Chapter 22

Du Sanhui squatted beside Bu Ye, looking much older and lacking the vigor he had during the day. He grabbed Bu Ye's arm and whispered again, "Let's talk?"

Although Bu Ye didn't understand what was going on, he nodded and said, "Sure."

After all, Uncle Du had saved his life, and Bu Ye had no ill feelings toward the old cripple.

Then, Uncle Du plopped down next to Bu Ye. Seeing that no one was looking their way, he began to speak.

"Do you know what the Constellation Secrets are?"

Uncle Du's first words jolted Bu Ye awake. He hadn't expected that Uncle Du would come to him in the middle of the night to talk about the Constellation Secrets! Could it be that the Constellation Secrets the Maoshan bandits were looking for were really in the hands of this old man?

"I don't know," Bu Ye answered honestly.

"Hmm, I knew you wouldn't know," Uncle Du said casually.

If you knew I didn't know, why did you ask? Are you just messing with me?! Bu Ye cursed inwardly!

However, Uncle Du didn't keep him in suspense and continued, "Actually, I don't know much about it either. Let me tell you a short story..."

Bu Ye had never expected that, despite his desire to distance himself from Dongmang Village, he would end up strengthening his connection to it in this way. He then listened to Uncle Du's entire story.

It turned out that Du Sanhui was a native of Dongmang Village. However, at the age of seventeen, just as his Heart Cloud had awakened, he left the village alone, rebelling against the world and yearning for the outside. He thought that with his awakened Heart Cloud, he could go anywhere in the world. Even the capital of the Xiao Kingdom couldn't satisfy his desires; his gaze was set on the more distant and powerful Upper Kingdoms.

The Upper Kingdoms were not countries but a standard. After years of hardship, Du Sanhui finally reached Tai Ge, one of the Upper Kingdoms. There, he learned that the world they lived in was called Qiaoshou Star, part of the Tianqiao Constellation. This completely shattered Bu Ye's understanding, as he knew that the stars in a constellation were usually suns, meaning he was actually on a sun. Could suns be inhabited? And this Tianqiao Constellation was certainly not the same as the Tianqiao Constellation on Earth, right?

However, Du Sanhui was the main character of the story, and his knowledge was far from sufficient to answer Bu Ye's questions.

In the Upper Kingdoms, Du Sanhui struggled because he had infiltrated the place. In a place like Tai Ge, lacking a real identity made it almost impossible to move around.

In the end, realizing he could be expelled or even killed at any moment, he took a desperate risk and eavesdropped on someone explaining the Constellation Secrets.

The Constellation Secrets were his true purpose for going to the Upper Kingdoms.

Unfortunately, in a place like Tai Ge, where social classes were clearly defined, he had almost no opportunities.

In the end, he only heard a part of the secret about the third constellation among the nine origin constellations. Before he could practice it, he was discovered, his Blood Star was destroyed, and he was expelled from Tai Ge.

Many others were expelled with him, including some native citizens of Tai Ge who had been expelled for crimes. It was because of these people that the news of his eavesdropping on the Constellation Secrets leaked out.

However, almost no one would believe such a story, so he eventually returned to Dongmang Village, planning to spend his last days there and take the secret to his grave.

Bu Ye knew the rest of the story, and Uncle Du stopped at the right moment.

Bu Ye took a while to recover and asked, "Why me?"

At this point, he was certain that Uncle Du had not mentioned this secret to Hong Zhongwei or Liang Xiong.

Uncle Du smiled helplessly and said, "Because you are the only true Dongmang Villager."

"Uh..."

Bu Ye was taken aback. Indeed, Hong Zhongwei was an outsider, and Liang Xiong even more so. However, Uncle Du's suspicion of even Hong Zhongwei seemed excessive.

At that moment, Bu Ye thought of someone else and immediately said, "That's not right. What about Yang Yuanda?"

Uncle Du sneered, "Although Yang Yuanda is from Dongmang Village, his heart is corrupt, and his actions are despicable. If it weren't for his ability to protect Dongmang Village, I would have killed him long ago!"

"Then, what do you mean by coming to tell me this tonight?" Bu Ye finally asked, puzzled.

"From my observations over the past few days, you immediately revealed your true nature after your Heart Cloud awakened," Uncle Du said coldly.

"Revealed my true nature?"

"Still trying to hide it from me? You are someone who, once you gain power, disregards the law and acts recklessly, with a cold and unfeeling heart, forgetting old friendships. You killed Yang Yuanda and Yang Dacai, ignored Luo Xiu's feelings, and treated your old comrades in the village defense team coldly, and you quarreled with Hong Zhongwei and Liang Xiong. All of this shows who you are."

Bu Ye hadn't expected Uncle Du to observe him so closely. However, he didn't try to explain himself but only looked at Uncle Du calmly, believing that Uncle Du had more to say.

Sure enough, Uncle Du continued, "But you are also someone with principles. And you are a native of Dongmang Village. These two points together are why I chose to trust you."

"Um," Bu Ye acknowledged, nodding.

"Don't think of me as a morally upright person. The current situation is that I have indeed become a burden to everyone, but I will not go with the Maoshan bandits. Now, I hope to make a deal with you."

"Oh, what kind of deal?"

"I will teach you the part of the third constellation's secret that I know."

"And what do I have to do?"

"You cannot betray me and must stay to protect the villagers until we reach a safe place."

Bu Ye didn't hesitate and said, "No."

"Hmm?" Uncle Du frowned, sneering, "I've already told you about the wonders of the Constellation Secrets. Do you doubt them?"

"The Constellation Secrets are indeed wondrous, but you need to be alive to use them. Besides, you only know a few lines, not the entire secret. Even if I learn what you know, how much will it improve my strength?"

Uncle Du was speechless, as he didn't know the answer either. In fact, it was very likely that even if Bu Ye learned those few lines, there would be no immediate effect.

"Hmph! It seems you are also a coward, not much better than Yang Yuanda. Fine, I won't make you protect the villagers all the time. Just promise me that in a crisis, you will try to save as many people as possible. Is that acceptable?" Uncle Du said coldly.

Bu Ye thought for a moment and then said, "Alright, but if my own life is in danger, I will prioritize my own safety."

"Um," Uncle Du agreed, though displeased.

"One last question, why not just write down the Constellation Secrets and give them to the Maoshan bandits?"

Uncle Du glanced at Bu Ye, "Hmph, if they get those few lines, they won't let me go."

"Alright, I have no more questions," Bu Ye said.

At this moment, Bu Ye labeled Uncle Du in his mind as a dark, selfish old man who still had some feelings for Dongmang Village.

Uncle Du looked around to make sure no one was approaching and then said, "Alright, I will now tell you the Constellation Secrets I know. They are from the third constellation among the nine origin constellations, which governs speed and agility. The other origin constellations also have their own domains, which can be guessed."

"You are at the Seventh Heart Cloud level. When you fully activate your Blood Stars, it's like having a constellation in your body. However, the seven Blood Stars in your body are completely disconnected, each fighting on its own, and do not form a constellation. If you can learn the third constellation's secret, you can connect four specific Blood Stars in your body, forming a true internal constellation, the third origin constellation, and activate its special power, greatly enhancing your speed!"

"How much can it improve?" Bu Ye asked, but seeing Uncle Du's displeased expression, he immediately realized that Uncle Du didn't know the answer, "Forget I asked."

"I've already told you, I don't know the entire third constellation's secret, only a few lines, less than a tenth. However, I have seen its power demonstrated. If you can learn and master these few lines, it will greatly enhance your combat strength."

Bu Ye couldn't deny that he was intrigued. He nodded and said, "Alright, let's start."

"Do you know about magnets?" Uncle Du suddenly asked.

"Of course."

"Opposites attract, and like repels like. But did you know that the Blood Stars in your body also have Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the Nine Orifices?"

"Oh?"

"Here, we won't discuss Yin and Yang or the Five Elements, only the Nine Orifices. Each Blood Star has nine orifices, though this is a metaphor. The orifices are not fixed but can move, adjust direction, and change frequency. The key to mastering the Constellation Secrets lies in these Nine Orifices..."

As Uncle Du explained, Bu Ye felt a sudden clarity, as if a new world had opened before him!

The Nine Orifices actually represented the nine attributes unique to each Blood Star. Each Blood Star had these nine attributes to varying degrees, which could be compared to Yin and Yang and the Five Elements.

Yin and Yang balance in the human body leads to health and longevity, and in nature, to the rising sun and the setting moon, the scorching summer and the snowy winter. The Five Elements transform, generating and restraining each other, with metals and iron hidden in the earth, and forests growing by the rivers...

The Nine Orifices, Bu Ye preferred to think of them as nine poles, similar to positive and negative poles. The nine poles have intrinsic relationships, and if used well, they can connect isolated stars into a constellation, which then produces wondrous effects!

Thus, the Nine Orifices—Shu, Huan, Xuan, Yuan, Bing, Ji, Heng, Zhen, and Lin—became the Nine Poles in Bu Ye's mind.

With the knowledge of the Nine Poles, he could finally start practicing the third constellation's secret in earnest!