Chapter 183: Heng Xueyue

Saving a life, taking Star Stones.

Jiang Changkong only took what was useful to him, leaving the lower-grade ones untouched.

Moreover, he only took Star Stones, leaving items like potions completely untouched.

After finishing here, Jiang Changkong moved to other areas, going wherever there was danger.

As a result, these factions fought fiercely, but in the end, very few people died.

By the time they ceased fighting, Jiang Changkong had already left, making it impossible for anyone to find him.

Jiang Changkong collected Star Stones and began calculating his Essence. Sometimes, if luck was on his side, he could gain tens of thousands of points in one go.

On unlucky days, he might only get a few hundred points, and at worst, nothing at all.

By the end of the day, he could always count on at least tens of thousands of Essence points, which was far faster than hunting Star Demons himself.

Besides, with the three major factions still watching him, and likely Heng Yongxing and the others keeping an eye on him as well, it wasn’t convenient to go to the research institute to process the Star Stones.

After weighing his options, he realized that saving lives to obtain Star Stones was his only viable path.

At his current pace, it would only take a few days on average to gather enough.

A day passed, and Jiang Changkong’s injuries were completely healed. He didn’t idle around at night either.

He wandered through the abyss, saving as many people as he could.

Jiang Changkong’s reputation once again spread throughout the abyss.

Saving lives, taking only Star Stones, and seeking no other rewards.

If it were anyone else, would they easily let go of a life-saving favor unless the gap was too vast?

Of course, there were also ungrateful individuals who claimed he only cared about Star Stones and saved people for that purpose alone.

He paid no attention to any of this, as all the information came from messages sent by Tang Ruoxi.

The next day, he continued saving people, but ventured even farther, avoiding the mineral veins altogether.

Many were searching for him, so he planned to gather enough Essence, break through to the Star Spirit realm, and then head to the research institute.

Today’s harvest was good—fifty to sixty thousand Essence points. He was only a hundred thousand or so away from mastering the Blazing Sun Art.

Late into the night, Jiang Changkong, draped in a black robe, arrived at the Taiyin Cold Pool.

The silver-white ice had yet to melt, and the ice sculpture of the middle-aged man remained there, untouched by anyone.

“It seems the three factions don’t think much of you either, with no one even bothering to collect your body.”

Jiang Changkong looked at the ice sculpture with a hint of mockery.

No one even came to collect his body after death—his master behind the scenes probably didn’t care about him either.

“Is this the Taiyin Cold Pool?”

A cold, clear voice echoed as moonlight shimmered. A phantom of a bright moon hovered in the air, and a young woman in silver-white robes, with the moon above her head, stepped forward.

“Hmm?”

Jiang Changkong’s gaze sharpened as he looked at the young woman, who also stared back at him.

She had long silver-white hair, skin as fair as polished jade, a cold expression, and eyes as bright as the moon.

With the phantom of the moon above her head, radiating divine moonlight, she seemed like the Moon Goddess descending to the mortal realm.

What a showy entrance.

Jiang Changkong’s heart stirred slightly. In the future, should he also have Taiyin and Taiyang above his head? Maybe he could learn a thing or two from her.

“Who are you?” The young woman’s moon-like eyes shimmered with Taiyin Star Power.

“And who are you?” Jiang Changkong’s gaze remained calm beneath his black robe.

“Taiyin Heng Family, Heng Xueyue.” A trace of pride appeared on the young woman’s face.

“Jianghai, Jiang Changyue.” Jiang Changkong replied calmly.

Heng Xueyue narrowed her beautiful eyes. “You are Jiang Changyue?”

“Is there a problem?”

Jiang Changkong’s expression grew serious, a hint of vigilance rising within him.

“I’ve been hearing about you these past few days.”

Heng Xueyue glanced at the surrounding ice. “With such mastery of Taiyin, you are indeed worthy of the Heng Family’s attention.”

“The Heng family is vast and prosperous, so there’s no need to worry about an ordinary person like me from a small province,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

“I heard you have two Moon Laurel Leaves. Heng Yongxing lost a bet with your friend Jiang Changkong.”

Heng Xueyue’s expression remained placid as she spoke.

“Want to buy the Moon Laurel Leaves again? Not for sale,” Jiang Changkong replied indifferently.

Heng Xueyue said coolly, “How about I make a bet with you?”

“Killing Star Demons?” Jiang Changkong raised an eyebrow.

Heng Xueyue declared proudly, “One palm strike. If I fail to defeat you, I’ll hand over six thousand Fifth Rank High-Grade Star Stones on the spot!”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

This Heng Xueyue looks very young, at most twenty years old.

But Jiang Changkong isn’t foolish. Despite her youth, her strength is terrifying—Mid-stage Star Spirit!

Twenty years old, Mid-stage Star Spirit. Could this be the little prodigy of the Heng family?

A genius nurtured with the full resources of a major power—how terrifying must her talent be?

Surpassing levels to challenge others?

Jiang Changkong would never assume that was his exclusive ability.

These little prodigies could absolutely defeat opponents beyond their level.

He, at the peak of Star Vault, fighting a Mid-stage Star Spirit prodigy?

He wouldn’t agree even if he were kicked in the head by a donkey.

“Are you afraid?”

Seeing him remain silent for so long, Heng Xueyue frowned.

“Children shouldn’t be fighting and killing. I have matters to attend to. Farewell.”

With those words, Jiang Changkong turned and left. It was best not to provoke such a prodigy for now.

Wait until I break through to Star Spirit. Then, if I can’t defeat you with one palm strike, I’ll give you the Star Stones myself!

“This bet stands at any time. I can wait for you.”

Heng Xueyue said proudly.

Nantian Pang once said something similar to me, claiming he could defeat me countless times with one slap.

Now, he doesn’t dare speak to me like that anymore.

Jiang Changkong didn’t make any bold claims. Right now, he truly wasn’t Heng Xueyue’s match.

Though arrogant, she didn’t forcibly attack or try to seize his Moon Laurel Leaves. That was already quite principled.

If it were someone else, they might have taken action directly.

“I’ll wait for your challenge. The bet stands anytime. I’ll be at this cold pool for the next few days.”

After speaking, Heng Xueyue stepped directly into the cold pool and sank beneath the surface.

“Needs some discipline.”

Jiang Changkong muttered quietly before quickly leaving.

This type clearly hasn’t experienced setbacks. Hopefully, she won’t end up like the Yun family’s Yun Bugui.

If she can’t handle a single setback, then no matter how great her talent, she’ll be useless.

“Such a tiring fate. Ah well, for the sake of those six thousand Star Stones, I’ll go rescue people through the night again.”

Jiang Changkong sighed softly and headed off in a direction.

Not long after he left, a figure clad in black, radiating Taiyin Star Power, entered the cold pool.

“Hmm? Is that them?”

Not far along, Jiang Changkong spotted an acquaintance leading several Martial Artists, being pursued by a horde of Star Demons, including two at Mid-stage Star Spirit.

“Need help, Xu Xinghe?” Jiang Changkong stood atop a patch of weeds and spoke calmly.

This acquaintance was none other than Xu Xinghe, whom he had rescued earlier at the Taiyin Cold Pool.

“Jiang Changyue?” Xu Xinghe was momentarily stunned before exclaiming joyfully, “Please lend a hand!”

On his side, he was the only Mid-stage Star Spirit. The other Martial Artists with him included one at Early-stage Star Spirit, but they were far from a match for the Star Demons.

Jiang Changkong flipped his left hand, and the Lunar Yin Blade shot through the air. Taiyin Blade Qi swept out, freezing every Star Demon in its path.

The two Mid-stage Star Spirit Star Demons were no exception, both turning into ice sculptures.

“Impressive skill,” Xu Xinghe praised.

“Same as before,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

Xu Xinghe directly took out the Star Stones: “Didn’t bring many, four hundred Fifth Rank High-Grade.”

“We… didn’t bring any,” the other Martial Artists said with slight embarrassment.

Jiang Changkong’s outstretched hand paused, then he accepted the Star Stones: “It’s fine if you didn’t bring any.”

Xu Xinghe’s expression darkened slightly, glaring at the Martial Artists beside him, his eyes filled with anger.

A trace of shame and annoyance appearing on his face, Xu Xinghe took a deep breath and said, “Jiang Changyue, I wonder if we could take a walk together?”

“Sure.” Jiang Changkong nodded slightly and walked aside with him.

Xu Xinghe asked the other Martial Artists to wait and left with Jiang Changkong.

Once they were far from the others, Xu Xinghe spoke in a low voice: “Are you in urgent need of Star Stones lately?”

“Changyue and I are about to break through, we need some,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

“Stop saving people,” Xu Xinghe sighed. “These people know your way of doing things—after being saved, it doesn’t matter if they have Star Stones or not. Now they don’t even bring any when they go out.”

Jiang Changkong: “”

Am I too merciful?

Whether they have Star Stones or not, I save them—has that become a mistake?