Chapter Thirty-Four: The Bloodline of Nine Stars

"You have two choices now."

"One: hand over your Burning Script secret technique."

"Two: under my junior sister Ziyan’s leadership, secure a place in the top ten of the Freshman Tournament. That way, my junior sister can obtain the Divine Origin secret art, and you’ll profit greatly as well."

After hearing this, Xu Xing was stunned. The Burning Script secret technique? Wasn’t that his own Divine Origin method? How could he possibly hand it over?

Help Senior Sister Ziyan win a spot in the top ten at the Freshman Tournament? Wasn’t that as unattainable as reaching the heavens?

After careful thought, Xu Xing found it difficult to decide. The Divine Origin method was innately his, something that could never be taken from him.

And only a few had ever seen him use it. Could it be that Ziyan, after returning, immediately told Zhou Lingya?

The human heart truly is unfathomable. He had risked his life to save Ziyan, yet upon her return, she betrayed his secret?

Or was it Li Chunyi? But that seemed almost impossible.

What was he to do, then?

Surrendering the Divine Origin secret art was out of the question.

That left only striving for a top ten spot in the Freshman Tournament, which also promised rewards.

But at present, he didn’t even understand the tournament’s rules—how could he feel confident?

...

"I’ve made my decision, Senior Sister," Xu Xing said quietly.

"Oh? Tell me, what is it?"

"I’ll aim for a top ten place under Senior Sister Ziyan’s leadership."

Xu Xing forced a smile. To him, this was both a challenge and a goal.

Why not set a small goal for himself first? First, break into the top ten of the Freshman Tournament!

Zhou Lingya stood up, smiling, and patted Xu Xing’s chest in satisfaction. She then pointed to a room and said,

"Since that’s settled, you’re not really an outsider. You may stay here now, or if you prefer, I can take you to find a guesthouse in town."

Glancing around, Xu Xing found the surroundings pleasant—not so much for the scenery, but for the convenience of living with his two senior sisters. It would certainly save him much trouble.

It was an undeniable advantage. Xu Xing coughed lightly and said,

"There’s really no need to trouble you, Senior Sister. I’m not picky, I can make do here. I just don’t want you to go to any extra effort for my sake."

"Very well, you’ll stay in this room."

Zhou Lingya pursed her cherry lips, sat in her rocking chair, and pointed to a rather shabby room opposite a persimmon tree.

The room looked quite old, almost like a woodshed.

Sure enough, upon entering, it was indeed a woodshed, filled with various stacks of firewood.

Beside the scattered firewood was a small straw bed, just large enough for Xu Xing to sleep on.

But for a free place to stay, it would do. After all, he hadn’t brought much money with him.

Now, the little travel funds he had might barely cover food and drink. But living with his two senior sisters, he wouldn’t have to worry about such things.

Misfortunes never come singly; when the roof leaks, it pours; when the boat is slow, it meets a headwind.

---

"Hey, do you think you can eat and stay here for nothing?"

Embarrassed, Xu Xing didn’t dare speak, awkwardly lying on the straw bed as Zhou Lingya opened the wooden door and stared at him.

"Will you pay six months’ rent at once? Or a year? Fifty taels for half a year, eighty for a year."

"Must I pay six months up front?" Xu Xing asked timidly.

Under normal circumstances, fifty taels would have been nothing to him, but he hadn’t brought any money this time.

"My family is wealthy. Can I pay you when I return home, Senior Sister?"

Xu Xing nervously picked at the straw of his bed.

"Once the sword’s drawn and pressed to your throat, taking it out again is meaningless. Hand over the money."

"Can you give me some time? My family really is rich, but I really don’t have anything right now. Is there another way? Can we work something out?" Xu Xing pleaded helplessly.

"There might be a way, if you’re willing. I’ll let you decide for yourself," Zhou Lingya said, leaning against the door, idly cleaning her fingernails.

"What way?"

...

"No, that’s impossible. How could I do such a thing?"

After a brief silence, Xu Xing lowered his head. After all, he was penniless.

A man beneath the eaves can only bow his head, and Zhou Lingya’s proposal wasn’t entirely unreasonable—he could accept it.

"Senior Sister, be gentle. I’m afraid of pain."

"Don’t worry."

...

Zhou Lingya decided to use Xu Xing’s vital blood as payment.

Every cultivator, when absorbing the vast spiritual energy of heaven and earth, became a vessel for it.

Some absorbed it easily, others with great difficulty.

Zhou Lingya belonged to the latter, as if something in her was blocked, leaving her stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Thus, consuming another’s vital blood could help her cultivation.

An ordinary person could give up a tenth of their vital blood, which could be quickly replenished by absorbing spiritual energy.

"Don’t be shy, junior brother. Let’s have a deep exchange. There’s no need to be nervous. My drawing your vital blood is good for both of us—it’ll help your own blood circulate and renew. If you open your heart and cooperate, I can even teach you some secret arts. In time, you’ll master them deeply."

With that, Zhou Lingya grabbed Xu Xing and pulled him toward the courtyard.

Xu Xing wanted to resist, but as a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, how could his strength compare to Zhou Lingya’s at Foundation Establishment?

He was helplessly led into the courtyard and laid on a rocking chair.

Zhou Lingya returned to her boudoir and brought out a bronze compass inlaid with gold.

This compass measured the rarity of a cultivator’s vital blood. Consuming blood with a noble lineage could be dangerous if too much was taken.

On the compass were nine little dragons, each clutching a luminous pearl. She placed it before Xu Xing and channeled her spiritual energy; the compass began to spin.

---

"Senior Sister, isn’t this improper? Maybe we should go back inside."

Zhou Lingya said nothing, her gaze fixed in astonishment on the rapidly spinning compass, unable to speak, her eyes never leaving the instrument.

Gradually, a totem formed above the compass, glowing blue like a fox.

Nine brilliant stars rose, aligning in a mysterious formation.

"This... this is the legendary Nine Star Bloodline?"

Zhou Lingya could hardly believe her eyes; her expression was wild and disordered as she clawed at her hair, overcome by disbelief.

Xu Xing was utterly confused. What was the Nine Star Bloodline?

Wasn’t he a descendant of the Xu family? What did this so-called Nine Star Bloodline have to do with him? It all seemed so random and unrelated.

"Senior Sister, what is the Nine Star Bloodline?"

Zhou Lingya turned, her smile bordering on madness, like a tigress from the deep mountains, unable to contain her longing any longer.

"Vital blood! Such superior blood—I’m about to break through!"

Xu Xing grew uneasy and timidly ran back toward the woodshed.

It seemed he really had ventured into the tiger’s den seeking a tiger’s cub.

Just then, the main gate creaked shut, locked tight.

"Senior Sister, please, no, I can’t—it tickles too much!"

"Senior Sister Zhou, maybe this isn’t good—what if Senior Sister Ziyan comes back and sees us?"

"So what? If she comes, we’ll have her join us. Your blood is too precious to waste."

Despite Xu Xing’s protests, his voice carried through the courtyard walls—whether in resistance or acquiescence, it was hard to tell.

...

On the empty streets, Ziyan made her way back to the residence, munching on two sweet potatoes she carried.

"Today’s been so strange. I wonder if Senior Sister Zhou brought that boy back. He is quite an odd one."

The night scenery along the way was splendid, the shouts of vendors fading into the distance. The light from red lanterns glowed deep, turning old walls and trees crimson.

Even so, the dilapidated alleys felt tinged with melancholy.

Arriving at the residence, she noticed two rows of footprints in the dust by the door, arousing her suspicion.

"Has Senior Sister returned?"

Taking out her key, Ziyan opened the door, only to be struck speechless by the scene in the courtyard.

The actions and voices of the two inside thundered in her ears like a bolt from the blue.

Startled, Ziyan dropped her sweet potatoes, her cheeks flushed. She raised a hand to cover her wide eyes, stammering shyly,

"Senior Sister Zhou, forgive me for intruding."

"Don’t be so bashful, junior sister. Come in and join us!"