Chapter 250: The Chosen

“There are so many star stones on this river.”

Li Que looked up, his expression filled with awe.

Along the edge of the boundary river, stones were scattered everywhere.

Each stone resembled a pebble, displaying black and white hues, covering the riverbank.

At a glance.

Star stones were densely packed, too numerous to count.

Holding a star stone greatly enhances the efficiency of comprehending cosmic qi.

It allows living beings, after breaking into the Divine Palace realm,

to venture into the boundless void without dying.

The duration a living being can remain in space within the Divine Palace realm depends entirely on their understanding of cosmic qi.

Even without star stones, one can slowly comprehend the cosmic qi beyond the barrier.

But using this item drastically reduces the time needed to attain such comprehension!

Meanwhile,

this is also a written rule of the Earth-Moon Academy.

Divine Palace realm students must possess this as one of their foundational requirements.

Within the World Vortex,

academy students may freely use star stones with no restrictions whatsoever!

“We came here for these star stones.”

Su Jing spoke in a low tone, lifted his foot, and walked ahead toward the riverbank.

As he walked, he occasionally paused to pick up several star stones and hold them in his hand.

“Let’s go too.”

Li Que looked at Jiang Jian with a friendly gaze, “There are so many star stones here—we can take our time choosing.”

Jiang Jian nodded.

Deep within his gaze, a frost-white light flowed.

Karma Fire.

Piercing illusions, revealing truth.

In Jiang Jian’s eyes, all the star stones on the riverbank transformed into thousands upon thousands of light points.

As he walked, he occasionally stopped.

He selected those bright, flawless light points and took them in his hand.

Reaching the riverbank,

Jiang Jian held only three star stones.

Yet Li Que had collected over ten, his expression excited.

Along the edge of the boundary river,

most people held numerous star stones.

They stood or sat, each in different postures.

Their only common trait: all these students were staring intently at the black-and-white river, deeply contemplating cosmic qi.

Jiang Jian moved farther away, found a quiet, uninhabited spot, and sat cross-legged on the ground.

He gently turned his palm and retrieved the three star stones.

The stones he selected radiated perfect, flawless qi, constantly emitting brilliant black-and-white light, appearing profoundly mystical.

“Good eye.”

A calm voice entered his ear.

Jiang Jian’s gaze sharpened; he looked up.

Not far away,

a young man stood with his hands behind his back, clad in a white training robe, silently watching him.

In his eyes lay admiration.

Jiang Jian recognized him, his thoughts shifting, and bowed respectfully: “Gatekeeper.”

Shen Xi nodded, lowered his gaze to Jiang Jian’s star stones, and said, “Your observational skill is truly unexpected.”

“You’ve so easily picked out every single moonstone on this stretch of shore.”

Hearing this,

Jiang Jian’s spirit stirred; he looked down.

The stones in his hand appeared identical to the other star stones at first glance.

But if one quieted his mind and carefully sensed them,

he would realize:

their contained cosmic qi was as perfect and full as a full moon.

Cultivating with them doubled one’s progress.

Thus, the value of these moonstones far surpassed ordinary star stones!

“Some senior figures of the academy, based on your cultivation history, made a special proposal.”

“To grant you the privileges of a Level Six talent while you remain in the Second Realm.”

Shen Xi spoke again.

His words

made Jiang Jian’s heart tighten.

“However,”

“I rejected that proposal.”

Shen Xi’s expression darkened as he looked at Jiang Jian: “Do you know why?”

Jiang Jian stood up and shook his head slightly.

Shen Xi’s voice grew low: “If I’m not mistaken, you are one of Yinshan’s Chosen.”

As these words fell,

silence suddenly engulfed all around.

The black-and-white river surged, yet made not a single sound.

Jiang Jian’s thoughts raced.

For a moment, he did not deny it.

Shen Xi was a top-tier Divine Palace realm cultivator.

His cultivation was profound, his power terrifying, his methods countless and unimaginable.

Given his status, his words likely meant he had already confirmed this fact.

Moreover,

Jiang Jian had previously revealed the “Wang Dian Crown” and the “Wheel-Turning King Robe.”

He had never deliberately concealed them.

If someone had investigated carefully, they could have traced them back to the legends of Yinshan.

After a moment,

Jiang Jian replied solemnly: “I am indeed one of the ten Chosen of Yinshan’s Strange Realm.”

Seeing he made no attempt to hide it, but openly admitted it,

Shen Xi’s eyes glowed with even greater admiration: “Yinshan’s Strange Realm has appeared for two years.”

“Due to its uniqueness,”

“the Earth Alliance has paid it great attention.”

“To date, seven Chosen have been confirmed.”

“But only you remain trapped in the Ninth Realm.”

As he spoke,

Shen Xi extended his palm and clenched it lightly.

Instantly,

a twisted stream of light appeared.

“The world’s gateway is sealed.”

“No one can leave.”

Shen Xi looked at Jiang Jian: “But you are different.”

“You are a Chosen of the Strange Realm.”

“I need you to do something.”

Jiang Jian’s gaze remained calm; he glanced at the twisted light and asked, “What task?”

Shen Xi gripped the twisted light, turned his head, and gazed toward the distant planetary barrier.

“The Moon Realm is in turmoil; the heavens are about to collapse.”

“Yet right now, too many Divine Palace realm beings are trapped in the Ninth Realm, unable to depart.”

“The Moon’s defensive forces are extremely weak.”

"This is the most pressing issue facing the Earth Alliance at present."

"As a Chosen One, you must have a way to notify the Guide Messenger of Yinshan Wondrous Realm."

"The Wondrous Realm traverses dimensional space."

"No matter where you are, the Guide Messenger of the Wondrous Realm can bring you over."

"Therefore."

"You must use this method to leave the Second Realm and return to the Surface Realm."

"Deliver the world origin I have gathered these past days to the Yingtian Bureau in Chang’an Fu, and hand it to the person I’ve designated to receive it."

Shen Xi intensified his tone, "When that time comes."

"The Yingtian Bureau will be able to trace the origin of this essence and determine the spatial coordinates here."

"Reestablish contact with this world!"

"Once accurate coordinates are obtained."

"The Earth Alliance can act directly, forcibly shattering the compressed and sealed world gate!"

"The Nine Realms are inherently interconnected."

"If this world gate is completely shattered and linked to the Surface Realm,"

"all world gates within Chang’an Fu’s Nine Realms"

"will reopen simultaneously!"

"Most of the Surface Realm’s top combatants will be immediately liberated from the Nine Realms!"

Without warning,

above the black-and-white river, a gale howled.

It whipped Jiang Jian’s moon-white robe.

Shen Xi clenched his fist around the world origin and spoke again: "The Earth Alliance actually has a complete plan to open the Nine Realms."

"But I simply cannot wait that long!"

The young man stared at Jiang Jian. "My time is running out."

"If my plan succeeds,"

"the Nine Realms will open half a year ahead of schedule."

"Your role here will be the foremost contribution!"

Hearing this,

Jiang Jian said nothing.

A long silence settled along the riverbank.

Shen Xi had devised so much—he had found a way to break open the world gate early, based on Jiang Jian’s identity as a Chosen One of the Wondrous Realm!

Yet,

Jiang Jian realized,

from the information Shen Xi had inadvertently revealed,

his plan had not been disclosed to many others before its completion.

As things stand now,

it seemed only the Yingtian Bureau of Chang’an Fu and its designated contact knew of it.

Perhaps,

his rash actions might disrupt the Earth Alliance’s original deployment!

(End of Chapter)