Chapter 130: Enemy at Star Forge Eighth Layer (First of Three, Requesting Subscription)

On Huigui Mountain in the Huoxuan Star Region, Xu Jin studied a map, contemplating his survival strategy.

The Grand Master’s advice was entirely sound, but Xu Jin had his own thoughts.

Yet one understanding was unanimous: every increment in cultivation base increased the probability of survival.

Overall, Xu Jin had only two tactical options.

The first was guerrilla warfare.

Rapid movement to exhaust the elite forces of the Chilin clan, while simultaneously elevating his own cultivation and avoiding encirclement by their elite.

The second was stronghold defense.

Though called a stronghold, Xu Jin had little to defend—he would simply remain on Huigui Mountain, using every moment to rapidly boost his cultivation.

After careful consideration, Xu Jin decisively chose the second tactic: stronghold defense.

He would stay on Huigui Mountain and wait for the Chilin clan’s enemies to come to him.

Two reasons: first, guerrilla warfare wasted too much time; once he began rapid movement, he would be drawn into a war of attrition, for the Chilin Heart made his location a beacon to the Chilin clan.

No matter how he ran, they could adjust direction in the shortest time and surround him.

In such a scenario, Xu Jin would be exhausted from constant flight, with no time to cultivate.

Second: at present, this lone genius trapped in the Huoxuan Star Region had not yet alerted the Chilin clan.

The strongest opponent he had encountered so far was Star Forge Fifth Layer.

Next, they might send Star Forge Sixth Layer, or even Star Forge Seventh Layer, to hunt him down.

But Xu Jin believed that if he unleashed his full arsenal, he could still fight against Star Forge Sixth or Seventh Layer experts.

Rather than being worn down by constant flight, it was better to hold his ground and use every moment to raise his cultivation.

After eliminating one or two waves of enemies, he would consider other options.

Then, Xu Jin inventoried his supplies: five One-Vessel Four-Arcane Star-Replenishing Pills, one bottle of One-Vessel Three-Origin Star-Recovering Pills, one and a half bottles of One-Vessel Stimulating Pills, three bottles of Star-Replenishing Pills, and two bottles of special wound-healing ointment.

As for star force, he had no concerns.

In the Huoxuan Star Region, where star force concentration was triple that of the mortal world, his Voidless Primordial Star Body ensured he would not lack star force unless caught in extreme, continuous high-intensity battles.

Moreover, the dozens of star threads accumulated on the Can Dou Platform were another of his major weapons.

He must conserve the Stimulating Pills.

After thinking, Xu Jin took out nine One-Vessel Stimulating Pills and placed them inside the Star Lamp to continue nurturing.

If he could nurture them to Two-Vessel or Three-Vessel, their recovery effect would multiply.

Finally, he inventoried food.

Dried meat and clear water were sufficient for only three days; he had one day’s worth left on his person.

By the latest, within two days, Xu Jin would need to find more food.

Star force could not be eaten.

Even cultivators would rapidly decline in condition if they went without food for three or four consecutive days.

His mind sank into the Can Dou Platform, where he replaced the offerings: three-tier Bear Spirit, three-tier Leopard Spirit, four-tier Thunder Eel; he switched all protective star patterns to combat star patterns.

Specifically: Bear Spirit’s Earthquake Star Pattern, Leopard Spirit’s Lightning Speed Star Pattern, Thunder Eel’s Thunder Serpent Star Pattern.

The next instant, Xu Jin resumed his seated posture atop the peak, his mind sinking into the Central Star Palace’s Star-Collecting Pattern, activating his divine soul to further strengthen its Star-Collecting Core.

Xu Jin felt that at his current cultivation pace, within one or two more days, the Central Star Palace’s Star-Collecting Core would break through to Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

As for the Lower Star Palace, he temporarily ignored it.

He would focus entirely on cultivating the Central Star Palace first.

Meanwhile, a squad of six elite Star Forge cultivators departed from the Chilin Royal Court, swiftly heading toward Huigui Mountain where Xu Jin was.

Autumn Examination Realm of the Chen Guo Dao Academy.

Dong Zhao, head of Jinshan Dao Academy, and Chief Instructor Ning Yuchan, had already learned the latest developments from Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao.

Xu Jin was still alive.

He had successfully forged his star cores—both Central and Lower Star Palaces—and yet Grand Master Cheng had not revealed the specifics of his achievement.

All they could do now was wait.

Suddenly, a figure appeared within the Autumn Examination Realm of the Chen Guo Dao Academy—it was Chen Liao, the Black-Robed Supervisor, returning with a deadly expression.

Seeing Chen Liao return, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao silently waved his hand; instantly, everyone in the realm—except Grand Master Cheng, the two Vice-Deans, the four Academic Heads, and Chief Instructor Yu Da—was banished by the Grand Master.

“Chen Lao, how did it go?” Cheng Yuexiao smiled faintly at the Black-Robed Supervisor, revealing a row of even, jade-white teeth—harmless in appearance, yet inducing an inexplicable chill.

Those familiar with Cheng Yuexiao knew: he was furious.

The Grand Master was truly enraged.

“Your Majesty, I have combed through all information and communication records of everyone aware of this matter, and identified two Star Forge Peak disciples with issues.” Supervisor Chen Liao said.

“What did you find?”

“Both Star Forge Peak disciples have clean family backgrounds. One, upon receiving his combat notification, unable to resist his new concubine’s clinging, revealed his mission to the star region to her.

When we traced it, the concubine had vanished.

This concubine appeared in Wanyi six months ago; her origin is unknown, but we found pigeon droppings from Star Pigeons in her courtyard—information ends there.” Supervisor Chen Liao said.

“Hmm, what about the other?”

“The other disciple is indeed problematic. After successfully forging his star core half a year ago, a mysterious figure approached him, saying that during major operations, he should leak some information, offering five hundred taels of gold monthly for cultivation—this was his first intelligence report.

So far, we’ve traced the intelligence through three relay points.”

“Hmm, what does that mean?” Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao looked at the Supervisor.

“The intelligence this disciple leaked, after three relays, entered our Chen Guo Star River Battlefield zone—and then vanished.” Chen Liao said.

“Our Chen Guo Star River Battlefield zone?”

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s narrow, slanted phoenix eyes narrowed, “Are you suggesting the mastermind behind this is one of our Three Kings or Seven Marquises?”

“Your Majesty, the Chen Guo Star River Battlefield zone is indeed the domain of the Three Kings and Seven Marquises, but whether they are behind this, I dare not conclude.

Too many possibilities exist.

It could be them, it could not be them, or it could be an external force attempting to sow discord.”

“Are there still channels to pursue?” Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao asked.

“Yes. I’ve ordered the Spring Rain Bureau to assist in the investigation. If we can determine how the concubine named Lan’er entered Wanyi, we may uncover further clues.” Supervisor Chen Liao said.

“Good. Investigate!”

Supervisor Chen Liao nodded, but Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao added, “Chen Lao, I mean this: the Autumn Examination of the Dao Academy is the very foundation of Chen Guo, the core of our Dao Academy! Someone meddling here is trying to uproot us, do you understand?

Pursue this to the end!

At any cost!”

Upon hearing this, Supervisor Chen Liao rose solemnly and bowed, “Your servant obeys!”

“Enough. You may all disperse. From now on, I will reside here permanently!

If anything arises, come here to find me.”

At these words, the Academic Heads and Vice-Deans exchanged glances, surprised. Vice-Dean Song Bing said, “Grand Master, you bear the entire Dao Academy’s weight—you need not be tied down by a single disciple.

Just assign an instructor to monitor.”

Before he finished, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s deadly gaze silenced Song Bing.

“Xu Jin has entered the Dao Academy—he is our student, our disciple.

His entrapment in the Huoxuan Star Region is my responsibility.

Though I cannot currently aid him directly,

separated by realms, in utter desperation, if I can establish contact, I am his final hope!

I do not wish him to lose even that last thread of hope!

Do you understand?” Cheng Yuexiao commanded.

“Grand Master’s noble righteousness!”

After a chorus of flattery, the Dao Academy’s senior officials departed, including Supervisor Chen Liao, leaving only Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, who gave a self-deprecating smile.

“Noble righteousness?”

“Am I truly noble?”

Jinshan City, Xu Residence.

Before dusk, Ning Yuchan arrived early at the Xu residence as agreed.

Knowing Ning Yuchan would come, Jiang Er prepared meals daily to share with her.

But today, both Jiang Er and her father Xu Dajiang ate with distracted minds.

Finally, Jiang Er spoke up: “Sister Yuchan, I heard all the Dao Academy students who took the Autumn Exam have successfully forged their star cores—why hasn’t my brother returned? Has he failed and can’t come back?” At this, Xu Dajiang tensed, staring intently at Ning Yuchan, desperate for an answer.

“Who told you that?”

Ning Yuchan flicked Jiang Er’s forehead, “Your brother is fine! I can assure you—he has successfully forged his star cores, at least an Upper-Class Star Core, and in both Central and Lower Palaces!”

“Really? That’s wonderful!”

After smiling, Jiang Er frowned again, “Then why hasn’t my brother returned? Brother Lu and the others came back nearly two days ago.”

Ning Yuchan looked at the anxious Jiang Er and replied, “You know your brother was first in the Chen Guo Dao Academy Autumn Exam, right?”

“Yes.”

“The top student of all Chen Guo—doesn’t that warrant special treatment? Isn’t that normal?

Grand Master told us he’s arranging for Xu Jin to continue intensive cultivation, with special training—this will take one or two months.” Ning Yuchan said.

“Ah, this child, always asking questions! Chief Instructor Ning said so—now you believe it, right?” Xu Dajiang visibly relaxed, “Eat, eat—I’ll go for a walk.”

“Hmph, Sister Yuchan, Father was asking you ten times a day before, and now he’s scolding me!” Jiang Er pouted.

“You, your little mouth could hang an oil bottle from it—just eat already.” Ning Yuchan smiled, but her eyes were heavy with worry.

Trapped in the Huoxuan Star Domain—will Xu Jin even survive three months?

After the meal, Ning Yuchan finally spoke cheerfully, sending Jiang Er to the back courtyard to continue warming Jiang Er’s Zhong Xing Palace.

Although Xu Jin was gone, she was determined to complete this task.

August 11, Huoxuan Star Domain, Huigui Mountain.

Xu Jin stared at the blazing sun overhead, drank two sips of clear water, then moved to a shaded spot to resume his cultivation.

His strategy was correct.

He had trained relentlessly for a full day and night, and no enemy had disturbed him.

Perhaps because he was trapped in this desolate realm, his mind was undistracted, and his cultivation efficiency was extraordinary.

Inside the Zhong Xing Palace, the Star Core had grown denser by several degrees; Xu Jin felt that with no more than half a day, his cultivation base would break through to Foundation Star Late Stage!

Undeniably, the Huoxuan Star Domain, where star force was three times that of the mortal world, was truly a sacred ground for cultivation.

After finishing the last two strips of dried meat, Xu Jin prepared to resume cultivation.

Suddenly, Xu Jin’s gaze shifted.

Below the mountain, six tall figures had appeared and were ascending.

As Xu Jin looked down, Chi Mu suddenly felt a sensation and looked up toward Xu Jin on the mountaintop.

“Bold indeed, still standing still!” Chi Mu sneered and ordered, “Kill! The one who claims the first head gets ten jade tablets!”

In the next instant, red light erupted from Chi Mu’s body as he surged toward the mountaintop.

The six men formed a fan, surrounding the mountaintop from below.

Too far away—Ming Ji’s Star Pattern cultivation base was insufficient to sense their exact realms clearly.

But from the intensity of their starlight bursts and the distances they leapt when unleashing star force, Xu Jin could roughly judge: all six were Star Refining experts.

“Six Star Refining experts? They really think highly of me.”

In the next instant, Xu Jin moved.

He did not charge forward—he sprinted straight in the opposite direction.

He needed strategic time.

If these were six Foundation Star experts, Xu Jin’s current strength could handle one-on-six without much pressure.

But Star Refining experts were different.

Especially Star Refining elites—each realm higher allowed them to engrave one additional star pattern, potentially triggering a cataclysmic leap in power.

So he must be extra cautious.

Seeing Xu Jin now flee, the six Star Refining experts immediately changed direction.

One minute later, Xu Jin fled, the six pursued, forming a straight line.

The closest to Xu Jin was a Star Refining Sixth Layer Chi Lin warrior, two hundred meters behind.

Another Star Refining Fifth Layer and a Star Refining Fourth Layer were roughly a kilometer away.

Strategic time: no more than a dozen seconds.

And what Xu Jin feared most was the Star Refining Eighth Layer Chi Mu.

It was precisely because he had detected a Star Refining Eighth Layer among the Chi Lin attackers that he had changed his tactics.

Under Xu Jin’s deliberate control, the distance between him and the first Star Refining Sixth Layer rapidly narrowed.

In the next instant, Xu Jin spun around and unleashed Flying Star Step to full power.

The two were charging directly toward each other.

In an instant, the distance shrank from one hundred and fifty meters to less than twenty.

Xu Jin’s mind flickered—a Star Arrow erupted in a furious barrage.

Seeing this Foundation Star Mid-Stage youth dare turn and attack, the Star Refining Sixth Layer Chi Lin warrior sneered in contempt!

The power gap was too great!

As for the Star Arrow, he didn’t even regard it as a threat—he could swat it away with one hand.

Flames flared on his palm as he casually slammed it toward Xu Jin’s Star Arrow.

But the expected effortless dispersal did not occur.

Suddenly, the Star Refining Sixth Layer warrior felt searing pain in his palm.

As he looked in shock, the Star Arrow exploded in blinding starlight—his palm and arm were instantly shattered by the burst.

Then the starlight surged unimpeded into his body, shattering his Chi armor and blowing away half his chest.

His consciousness plunged into darkness in an instant.

Before his mind vanished, he had only one thought: “Where did such a powerful Star Arrow come from?”

For this single killing blow, Xu Jin had drawn upon three-tenths of the Zhong Xing Palace’s star force, instantly eliminating the Star Refining Sixth Layer.

Of the six Star Refining experts surrounding Xu Jin, there was one Star Refining Eighth Layer, two Star Refining Sixth Layer, one Star Refining Fifth Layer, and two Star Refining Fourth Layer.

The greatest threats were the three Chi Lin warriors: the Star Refining Eighth Layer and the two Sixth Layer.

So for this first strike, to ensure instant success, Xu Jin poured in three-tenths of his star force.

“Too much—wasteful. Two and a half tenths would’ve sufficed.”

As Xu Jin silently regretted the excess, he swallowed a Yi Yun San Yuan Hui Xing Pill.

After reaching Foundation Star, Xu Jin’s star force surged—yet even a Yi Yun San Yuan Hui Xing Pill could restore less than one-tenth of his total star force.

Unsurprisingly, Xu Jin’s instant kill of a Star Refining Sixth Layer caused the remaining five to freeze, their steps slowing.

This power was terrifying!

Was this really a Foundation Star Mid-Stage cultivator?

Tactics had to change.

Otherwise, if a Star Refining Sixth Layer could be wiped out in one blow, most of them would just be walking to their deaths.

So instinctively, they all turned to look at their leader—Chi Mu, the Star Refining Eighth Layer.

Chi Mu was also stunned.

But in that instant, he realized: genius.

This boy was undoubtedly a peerless genius of Chen Guo!

Capture him alive!

Must capture him alive!

If they could pry open his mouth, the rewards would be immense—perhaps even the secret star patterns of Chen Guo.

But in that very moment of their shock, Xu Jin moved again.

Flying Star Step exploded—he fired another Star Arrow at the next closest target: the Star Refining Fifth Layer Chi Lin warrior.

This time, the Chi Lin warrior instinctively tried to flee.

But suddenly, the soil beneath his feet sprouted like vines, gripping him and dragging him down.

Earth Surge Technique!

By the time he broke free, the Star Arrow had already struck.

Head exploded!

Instant kill!

Another two and a half tenths of the Zhong Xing Palace’s star force was spent.

Four enemies remained!

(End of Chapter)