Chapter 63: This Has to Start With My Great-Great-Great… Great-Ancestor

Jiang Changkong stayed behind mainly because of the Fuhai Technique.

He wanted to see if it was Lu Wuhai.

If it was, why would the school’s top academic genius come to the Life-and-death Arena to work as a fighter?

In the earlier fight, the Fuhai Technique was likely infinitely close to the Late Star Sea Stage.

After multiple battles, relying solely on the Three Blades Without Trace, he couldn’t hold his ground.

Without revealing his other martial arts, he had no choice but to level up.

Jiang Changkong: Mid Star Sea Stage

Low-grade Superior Martial Arts:

Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique: Minor Mastery 1/8000

Tai Chi Fist Scripture: Entry Level 1/2000

Three Blades Without Trace: Minor Mastery 2001/8000

Blazing Fire Technique: Entry Level 1/2000

Essence, Qi, and Spirit: 2731.7

One hundred and thirty-five mid-grade third-tier Star Stones, plus the two he still had, were temporarily excluded.

Twenty-seven thousand Essence, Qi, and Spirit!

After reviewing his martial arts data, Jiang Changkong focused on the black-clad figure cultivating the Fuhai Technique.

The black-clad figure exchanged a few words with the people beside him before turning to leave.

Jiang Changkong glanced at the direction he was heading—toward the edge of the underground space, where there were three tunnels.

These three tunnels were exits leading to different directions.

Observing the others and noticing no one was paying attention, Jiang Changkong slipped away to follow him.

Following the black-clad figure into the left tunnel, he entered a passageway.

Inside the tunnel, it was pitch black without a trace of light.

Exiting the passage, wild grass came into view, and the surroundings opened up—this was the Star Desolate Grasslands!

“Did we just come out?”

Jiang Changkong was slightly surprised but didn’t linger, continuing to follow the black-clad figure.

The black-clad figure moved through the grass for several hundred meters before stopping, where another black-clad figure with a backpack was waiting for him.

“Senior Lu, you’ve finally arrived,” the black-clad figure said excitedly as he removed his mask.

“Where are the things I asked for?” the black-clad figure asked coldly.

“Huh? Cao Ye?”

Jiang Changkong was startled—the one waiting for the black-clad figure was actually Cao Ye.

Senior Lu?

Combined with the Fuhai Technique, there was no doubt.

It really was Lu Wuhai!

Cao Ye handed him the backpack. “All of Jiang Changkong’s information is here. By the way, Senior Lu, Zhang Hua will be out soon.”

Senior Lu opened the backpack, took out a few documents to examine, and exclaimed, “Jiang Changkong, Iron Shirt, Taiji Fist, Blazing Fire Technique, and he didn’t use his full strength in ten consecutive matches?”

“Yes, I had just achieved seven consecutive wins today when he showed up. After that, I hid in the crowd and personally witnessed him complete ten consecutive wins,” Cao Ye said with a dark expression. “Jiang Changkong’s Iron Shirt is extremely strong. He charged in and out of a Star Demon horde without a scratch.”

The earlier second black-clad figure had been him.

Senior Lu’s eyes flickered. “Can this person be recruited?”

Cao Ye shook his head. “Difficult. He’s aligned with Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue. He’s probably the type who refuses a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Who told you I refuse toasts?

It depends on who’s offering the toast!

“Then find a way to obtain his martial arts, lure him out, and eliminate him.”

Senior Lu’s expression turned sinister. “As for Zhang Hua, since he used the Starlight Force Bomb, he can be recruited once he comes out. Cough, cough…”

At the end of his sentence, Senior Lu’s injuries flared up, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

“Senior Lu, are you injured?” Cao Ye’s expression changed.

“Today at the Life-and-death Arena, a skilled swordsman showed up. He kills without leaving a trace or shedding blood.

His strength is unfathomable. He defeated fourteen Mid Star Sea Stage fighters in a row, and even when I stepped in, I still lost.”

Senior Lu’s expression was grave. If it weren’t for the fact that the opponent’s Star Power fluctuations never exceeded the Mid Star Sea Stage from start to finish…

He was beginning to suspect whether someone at the late Star Sea stage, or even the peak, had emerged.

Cao Ye was startled: “Killing without leaving a wound or blood? And using a blade?”

Senior Lu’s gaze sharpened: “You know about this?”

“Zhang Hua was injured exactly like that—one hand unscathed and bloodless, with the wrist meridians severed, and his Special Starstone was stolen.”

Cao Ye frowned deeply: “But that doesn’t make sense. At the time, Chen Sanyan’s blade was used, and the strength displayed was only at the Star Cloud Level.”

“Special Starstone? Chen Sanyan?”

Lu Wuhai pondered and said: “It couldn’t be Chen Sanyan. I’ll keep an eye on this person. You’re responsible for obtaining Jiang Changkong’s martial arts, and then eliminate him.”

Cao Ye replied: “Yes, I’ll return tomorrow and find a way.”

After further discussion, the two parted ways.

Jiang Changkong followed Cao Ye and saw him resting in a stone hut, so he stopped paying attention.

“Want my martial arts?”

A faint smile played on Jiang Changkong’s lips—the price would be steep.

If they could offer a sufficient price, he would sell the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique.

But he would never sell the Tai Chi Fist Scripture.

This martial art allowed him to deflect force and protect his body, which was immensely helpful.

Now, with his full combat power unleashed, he could even fight against someone at the Star Sea Peak. His greatest reliance was the Taiji force deflection.

Even if others practiced it, they wouldn’t match him, but being able to deflect a portion of the force made it an excellent martial art.

This was his exclusive technique, and he would never pass it on unless the relationship was extremely close.

The Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique was different. Even if mastered, it only enhanced defense, increased strength, and slightly improved overall power.

As for the earlier conversation, Lu Wuhai had been lingering at the school, even recruiting Cao Ye.

He had produced the Starlight Force Bomb, schemed against Zhang Hua, and now was acting as a hired thug.

What had this super genius been up to all these years?

Lying in the weeds, Jiang Changkong toyed with the Special Starstone.

He wanted to sell this Special Starstone to Ying Yanxue.

It didn’t matter who he sold it to, but of course, he’d prioritize those he was close to.

However, Ying Yanxue was broke—she probably couldn’t offer many Star Stones.

Coupled with the lack of a suitable opportunity, the Special Starstone remained unsold.

Forget it. First, he’d extract the “Essence, Qi, and Spirit,” then fully master the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique and Three Blades Without Trace to minor completion.

As for the weapons he’d collected, he’d sell them all and wait until tomorrow to make his move.

Early the next morning, Jiang Changkong returned to Jiangcheng.

He wanted to see how Cao Ye would approach him for his martial arts.

After buying soy milk and steamed buns and finishing his meal, Jiang Changkong went home to catch up on sleep, having slept poorly in the wilderness the night before.

It wasn’t until 1 p.m. that he was awakened by a phone call from his teacher, Chu Jun, asking him to come to the office and hinting at the idea of buying his martial arts.

Jiang Changkong washed his face, brushed his teeth, changed clothes, and headed to the Martial Arts School.

He went straight to the office, where Chu Jun, Xiao Jiang, Chen Hua, and Cao Ye’s teacher—a thin middle-aged man named Fang Chenggong—were waiting.

“Changkong, you’re here. Please, have a seat.”

Chen Hua greeted him warmly, and the three teachers wore enthusiastic smiles.

Jiang Changkong remained calm inside. Cao Ye had a clever idea—using the school to make the request.

But it didn’t matter. He already had a plan. No matter who wanted it, unless they offered an astronomical price, they wouldn’t get it!

“Vice Principal, teachers, what brings you to call me here?” Jiang Changkong asked with feigned confusion.

“It’s like this. We watched the video of you moving freely among the Star Demons.

It was excellent. The school is honored to have a genius like you join us.”

Chen Hua laughed heartily, his gaze fixed on him as if looking at a little white rabbit.

The three teachers chimed in repeatedly, “Yes, it’s truly an honor.”

Jiang Changkong sighed wistfully, “Vice Principal and teachers, you flatter me too much. This is the lifelong effort of my Jiang family ancestors and the dying wish of my parents. I merely inherited the fruits of my forebears’ labor.”

Vice Principal: “…”

The three teachers: “…”

What the hell does this have to do with your ancestors?

Didn’t your parents die long ago?

Seeing the four of them utterly bewildered, Jiang Changkong continued, “This story starts with my great-great-great… great-grandfather…”

Chen Hua wiped his sweat, “Ahem, you’d better keep it short. Don’t go too far back.”

Just how many generations are we talking about? What does any of this have to do with them?

“Alright, my Jiang family ancestors, generation after generation, lacked martial arts techniques and could only search online for basic martial arts.

However, my family possessed an ambitious spirit. Thus, our ancestors emulated the sages of old, delving into the Martial Dao.

Finally, in my parents’ generation, they managed to develop cultivation methods for Iron Shirt and Taiji Fist.”

Jiang Changkong spoke solemnly, ending with a sorrowful expression, “But, as fate would have it, my parents met with calamity. They could only place all their hopes on me, their sole descendant.”

This way, he also had an excuse for the upgraded techniques he possessed.

“Ah.” Chen Hua looked moved and sighed, “If I recall correctly, during your great-great-great… great-grandfather’s time, the world hadn’t undergone its great transformation yet, right?”

Jiang Changkong stiffened slightly, then said earnestly, “My ancestors aspired to the ancient sages. Every generation of the Jiang family harbored dreams of cultivation.”

Yes, that’s right. From before the world’s great transformation, my ancestors were studying martial arts novels.

This absolutely cannot be wrong—they must have even read cultivation stories too.

Chen Hua and the three teachers looked at him speechlessly. This kid understood their meaning perfectly well and was desperately emphasizing how hard-won these techniques were.

“Forget it. Such painstaking efforts are beyond measure. Train well and don’t disgrace your ancestors.” Chen Hua sighed.

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Weren’t you determined to buy them? Don’t joke around—they can definitely be measured.