Chapter Four: The Arrival of Father

That day, Kuangchi had just retreated from the battlefield back to the warship. Before he could even disengage from his battle suit, a young clansman, who had remained on the ship, hurried over and said anxiously, “Young master, the Legion’s Chief of Staff just called to say that five elders from the family have arrived at Soren Fortress. They wish to see you immediately.”

Kuangchi was taken aback. This was the front line—what business did his family elders have coming here? The battles lately hadn’t been so dire as to require the elders’ intervention. If it wasn’t for the war, it seemed even less likely. He hadn’t caused any trouble recently, certainly not enough to need five elders to clean up after him.

Puzzled, Kuangchi asked, “Five elders? Why have they come to Soren Fortress?”

The young clansman shook his head. “The Chief of Staff didn’t say. He only told you to head straight to Legion Headquarters as soon as you returned to the ship.”

As soon as Kuangchi stepped off the landing shuttle in front of Legion Headquarters, he saw the same lieutenant general he’d met before, leading more than a dozen people out to greet him. At the head of the group was none other than his father, Kuangbao. Kuangchi was even more confused. As far as he knew, his father was currently managing family affairs for his grandfather. For him to leave Kuangzhan Star, it had to be something monumental.

The lieutenant general led the group into a small conference room. As soon as the door closed, Kuangbao spoke urgently, “Fatty, where did you get your Starry Sky Technique?”

Kuangchi couldn’t help but feel displeased. He’d been risking his life on the front lines, and yet his father, upon seeing him, didn’t even ask about his well-being—just this matter.

But Kuangchi’s relationship with his father was generally warm, so he let his annoyance show openly. “Dad, you haven’t seen me in so long and you don’t even ask how I am? I’m at the front, you know—I’m on the battlefield every day.”

Kuangbao chuckled, suddenly reminded that his son, both in temperament and body, was still a youth. He patted Kuangchi on the shoulder. “All right, we know exactly how things are for you at Soren Fortress. Kuangfeng reports back to Kuangzhan Star every two weeks.”

He paused, then pressed on, “So, what’s going on with your Starry Sky Technique? Speak up. Your grandfather is terribly anxious about this. When did you obtain the Starry Sky Technique mantra? Why didn’t you tell him? He’s very upset.”

Kuangchi snorted, “It was given to me by a senior I met in the Sea of Death. He said he was a friend of my great-grandfather. He also said that my great-grandfather once wanted to trade the first seven layers of our family’s Dragon Technique for the first three forms of his Starry Sky Technique.”

As soon as Kuangchi finished, several of the people who had come with his father gasped in surprise.

After a moment’s thought, Kuangbao said, “Your grandfather told me about that. It really happened. Now tell me, how many forms of the Starry Sky Technique did that senior teach you?”

“Seven,” Kuangchi replied without hesitation.

This time, it wasn’t just his father’s companions; everyone in the conference room cried out in astonishment.

Kuangbao’s face was alight with excitement as he pressed, “Is that true?”

Kuangchi, still confused, nodded. “Yes, what’s wrong with that?”

Kuangbao nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes! That’s exactly right! The Starry Sky Technique only ever had seven forms. That senior taught you the entire Starry Sky Technique!”

He paused, then said urgently, “Quick, write down the whole Starry Sky Technique. With it, our Kuang family’s strength will multiply several times over!”

One of the elders behind Kuangbao burst into hearty laughter. “Heaven favors the Kuang family! With the Starry Sky Technique, I guarantee that at least half of those who have been stuck at the sixth layer of the Dragon Technique for years will break through to the seventh layer within three years!”

Kuangchi thought for a moment, then snorted. “No. This technique was given to me by a senior.”

Although that senior had mentioned gifting the Starry Sky Technique to the family, now that he realized its importance, Kuangchi—while not particularly cunning—knew well enough that sometimes it paid to play hard to get and extract some benefits.

Everyone in the room was stunned into silence. After nearly half a minute, Kuangbao finally spoke, his expression odd. “Fatty, why not? The Starry Sky Technique is vital to our family. Didn’t you already teach the first and second forms to Kuangfeng and Kuang Qingshan? Why can’t you pass it on to the other family members?”

Kuangchi glanced at Kuang Qingshan and Kuangfeng, who were standing nearby. He tossed his head. “I just happened to like them. I was in a good mood. I might not feel that way about anyone else.”

Kuangbao couldn’t help but laugh. He’d raised Kuangchi himself and knew his son’s character inside out. “All right, Fatty. What will it take for you to transcribe the Starry Sky Technique for the family? Just say what you want. If it’s within my power, I’ll agree on behalf of your grandfather.”

Without hesitation, Kuangchi replied, “I want to call off my engagement.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, three of the five elders immediately objected, “No!”

Kuangbao thought for a while and shook his head. “Fatty, I can’t agree to that. Marriages between noble families are not a joke. This was arranged by your great-grandfather while he was alive. If you want to back out, forget it.”

Kuangchi grew annoyed. “She already loves someone else. Phoebe doesn’t like me at all.”

One of the elders spoke up, “Young master, don’t worry. As long as you hand over the Starry Sky Technique, the Hyde family won’t be a problem. We’ll send people to the Hyde family and force that Pierre Hyde to leave Miss Phoebe.”

Kuangchi snorted coldly. “What good will that do? Phoebe still won’t love me. She’ll still love that pretty boy.”

Kuangbao’s expression darkened. “Fatty, the Starry Sky Technique is of immense importance to the family. How can you put your own interests above the family’s? How did your mother and I teach you? As for you and Phoebe, calling off the engagement is absolutely out of the question. But, although this is a personal matter and the family shouldn’t interfere, I promise you—if necessary, the family will back you up, even if it means being ridiculed by others. We’ll put pressure on the Hyde family for you.”

Seeing his father was so firm, Kuangchi had no choice but to give in. After a moment’s thought, he added, “I can give the family the Starry Sky Technique, but only the first three forms. Didn’t great-grandfather want to exchange three forms back then?”

Kuangbao immediately protested, “Why only three? You’re the next head of the family.”

Kuangchi snorted coldly, “Three forms. Take it or leave it.”

No matter how much his father and the elders tried to persuade him, Kuangchi refused to budge beyond three forms. In his mind, he was already planning to use the remaining four to secure more benefits.

At last, Kuangbao, seeing that his son was stubborn as an ox, gritted his teeth. “Three forms is too few. At least five.”

Kuangchi simply turned his head away. At this moment, an elder suddenly asked, “Young master, which form of the Starry Sky Technique have you cultivated to?”

“The third form,” Kuangchi replied, clearly displeased.

The five elders and Kuangbao huddled together for a quick discussion. Then Kuangbao returned and said, “Fatty, think about it. The third form of the Starry Sky Technique only allows the Dragon Technique to break from the sixth to the seventh layer. Your grandfather and many elders have already reached the seventh layer. The three forms you’re willing to give won’t help them. You wouldn’t neglect your grandfather, would you?”

After some thought, Kuangchi finally relented. “Fine, I’ll give the family four forms. No more. If you want more, cancel the engagement.”

One of the elders piped up, “That’s enough. Four forms is plenty for the Kuang family. It’s not as if we’re all specializing in mental power.”

“Halt! This is a robbery! Hand over your tickets!”