Chapter 167: Vicious and Ruthless Criminal

The name Jiang Changyue was, of course, fake.

In the entire Federation, there were certainly people with that name, but none matched the characteristics of the man in black.

Heng Yongxing had investigated many Jiang Changyues, but none were the target.

The matter of the Cold Moon Art also surprised the Heng family.

Could it be that he had deciphered that half of the Star Stele himself?

Even if he had deciphered it, it still didn’t make sense. The Cold Moon Art was only a mid-tier, mid-grade technique—it couldn’t possibly be cultivated to the Star Spirit level.

Or did this person have the subsequent cultivation method?

All these doubts remained unanswered.

Heng Yongxing approached Jiang Changkong again, asking him about Jiang Changyue and the Cold Moon Art.

“Jiang Changyue? The Cold Moon Art?”

Jiang Changkong was slightly taken aback, looking surprised. “He said his name was Jiang Changyue?”

“You didn’t know?” Heng Yongxing and Li Changtian were both bewildered. Weren’t you two good friends?

“I already said, I’m not very close with him.” Jiang Changkong sighed softly. “I never expected he would use that name.”

“So it really is a fake name?” Heng Yongxing sighed, his face full of disappointment.

“I don’t know either.” Jiang Changkong shrugged.

“What exactly do you know? Can you stop saying you don’t know everything?”

Heng Yongxing and Li Changtian were speechless. Every time he opened his mouth, it was “I don’t know” or “I’m not sure.”

“Well, I only had one heart-to-heart talk with him.” Jiang Changkong shrugged again. “I only know a little.”

“Here.” Heng Yongxing twitched his lips and took out two hundred Star Stones. “This is all I have, and I even borrowed them.”

“Alright, then I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Jiang Changkong smiled as he accepted the Star Stones. Now, he wouldn’t have to wait for Lin Yunwang to perfect one of his martial arts.

He never expected that his alter ego would have such benefits—just by making up a story, he could earn Star Stones.

The two immediately focused, waiting for him to speak.

“You already know the beginning. Back then, I was still weak, and he gave me the evidence of the crime…”

Jiang Changkong began to spin a tale, fabricating a story about an orphan.

A little one with no parents, no idea where he came from or where he was going.

Only a single saber technique accompanied him.

He cultivated that saber technique all along, advancing from an ordinary person to the Star Qi realm, and eventually growing to where he was now.

“I have to say, he’s a prodigy. I thought I was talented enough, but compared to him, I still fall short.”

Jiang Changkong spoke with admiration. After all, praising himself wasn’t against the law. “I gave him the Cold Moon Art.”

In the story, on the way to Pingan City, he encountered that person again.

When they met once more, their strengths were similar, and he still only knew that one saber technique.

Jiang Changkong originally intended to pass on the Blazing Sun Art, but he chose the Cold Moon Art instead, relying solely on the diagrams to cultivate.

All because, while drinking, Jiang Changkong had said, “When life is good, one must enjoy it to the fullest; do not let the golden cup stand empty under the moon.”

Thinking that the other had no name and not knowing what to call him, he chose the Cold Moon Art and said, “Let’s call you Yue (Moon).”

The other agreed on the spot, saying, “Empty under the moon, nameless and without a surname. Since you’re Jiang Changkong (Long Emptiness), I’ll be Jiang Changyue (Long Moon).”

“I thought it was just a joke, but I never expected he’d actually call himself Jiang Changyue.”

Jiang Changkong said helplessly, “He’s a man, not a woman, and he drinks boldly.”

“I think he’s a woman. No man could have such talent in the Taiyin path.”

Heng Yongxing said with certainty, “Besides, he agreed to the name Changyue so easily.”

Can I just say I made it all up?

To come up with this story, I spent the entire night thinking about it.

“Alright, if you have nothing else to attend to, go about your business. I need to adjust my state to prepare for the upcoming duel.”

Jiang Changkong said calmly.

The two exchanged a glance and had no choice but to rise and leave.

The affairs of the research institute would be handled by Anding Bang for the day.

Jiang Changkong sat alone in the stone room, contemplating which martial art to upgrade.

Considering Heng Yongxing and the others, it seemed his alternate identity might need to be put into action during this period.

Dealing with Lin Yunwang should be manageable on his own. Moreover, if push came to shove, the upgraded martial arts could also be converted into Star Power.

Taiyin Star Power and Blazing Sun Star Power needed to be balanced. Additionally, since his alternate identity primarily focused on blade techniques, it made sense to strengthen them further.

Thus, he decided to upgrade the Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan.

Having made his decision, Jiang Changkong proceeded to upgrade the Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan.

As his Star Power grew, insights into the blade technique flooded his mind. The blades of the Fleeting Swan were swift as shadows, leaving no trace behind.

Invisible Star Power rippled, and strands of Blade Qi automatically dispersed, slicing through the ground.

Reflecting on the Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan, Jiang Changkong suddenly felt a surge of anticipation. How powerful would he be when he acted through his alternate identity?

He still lacked confidence when facing Star Spirits at the late stage, but against those at the mid-stage—even at the mid-stage limit—he was fully assured.

Jiang Changkong: Peak of Star Vault

Mid-tier, Mid-grade Martial Arts:

Indestructible Diamond Divine Art: Perfected: 1,875,000/1,875,000

Mystical Tai Chi Art: Perfected: 1,875,000/1,875,000

Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan: Perfected: 1,875,000/1,875,000

Blazing Sun Art: Perfected: 1/1,875,000

Spirit Control Art: Perfected: 1,875,000/1,875,000

Cold Moon Art: Perfected: 1/1,875,000

Essence: 51,613

All the Star Stones he had collected during this period were now gone, leaving him with an empty feeling inside.

Sixth-tier Star Stones… if only he had thousands of them. Suddenly, he found himself missing Nantian Pang.

After completing the upgrades, Jiang Changkong left to hunt Star Demons, planning to return by evening.

The day of the duel had arrived.

Outside the gates of Pingan City, a fighting stage had already been erected.

Lin Yunwang had used his influence to spread the news throughout Pingan City, and even word had reached the provincial capital.

News had also traveled to other cities, drawing many Martial Artists who arrived within the three days.

Of course, the circulated story had been altered.

It now portrayed Jiang Changkong as a bully—ruthless and cruel, fabricating charges and killing indiscriminately.

He was accused of abusing his authority as the association president to kill arbitrarily, having become a malignant tumor.

As the day of the duel arrived, Jiang Changkong emerged from the abyss and made his way to the stage.

The sky was overcast, with a light drizzle falling.

Outside Pingan City, the area around the stage was packed with Martial Artists, who used their Star Power to create barriers, shielding themselves from the rain.

On the stage, the elderly Lin Yunwang stood tall, not using any Star Power, allowing the rain to soak him completely.

“Jiang Changkong, president of the Jianghai Province Martial Arts Association, fabricates charges, kills indiscriminately, and is guilty of heinous crimes.”

“My Lin family members were merely visiting the provincial capital of Jianghai Province when this man accused them of colluding with criminals and executed them on the spot.”

“Now, this man has come to Pingan City, relying on his strength to seize Star Attraction Stones, compete for Martial Arts Association missions, and rob President Anding Bang.”

“Such a vicious and ruthless individual, if left unpunished, would defy all justice.”

“Today, I, Lin Yunwang, will cast aside all dignity and pride to slay this man, restoring peace to Pingan City and Jianghai!”

“Support Elder Lin! We don’t care if he acts like a king in Jianghai, but when he comes to our Pingan City, he better keep a low profile!”

The surrounding Martial Artists erupted in response, their angry shouts echoing outside the gates of Pingan City.

Among the crowd, someone looked displeased—that was Anding Bang. What does this have to do with me?

I was the one robbed, and I’m fine with it. Why are you getting so worked up?

Did I ask you to step in?

With you saying this, Jiang Changkong might think I support you too.

Right now, Li Changtian and Heng Yongxing both have favors to ask of him, and I’m still figuring out how to get on his good side.

“Fabricating charges, calling someone a vicious criminal? I think that suits you better, Lin Yunwang.”

A cold voice rang out as Jiang Changkong strode forward.

“He’s here! Is this Jiang Changkong?”

“So young, yet with such strength that Elder Lin himself had to step in?”

The crowd automatically parted, looking at him in surprise.

Jiang Changkong also scanned the crowd, noticing several Star Spirits hidden among them, a few even at the mid-stage Star Spirit level.

As for late-stage Star Spirits, he didn’t detect any—they might be concealing their cultivation or simply not present.

But whether there were late-stage Star Spirits nearby didn’t matter. As long as Lin Yunwang made a move himself and there were Star Stones involved, that was enough.