Stargazer noticed Yuanshi Tianzun's grim expression and asked with concern, "Are you truly all right?"
"I'm fine. Please continue, Teacher." Zhang Yuanqing shook his head, stamping out the churning thoughts in his mind.
Next, Stargazer explained numerous combat routines that combined Night Walker and Starlit Officer abilities. A handful of passive and active skills could be paired into over a dozen combinations.
Zhang Yuanqing noted them down one by one. Routines were like martial arts forms; once understood, they still required diligent practice.
"Teacher, I'm even more eager to know: how does one specialize in Lunar, Stellar, and Solar forces?" Zhang Yuanqing asked the question that had piqued his curiosity for a long time.
Stargazer paused to formulate his words. "In layman's terms, an ordinary spirit realm walker is like an undergraduate student. What you have learned are merely the most basic, superficial skills. Specializing is like graduate school—conducting deep study and research into a specific power."
"That truly is easy to understand," Zhang Yuanqing nodded, glancing at Zhao Chenghuang. "So right now, I'm just an ordinary college student, while he's studying for grad school. When he enters society in the future, he'll find a job more easily than me and have better prospects."
Stargazer thought about it and said, "That's the gist of it.
"Let me explain the principles. Taking the Lunar Force as an example, every Night Walker possesses a Lunar Physique, but their compatibility with the Lunar Force varies, and so does the strength of their skills. The most superficial application is activating the Lunar Force to bring about an explosive surge in physical attributes."
"Oh, I know that one. During the arena tournament, Zhao Chenghuang used that trick to bully me, only for my extraordinarily talented self to pay him back in his own coin and turn the tables," Zhang Yuanqing said.
Zhao Chenghuang, who was meditating with his eyes closed, couldn't help himself. "You talk too much nonsense," he remarked coldly.
Stargazer smiled. The two young men were like ice and fire, completely opposite in temperament, and their clashes were quite entertaining.
"Higher-level applications involve maintaining Night Roaming for prolonged periods, bringing living people along in Night Roaming, enhancing self-healing capabilities, increasing the buffs from Howling at the Moon, and undergoing an all-around boost across various attributes. However, this is an immensely long process, and it depends on talent. Take Zhao Chenghuang, for instance. He has talent in the Lunar Force, yet he had to hone it starting from the Transcendent stage. He will only reach initial mastery upon advancing to Dominator," Stargazer said.
"It should require a special secret technique, right?" Zhang Yuanqing asked promptly.
Stargazer nodded. "The concept of specializing was proposed by our Sect Master. He was among the first batch of spirit realm walkers and is the strongest Night Walker in the world today, holding demigod status. It is said that the Sect Master drew inspiration from the cultivation methods of ancient Night Walkers to create a system tailored to spirit realm walkers.
"This is an exclusive secret of the Taiyi Sect, with elders' descendants like Zhao Chenghuang being the exceptions."
"Can I buy it then?" Zhang Yuanqing asked urgently.
Stargazer shook his head. "Theoretically, secret techniques are strictly forbidden from being traded. The Taiyi Sect attaches immense importance to them. When imparting a secret technique to a disciple, a contract prohibiting external transmission must be signed. At the same time, an elder will use a Lunar secret art to conceal the memories regarding the technique, rendering Spirit Devouring, hypnosis, and dream-reading ineffective.
"You could request the Five Elements Alliance headquarters to negotiate on your behalf. There might be a slight chance."
*Headquarters is currently busy plotting how to put me in my place...* Zhang Yuanqing muttered inwardly. Out loud, he said, "I want to specialize in the Solar Force."
He remembered Yin Ji warning the Demon Lord not to specialize in the sun, which was why he asked.
Hearing this, Stargazer said, "I would not recommend specializing in the Solar Force. First is the matter of time. As I mentioned earlier, this is a protracted process. If you specialize in Lunar or Stellar forces, you will have already attained mastery by the time you advance to Dominator.
"However, if you specialize in the Solar Force, you can only begin once you reach Dominator. That is far too slow.
"Second, specializing in Lunar or Stellar forces offers an exploit: staying in the Transcendent or Saint stage for an extended period, undergoing repeated baptisms of Lunar Force from the character card.
"The seniors of the Taiyi Sect discovered that each time the character card infuses power, the physical body becomes purer and achieves higher compatibility—much like an iron hammer repeatedly forging out your impurities.
"Dominators, however, enter instances far too infrequently.
"Lastly, the secret technique created by the Sect Master is incomplete in its Solar Chapter, leaving it rather unrefined. Since he specialized in Stellar Force and reached the Great Perfection, he likely lacked the interest to perfect the Solar Chapter."
*So that's how it is...* Zhang Yuanqing realized. He asked, "Since I'm already a Saint now, would it be better for me to specialize in Stellar Force?"
"That depends on your natural talent—whether you are better suited for Lunar or Stellar. I see that you have immense talent in astrology, but I don't know how you fare with Lunar Force," Stargazer said. "This is primarily reflected in two aspects: spirit talismans and Spirit Devouring. How about this: try controlling the spirit servants on the island, and let's see how many you can manage at once."
*That's easy. I know the Pure Yang Sect's soul control technique, which I freeloaded off Sect Master Chunyang...* Zhang Yuanqing immediately channeled Spirit Devouring, pitch-black energy spreading from his eye sockets.
The mysterious, ethereal air about him receded, giving way to an aura both wickedly charming and noble.
Zhang Yuanqing drew a deep breath and let out a long howl toward the sky.
The howling echoed through the gloomy, dense forest.
A vengeful spirit in the scholar tree above him dropped down with a plop, drifted out of the shade, and began performing a shoulder-shimmy dance under Zhang Yuanqing's control.
All around, vengeful spirits floated over one after another, joining the awkward dance troupe.
"Thirteen vengeful spirits at once. Not bad, a very fine talent," Stargazer praised.
Just as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly shifted. He lifted his gaze toward the depths of the dense woods, where more vengeful spirits were drifting over in droves—fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty... A full ninety-eight vengeful spirits!
They stood neatly in a phalanx, rhythmically shaking their shoulders in unison like an underworld cringe-dance troupe.
Zhao Chenghuang broke his meditation and opened his eyes. Shock flooded his pupils, his expression turning stiff.
"Th-this is impossible..." Stargazer was dumbfounded, staring slack-jawed.
In all honesty, even he could not manipulate nearly a hundred vengeful spirits with such precision to make them dance.
Furthermore, he suspected that ninety-eight was not Yuanshi Tianzun's limit, but rather the limit of Jixin Island itself!
The scene before him had already stunned Stargazer, but what Zhang Yuanqing said next completely shattered his composure.
"When it comes to spirit talismans, I also know a thing or two."
Zhang Yuanqing raised a finger and drew swiftly through the air, tracing out a talisman imbued with Daoist charm: "This is a Spirit-Sealing Talisman."
He then proceeded to draw more talismans:
"This is a Corpse-Suppressing Talisman.
"This is a Peach Talisman.
"This is an Evil-Warding Talisman... Teacher, what level does the ability to draw talismans in midair represent?"
Zhao Chenghuang and Stargazer stared at him blankly.
After a long silence, Stargazer swallowed hard and managed with difficulty, "How... how much do you charge for a private lesson?"
"..."
Zhang Yuanqing collected two million yuan in tuition from the two of them and taught them the soul control technique. In Sect Master Chunyang's memories, this was merely a low-level, rudimentary spell.
As for drawing talismans in midair, he politely declined on the grounds that it was an exclusive trade secret.
While the two practiced the soul control technique, Zhang Yuanqing made an excuse to leave. He ambled to the shore, put on the Beast King Bracelet, and submerged his palm into the lake water.
A ripple of green light spread swiftly through the water.
Closing his eyes, he sensed the aquatic creatures in the lake through the feedback of the bracelet.
He soon caught hold of a moonlight fish. Controlling it through the bracelet, he steered it toward Hundred Beasts Island, several hundred meters away.
With the armored man having alerted the enemy, Hundred Beasts Island was surely under close surveillance by the academy's instructors, the Jiaoren, and the Tiger King. He could no longer dive into the water rashly.
Fortunately, he had the Beast King Bracelet traded from Yin Ji. This item allowed him to control animals and share their senses.
In Zhang Yuanqing's mind, a fish's perspective surfaced, reflecting the underwater environment.
Before long, the moonlight fish swam near Hundred Beasts Island. From a distance, he spotted two beautiful, shapely Jiaoren patrolling the base of Hundred Beasts Island with spears in hand.
They possessed exquisite faces and dark green hair undulating like seaweed. Their green vertical pupils were bewitching, and even their plump fish tails looked undeniably seductive, stirring an urge to mate in Zhang Yuanqing.
*Hiss, wood sprite class items always provoke sexual urges...* Zhang Yuanqing grimaced in vexation and ended the manipulation.
"Ordinary adult Jiaoren are around Level 3. I could subdue them quickly. But if the Jiaoren Queen discovers me, I run the risk of getting trapped at the door.
"The safe approach is to have someone keep the Jiaoren Queen occupied while I slip into the stone gate. There's no rush; this is only the second day, so I can plan this out step by step."
Zhang Yuanqing gripped his scalding-hot, rock-hard golden cudgel, forcing down the mating urge.
He turned his thoughts back to the identity of the armored man, realizing he truly lacked the clues and methods to ferret him out.
*Whatever. If I sneak through the stone gate quietly and take the treasure, nobody will know it was me. In all likelihood, the armored man won't even realize the stone gate has been opened. Even if he does, he won't be able to trace me. The difficulty of finding someone goes both ways.*
As he pondered, an intense urge to return to nature suddenly surged within him.
He promptly took out the Windwalker Gloves and rode the wind toward Spirit Flora Island.
Peony Fairy and several others were walking out of the woods together when they suddenly saw a tall, straight silhouette standing by the edge of a garden plot ahead.
His back was turned to everyone, arms spread wide as if embracing nature.
"Oh? Master Tianzun, what brings you here too? Weren't you attending a lesson on Jixin Island?" Peony Fairy beamed.
"Don't speak. I want to enjoy the grass nature has given me. And don't come near me, or I'll make you enjoy my grass," Zhang Yuanqing said in a deep voice.
The female trainees gasped in terror, clutching their chests and fleeing.
At 2:00 p.m., the trainees gathered in the library.
The instructor was once again Dean Li Yanxi; all three lectures today were his.
After today, he would have no more classes.
Once the trainees were all present, the old dean sat upright in a high-backed chair, caressing his insulated tumbler. His voice was gentle and resonant:
"The first lecture this afternoon is on item classification. When you first joined, seniors likely informed you that items are divided into three major categories, two of which are cost-based and rule-based.
"However, your seniors wouldn't have told you about the third category, because the third category is not widely known and carries an extremely high confidentiality clearance. Only Deacons or candidates for Deacon are eligible to know about it.
"This third category consists of karma-based items! They are also the rarest and most precious items in the Spirit Realm.
"At present, across all classes in both districts, there are no more than ten karma-based items in existence, and all of them are of relatively low levels."
Zhang Yuanqing was dumbstruck.
The Perfect Human Skin was a karma-based item?!
A karma-based item, of which there were fewer than ten in the entire Spirit Realm?!
No wonder! No wonder he had always felt this item was practically an exploit to some degree—even more miraculous and unsolvable than rule-based items!
Yet how could he have bought such a priceless rarity? How much had he paid for it back then? Did Mr. Bill not know of the existence of karma-based items?
No, he was a Merchant. His knowledge and experience far exceeded Zhang Yuanqing's; he definitely knew.
Karma-based items were something even Deacons could learn about, so it wasn't some deeply guarded state secret.
Then why did he sell it to him?
*Fuck, could that guy be my mom's lover?!*
Zhang Yuanqing felt his sanity was about to plummet again.
In the past, he had been muddle-headed and ignorant of everything. Now that he was in Qinfeng Academy, his breadth of knowledge had shot up instantly, and many things he hadn't thought twice about before suddenly struck him as terrifying upon closer reflection.
Just then, Dean Li Yanxi spoke up:
"However, there is one karma-based item of exceptionally high standing—at least at the demigod stage—that you have all encountered and interact with daily. Every single spirit realm walker has come into contact with it, and it exists ubiquitously throughout our lives."
Pausing for a moment, Dean Li Yanxi said solemnly,
"It is Morality Points!"
Chapter 424