Chapter 283: Eight Martial Arts Reach Perfection

Previously, when dealing with the middle-aged man, Jiang Changkong’s Divine Control Art had been unable to pull out the soul in one go.

These Stellar Body-level Martial Artists still possessed some degree of control over their souls.

Now that his strength had increased, beating them half to death should no longer be a problem.

The old man watched as Jiang Changkong’s body transformed, becoming transparent until an invisible wave of Star Power forcefully pulled out an illusory Star Demon.

A soul!

And not just one Stellar Body!

The old man was stunned, never expecting Jiang Changkong’s strength to be far beyond what he had imagined.

Directly shattering the soul, Jiang Changkong proceeded to loot the Spatial Equipment.

“Soul Seizure… You actually know the lost art of Soul Seizure…”

The massive Star Demon cried out in terror, its body trembling uncontrollably.

Jiang Changkong pulled out another soul, and the second Stellar Body-level Star Demon died shortly after.

Looting the Spatial Equipment, he found a vast quantity of Star Crystals inside.

Although it couldn’t compare to what the Immortal Palace possessed, the combined haul from the two Stellar Body-level Star Demons was still substantial.

There were also other Star Embryo and Stellar Body Star Demons. Looting them all would add up to another significant gain.

With this in mind, Jiang Changkong charged straight into the mountain peak. Among the Stellar Body and Star Embryo Star Demons, some had died in the aftermath of the shockwaves, while others were severely injured.

He eliminated them all and collected their Star Crystals.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Changkong also took the instruments. Professor Yun and the others would be arriving soon, and keeping these instruments could save them a considerable expense.

Once everything was done, Jiang Changkong transformed into a Holy Sun sphere and found the old man. “Are you the patriarch of the Jiang family?”

The old man clasped his hands respectfully. “Yes, thank you for saving my life. May I ask how I should address you?”

Jiang Changkong replied indifferently, “Your neighbor, Jiang Changkong. Uncharted Land No. 53 now belongs to me.”

“So it’s my neighbor. We should visit each other more often in the future,” the old man said, his expression tinged with excitement. “I am Jiang Jiuqiao.”

“Let’s go. We can discuss visits another day. First, I should tell you that my friend killed your second son.”

Jiang Changkong explained the situation.

Jiang Jiuqiao’s face filled with anger. “That unfilial son deserved to die. I should never have had such a son.”

Jiang Jiuqiao’s predicament had also been partly due to his second son’s actions.

This was precisely why Jiang Changkong felt comfortable revealing it. With such a father-son relationship, he wouldn’t have saved someone who would only bring him trouble.

Jiang Changkong said calmly, “You should return to the Jiang family first. Come see me afterward—I have some questions for you. Also, Lin Nanfeng is now under my command.”

“Very well. Once I’ve settled matters with the Jiang family, I’ll come find you immediately.”

Jiang Jiuqiao knew what Jiang Changkong wanted to ask—nothing more than questions about research.

Watching Jiang Jiuqiao leave, Jiang Changkong returned to the palace area. Lin Nanfeng had yet to finish handling matters.

Jiang Changkong had no choice but to take matters into his own hands, clearing out the remaining Star Demons in the area.

“Move all these palaces and instruments back for me.”

Carrying the looted Spatial Equipment, Jiang Changkong left first.

The remaining minor tasks could be left to Lin Nanfeng—otherwise, what was the point of keeping him around?

Returning to the palace, Jiang Changkong began tallying his gains from this venture.

Seventh-tier Star Crystals:

• Low-grade: 230,000 pieces.

• Mid-grade: 140,000 pieces.

• High-grade: 80,000 pieces.

• Top-grade: 30,000 pieces.

Eighth-tier Star Crystals, surprisingly more than what he had obtained from the Immortal Palace:

• Low-grade: 40,000 pieces.

• Mid-grade: 20,000 pieces.

• High-grade: 10,000 pieces.

• Top-grade: 5,000 pieces.

Ninth-tier low-grade: 113 pieces.

Excluding the ninth-tier low-grade crystals, the total Essence, Qi, and Spirit amounted to 21.7 million!

“These Star Demons are unexpectedly wealthy.”

Jiang Changkong felt a flicker of excitement but quickly composed himself.

Two Star Constellation Stage old Star Demons had been developing here for who knows how many years. It would be unreasonable if they didn’t have this level of resources.

Even Lin Feng was doing too poorly, not even worthy of polishing these Star Demons’ shoes.

This harvest was enough for his three martial arts to reach Star Body Peak, with a hundred thousand left over.

And these Star Crystals had all been processed. He truly had to thank the Star Demons for also knowing how to use Star Crystals and instruments.

Extracting essence, qi, and spirit, upgrading three martial arts.

White Cloud Nine Layers Scripture, Tyrant Blade, high-grade Star Array Diagram.

A vast surge of Star Power rippled as his Stellar Body began to transform, with profound patterns coiling around his body.

As the high-grade Battle Form Star Array Diagram upgraded, Jiang Changkong’s Power Runes Stellar Body became even more complex.

Although he had just entered the Perfection stage, his defensive capabilities and strength had greatly improved.

His defense and strength didn’t exactly double, but they increased by several tens of percent.

White Cloud Body—transform into white clouds!

Tyrant Blade Stellar Body—Invisible Blade Light, harming enemies unseen, reducing them to dust from within!

All eight martial arts reached Star Body Peak, and Jiang Changkong’s strength advanced another major step.

Jiang Changkong: Star Body Peak.

High-grade mid-tier martial arts:

Three-meter Golden Body: Perfection 1/43,200,000

Taiji Yin-Yang Art: Perfection 1/43,200,000

Tyrant Blade: Perfection 1/43,200,000

Holy Sun Technique: Perfection 1/43,200,000

Divine Control Art: Perfection 1/43,200,000

Bright Moon Art: Perfection 1/43,200,000

White Cloud Nine Layers Scripture: Perfection 1/43,200,000

High-grade mid-tier array arts:

Battle Form Star Array Diagram (Incomplete): Perfection 1/43,200,000

Essence, Qi, Spirit: 1,138,185.4

Looking at each martial art requiring over forty million points of essence, qi, and spirit, Jiang Changkong wasn’t panicked at all.

Two Early Star Constellation Stage Star Demons would provide twenty million—half of what he needed.

If he eliminated four, he could perfect one martial art. By that calculation, around thirty-two Early Star Constellation Stage Star Demons would be enough.

If he was going to panic, he’d wait until he reached Star Late Stage.

The Star Power fluctuations subsided. Next time he faced an Early Star Constellation Stage Star Demon, he could crush it directly.

Lin Nanfeng returned, flying back with the palace wrapped in Star Power.

Jiang Changkong said irritably, “Don’t you have Spatial Equipment?”

“I was worried about damaging the instruments. There’s important research data from the Immortal Palace inside,” Lin Nanfeng explained, pausing briefly before adding, “Congratulations, Lord, on acquiring a large Star Crystal Vein.”

Jiang Changkong was taken aback: “Huh? What large Star Crystal Vein?”

Lin Nanfeng was stunned: “The Star Constellation Stage Star Demon’s subordinates had a large Star Crystal Vein. You didn’t know?”

“Well, I was focused on killing the Star Demons and tallying the loot earlier. I didn’t pay much attention,” Jiang Changkong said, slightly embarrassed. “Let’s go take a look.”

Lin Nanfeng set down the palace and entered the deep mountains again with Jiang Changkong.

Returning to the battlefield, they found collapsed peaks and a scene of devastation.

Lin Nanfeng led him to a collapsed area, using Star Power to shatter the rocks and soil, revealing a mine entrance.

“Right here,” Lin Nanfeng said, walking in first.

Jiang Changkong extended his Divine Control Art inside. It was indeed a Star Crystal Vein, but it had been mostly mined out, with not much left.

By his estimate, there were at most a few thousand pieces left, of decent quality—eighth-tier.

“Next time, mention something like this earlier,” Jiang Changkong said, somewhat displeased.

Lin Nanfeng replied defensively, “You can’t blame me for this. It’s common knowledge—Star Demons’ territories almost always have Star Crystal Veins.”

Without a Star Crystal Vein, those Star Demons would migrate, or even prefer to wander on their own.”

“Alright, tell me where the Ancient Ruins are,” Jiang Changkong changed the subject.

“Check his Spatial Equipment. There should be a golden stone inside that can sense the ruins.”

Jiang Changkong retrieved the Star Demon’s Spatial Equipment, and sure enough, there was a golden stone inside, its surface covered with intricate patterns.

Infusing it with Star Power, a peculiar sensation surged within him. To the left front, something seemed to call out to him, urging him to go.

“The other Star Demon didn’t have something like this. Did it not have any ruins?” Jiang Changkong frowned slightly.

Lin Nanfeng stiffened. “How many Star Demons have you killed?”