Stele, Cold Moon Art.”

Heng Yongxing’s expression turned grave: “How did he obtain them? That translated martial art only circulates within our Major Province.

And, in just a few days, he has already cultivated the Cold Moon Art to this level?”

“Cold Moon Art? That martial art from the Distortion Land?” Li Changtian exclaimed in surprise.

The middle-aged man also turned his gaze: “Could it be that he is a prodigy in the Taiyin Star Power path?”

“This matter still needs verification. Uncle Anlin, thank you for your trouble this time,” Heng Yongxing said gratefully.

“No need for formalities. I didn’t help much anyway—I’m no match for this person,” the middle-aged man Anlin said with a smile.

“I never expected Uncle Anlin, at the mid-stage limit, to admit inferiority,” Li Changtian said in surprise.

Anlin’s expression turned serious: “If we’re talking solely about the Taiyin Star Power tested just now, I still have some confidence, but he also has the Lunar Blade and Sword.

Plus, based on your descriptions—the Blade Qi that ignores armor, killing without leaving wounds—I have no confidence at all.”

“We were only aiming to test him from the start. Since there’s no confidence, it’s best to maintain peaceful relations.”

Heng Yongxing said calmly, he had also considered bringing stronger people, but this was not in the Heng family’s Major Province.

Being able to invite An Lin over was due to some level of friendship.

Without that friendship, he would never have been able to get him to come.

“What do you plan to do next?” Li Changtian asked, “Continue targeting Jiang Changkong?”

“Naturally, we must start with him. I’ve already sent a message home to investigate Jiang Changyue. We should have news in half an hour.”

Heng Yongxing sighed softly, “My only worry is that Jiang Changyue might be a fake name.”