Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

Chapter 41: Chapter 35: Just Make Do and Practice

The Ziwei Star hung there, shining brightly in the sky.

Like a fresh slab of braised pork hanging over a pack of hungry wolves.

They could see it, but they couldn’t eat it.

It was foreseeable that a bloody war was about to erupt in the cultivation world.

Those monsters at the peak of the Thirteenth Realm would probably beat each other’s brains out for it.

But this was, after all, a game for the Great Powers who stood high above the clouds. It had little to do with the majority of toiling, low-level cultivators still slogging through the mud.

After the initial shock, everyone quickly calmed down.

It was nothing more than a bit of gossip about who this incredible Grand Star Position would ultimately fall to.

But compared to the unattainable Ziwei Star, what truly shocked the members of the Demon-slaying Bureau was another piece of news.

Jiang Mu had broken through to the Third Realm.

The profligate son they had once looked down upon with contempt, the guy they had teased as their mascot, had actually broken through to the Third Realm with unstoppable momentum in such a short time.

It was simply outrageous!

’Could this guy be a peerless, one-in-a-million genius?’

...

「In the Chief’s Seal Room.」

Ran Qingshan rubbed his knee while staring at Jiang Mu as if he were some kind of monster.

"You really broke through?"

Even though he had seen it with his own eyes and personally sensed the Third Realm aura on him, he still found it hard to believe.

From a corner of the room, Zhang Xiaokui, who had also come to report good news, timidly raised his hand and said in a small voice,

"Sir, I broke through too..."

At this moment, the qi in his body flowed smoothly and harmoniously. It was as if he had been completely reborn, exuding a vibrant vitality and a powerful self-confidence.

However, his announcement was met with complete indifference.

No one paid him any attention.

Ran Qingshan’s gaze remained locked on Jiang Mu.

Jiang Mu had a calm and nonchalant expression. "Just lucky, Sir."

Lucky?

Ran Qingshan was speechless.

Once could be luck. But what about twice, or three times?

’This kid must have some kind of hidden special constitution to be able to advance so rapidly...’

Ran Qingshan thought to himself.

It was only at this moment that he finally began to take Jiang Mu seriously.

’I really misjudged him.’

Ran Qingshan suppressed his inner turmoil and sat back down in his chair, his expression growing a little more serious.

"Since you’ve reached the Third Realm, you’re now a pillar of the Bureau. According to the rules, it’s time for you to claim a Star Position."

"So, tell me, which Star Official do you want?"

Ran Qingshan tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. "The Third Realm corresponds to the Earth Evil Star Officials, also known as the Seventy-two Earth Fiends.

As a Hall Master who has repeatedly performed great deeds, you don’t need to painstakingly build up seniority like an ordinary Demon Slayer Envoy. Aside from a few special Earth Evil Stars, you can pick any of the other Earth Evil Star Officials you want."

Jiang Mu looked at Ran Qingshan with a burning gaze.

"Sir, is there any way you can get me an authentic one?"

"Authentic?"

Ran Qingshan was taken aback. He’d never heard the term before, but he understood what Jiang Mu meant.

He pointed to the sky outside the window.

"There’s one hanging in the sky right now. Go on, go claim it. I won’t stop you."

Jiang Mu: "..."

Ran Qingshan rolled his eyes and sneered.

"Do you think authentic Star Officials are as common as cabbages in a field, that you can just pick one whenever you feel like it?

Cultivators of the Third and Fourth Realms can only claim Earth Demon Level Star Official positions. This is an immutable rule set by the Celestial Dao.

And there are only seventy-two authentic Earth Evil Star Officials in total!

In this whole world, there are tens of thousands of Third and Fourth Realm cultivators, at the very least. Seventy-two spots, with tens of thousands of people staring at them. Do you think one would be saved for you?

Even if the Bureau did have some secret channel or legacy, it would be far beyond what you could ever hope to covet."

Tens of thousands of cultivators, all fighting for seventy-two positions.

This was no longer just a competition.

This was a battle royale.

Jiang Mu didn’t give up. "Is there really no other way?"

Ran Qingshan sighed. He knew young people were ambitious, so he explained patiently,

"There are only two ways to obtain an authentic Star Official position.

First, you wait.

Wait for the person occupying the position to break through and claim a new Celestial Spirit Star Position. Only then will their Earth Evil Star Position become vacant.

But even if it does become vacant, you’ll have to compete with tens of thousands of people for it. What do you think your chances are?

Second, you seize it.

You find a cultivator who possesses an authentic Earth Evil Star Official position, initiate a Star Position challenge, and defeat or kill them. Then, you can naturally seize their Star Position."

At this, Ran Qingshan looked at Jiang Mu with a faint, unreadable smile.

"But do you have that ability?

Besides, there’s a catch-22.

If you don’t claim a Star Position, you can’t draw upon the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and you won’t be able to harm an authentic Star Official in the slightest.

If you claim a counterfeit Star Official position, you’ll have power, but an authentic Star has an inherent suppression over a counterfeit one. The power of your Divine Abilities will be halved against them, or even be sealed away completely.

So tell me, how are you supposed to fight?

Moreover, the rules of the Celestial Dao stipulate that in such a battle to seize a position, you must defeat them fair and square in a one-on-one duel.

You cannot use external aid or have allies surround them. Otherwise, the Celestial Dao will not recognize your victory, and the Star Position will not transfer.

You tell me, how do you win?"

Jiang Mu fell silent.

It did indeed sound like an unsolvable, vicious cycle.

’Am I, a guy with a cheat system, really going to be reduced to cultivating a pirated version?’

’That’s so demeaning, isn’t it?’

Jiang Mu’s eyes darted about as he asked, "Is there any authentic Earth Evil Star Official in our Hu State City?"

"What? Are you really planning to go try your luck?"

Ran Qingshan couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head.

"The Demon-slaying Bureau currently has no authentic Earth Evil Star Official stationed here. However, outside Hu State City is the Divine Sword Sect. Its Sect Leader’s youngest son, He Shuangying, holds the ’Earth Concealing Star’ Official position, and it’s a guaranteed authentic one."

Jiang Mu was a little surprised.

’A mere martial arts sect is actually more impressive than the Demon-slaying Bureau?’

Ran Qingshan knew what he was thinking and said indifferently,

"The Court may be powerful enough to suppress the martial world, but some things aren’t as simple as you think. The two sides are complementary and intricately intertwined.

If the Court were to truly annihilate all the martial sects and seize all the authentic Star Official positions, then the world would really descend into chaos."

Fearing Jiang Mu might impulsively go looking for trouble, Ran Qingshan’s expression turned stern as he warned,

"The Divine Sword Sect is very important to Hu State City. They contributed a great deal during the fog demon invasion. Besides, the Divine Sword Sect has an old ancestor in seclusion whose cultivation level is formidable. Don’t go provoking them."

Seeing the frustrated look on Jiang Mu’s face, Ran Qingshan’s tone softened a bit.

"If you really want an authentic Star Official position, I can help you ask around in other states, but don’t get your hopes up.

Those who possess authentic Star Positions mostly keep a low profile. They’ll try to hide their Star Position’s aura to avoid attracting unnecessary trouble and covetous eyes.

Unless they reveal it themselves, or someone extremely close to them leaks the information, it’s very difficult for outsiders to know.

For now, you should be more practical. Just pick a counterfeit Star Official Seal and cultivate with it for the time being. It won’t be too late to switch later if you get a fateful opportunity."

As he said this, a thought suddenly struck Ran Qingshan.

He recalled the Cultivation Technique and the promise of an "authentic Earth Evil Star Official position" that General Shangguan had given him not long ago.

’Jiang Mu... could he do it?’

Ran Qingshan sized him up, then secretly shook his head.

’That Cultivation Technique is too difficult. The kid basically has no hope.’

’But since he’s already broken through to the Third Realm, it wouldn’t hurt to give him a copy.’

"In that case, I’ll listen to you, Sir, and pick a Star Official Seal for now." Jiang Mu finally compromised.

’Pirated it is, then. I’ll just practice with it for now.’

Ran Qingshan nodded and asked, "Which Star Position do you want?"

Jiang Mu said,

"I want the Earth Concealment Star Official."

Ran Qingshan frowned. "Are you sure?"

"I’m sure!"

Among the Seventy-two Earth Fiends, the Earth Concealment Star Official was considered mid-tier.

But Jiang Mu still had a small hope.

If that young master from the Divine Sword Sect were to die by accident someday, then he, being in the same location and cultivating the same type of Star Official, would have a better chance of being the first to contend for it.

Although the hope was slim, it was better than nothing.

Especially since he’d had a dream last night. He dreamed the heavens told him, "I sent you an authentic Star Official position, but you lost it."

Jiang Mu thought it over and concluded that it must have been stolen by that kid, He Shuangying.

’I’ll make a note of this grudge for now!’

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