Chapter 242: Exchanging Star Stones

The Lunar Yin Broken Sword—Jiang Changkong possessed only the tip of the blade.

Yet even this tip alone was terrifying enough.

High-grade materials were as fragile as tofu before the sword tip.

If this truly was part of the sword, forget a Stellar Embryo early-stage martial artist—even the defenses of a Stellar Embryo peak-level martial artist could be easily torn apart.

Old Liang shook his head. “After that, I said there was something wrong with that place. The Federation also suspected it, so a Stellar Body Martial Artist took me there. After that, after that…”

“What happened after that? Just say it!” Xu Hengzhi urged anxiously.

Jiang Changkong was also anxious, constantly observing Old Liang’s changes. He could sense that the man was now filled with terror.

Old Liang released his hands from his head, his eyes bloodshot, panting heavily as he said, “After that, he obtained the broken sword and committed suicide.”

“Committed suicide?” Xu Hengzhi and the other five were stunned, finding it unbelievable. “Impossible, right? A Stellar Body Martial Artist committed suicide?”

They felt Old Liang was joking. A Stellar Body Martial Artist, just because he obtained a broken sword, committed suicide?

Old Liang took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. “To this day, I still remember the words spoken by that Stellar Body Martial Artist after his death.”

“What words?” the six asked curiously.

Jiang Changkong was also curious. What could drive a Stellar Body Martial Artist to suicide?

“The woodcutter, the jade toad.” Old Liang gradually calmed down, shaking his head. “After that, the broken sword disappeared, and all the corpses vanished.”

The woodcutter? The jade toad?

Jiang Changkong was stunned. Wasn’t this exactly the memory scene he had obtained?

Could it be that Old Liang and the others had gone to the palace of the Taiyin Star back then?

Did his broken sword come from that palace?

“What kind of nonsense is this?” the six muttered, completely unable to understand what was being said.

Jiang Changkong pondered and asked, “Do you still remember the route to get there?”

“I remember, but everything disappeared, including the entrance to that place. The Federation later sent people to investigate, but they found nothing. And I was thrown into the Sin Domain, after all, I was the one who personally killed the commander.”

Old Liang lay back down, wiping his aged face. “President Jiang, I advise you not to take an interest in that damned place.”

“Just tell me the route. I might not necessarily go,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

Old Liang sat up, staring intently at him. “President Jiang, these past few days, you’ve shown me kindness. Telling you would be harming you.”

“You just need to tell me,” Jiang Changkong replied calmly.

Seeing his insistence, Old Liang had no choice but to reveal the route to that place.

After obtaining the information, Jiang Changkong recorded it in writing, saved it, and stored it in his phone.

“President Jiang…”

Xu Hengzhi wanted to persuade him further, but Jiang Changkong raised his hand and said, “You’re all tired. Rest early. There’s still work to do tomorrow.”

“Alright,” Xu Hengzhi sighed softly and said nothing more.

Once Jiang Changkong made a decision, he couldn’t be persuaded. He could only pray that Jiang Changkong wouldn’t go.

Jiang Changkong was now the Xu family’s pillar of support, and he didn’t want that pillar to fall.

Jiang Changkong sat cross-legged, contemplating when to make the trip.

However, he would have to wait until he learned more Star Script before going.

Although there was Professor Yun, it was far more convenient to rely on his own knowledge. What if the signal was blocked there?

For the sake of the broken sword, he needed to make the trip. If he could truly reassemble and repair the sword, he wondered if it could reach the top grade?

In the future, he would find an opportunity to test the sharpness of the sword tip against a Star Martial Artist.

If the sword tip could still easily tear through stellar-level defenses, it must have been a top-grade weapon back in the day.

Lost in thought, Jiang Changkong drifted off to sleep.

Early the next morning, Jiang Changkong was awakened by Xu Hengzhi.

“President Jiang, it’s already dawn. Since you mentioned having matters to attend to today, I took the liberty of waking you,” Xu Hengzhi said respectfully.

“Do you all wake up this early?”

Jiang Changkong checked the time—it was only half past five, with the sky just beginning to brighten. The other six were already up as well.

“It’s a habit. In the Sin Domain, we dare not sleep too deeply—there are plenty who would seize the opportunity to strike,” Xu Hengzhi explained.

Jiang Changkong stood up. “Let’s go. We’ll head to Sin City together and meet these so-called prodigies.”

Activating the Spirit Control Art, he rose into the air, leading the seven of them toward the Sin Domain.

With his strength further enhanced, Jiang Changkong moved even faster. In just a few breaths, they had already arrived above the Sin Domain.

Nan Wuyang and the others were also up, with numerous prodigies gathered together.

Descending, Jiang Changkong said calmly, “Everyone, you’re up quite early. It seems you’re just as eager.”

Eager, my foot! If it weren’t for fear of your strength, who would gather here and wait?

The group rolled their eyes inwardly, grumbling silently but not daring to show it.

Nan Wuyang cupped his hands and said, “Changkong, just tell us what to do and how the benefits will be distributed afterward.”

“What are your thoughts?” Jiang Changkong asked calmly.

“We discussed it last night. This trip to the Sin Domain shouldn’t end empty-handed. We have two proposals. If you disagree, we can discuss further,” Nan Wuyang said.

“Let’s hear them,” Jiang Changkong replied expressionlessly. He wondered what tricks these prodigies were planning—he’d hear them out first.

If they tried anything like they did during the mineral vein dispute in Anding Province, well, they could all be buried here.

“The first proposal: the top spot is yours, so don’t compete with us. We’ll pool together some Star Stones for you afterward.”

“The second proposal: after locating the criminals, whoever finds them first gets them, with no disputes allowed.”

After Nan Wuyang finished speaking, the prodigies watched Jiang Changkong cautiously, afraid he might lose his temper.

“So, if I choose the first proposal, I just wait until the end and collect the Star Stones and Sin Tokens?” Jiang Changkong pondered. The proposal didn’t seem bad, and they were being quite polite.

Nothing like the situation in Anding Province. Prodigies were prodigies—they sure knew how to talk nicely.

“Yes, do you agree?” Nan Wuyang and the others brightened with hope.

“I don’t agree,” Jiang Changkong shook his head. “How many Star Stones can you pool together for me? Let’s go with the second one: whoever finds them first gets them.”

“Alright, the second it is—”

Jiang Changkong smiled faintly. “Wait, I haven’t finished. I have one more condition.”

“What condition?” Everyone frowned.

“My condition is about exchanging Star Stones. The ones we snatch are unprocessed. I want processed ones.”

Jiang Changkong took out a low-grade sixth-tier Star Stone. “One for one, fair and square. No problem, right?”

“No problem,” the prodigies replied without hesitation.

If we don’t agree, will you refuse the proposal altogether?

Then you’d just rob us all, and we wouldn’t even have a chance to exchange Star Stones.

“These seven are my people. I trust you understand—when we act together, don’t harm them by mistake,” Jiang Changkong instructed.

“We won’t,” Nan Wuyang and the others quickly assured him.

Yesterday, when Jin Chen and the others targeted these seven, you slaughtered a hundred and ten people. Who in their right mind would dare touch them?

“Then line up and exchange the Star Stones.” Jiang Changkong took off his Space Ring and handed it to the seven of them.

The exchange of Star Stones could be handled by them; he could rest on the side.

“President Jiang, you won’t go back on your word, will you?” one of the prodigies couldn’t help but ask.

“You can ask Heng Xueyue. As long as they’re not enemies, have I ever failed to deliver on what I promised?” Jiang Changkong replied.

Heng Xueyue nodded and said, “The miser’s character is fine—it’s just that he loves wealth too much.”

“A gentleman loves wealth but acquires it through proper means. I haven’t robbed any of you without reason,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

Heng Xueyue scoffed, “You and a gentleman have nothing in common.”

Jiang Changkong couldn’t resist flicking her forehead. “Little girl, you’re tarnishing my image.”

“What about the Star Demon area?” Nan Wuyang asked.