Chapter 42: You're a Grown Adult

Early the next morning, Zhang Hua and the others once again ignited the Star Smoke Ball.

This time, they deliberately hunted over a dozen Star Demons and collected their blood.

The group waited patiently. High in the sky, an instrument the size of a fly was monitoring everything.

The scent of blood, combined with the Star Smoke Ball, soon attracted more than a dozen Star Demons.

After slaying the Star Demons once more, the group waited with tense expressions.

Zhang Hua spoke in a low voice, “As soon as the Special Star Demon appears, strike immediately. We only have a fleeting chance.”

Cao Ye nodded, “Don’t worry. With the four of us at Star Cloud Peak, we can definitely eliminate the Special Star Demon in the shortest time.”

Four top students working together, all armed with Second Tier top-grade weapons.

They might not be able to kill the Star Demon instantly, but it wouldn’t take long.

They were confident they could take down the Special Star Demon and retreat calmly before the Star Demon horde arrived.

“Your task is to hold off the other Star Demons,” Zhang Hua said, looking at the rest of the group.

The others quickly nodded.

While they focused on dealing with the Special Star Demon, the remaining Star Demons would be temporarily held back by the others.

Once the plan was settled, the group waited patiently again.

Time passed slowly. More and more Star Demons gathered, but there was no sign of the Special Star Demon.

Some grew impatient, “Could it not be around here? This place is a bit off from yesterday’s location.”

“Be patient. Special Star Demons aren’t like ordinary ones,” Zhang Hua whispered. “They possess intelligence and can command other Star Demons. Yesterday’s attack might have made it cautious, so it won’t act rashly again.”

The group had no choice but to continue waiting patiently.

Star Demons kept being killed. In just an hour, dozens had already fallen here.

Just as everyone was growing impatient again, Ji Ziling suddenly dashed forward, a sword light slashing through the air, “Special Star Demon!”

“??”

Where?

Everyone was stunned, but then they saw a humanoid figure swaying in the weeds, a burst of golden Star Power flying out.

“Go!”

At Zhang Hua’s command, the group charged forward.

Boom!

Squelch!

The sword light descended, Star Power collided, and the Special Star Demon spat blood, instantly wounded. It turned and fled.

“Stop it! Don’t let it escape!” Zhang Hua shouted urgently.

Ji Ziling quickly rushed into the weeds, chasing after it.

Rumble!

The ground shook, and large patches of weeds flattened—the Star Demon horde had arrived.

“Hurry, we can’t let it get away!” Zhang Hua dashed into the weeds, growing even more anxious.

“One Sword, Taiyang!”

Ji Ziling shouted softly, golden light shining on her sword as it condensed into a crimson Taiyang.

The Humanoid Star Demon was startled. A powerful aura emanated from it as it let out a low roar, its body erupting with dazzling golden light.

The sword descended, the Taiyang dimmed and quickly dissipated. Ji Ziling leaped back.

Her face flushed, and she spat out a mouthful of blood, exclaiming, “Such a strong recoil ability!”

Ying Yanxue thought, “She’s really putting on a show.”

“The Special Star Demon is injured, hurry up and attack!” Zhang Hua’s eyes turned red. With such a powerful recoil ability, if he could obtain it, he would undoubtedly become the top student in the school!

He could crush all the top students and become the strongest!

But then, the Special Star Demon shamelessly fled, and the Star Demon horde arrived.

“Ziling, rest first. Leave the rest to me,” Ying Yanxue said.

Ji Ziling nodded, clutching her chest, “I’ll hold off the other Star Demons.”

Zhang Hua and the others clashed with the Star Demons once more. Meanwhile, Jiang Changkong, disguised, wandered around and circled back to their hiding spot.

Their backpacks were here—over a dozen of them. Taking them all was unrealistic.

He could only open the backpacks and collect the Star Stones.

A backpack couldn’t possibly be filled entirely with Star Stones. Not only were there not that many, but they also needed to carry clothes, food, and water.

Jiang Changkong had long since run out of clothes, so it was the perfect opportunity to grab a few sets to change into.

The flies in the sky stared dumbfounded at this scene.

A Special Star Demon, and one that knew how to flank and steal Star Stones?

Who would dare believe it if word got out?

Stealing Star Stones was one thing—after all, they contained Star Power, which could benefit Star Demons.

But for a Star Demon to know how to open a backpack? That was just too much.

This had to be a fake Star Demon!

Jiang Changkong realized that one backpack wasn’t enough.

With over a dozen people, each carrying dozens of stones, that amounted to hundreds of stones. How could one backpack possibly hold them all?

He had no choice but to take two backpacks.

Carrying three backpacks, Jiang Changkong left.

Out of caution, he made another trip through the Star Demon horde.

Since he could withstand it and wasn’t afraid of the Star Demons, even if he left traces behind, the others would only be able to track them to the Star Demon horde.

The Star Demon horde would destroy any traces.

Carrying the backpacks, Jiang Changkong distanced himself from the area.

Using the Primal Martial Compass, he headed elsewhere to hunt Star Demons.

He couldn’t recklessly use these Star Stones. There would still be Star Demon corpses to collect in the evening, and he had already gained an enormous advantage.

He planned to leave most of the Star Stones for Ji Ziling and the others, taking only a smaller share for himself.

Between friends, one shouldn’t only think of themselves.

Jiang Changkong hunted until nightfall before returning.

After stashing the backpacks, he went to spy on Zhang Hua and the others.

The group of over a dozen people was in an uproar, arguing fiercely.

“Zhang Hua, you said we were helping you, but what happened? Our Star Stones are gone!”

“You need to give us an explanation. We went through all that trouble to help you, and now we have nothing. What do you have to say?”

The group surrounded Zhang Hua, all voicing their grievances: “We were about to complete our two-year college entrance exams. What do we do now?”

“I was in my third year,” grumbled one at the late Star Cloud stage, even more frustrated.

Cao Ye also expressed his dissatisfaction: “Zhang Hua, I was almost halfway through my fifth-year college entrance exam.”

These Star Stones were all meant for their college entrance exams.

Now that they were gone, it meant all their recent efforts had been wasted.

After all that time spent for nothing, if they couldn’t complete their exams, there would be penalties!

How would work assignments be distributed then? What would the school think of them?

Zhang Hua’s expression was grim, but he forced a smile: “Everyone, please calm down. The Star Stones were stolen, so it must have been done by someone.

My Star Stones are missing too, and I’m just as angry. The priority now is to find the stones.”

He was furious and frustrated, but what good did that do?

They had to find the Star Stones first.

“Zhang Hua, I have to criticize you.”

Ji Ziling stepped forward, her face cold. “When it came to killing the Special Star Demon for you, you said to act immediately. I was the first to take action, but what about the rest of you?”

Zhang Hua’s face twitched: “We didn’t see it at the time, did we?”

He could swear he hadn’t seen that Special Star Demon.

“I saw it. How could you not? This was for your sake, not mine!”

Ji Ziling said angrily: “I gave it my all to help you, and this is how you act? Can’t you take your own affairs seriously?”

Ying Yanxue wanted to laugh but held it back, forcing herself to remain composed.

Zhang Hua felt humiliated. Ji Ziling was scolding him like a child, and the worst part was, he couldn’t even argue back.

“You’re so careless, it’s embarrassing. And you’ve dragged everyone else down with you.”

Ji Ziling felt thoroughly satisfied as she continued to berate him: “You lost Star Stones this time. Next time, will you lose your life? You’re a grown adult—it’s time to start taking things seriously.”

Zhang Hua: “…”

Everyone: “…”

“Ahem, Ziling, say less.”

Ying Yanxue cleared her throat lightly, her expression remaining cool: “People grow through lessons; he is still young.”

Zhang Hua…

You two, that’s enough!

“Ji Ziling, everyone, this time I was not thoughtful enough.”

Zhang Hua’s face darkened as he gritted his teeth: “I will offer the Special Starstone to the school or sell it to compensate you all!”

“Zhang Hua…” Everyone’s expressions changed, all showing delight.

Special Starstones could be said to be priceless and hard to come by.

Was Zhang Hua really willing to give it up to compensate them?

Ji Ziling was also surprised, but on second thought, it made sense—Zhang Hua couldn’t afford to compensate for the lost Star Stones, so he had no choice but to use the Special Starstone as compensation.

A single Special Starstone, if sold, would undoubtedly be enough to cover the losses.