Chapter 194: Connections as Hard as Iron

Jiang Changkong suddenly realized something.

The issue of attributes!

Heng Xueyue’s Taiyin Star Power exerted a massive suppression on his own Taiyin Star Power.

The reason was simple: she possessed some characteristics of a Stellar Body.

Now, having switched to Blazing Sun Star Power, that suppressing force was gone, and his strength was no longer restricted.

Although part of it was due to his own improvement, without that suppression, he could have easily blocked her attack last night even without using the Mystical Tai Chi Art.

Now, with just seventy percent of his Blazing Sun Star Power, he could steadily overpower Heng Xueyue.

If he were to use his blade techniques, he could easily defeat her.

And with full power, he could completely dominate her.

Of course, if he used the Gold-Silver Taiji Diagram, he could make Heng Xueyue question her life.

However, going all out was basically impossible unless he intended to kill her.

As he pondered, danger arrived—Heng De’s killing move was upon him.

Jiang Changkong gave a cold smile, transforming his palm into a blade radiance: “Blazing Sun.”

The blade of the blazing sun, warm and gentle.

Boom

Splat

Where the blade radiance passed, blood sprayed, and Heng De was sent tumbling away, utterly miserable.

“Uncle De!”

Heng Xueyue’s expression changed, and with a sharp cry, the Taiyin Star Power within her erupted, forcefully repelling Jiang Changkong.

Her figure flashed like moonlight, catching Heng De as she infused Taiyin Star Power into his body to suppress his injuries.

“Miss, I’m fine,” Heng De said with a grim expression. His injuries weren’t too severe; after all, he was a Star Spirit Peak.

“Jiang Changkong, you have thoroughly enraged me.”

Heng Xueyue shouted angrily, drawing her sword as the Moon’s Coldness gathered: “Taiyin opens the formation, the moon draws the stars to sink.”

Jiang Changkong frowned. Was she serious?

Well, then, I won’t hold back either.

A cold glint appeared on his face as Jiang Changkong absorbed the blazing sun’s power. It seemed as if all sunlight in the world was being drawn in, darkening the sky.

With his long blade in hand, a blood-red sunset glow appeared in the sky.

“Prepare to die!” Heng Xueyue roared, her large eyes blinking fiercely.

Jiang Changkong blinked, suddenly gaining some insight because he didn’t feel much sense of crisis.

This girl, despite all the fanfare, wasn’t actually using much force.

Realizing this, he withdrew a portion of the power within him.

“Aunt Liu,” Yao Meng’s expression shifted slightly.

Nantian Pang also hurriedly said, “Uncle Tian, step in and stop them.”

“You all should intervene too,” Li Changtian and Ji Chengming quickly added.

Four Star Spirit Peaks simultaneously entered the battlefield, but none took sides. Instead, two of them confronted one person each, blocking the attacks of both combatants.

Tremendous power erupted violently, blasting away hundreds of feet of soil overhead and raising the height of the abyss’s sky.

The terrifying force surged, and the four Star Spirit Peaks retreated, drops of blood falling as they looked on in shock.

Truly two little freaks. Even with the four of them joining forces, they still ended up injured.

“You two are both friends. Why must you fight to the death?”

Yao Meng stepped forward, mediating: “It’s better to resolve grievances than to create them. How about I act as a mediator and clear up the misunderstanding?”

“There is no misunderstanding.”

Heng Xueyue wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and said coldly, “This time, I underestimated you.”

She truly had underestimated him. Even with Jiang Changyue’s warning that Jiang Changkong was stronger.

But how much stronger could he be?

The gap between the two should have been limited.

Yet just now, Jiang Changkong had taught her a lesson.

With just Star Power alone, he had overpowered her. If he had used martial arts or blade techniques, she would have had no chance of winning!

“There really is no misunderstanding.”

Jiang Changkong hovered in the air, his expression indifferent. “If you truly seek death, this president would be delighted to oblige.”

Heng Xueyue: “…”

Can you not be like this? We’re supposed to be acting right now.

Your words are so infuriating.

“Miss.” Heng De bowed slightly, his face filled with remorse. “Heng De is ashamed.”

As her bodyguard, he was utterly incompetent, unable to protect his own young lady.

If anything were to truly happen to Heng Xueyue, his fault would be immense.

“Changkong, let this matter end here. Consider it as giving your sister some face,” Yao Meng said gently.

Jiang Changkong pondered briefly before replying coldly, “This time, out of respect for Sister Meng, this president will not pursue it further.”

After all, it was just an act. Although they had both used their real strength earlier, there was no need to fight to the death.

Heng Xueyue’s face darkened as she stubbornly retorted, “I was careless earlier.”

Jiang Changkong couldn’t help but glance at Anding Bang—he had used the same excuse.

Anding Bang quickly turned his head away, feigning confusion. I don’t understand, I can’t hear, don’t look at me.

“If there’s nothing else, I must return for breakfast. Farewell.” Jiang Changkong cupped his hands in a gesture of departure.

Yao Meng interjected, “Wait, Changkong. Tonight, I will host a banquet to invite the major factions to discuss the mineral vein competition. If you’re interested, you may attend at six.”

“This president will arrive punctually.” With that, Jiang Changkong soared toward the research institute.

“How infuriating.”

Heng Xueyue couldn’t help but grit her teeth. Before the fight, she had imagined herself overpowering Jiang Changkong.

She planned to hold back, teaching him a lesson while also showcasing her strength to secure the initiative in their cooperation.

But once the fight began, Jiang Changkong overpowered her instead. Even her bodyguard stepped in, only to be injured in return.

Now, not only would the bargaining power likely fall into Jiang Changkong’s hands, but the news of her defeat right after emerging from seclusion would also spread.

A failed start…

No, it was more like a lifetime of reputation, ruined in an instant.

“Xueyue, let’s return for now,” Yao Meng said.

“Next time, I’ll make sure he regrets it,” Heng Xueyue fumed.

If this had been said before the fight, I would have believed it, Yao Meng thought silently. Now, she certainly didn’t.

Heng De declared with unwavering conviction, “The young lady still lacks a suitable weapon. Once she obtains one, she will surely cut him down.”

“Let’s go, back we go.”

Heng Xueyue snorted and turned to leave.

Upon returning to the research institute, Professor Yun still wore a look of astonishment. “You won?”

“Didn’t Professor Yun already know?” Jiang Changkong smiled faintly. He didn’t believe for a moment that Professor Yun hadn’t observed the earlier battle.

“Your strength has improved terrifyingly,” Professor Yun remarked, giving him a deep look. “I can’t even discern your exact level.”

Jiang Changkong’s eyebrows twitched. “Can’t Professor Yun detect High-Rank Martial Artists?”

Professor Yun replied, “Only those at the first realm of the High-Rank, the Stellar Embryo Level.”

Jiang Changkong nodded slightly. The Mystical Tai Chi Art concealed his strength even from those a full major realm above him.

He was already at the Star Spirit level. As long as he didn’t reveal it, even Star Embryo Martial Artists wouldn’t be able to tell.

“What stage of Star Spirit mid-phase was Heng Xueyue at? The limit?” Jiang Changkong asked.

“Yes, the limit of Star Spirit mid-phase. She had already cultivated partial Stellar Body characteristics, yet she still lost to you. Could it be that you’ve also achieved partial Stellar Body cultivation?”

Professor Yun’s eyes gleamed as she stared intently at him, as if examining a perfect specimen.

“Ahem.” Jiang Changkong cleared his throat lightly, changing the subject: “Professor Yun, if I can obtain the mineral vein, could we cooperate?”

He was calculating his own strength in his mind. In that night’s battle, if he hadn’t used Taiyin Star Power and instead relied on any other martial art as his main technique, he was confident he could have easily withstood Heng Xueyue’s three palm strikes.

This time, using only seventy percent of his strength, he was able to suppress Heng Xueyue, and he hadn’t even used his blade techniques.

Without the attribute suppression, he could completely surpass a small realm against a freak like her.

“You can talk about it after you obtain it. What you’ll be facing is not just one Heng Xueyue.”

Professor Yun said indifferently.

Jiang Changkong said no more; it was better to wait until the overall situation was settled.

“President Jiang, an old friend has come to visit.”

A hearty laugh rang out as a burly figure appeared at the entrance of the research institute.

“Get lost!”

“President Jiang, don’t be so distant. The bond between us is as strong as iron. Is there some misunderstanding?”

Anding Bang’s old face showed no sign of embarrassment; instead, it was filled with an enthusiastic smile.

Professor Yun: “…”

You two chat. You’ve really embarrassed everyone in Pingan City!