Chapter 24: Can't Be Brothers With This Guy Anymore

Jiang Changkong, carrying his backpack, identified the direction and returned to the boulder pile.

Those corpses were free Essence, Qi, and Spirit—not to be wasted.

Upon reaching the boulder pile, Jiang Changkong spotted a familiar figure.

Dressed in green robes with dark hair cascading over her shoulders, she was crouched on a broken stone, holding a phone, her expression somewhat vexed.

Beside her lay the corpses of Star Demons.

Those Star Demons had indeed not been taken away!

Even the one at Star Cloud Peak was still there!

“Brother Ji.”

Jiang Changkong glanced around, seeing only one person, and quickly stepped forward.

Half an hour had already passed, so Ji Ziling’s arrival was expected.

“You, kid, I know you’re loyal, but you can’t risk your life like this.”

Ji Ziling glared at him with almond-shaped eyes, scolding him outright: “If something happened to you, wouldn’t I lose a good brother?”

“I had it under control.”

Jiang Changkong knew she was concerned about him and said, “It’s just that some unexpected situations arose.”

“I just arrived. What happened?”

Ji Ziling frowned, then noticed his disheveled appearance and the bloodstains on his body, urgently asking, “Are you hurt? Where are the others?”

After the earlier battle, Jiang Changkong looked battered. Though he wasn’t visibly injured, he was covered in Star Demon Blood.

“I don’t know. Before…”

Jiang Changkong shook his head and recounted the events.

“What? That damned Wu Jun, did he want to get all of you killed?”

Ji Ziling said angrily, “Someone lying in ambush, playing the hero to save the beauty? He’s trying to steal my woman!”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

This kind of mess, I really don’t know what to say.

“Based on what you said, the breach in the Protective Shield is also suspicious.”

Ji Ziling calmed down, her gaze turning cold: “The energy shield Yan Xue brought should be top-tier Second Tier, capable of holding for three days without breaking.”

Jiang Changkong sat down nearby, saying nothing.

“Changkong, don’t worry. I’ll definitely get justice for you.”

Ji Ziling patted her chest emphatically, making a promise.

“Can you contact them now?” Jiang Changkong asked.

Ji Ziling looked somewhat dejected: “No, there’s no response.”

Jiang Changkong sighed softly and asked, “What do you plan to do now?”

“Search nearby. Yan Xue and I have a special signal for communication. She should have left one.”

Ji Ziling stood up as she spoke.

“I’ll rest for a bit. I’ve sustained some internal injuries, but they’re not serious.”

Jiang Changkong said, then added after a pause, “If you’re in a hurry and find something, you can go ahead. I can protect myself.”

“What nonsense are you talking? You’re so loyal—how could I leave you here alone?”

Ji Ziling shot him a displeased glare and said, “Not only will I take you with me, but I’ll also bring you back safely.”

With that, she went to search the nearby area.

Jiang Changkong looked at the Star Demon corpses—there were over a dozen.

Seven at the Star Cloud Level, eight at the Star Qi Level.

The ones at peak stellar qi had less blood, and there wasn’t much blood on the ground.

They had likely been collected by someone.

The one at Star Cloud Peak provided 300 Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

The two at the late stage each gave 280, the two at the mid-stage each 230, and the two at the early stage each 170.

The other Star Qi Level Star Demons provided less—only 80 for the peak ones and 50 for the late-stage ones.

These corpses had already lost a significant amount of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

Still, they brought him over three thousand Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

“Changkong, over here.”

Before long, Ji Ziling’s call came from nearby.

Jiang Changkong hurriedly ran over, arriving at Ji Ziling’s side.

At her feet, there was a snowflake pattern.

“This was left by Yan Xue. If we follow it, we should be able to catch up to them,” Ji Ziling said, then added with concern, “How are your injuries?”

“It’s nothing, just minor wounds. They’ll heal soon,” Jiang Changkong replied dismissively. Although his internal organs had been shaken, the Tai Chi Fist Scripture had a significant effect on nurturing the body.

With his Tai Chi Fist Scripture perfected, such internal injuries would recover in just a few days.

Ji Ziling nodded and walked forward. “If you get tired, just say so. I can carry you.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Stop joking, you carry me?

What if your comrade-like impulses kick in and you decide to kick me away?

Even though Ji Ziling didn’t mind him out of loyalty, who knew what a female comrade might be thinking?

The two quickly made their way through the weeds. Before long, Ji Ziling halted, her gaze fixed ahead.

Jiang Changkong’s expression remained unchanged. Three Star Demons—one at the early Star Cloud Level and two at the peak stellar qi.

Having encountered a Nebula-level Star Demon before, he could sense the strength of Star Demons from their aura.

Of course, if they were too strong, he wouldn’t be able to sense it.

If he were alone, he might have been worried, but with Ji Ziling here, he didn’t care at all.

Ji Ziling reached into her pocket and pulled out a palm-sized token.

To Jiang Changkong’s astonishment, the token emitted a cold light, transforming into a longsword.

What the hell, a lightsaber?

No, not a lightsaber—it was a real sword.

The blade was three feet long, engraved with intricate patterns that faintly shimmered with starlight.

Ji Ziling swung the sword, and three sword beams shot out, cutting through the air.

Roar!

The three Star Demons growled, gathering Star Power to meet the sword beams.

Swoosh!

The sword beams easily tore through the Star Demons’ Star Power, piercing into their bodies.

Without a sound, the three Star Demons collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Ji Ziling quickly stepped forward, dug out three Star Stones, and tossed them to Jiang Changkong. “For you.”

“You should keep the Star Cloud Level one,” Jiang Changkong said.

“I’ve earned some at school recently, so I don’t need this Second Tier low-grade one anymore. If I really needed it, I wouldn’t give it to you,” Ji Ziling replied. “Besides, I didn’t bring a backpack, so I can’t carry many Star Stones. Between comrades, no need to be polite.”

She had come in a hurry, bringing nothing with her, and Jiang Changkong had risked coming out. Since she couldn’t carry the Star Stones anyway, it was better to give them to him.

Jiang Changkong stopped being polite. The two continued on their way, and he also extracted the Essence from the three Star Demon corpses.

The fresh Nebula-level corpse provided 200 Essence, while the peak stellar qi ones each gave 100.

As for the Star Stones, the peak stellar qi ones were worth 400, and the early Star Cloud Level one was worth 1,000!

“Your sword?” Jiang Changkong asked curiously again.

A palm-sized token that turned into a sword?

“A reward from the school. We should thank Kexiang School—the weapons they make are quite good,” Ji Ziling said, stroking the blade with a hint of pride. “Second Tier top-grade.”

Jiang Changkong felt a bit envious, but only a little.

Once he joined a Martial Arts School, he should be able to receive weapon rewards too.

A top student who aced every Simulation Exam—would the school really withhold rewards?

“Oh, by the way, our matter has come to light,” Ji Ziling suddenly remembered she had something to tell him.

“Come to light?”

Jiang Changkong’s heart skipped a beat, and he grew worried. “What did the school say? Will it affect my admission?”

“Don’t worry, the school would never want to lose a top student like you.”

Ji Ziling pouted, sounding somewhat displeased.

“Uh, why do you seem a bit unhappy?” Jiang Changkong was slightly taken aback.

After a moment of silence, Ji Ziling said, “How about you join Kexiang instead? We could dominate the junior and senior girls across both schools.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

I don’t think we can play together happily anymore.

“I’ll dominate the senior and junior girls at the Martial Arts School, and then you’ll make a name for yourself at Kexiang. After that, I’ll go to Kexiang to find the senior and junior girls there…”

Ji Ziling spoke excitedly, her tone animated and her words flying with enthusiasm.

“For now, let’s find Brother Wen and the others first.”

Jiang Changkong wiped his sweat. There’s nothing wrong with liking girls, but your desire to monopolize all the beauties is a problem.

“Right, right.” Ji Ziling quickly pulled her thoughts back on track.

Suddenly, Jiang Changkong had an idea and asked, “Senior, how many years of the five-year college entrance exam have you completed?”

Ji Ziling looked at him strangely. “Four years. Why do you ask?”

“Senior, you’ll soon finish the five-year college entrance exam and be assigned a job.”

Jiang Changkong said meaningfully, “Don’t think too much about it. I’ll take care of the senior and junior girls.”

Ji Ziling: “…”

We can’t be friends anymore.