Xu Jin was now making Fourth Tier Emblems only when he could find the time.
Each day, he’d spend about an hour creating around twenty or so, and that was enough.
The rest of the time, he used it all for studying handbooks and the Liver Star Pattern.
"Young Master, there’s a visitor, a True Disciple from the Taoist Institute named Wang Jiugao," Qing Fan announced.
What did Junior Brother Wang want with him?
After pondering for a moment, Xu Jin quickly got up and greeted the visitor.
Within moments, they were seated in the living room, and after Qing Fan had served them tea, Wang Jiugao finally said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, I’m not sure if you’re aware of this matter or if you’ve made preparations, but I’ve been contemplating for a long time and feel I must tell you, lest you are unprepared."
"What’s the matter?" Xu Jin showed a surprised expression.
"Senior Brother, have you heard of the Star Arrival?" Wang Jiugao asked.
"I’ve heard something of it, yes," Xu Jin said. "It’s said that between November and December each year, due to the shifting of the stars, fluctuations in Star Power increase, also known as the Star Tide. Many Star Domains tap into the power of the Star Tide to strike at the barriers of the present world, opening the Star Gates, and then invading our world.
It’s said to be a great opportunity for our National Taoist Institute disciples to gain merit."
Xu Jin, in the National Taoist Institute’s Library, had not only studied handbooks but had also read other books, and knew many things.
Hearing this, Wang Jiugao still spoke softly, "In previous years, it indeed has been a good opportunity to gain merit, but this year is unlike any other. Not only is it the larger Star Tide that occurs once every three years, but it also coincides with the Nine-star Tide that happens once every nine-year cycle!
Not only will it greatly increase the number of Star Gates opened by the Star Domains, but the Nine-star Tide will also enable the Alien Races within the Star Domains to break through their Cultivation Levels to a certain extent.
That means that this year’s Star Arrival will be extremely dangerous, especially for us, the Star Refining Realm disciples who have been initiated for less than three months. If we participate in the battle, there will be many unforeseen dangers.
In past years, the National Taoist Institute generally wouldn’t send disciples like us, who had just entered the Star Refining Realm, into battle.
However, my father, based on previous data, inferred that during every Nine-star Tide, the National Taoist Institute faces an extreme shortage of manpower, and almost all disciples must be sent out.
My family has already applied for me to have a duty of patrolling the county city that lasts for two months, which coincidentally allows me to avoid the Star Arrival mission.
Senior Brother, you saved my life. I was thinking, I could secure a slot for you as well! What do you think?
You and I could go out together, inspect the place for a month or two, just to avoid these dangers."
On hearing this, Xu Jin was initially startled, then he had to smile bitterly.
It was a kind gesture and what a good junior brother he was.
Among all the disciples of the National Taoist Institute, everybody else could do such a thing, only Xu Jin could not!
If Xu Jin did that, how could he face the State Preceptor?
Seeing Xu Jin hesitate, Wang Jiugao became anxious, "Senior Brother, why hesitate! The information my father dug up showed that during the Nine-star Tide nine years ago, of the fifteen True Disciples, as many as six died in battle!"
Hearing this, Xu Jin’s pupils shrank.
Six True Disciples had died in battle.
The situation was indeed severe!
But he owed a great debt of gratitude to the State Preceptor for his nurturing, the more serious the situation was, the less he could avoid it.
But he couldn’t outright refuse the kind offer of Wang Jiugao, such a good junior brother. It would hurt his feelings.
"Junior Brother, I would indeed like to avoid it, but the State Preceptor has already spoken to me personally, insisting that I must participate in the battle."
He had no choice but to hide behind the State Preceptor as a shield.
Wang Jiugao was astonished.
If the State Preceptor had already spoken, then there was nothing to be done!
"Ah, Senior Brother, what are we to do?" Wang Jiugao seemed anxious.
"Don’t worry about me, you. Hopefully, the State Preceptor should provide me with something to protect my life," said Xu Jin.
After chatting idly for a while longer, Wang Jiugao took his leave.
But shortly after Wang Jiugao’s departure, Yin Mingzhang and Niu Ju also came one after the other to visit Xu Jin.
The purpose of their visits made Xu Jin quite embarrassed.
They had the same idea as Wang Jiugao, to find a way to get out early.
The children of noble families always had timely information.
This made Xu Jin realize the seriousness of the Nine-star Tide.
It looked like he needed to make some preparations in advance.