Chapter 97: Big Brother Has Arrived

Flames surged to the heavens, bursting forth from his body—golden flames. The Star Power within him had also completely transformed into golden flame Star Power.

The scorching high temperature was even more terrifying than before, far more intense.

His entire body radiated golden flames, the terrifying heat instantly igniting the surrounding weeds.

It was like a blazing sun!

A golden flame gate rose from the flame Star Power.

Then came the Taiji Diagram, giving rise to a faint, illusory black-and-white gate!

Three Blades Without Trace conjured a colorless, faint gate, upon which three blade marks were etched.

Next was the Object Control Technique, which similarly produced a colorless, faint gate.

Only, on this gate, a wisp of energy continuously roamed.

As the five great gates rose, an invisible force enveloped his entire body.

From within the Star Gate, fine threads shot out, merging into his flesh, blood, and bones, sealing him within.

Jiang Changkong finally understood why Star Gate Martial Artists could not extract Essence.

The Star Gate sealed the flesh, blood, and bones. Unless one could sever these connections, extraction was impossible.

But how to sever them, Jiang Changkong did not know.

As the Star Gate rose, a torrent of Star Power surged from within, pouring into the Star Sea.

The Star Sea expanded once more, the Star Power growing more condensed and powerful.

Compared to before, it was several times stronger!

Jiang Changkong again checked his data. As expected, Mid-grade Martial Arts had been achieved.

But next, a flood of information rushed into his mind, causing his head to ache as if splitting apart.

The Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique had upgraded to Indestructible Diamond Divine Art—his body like diamond, hard and unbreakable.

Including his internal organs, they too were like diamond; the defense within his body was no weaker than that outside!

The Tai Chi Fist Scripture had upgraded to Mystical Tai Chi Art, infinitely profound, capable of concealing Star Power fluctuations, undetectable even by those a full major realm higher.

Three Blades Without Trace had upgraded to Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan—the blade strikes fleeting as a swan, fast as if without shadow, killing without leaving a wound.

The Blazing Fire Technique had upgraded to Blazing Sun Art, akin to a true sun. The Star Power could be called Taiyang fire, albeit an infinitely weakened version.

The Object Control Technique had upgraded to Spirit Control Art, capable of controlling Star Power and natural attributes, such as the power of water and fire.

Jiang Changkong: Star Gate Initial Stage

Mid-grade Lower-tier Martial Arts:

Indestructible Diamond Divine Art: Beginner 1/5000

Mystical Tai Chi Art: Beginner 1/5000

Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan: Beginner 1/5000

Blazing Sun Art: Beginner 1/5000

Spirit Control Art: Beginner 1/5000

Essence: 1358

Looking at his own data, Jiang Changkong took a deep breath. Next, it was time to coordinate with the martial arts.

His entire body shone with golden light, Blazing Sun Star Power surging, filling every part of him.

Boom!

Flames suddenly appeared, and Jiang Changkong’s body ignited with blazing golden flames.

Every inch of his skin, every part of his body, even the blood within him, burned with golden flames.

Diamond Treading Fire!

With a turn of his palm, golden flames were everywhere.

As the Mystical Tai Chi Art circulated, everything dissipated. Jiang Changkong’s Star Power completely contracted, turning inward, not revealing the slightest trace.

Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan, like Three Blades Without Trace before, was executed with extreme speed in drawing, striking, and sheathing the blade—so fast that those of the same realm could not even see it.

With the upgrade of the Blazing Fire Technique, the accompanying Mystical Fire Blade Technique and Mystical Fire Step had also improved.

The blade techniques and moves had changed as well, becoming Mystical Sun Blade, with Golden Flame Mystical Blade now merely the most ordinary strike.

Then came Proud Sun Blade, Blazing Sun Blade, and Setting Sun Blade.

Proud Sun Blade was like the sun at the dawn of heaven and earth, gentle yet concealing killing intent.

Blazing Sun Blade was like the sun at noon, a blazing great sun, scorching with intense heat.

Setting Sun Blade was like the sun setting in the west, its high temperature not apparent, everything turned inward.

The Mystical Fire Step had transformed into the Mystical Sun Step, the flames beneath his feet resembling a miniature version of the sun.

Star Power surged through the Spirit Control Art as the long blade danced through the air, infused with Star Power, emitting a faint hum.

It couldn’t withstand it!

This was only a third-tier weapon, a grade lower than his Star Power.

Reducing the Star Power, the blade flashed like a fleeting shadow, moving at the limit of speed, leaving only afterimages in its wake.

The blade passed, leaving the grass untouched, while golden flames burned from within.

The Taiji Diagram moved at will as Jiang Changkong pondered. The Spirit Control Art could now manipulate Star Power and its natural attributes.

Could he then combine it with the Taiji Diagram to redirect and utilize an opponent’s Star Power?

“Hmm?”

Jiang Changkong’s gaze shifted into the distance. He realized he could even see the patterns on the grass over six hundred meters away.

“My senses have also sharpened, and there are no more Star Demons nearby.”

Jiang Changkong contemplated. Even if he hunted more Star Demons, he wouldn’t gain much Essence.

Star Cloud Level was now completely useless to him, and Star Sea Level Star Demons were scarce even after a full day of hunting.

To continue improving rapidly, he would have to venture deeper to hunt Star Demons.

Ding-dong.

His phone chimed. Pang Yun had sent a message: the person would arrive at the school outpost in at most half an hour.

“Half an hour? That’s enough.”

Jiang Changkong stepped forward with the Mystical Sun Step, his figure turning into a blur as he hurried toward the nearby school outpost.

At the Star Gate realm, Jiang Changkong moved with incredible speed. In less than half an hour, he could already see the outline of the school outpost.

The walls, built from massive stones, shimmered with faint starlight, creating a breathtaking sight.

Jiang Changkong approached quickly, his eyes fixed on the entrance where seven people had gathered.

Despite the distance, he could clearly see that two of them were the unreliable senior sisters.

Four others were Pang Yun and his companions. At that moment, Pang Yun lay on the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The last person had waist-length hair and stood opposite them. Jiang Changkong could only see their back and the violently fluctuating, powerful Star Power.

At the entrance to the wall, Ji Ziling and the others wore expressions of anger but dared not act rashly.

The intense fluctuations of Star Power bloomed like fireworks.

A chilling aura spread in all directions as Ying Yanxue stood solemnly beside Ji Ziling.

“Ji Ziling, since you’re hiding in this backwater called Jiangcheng, don’t stick your neck out. You wouldn’t want to cause trouble for your Ji family.”

The person with waist-length hair was a young man, his expression cold and filled with disdain.

Ji Ziling retorted angrily, “Wang Peng, what do you mean by injuring my friend for no reason?”

Fang Lin and the other three stepped forward, their expressions grim. “We’re all part of the Martial Arts Association. Why resort to violence?”

“Since you know we’re all from the Martial Arts Association, you should stand by my side, not ally yourselves with these fools from Jiangcheng!”

Wang Peng snorted coldly, glancing at the fallen Pang Yun. “Yang Chengan, you gave that thing to him, didn’t you?”

“Pang Yun’s improvement has nothing to do with me. He met an elder brother in Jiangcheng—perhaps that person helped him.”

Yang Chengan’s expression was icy. “In Martial Dao competition, your brother was outmatched. What kind of skill is it for you to chase him all the way to Jiangcheng?”

“My brother may not be your match, but as his elder brother, how could I stand by and let him be bullied?”

Wang Peng said coldly, “Today, hand over that thing, and none of you will be harmed. Otherwise, I’ll cripple all of you!”

“This is Jiangcheng, not Jiangshui City. Think carefully,” Yang Chengan said gravely, his right hand tightly gripping the hilt of his sword.

“Jiangcheng? A tiny city like this isn’t enough to make me think twice.”

Wang Peng sneered, “Today, even if you call the principal of Jiangcheng Martial Dao School or the commander of ten thousand from the military, I will still cripple you all.”

As soon as the words fell, golden Star Power surged, and an indestructible sword energy shot forth.

“Just in time to experience the strength of a Star Gate Martial Artist.”

Fang Lin snorted coldly and took the lead to strike. Green sword light flickered, and a fierce wind suddenly rose.

“Attack!”

Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue shouted softly, simultaneously making their move.

“Everyone, this matter is my doing alone. Step back.”

Yang Chengan urgently shouted, wildly channeling his Star Power as he charged straight toward Wang Peng.

“A bunch of weaklings.”

Wang Peng smiled disdainfully, golden sword light raging as it split and shot out in all directions.

Boom!

Wherever the scattered golden sword light passed, sword energy exploded, and the fierce wind ceased.

Fang Lin and Yang Chengan had barely touched the sword light when their own sword energy dissipated, their hands split open, and their bodies were sent flying backward.

The woman at the late Star Sea Stage fared even worse. Her longsword flew from her grasp, blood splattered, and her body was thrown back, crashing into the surrounding wall.

Thud!

Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue trembled as a golden sword light pierced through their right shoulders, blood gushing out.

“Ji Ziling, think carefully. One more sword strike, and I will completely cripple your Martial Dao cultivation!”

Wang Peng stood with his sword in hand, having severely wounded them with a single strike, yet showing not the slightest hint of pride.

He was already at the peak of the Star Gate Initial Stage and would soon advance to the mid Star Gate Stage.

As for Ji Ziling and the others, they only had one at the Star Sea Peak, and two others who had just reached the Early Star Sea Stage.

Even if their numbers doubled, he would not fear them.

“Sister Ziling.”

Pang Yun struggled to stand, blocking the two women. “This matter has nothing to do with you. Leave.”

“It has nothing to do with you either. This is my matter alone.”

Yang Chengan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, using Star Power to stop the bleeding in his hands. “It might be better to be crippled. I can return to Jiangcheng to retire, returning to my roots like fallen leaves.”

Ji Ziling snorted coldly, showing no trace of fear. “What nonsense are you talking about? True brothers value loyalty above all. And, Pang Yun, when is your big brother coming?”

Ying Yanxue remained silent, only her chilling aura intensifying as she stood by Ji Ziling.

“I’ve already notified him. He’ll be here soon,” Pang Yun said urgently.

“Reinforcements? Today, no one can save you! I’ll cripple you all together.”

A flash of ferocity crossed Wang Peng’s eyes as golden sword light surged once more, scattering into countless rays that simultaneously enveloped everyone.

The indestructible golden sword energy carried a sharp, piercing aura emanating from within.

Even before it reached them, the group’s skin already stung with pain.

This was the sharpness of the Metal element!

“Kill!” The group’s expressions turned grave, but no one retreated. They gathered their Star Power, uniting to block this sword strike.

Boom!

Thud!

Blood splattered, staining the ground red. Even with their combined efforts, they still struggled to withstand this sword energy.

The golden sword energy raged, enveloping all six, targeting the Dantian in their lower abdomens—the location of their Star Sea. Once destroyed, their martial arts would be completely crippled.

In that instant, a flash of blade light swept by. Swift and shadow-like, the blade’s gleam left behind elusive afterimages, instantly shielding the six.

Clang, clang…

The collision of sword energy and blade light. The blade light seemed controlled by an invisible hand, blocking all the golden sword energy.

“Hmm? There’s such a strong expert in Jiangcheng?” Wang Peng’s face showed surprise as he turned around. A figure transformed into afterimages, rapidly approaching.

In just a few breaths, the figure had arrived before the group.

Wang Peng’s expression turned cold and stern. “Are you meddling in this affair?”

Jiang Changkong’s gaze was icy, with surging Star Power churning within his body:

“Coming to our Jiangcheng Martial Arts School, bullying my senior sister—have you thought about how you want to die?”

“My big brother is here!” Pang Yun exclaimed excitedly.