Chapter 61: Star Sea

“I did indeed spar with Senior Chen Sanyan before.”

Jiang Changkong replied, “Senior’s strength is exceptional, far beyond my own. After exchanging a few moves, I seized the opportunity to withdraw.”

Chu Jun sighed softly, “Aside from you, Sanyan was the most talented student I’ve mentored. Yet now, he remains missing without a trace.”

“From what I know, Senior Chen Sanyan should be close with Seniors Zhang Hua and Cao Ye. Do they not know anything?”

Jiang Changkong asked with confusion.

Chu Jun shook his head, “All we know is that Chen Sanyan seized a Special Starstone and disappeared. Alas.”

Jiang Changkong fell silent for a moment before saying, “Perhaps he’s entangled in trouble and can’t return for now.”

Chu Jun nodded, saying nothing more, “Go now. Use this month and a half to improve yourself. It’s best if you reach the Star Sea Level—only then will you have a chance to compete for the Starlight Meteorite Iron.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Jiang Changkong gave a slight bow and withdrew with the Star Stones.

Chu Jun let out a long sigh. Chen Sanyan… he likely won’t be coming back.

After seizing a Special Starstone and vanishing without a trace, he’s probably fled.

Jiang Changkong returned to the small room, slung two bags of extracted Star Stones over his back, and carried the Star Stone box in one hand as he left the school.

He went straight home, tossing the two bags of extracted Star Stones into the trash before proceeding to extract the remaining ones.

Three hundred and sixty-two pieces—Li Qing had given him ten extra. He kept two aside.

Fourteen thousand four hundred!

Jiang Changkong immediately perfected the Blazing Fire Technique, causing the Star Power within his body to increase once more.

Without hesitation, he allocated four points to upgrade all four martial arts simultaneously.

Boom!

His body trembled, and Jiang Changkong’s vision was no longer filled with the room’s furniture but with a mass of clouds.

Star Cloud!

Internal Vision!

Under his gaze, the clouds expanded violently before rapidly contracting. Drops of Liquid Star Force dripped from the gaseous cloud.

Four more streams of Star Power flew out from the clouds, circulating swiftly within his body along the pathways of the four martial arts.

This time, the pathways changed again, becoming more complex yet better suited to him.

The power of the martial arts also increased severalfold.

The Tai Chi Fist Scripture and the Taiji Diagram solidified into tangible forms, as if they truly existed.

Drop by drop, Liquid Star Force fell, stored within his Dantian.

The Star Power cultivated by the four martial arts divided into four streams, partitioning the Dantian into four regions.

The golden Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique, the red Blazing Fire Technique, the black-and-white Tai Chi Fist Scripture, and the colorless Three Blades Without Trace.

Though the four streams of Star Power were separate, they remained interconnected. With a single thought, all Star Power could merge into one stream.

With another thought, the Star Power could disperse into four streams once more!

Two golden runes ran through his Dantian, connecting his entire body from top to bottom—Power Runes!

The Liquid Star Force grew increasingly abundant, starting as a single drop until, in the end, it resembled a vast ocean, submerging the clouds.

The clouds quickly dispersed, merging into the Liquid Star Force.

Within his Dantian, the Star Power liquefied, resembling a great sea.

Star Sea!

Sensing the rising power within his body, Jiang Changkong officially stepped into the Star Sea realm.

He felt he could effortlessly annihilate his former self—annihilate an Early Star Sea Stage cultivator.

Jiang Changkong: Early Star Sea Stage

Low-grade Superior Martial Arts:

Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique: Beginner 1/2000

Tai Chi Fist Scripture: Beginner 1/2000

Three Blades Without Trace: Beginner 1/2000

Blazing Fire Technique: Beginner 1/2000

Essence, Energy, and Spirit: 8731.7

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Changkong first upgraded Three Blades Without Trace.

Reaching the Small Achievement stage required eight thousand points. With the remainder, he maxed out the Beginner level of Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique.

For now, he didn’t upgrade the Blazing Fire Technique or Tai Chi Fist Scripture.

Jiang Changkong: Mid Star Sea Stage

Low-grade Superior Martial Arts:

Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique: Beginner 2000/2000

Tai Chi Fist Scripture: Beginner 1/2000

Three Blades Without Trace: Minor Mastery 1/8000

Blazing Fire Technique: Beginner 1/2000

Essence: 4732.7

“It’s already low-grade top-tier. One more upgrade, and it’ll become a mid-grade martial art.”

Jiang Changkong was filled with anticipation. Mid-grade martial arts corresponded to realms above the Star Sea.

For now, he would go earn some Star Stones.

He decided to temporarily save the remaining Essence, planning to use it for upgrades when the opportunity arose.

He found a set of black clothes at home, put them on, and donned a hat, making sure he was fully concealed before heading out.

Instead of leaving through his own front door, he waited until the nearby neighbors were away, climbed over the wall, and exited from someone else’s property.

He bought another ticket to the Martial Market and boarded the bus heading there.

The sky was growing dark. This time, he would leave the city and not return tonight.

He also needed to replace his blade. He’d see whose he could snatch later.

Arriving at the Martial Market again, Jiang Changkong wandered around until he found someone using a blade—a second-tier top-grade one, barely sufficient for his needs.

Taking advantage of the person’s unpreparedness, he knocked them out, took the blade, and stripped them of their black clothes, putting them on himself.

After hiding his own blade and the Special Starstone, Jiang Changkong headed to the Life-and-death Arena.

He kept the Special Starstone on him at all times to prevent theft.

He had chosen to upgrade Three Blades Without Trace first precisely for the Life-and-death Arena.

As a professional Martial Artist, participating in the Life-and-death Arena would reflect poorly on him, but using Three Blades Without Trace was just right.

He found the stone hut and walked inside. The floor was made of alloy, with a hole in the center.

Jiang Changkong placed a jade stone into the hole, and the alloy floor slid open to both sides, revealing a staircase entrance.

Descending the stairs, he was met with chaotic noises—raucous, hoarse shouts echoed around. Lights illuminated the space ahead, where a crowd of black-clad figures surrounded the arena, roaring.

This was an underground space, vast and spacious, with three arenas, each hosting a fierce battle.

Beside each arena stood a stone tablet inscribed with words: “Life-and-death Arena—leave your life, not your name.”

Five Consecutive Battles were the minimum requirement, with Ten Consecutive Battles given priority. Only after completing the corresponding consecutive battles could one voluntarily end their participation.

As for the rewards, two Star Stones of the same tier were offered.

Winning Five Consecutive Battles granted no additional rewards.

Winning Ten Consecutive Battles earned an extra forty Star Stones of the same tier.

The rules of combat were simple: aside from one’s own weapon, the use of hidden weapons, performance-enhancing potions, and other external aids was prohibited.

Thud

Just as Jiang Changkong finished reading the words on the stone tablet, a severed head tumbled down, startling him.

“Great! Well killed! I’ve won again!”

A loud laugh rang out as someone clutched a pile of Star Stones.

Many others sighed in disappointment. “What’s going on? This guy’s already won five in a row, and he still hasn’t lost?”

Jiang Changkong glanced over. They were gambling. Could he place a bet?

But he had already withdrawn all his Star Stones. He felt a pang of regret.

“Congratulations to this gentleman for achieving five consecutive victories. Is there anyone else willing to step up next?”

A black-clad figure stepped onto the arena, scanning the crowd.

The space fell silent for a moment. Many seemed tempted but hesitated to speak up.

This was different from the arenas aboveground—here, it was a matter of life and death.

“I’ll go. Let’s start with five consecutive battles to warm up.”

Jiang Changkong deliberately pitched his voice higher, making it sound sharp and thin.

“Such a sharp voice—could it be a woman?” someone in the crowd laughed.

“Don’t underestimate women. Plenty of women dare to risk their lives here too,” another black-clad figure retorted.

The black-clothed man on the arena took out a number five tag and affixed it to his chest, indicating he intended to fight five consecutive matches.

Jiang Changkong stepped directly onto the arena, his powerful Star Power fluctuations and aura exceptionally strong: “Mid Star Sea Stage, who’s next?”

“Mid Star Sea Stage?”

The black-clothed men suddenly fell silent. A Mid Star Sea Stage martial artist could be considered a true expert even across the entire Jiangcheng!

Among their group, there were some Star Sea martial artists, but the majority were at the Star Cloud Level.

“What? No one dares to come?”

Jiang Changkong frowned slightly. Had he known this, he would have only raised his cultivation to the Early Star Sea Stage.

“I’ll go.”

A black-clothed man rushed onto the arena, his aura robust, also a Mid Star Sea Stage martial artist.

“Please—”

As soon as Jiang Changkong spoke, a sword light swept toward him, forcing him to hastily raise his blade to block.

“First time here? There are no courtesies on the Life-and-death Arena. Stepping on means it begins.”

The black-clothed man shouted coldly, his sword energy erupting as he aimed directly for Jiang Changkong’s vital points.

“Lesson learned.”

Jiang Changkong’s gaze turned icy. His blade shifted silently, without the slightest ripple of energy.

Clang! Blade and sword clashed. Jiang Changkong did not exert much force.

He chose to spend a bit more time, planning to feign exhaustion this time to make it appear as though he had expended great effort.