Chapter 9
During their journey through the pitch black corridor, Shu Jing managed to learn several things from Lin Ying Mei. It seems that the matters about the Star Duels were not as simple as he originally thought, signing a contract was only the first step. In order to enter the holy ground of the Liangshan Maiden, Star Maidens will use all means possible to improve their strength. The girls usually hide their power and patiently bide their time, so it would be difficult for him to even fathom their true strength.
And not only were there the Star Maidens, all of their Star Masters were also his enemy.
A light finally appeared at the end of the pa.s.sageway.
Shu Jing and Lin Ying Mei finally finished their conversation and came out from the pa.s.sage. The sun was dazzlingly bright, Shu Jing wasn’t able to adapt in time and furiously blinked his eyes.
In front of them were valleys surrounded by mountains while being covered by lush green vegetations. There were countless blooming flowers, and the wind carried with it a soft scent that penetrates deeps into one’s souls.
"Lin Chong little sis, why were you so late, could it be that you have discovered something interesting?" A gentle voice carried by the wind sounded out from a nearby willow branch.
Shu Jing looked up, who could it be aside from Lil’ Er?
The girl was relaxing on top of the tree branch, her body looking even more supple than the willow itself.
"Are we inside the legacy?" Shu Jing asked.
"Legacy?" Little Er laughed: "You are so funny, this is the other side of the Unyielding Wall Mountain."
"What?"
Shu Jing and Lin Ying Mei were both startled.
This place is the other side of the mountain? Shu Jing and Lin Ying Mei lifted their heads, and the Unyielding Wall Mountain was towering above them like a giant.
"We came out just like that?"
Shu Jing was a bit speechless, wasn’t this Relic Blade legacy too simple? But thinking back, Lin Ying Mei had told him about how often legacies would contain only a single secret, and the moment one chose the wrong path it would pretty much be the end of the road.
"You went through all that for merely this?" Lin Ying Mei asked.
Lil’ Er laughed loudly, "Heavens, Little Sis Lin Chong. This is the Unyielding Wall Mountain, which is part of Liangshan Continent’s Five Great Mountains, and is thousands of feet tall. It is almost impossible to cross even if one could fly, and don’t even mention walking. Thus, one must naturally use any shortcut they can find."
"But of course, I also managed to reap some profit this time."
Lil’ Er took out a bottle. The bottle was half filled with dark gray gravels.
Lin Ying Mei’s face darkened. This was the Relic Blade Sand she has been looking for.
"Where did you find it?" Shu Jing asked.
Lil’ Er pointed at the entrance of a hole, and sure enough, there were some leftover marks on the ground indicating where the Sand was previously.
"At the Relic Blade legacies, aside from the elusive Profound Star Barrier, the most valuable treasure is the small amount of Relic Blade Sand that sp.a.w.ned near the legacy itself."
Even though Lin Ying Mei coveted the material, since the other party was one step ahead, she could only give up. However, when she heard Li’ Er spoke about the Profound Astral Barrier, a trace of pride welled up in her heart.
"Oh that’s right, I didn’t come to
Lil’ Er chuckled, from her fingers appeared a bright ray of light, and her figure vanished without a trace.
Using divine soul to search the area, not even a breath of Lil’ Er remained, she had really left.
"Even Star Knights have a conscience?"
Shu Jing was surprised, he thought that with Li’ Er’s formidable strength, since sooner or later all Star Knights will have to fight to the death at Liangshan Maiden Mountain, he thought that she would use this opportunity to get rid of them. It seems like she didn’t plan to do so. "Could it be that all Star Maidens who have not entered a Star Duel Covenant contract are this naive? Or are they following some ancient law?"
Lin Ying Mei’s remained undisturbed, causing Shu Jing to be confused.
"Forget it, we must get out of here quickly." Shu Jing thought that their current situation wasn’t really that good, inside the legacy most of their Star Qi was absorbed by the Spirit Engulfing Flood Dragons. Right now they were at their weakest, so even if they had the Profound Astral Barrier, against Deviance Star, they might still be disadvantaged.
Thinking up to there, Shu Jing and Lin Ying Mei left towards another direction.
—
The night fell, the mountain became quiet.
Shu Jing flipped the Profound Astral Barrier back and forth, but still couldn’t discover anything. He also tried to inject a small bit of Star Qi into it, but nothing happened.
Shu Jing laid on the gra.s.s while faraway on a hilltop, Lin Ying Mei was practicing her Spear Technique. Moonlight was s.h.i.+ning upon the Arctic Star Lone Moon Serpent Spear, each spear thrust caused a chilling breeze to be emitted. Lin Ying Mei’s determined expression caused Shu Jing to quietly praise her.
Suddenly, Lin Ying Mei stopped her training, turning to Shu Jing and asked:
"Master, do you want to try?"
"I lack talent in this area." Shu Jing shook his head.
"No, since we are connected through the contract, some of my power is infused into your body. All you need to do is practice, and this hidden power will awaken." Lin Ying Mei said.
"Really? I can become just like you?"
Lin Ying Mei nodded affirmatively.
Shu Jing wanted to ask about what he needed to do to awaken this power, but seeing Lin Ying Mei standing in the battle position, he immediately understood. The best way to stimulate his potential was through fighting.
"Be careful." Shu Jing pulled out the Silver Blade.
"Come forward and give it your best!" Lin Ying Mei’s voice was even colder than usual.
Before she even finished speaking, a cold light shot out in a flash.
Shu Jing responded with his own attack.
Lin Ying Mei’s hand shook, a blue light shot towards Shu Jing.
Even with Star Qi reinforcing them, the bullets were not able to oppress the blue light. Instantly, the light roared to life like a snake and pounced at him. This attack did not allow Shu Jing even a bit of time to breath.
This is Lin Chong’s spear technique?
BANG BANG BANG!!
Without any hesitation, Shu Jing’s sharp bullets shot forward, each like a terrifying a.s.sa.s.sin.
The sounds of the bullets and metals continuously colliding rang out in the air, Lin Ying Mei’s first moves were already displaying the true strength of the Majestic Star.
Not only were her attacks swift, but even her defence was impenetrable. Afterimages of both bullets and blades caused the surrounding thirty feet area to form a freezing whirlwind of air.
Under this intense pressure, Shu Jing’s hidden potential began to show itself, causing his movements to drastically improve. Even though he was sometimes forcibly cornered, with mere inches away from a fatal attack, he always managed to narrowly escape. In the blink of an eye, his figure was already upon Lin Ying Mei.
A punch filled with freezing power struck out, and in the girl’s eyes a blue glint of light was reflected.
Lin Ying Mei remained calm. Her feet became as fast as the wind and casually sidestepped the punch. But the attack suddenly changed direction and swept horizontally, its speed and power increasing by several folds. However Lin Ying Mei was even prepared for this, and her spear instantly deflected Shu Jing’s side sweeping strike.
The chilling sharp spear point forced Shu Jing to retreat.
In an instant, Lin Ying Mei had s.h.i.+fted the tides of battle and gained the upperhand.
Even though he was mentally prepared, Lin Ying Mei’s tyrannical attacks could not be underestimated. Her strength exceeded his by far, and with her overwhelming momentum, Shu Jing was pushed back several metres. But the moment his feet touched the ground, he immediately regained his balance.
A soft humph sounded out.
The trigger was pulled.
Several rapidly rotating bullets shot out, creating disturbances in the air akin to venomous serpents fangs.
Lin Ying Mei was ready. She jumped high up into the air as the bullets swarmed towards her.
Lin Ying Mei didn’t even stop to think, as her Arctic Star Serpent swept down and sliced the incoming bullets in half. "Master, you are on the right track."
Shu Jing’s strange attacks have managed to impress Lin Chong.
The Star Symbol on Shu Jing’s forehead began to s.h.i.+ne, bringing with it a deeply comfortable feeling that spreaded throughout his entire body and meridians.