While speaking, Xu Jin turned to leave but was suddenly called out by Hall Master Zeng, "Take this with you." Zeng Shuo handed over an elixir bottle.
"There are five Four Mysterious Star Recovery Pills inside, use them for now."
"Thank you, Hall Master, then I’ll transfer 20 strands of starlight to you."
Xu Jin was about to proceed, but Zeng Shuo stopped him, "No need, no need, it’s a gift, why transfer any starlight? You’d have to pay taxes, what a waste!"
Xu Jin insisted on paying.
He currently had enough starlight, so he did not want to owe any favors for such a small amount.
However, Zeng Shuo’s face darkened, "What, you look down on this old Hall Master, is that it?"
"No, it’s not that...."
"If you respect me, then accept it! You don’t owe any favors. In fact, your performance in this autumn exam has already brought us great honor. I’ve even basked in your reflected glory, which can’t be compared to a mere five pills.
An A+ rating, priceless!
When you have time in the future, come visit Jinshan County and the Jinshan Daoist Insitute more often." While speaking, Zeng Shuo pushed and pulled Xu Jin out of the Foreign Affairs Hall.
Xu Jin had no choice but to accept.
Not long after leaving the Foreign Affairs Hall, the Star-picking Order in his bosom trembled slightly: a starlight transmission had come.
[Mountain Master Dong Zhao of the Jinshan Daoist Institute in Yan State, Dachen Country, requests to add you as a friend. Accept?]
After deducting a point of Taoist Merit, Xu Jin became friends with Mountain Master Dong Zhao and immediately received a Starlight Transmission from the Mountain Master.
[I’m in the Scripture Hall, come quickly.]
A few minutes later, Xu Jin arrived at the Scripture Hall, which was occupied only by Mountain Master Dong Zhao.
"Disciple Xu Jin pays respect to the Mountain Master."
"Hmm, sit down, I have some things to tell you."
A few minutes later, Xu Jin left the Scripture Hall, clutching the two pieces of jade in his bosom, already forming his own thoughts.
Dong Zhao had called him over mainly to talk about these two pieces of Star Pattern Jade.
Inside, two Star Patterns were recorded: one was the Rain Curtain Star Pattern at the Fourth Tier Upper, and the other was the Whale Swallow Star Pattern at the Fifth Tier Middle.
Neither was exclusive, but both were among the highest ranks of Star Patterns in the current age.
The Rain Curtain Star Pattern was also available in the Da Chen National Daoist School, but only at a rank of Third-tier Lower, and the Whale Swallow Star Pattern, while also available there, was ranked only at third-tier middle.
The former, at Fourth Tier Upper, was a secret of the Song Family, while the latter, the Whale Swallow Star Pattern at Fifth Tier Middle, was a secret Star Pattern of Dong Zhao’s former mentor, the Great State Preceptor.
He informed Xu Jin of two things, first, they must absolutely not be disclosed to others.
Especially for the Rain Curtain Star Pattern, if Xu Jin dared to disclose it, not even the Great State Preceptor Cheng Yue Xiao could save him.
This was the Song Family’s foundational legacy.
In the future, he must be more vigilant towards the people and affairs of the Song Family.
As for the Whale Swallow Star Pattern, Xu Jin was also not to disclose it without asking Dong Zhao first.
The second matter was that Dong Zhao explained to Xu Jin the cultivation related to these two Star Patterns.
The Rain Curtain Star Pattern could be used for both offense and defense, particularly strong for the latter.
Even the Rain Curtain Star Pattern at Third-tier Lower could enhance the power of a basic Star Shield or a basic Starlight Shield by fifty percent.
And a Rain Curtain Star Pattern at Fourth Tier Upper could double the defensive power of a basic Star Shield or Starlight Shield.
He advised Xu Jin to engrave it as soon as possible after Refining Star,
and even suggested to engrave it in the Lower Star Palace, then replace it with another Star Pattern as the Main Star Pattern after achieving Star Condensation.
As for the Whale Swallow Star Pattern, it could endow Xu Jin’s Star Skills with a powerful absorption force, making all his Star Skills more elusive and difficult to defend against, very practical in actual combat.
Engrave it after Refining Star.
He also mentioned the Star Casting Pill, same as Zeng Shuo had said.
Regarding tomorrow’s autumn exam, Dong Zhao told Xu Jin to perform normally.
No sooner had Xu Jin left Mountain Master Dong Zhao than he received a Starlight Transmission from Ning Yuchan.
Xu Jin rushed off once more.
Ning Yuchan’s instructions were the same as Dong Zhao’s,
also reminding Xu Jin about those two Star Patterns.
However, the knowledge she imparted about Star Patterns was more extensive.
Many high-tier Star Skills were combinations of Star Patterns and basic Star Skills.
Ning Yuchan urged Xu Jin to consult his mentors when engraving Star Patterns, not to rush into engraving upon obtaining them.
Once Star Patterns are engraved, it’s extremely difficult to remove them, unless one chooses to scatter their cultivation and start over.
But the combinations of Star Patterns were infinitely variable.
Some combinations of Star Patterns could turn the mediocre into the miraculous, elevating the power of Star Skills significantly when several patterns were combined, supporting and enhancing each other.
Yet some Star Patterns not only failed to enhance each other but even suppressed or counteracted one another.
Be cautious when engraving new Star Patterns,
especially before reaching the Star Condensing Realm,
as prior to that, the number of Star Patterns a cultivator could engrave was limited.
Even if the entire Lower Star Palace were to be cast with Star Patterns, it would not exceed twenty.
After making careful note of everything, Xu Jin left and headed home.
Upon entering his house, hoping for some peace and quiet, Xu Jin could only give a wry smile.
For the Xu Family home was already decked out in festive lighting and decorations.
The courtyard was already piled with a vast number of gifts, and yet the stream of visitors bearing gifts showed no sign of stopping.
His sister, Xu Jiang’er, and their father, Xu Dajiang, were too busy to cope.
"Jin’er, you’re back! So many people have come with gifts, saying you’re the Top of the Autumn Exam. I’m happy, but I can’t handle it all, so many officials! Even stewards from the Lord-lieutenant Mansion have come to present gifts!" Xu Dajiang was very busy, so much so he was sweating profusely.
With a bitter smile, Xu Jin knew that not just Xu Dajiang, he himself would have trouble handling the situation.
"Brother, it’s okay, I’ll handle it. Tell me, are there any gifts we shouldn’t accept? If you say not to accept them, I will firmly refuse. For the rest, I’ll accept them and create a list of gifts, then show it to you," his sister Xu Jiang’er seemed more capable than Xu Jin had imagined.