Chapter 131: Lion Seizing a Rabbit (Second Update, Requesting Subscription)

“Don’t let him manipulate you! Don’t fall for his tricks!”

“Keep your distance from each other under ten meters!”

“As long as we four act as one unit, we can wear him down.”

Chi Mu roared loudly, causing the four Chi Lin warriors to move as one entity; no matter how Xu Jin tried to lure them, they no longer fell for it, causing Xu Jin, hundreds of meters away, to frown.

Since killing the second Chi Lin expert at Star Refinement Fifth Layer, this situation had persisted for half a minute.

Xu Jin stopped moving, yet the four continued advancing at a steady, rapid pace, leaving Xu Jin extremely frustrated.

To be fair, Chi Mu’s response was very correct.

Xu Jin had been stuck for half a minute—unable to advance or retreat—and Chi Mu was thoroughly pleased.

He was still quite astute.

Ever since Xu Jin had obliterated his Star Refinement Sixth Layer companion with a single blow, Chi Mu had realized Xu Jin was an absolute genius of Chen Guo—and also sensed danger.

Because he, a Star Refinement Eighth Layer expert, could not kill a Star Refinement Sixth Layer companion with one strike.

Therefore, to kill Xu Jin, all four had to act in unison.

As long as the four remained a single unit, the target could not pick them off one by one.

If this continued, they would eventually exhaust him to death.

This was their Chi Lin clan’s territory.

Just now, he had sent out a signal; more reinforcements would arrive soon.

Amid the back-and-forth maneuvering, Xu Jin was also desperately devising a tactic.

His Star Arrow’s maximum range was currently close to twenty-eight meters.

Not to mention the drastic drop in power at maximum range—even twenty-eight meters was but a flash to a Star Refinement expert.

If Xu Jin dared to attack, he would instantly face encirclement by four Star Refinement experts.

This stalemate had lasted another half minute, and Xu Jin had finally made up his mind.

He could not afford to delay any longer.

If he delayed further, he would surely die.

If two or three more Star Refinement reinforcements arrived and used this tactic to flank him, Xu Jin would be dead for certain.

Reinforcements could arrive at any moment; the longer he delayed, the more dangerous it became.

In the next instant, Xu Jin pulled out a Yi Yun Si Xuan Fu Xing Dan and swallowed it.

His previous continuous bursts had consumed over half his Star Palace’s star power.

The star power recovery from San Yuan Hui Xing Dan was still too little.

Five breaths later, the medicine’s potency was fully absorbed.

Xu Jin’s Star Palace star power rose directly from fifty percent to eighty percent.

This left Xu Jin somewhat frustrated.

The downside of having such vast star power was this:

Others could restore most of their star power with one pill; Xu Jin could only restore three-tenths.

Yi Yun Si Xuan Fu Xing Dan was a pill meant for Star Refinement experts—and even doubled in effect after the first use.

Feeling his body brimming with star power, Xu Jin knew he had to take a risk to escape his current perilous situation.

Xu Jin did not rush to attack.

Instead, he activated his Spirit Force, slowly channeling star power from his Lower Star Palace into his protective star shield, steadily increasing its strength.

He stopped only after depleting three-tenths of his Lower Star Palace’s star power.

In the next instant, Xu Jin moved.

A sonic boom erupted.

Rapid Lightning Star Pattern!

In a flash, Xu Jin teleported from over a hundred meters away directly within twenty meters of the four Chi Lin warriors.

This sudden change was utterly unexpected—and seemed impossible.

After all, Xu Jin’s previous speed had already been terrifying—flashing seventy or eighty meters in an instant.

Chi Mu and the others had assumed that was his limit, yet now he could flash over a hundred meters.

So much so that when Xu Jin teleported, they had no time to react.

Or rather, his speed in that instant was too fast.

Fast enough that only a lingering afterimage appeared before them.

The moment he appeared, Xu Jin flicked all ten fingers at once.

In an instant, he launched at least twenty Star Arrows.

“Watch out!”

Chi Mu roared.

Even as he roared, he unleashed full defensive power.

Protective star shield, fire shield, fire blades slashing—each cut aimed to shatter the Star Arrows.

Everything was done to survive Xu Jin’s Star Arrows.

There was no other reason: the scene of Xu Jin killing two Star Refinement experts with two Star Arrows had been terrifying.

Now, with so many Star Arrows striking them, how could they not fear?

The other three Star Refinement Chi Lin warriors reacted the same way.

Full defense.

For a moment, even though Xu Jin was now close, none of them dared to surround and attack him.

But the instant Chi Mu shattered the first Star Arrow, he sensed something was wrong.

This Star Arrow was weak—far weaker than expected.

Of course, Chi Mu did not mean the Star Arrow was too weak.

On the contrary, its power exceeded that of a typical Star Refinement Early Layer shot.

But it was nowhere near strong enough to kill a Star Refinement Sixth Layer expert in one strike.

Suddenly, a sense of dread rose in Chi Mu’s heart.

At that very moment, Xu Jin unleashed another double strike!

This time, the Star Arrows were not fired simultaneously, but one after another.

Only three Star Arrows were launched.

“Watch out!”

Chi Mu erupted in flame around his body, charging forward recklessly, slashing with fire blades—each cut shattering one Star Arrow.

As the sixth Star Arrow struck, Chi Mu’s expression turned frantic.

A fire serpent burst from his fire blade, then flew free; his fists hammered repeatedly, each punch launching a massive fireball, all precisely aimed at the sixth, unmistakably thickened Star Arrow.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Amid the explosions, Chi Mu’s fire serpent and four fireballs were all shattered by the Star Arrow; its residual force slammed into Chi Mu’s chest shield, shattering it instantly, then tore through his protective star shield without resistance.

Finally, it gently struck Chi Mu’s chest—and vanished.

Chi Mu rejoiced, instantly charging forward, punching out; flames bloomed on the ground, tendrils snaking toward Xu Jin.

But the instant Chi Mu counterattacked, the other two Star Refinement Sixth and Fourth Layer warriors were obliterated by the Star Arrows.

The last Chi Lin warrior, a Star Refinement Fourth Layer expert, stared at the Star Arrow hurtling toward him and screamed, “Master, save me!”

“Fool! He’s out of star power!”

Chi Mu cursed, then leapt into the air after Xu Jin, who was already ascending.

“Come on! Capture him—it’s a great merit!”

The Star Refinement Fourth Layer warrior, seeing the Star Arrow shatter his shield then weaken, rejoiced.

In the next instant, he charged forward too, joining Chi Mu to surround and kill Xu Jin!

In an instant, fire serpents, fireballs, and flame blossoms came nonstop—especially from Chi Mu, the Star Refinement Eighth Layer expert, whose assault was ferocious, nearly abandoning all defense; with the Star Refinement Fourth Layer warrior aiding him, Xu Jin was driven into desperate retreat, his star shield shattering repeatedly.

Even the protective star shield he had strengthened with three-tenths of his star power now trembled precariously.

Seizing the opening, Xu Jin instantly raised both arms, channeling star power.

A second-grade Star Weapon arm shield unfolded; relying on the Star Weapon, he endured Chi Mu’s three strikes before finding his chance to escape.

He activated Rapid Lightning Star Pattern and vanished a hundred meters away in an instant.

“Chase him! He’s out of star power! Don’t give him a moment to recover! Capture him alive—he’s about to be caught!” Chi Mu roared, immediately chasing after Xu Jin with the Star Refinement Fourth Layer warrior.

Xu Jin smirked.

That risky strike had indeed drained most of his star power.

Three enhanced Star Arrows consumed nine-tenths of his Middle Star Palace’s star power.

At this moment, his Lower Star Palace still held less than half its capacity.

For anyone else, star power would indeed be critically low.

But Xu Jin still had the Can Dou Platform.

As he fled, he subtly activated the Can Dou Platform, instantly drawing in four third-grade starlights, directly channeling them into his Middle Star Palace.

In an instant, his Middle Star Palace’s star power surged from under ten percent back to nearly ninety percent.

Seeing Chi Mu and the other Star Refinement Fourth Layer warrior closing in, Xu Jin once again strengthened his protective star shield with his Lower Star Palace’s star power—but instead of fleeing, he advanced.

In a flash, he used Flying Star Step to surge beside the Star Refinement Fourth Layer Chi Lin warrior and punched out.

Starlight Mang ！

Starlight Mang infused with two and a half tenths of stellar power!

One punch shattered this Cultivation-Star Level Four Crimson-Scale warrior into two pieces!

In the same instant, a Star Ring rippled out.

The rippling Star Ring sent the approaching Chi-Mu reeling back half a step.

With ten fingers flicking in rapid succession, he launched ten Star Arrows, leaving Chi-Mu overwhelmed—then Xu Jin instantly activated the Thunder Serpent Star Pattern.

With all his Soul Force fully channeled, Xu Jin poured the remaining five and a half tenths of stellar power from his Middle Star Palace directly into it.

BOOM!

A muffled thunderclap echoed.

Chi-Mu, frantically trying to block Xu Jin’s ten Star Arrows, had no time to react before a bolt of lightning, as thick as a child’s arm, struck him.

In an instant, his protective starlight shattered, his body stiffened, blue smoke rose from his skin, and his eyes bulged wide!

Three seconds later, Chi-Mu, a Cultivation-Star Level Eight warrior, collapsed lifelessly.

He was slain!

Until death, Chi-Mu never realized what had happened.

Primarily because Xu Jin’s previous Star Arrows had imposed such overwhelming pressure that, seeing ten Star Arrows hurtling toward him,

Chi-Mu feared Xu Jin would again hide a lethal, high-power Star Arrow among the ten ordinary ones, so he devoted all his strength to blocking them.

But he never expected Xu Jin could summon lightning.

Only then did Xu Jin exhale in relief.

That was close.

The stellar power in his Middle Star Palace was nearly exhausted; his Lower Star Palace still held two tenths.

He’d almost drained it all.

But it was only close—nothing more.

Since his Star-Counting Platform had risen to Level Three, Xu Jin had saved every one of the three strands of starlight he gained daily from worshipping the stars—none used.

To date, over eighty strands of starlight had accumulated on his Star-Counting Platform; he’d just spent four.

So Xu Jin still had ample reserves.

Yet to conserve the Star-Counting Platform’s starlight, he did not immediately use it to restore his stellar power.

But if danger arose, he could instantly draw upon the Star-Counting Platform’s starlight to replenish his power.

After scanning the valley below, he detected no reinforcements.

According to the map, the Huigui Mountain where Xu Jin now stood was twelve hundred li from the Crimson-Scale Royal Court; the nearest Crimson-Scale tribe, Huolüe Tribe, lay roughly four hundred li away.

Even if Huolüe Tribe mobilized reinforcements, it would take two or three hours.

Moreover, according to the Grand Master’s intelligence, experts above Cultivation-Star Level Seven were most likely stationed within the Crimson-Scale Royal Court.

If so, after eliminating this wave of enemies, any threatening reinforcements would arrive no sooner than half a day later—granting Xu Jin a minimum of half a day, up to nearly a full day, of safety.

After slaying the enemy, looting their bodies was inevitable.

Especially these Cultivation-Star-level foes—they were essentially the bourgeoisie of the Huixuan Star Domain.

A few minutes later, Xu Jin sneered.

All of them were penniless!

Six Cultivation-Star warriors yielded six Star Cores.

There were a few Star Weapons, but their material quality was clearly poor; though their flame-star power was intense, that was due to the Star Domain’s nature—they’d be useless outside it.

The only real gain was twelve pieces of Human-Class Star Jade Tablets—third-grade Star Jade Tablets—found on the body of the Cultivation-Star Level Eight Chi-Mu.

A modest haul.

Xu Jin immediately stored them in his Star-Counting Platform.

The Star-Counting Platform could store Star Jade Tablets.

Strangely, despite acquiring so many Star Cores, the Star-Counting Platform showed no reaction.

In addition, he found some food and clean water.

“Grand Master, I’d like to know: can we eat the food of the Huixuan Star Domain?” Xu Jin consulted Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao via the Star-Picking Talisman, since he was unsure.

Xu Jin expected a long wait.

Unexpectedly, he received a reply the moment he sent the question.

“Ordinary people cannot eat it. Those below Meal-Mist Level Six cannot eat it—consume too much, and they’ll die of poisoning. But those above Meal-Mist Level Six may eat any food the Crimson-Scale consume; with stellar power shielding their bodies, the toxins pose no threat.”

“Thank you, Grand Master.”

“How was your day? How many dangers did you encounter?”

“One. I just slew six Cultivation-Star warriors, the strongest at Level Eight.” Xu Jin revealed his achievements without concealment.

“Cultivation-Star Level Eight?”

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao was startled. “How? Were you injured? How severe?”

“Fine—minor injuries. Just my Star Patterns consumed heavily.” Xu Jin offered a plausible explanation for his performance.

“Good. After eliminating this wave of strong foes, you should have a window of safety. Use it to recover and cultivate.” Grand Master Cheng instructed.

“Understood.”

In that instant, Xu Jin felt like chatting with an online friend late at night.

Though stranded in a foreign land, he didn’t feel so alone—there was still contact with the outside world, and that eased his tension.

The next instant, as Xu Jin activated his Soul Force, stellar power surged into his two Star Palaces like a tide.

In just over fifteen minutes, both Star Palaces were fully restored.

Xu Jin was back at peak condition.

After eating and drinking, Xu Jin found a shaded spot and lay down to sleep.

He didn’t know if he’d get another chance to sleep in the coming days, but now was a rare moment of safety—he could sleep deeply and recover his fatigue.

Two and a half hours later, Xu Jin awoke, his Soul Force fully restored.

Back to rigorous cultivation!

Within the Crimson-Scale Royal Court, Lord Chi You gripped the Crimson-Scale Heart, his brow furrowed.

Wrong!

A strong repelling force still pulsed from the Crimson-Scale Heart—the celestial will of the Huixuan Star Domain protecting them.

Whenever non-native celestial power entered, the Crimson-Scale Heart would alert them thus.

The location: near Huigui Mountain.

The Star Gate had long been sealed.

That meant the intruder near Huigui Mountain was still the disciple from the Dao Academy of Chen Guo who had descended days ago.

That Chen Guo intruder was still alive.

But according to timing, Chi-Mu should have arrived there three hours ago.

Since the intruder hadn’t fled, Chi-Mu and his group should have eliminated him quickly.

Yet now, the intruder’s aura still persisted.

“Send someone—immediately contact Chi-Mu.”

A subordinate in the Royal Court immediately obeyed.

Though the Crimson-Scale of the Huixuan Star Domain lacked the convenient communication of the World’s Star-Picking Tower, they had their own unique methods.

“Your Majesty, I’ve used two emergency methods to contact Lord Chi-Mu and the other five lords with him. None have responded!” The Crimson-Scale court official trembled violently.

This was a terrifying message.

If one of six warriors sent out to kill failed to respond, it might be an accident.

But if all six failed to respond, the most likely outcome was they were all dead!

Six Cultivation-Star lords slain at once—including one at Level Eight.

How could one not be shaken?

As far as he knew, the entire Crimson-Scale tribe possessed only three Cultivation-Star Level Eight warriors!

Watching the trembling official, Chi You suddenly moved—just one palm strike, and he crushed the official’s skull into pulp.

Servants swiftly cleaned up the mess.

Half an hour later, another Royal Court general, Chi Dian, was summoned.

He was the third Cultivation-Star Level Eight warrior in the entire Huixuan Star Domain.

“Chi Dian, I’ve ordered the five tribal chieftains to gather their elite warriors of Cultivation-Star Levels Six, Five, and Four at this location in one day.” Chi You marked a spot on the map. “Rush there immediately. Once you arrive, lead these elites and annihilate that Chen Guo prodigy on Huigui Mountain—then bring back his corpse, intact.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Chi Dian accepted the order, then asked in surprise, “Your Majesty, mobilizing all elite forces from five tribes to hunt one man—isn’t that overkill? And wasn’t Chi-Mu already dispatched?”

“Chi-Mu!”

Lord Chi You’s face darkened. “If no accident occurred, Chi-Mu is already dead.”

“What?!”

Chi Dian was stunned, his expression turning grim.

He knew Chi-Mu’s strength well—though both were Level Eight, Chi-Mu’s combat power surpassed his own.

Chi-Mu had brought five other Cultivation-Star companions.

If Chi-Mu’s group truly perished, then Your Majesty’s strategic decision was prudent indeed.

Even a lion hunting a rabbit gives its all.

This is taught in the teachings of Chen Guo.

“Your Majesty, rest assured—I will deliver the corpse of this Chen Guo prodigy intact to you.” Chi Dian immediately accepted the order, confident and assured.

There is no other reason—it is simple.

The chieftains of the five tribes of the Chi Lin clan are all experts at the Seventh Level of Star Refinement.

In addition, each tribe has two or three experts at the Sixth Level of Star Refinement, and five to six at the Fifth Level.

If all were assembled, the number of experts at Fifth Level and above would exceed fifty.

Killing a Chen Guo prodigy is a cinch!

“Go. Remember, do not tell the five chieftains about Chi Mu’s death. Say instead that another matter, related to the altar’s sacred duty, requires Chi Mu’s personal attention.” Chi You, lord of the Chi Lin, instructed.

“Your servant understands.”

Bowing deeply, Chi Dian turned and departed to carry out his orders.

After Chi Dian left, Chi You still frowned deeply.

He was truly troubled.

Chi Mu’s death was a severe blow to their Chi Lin clan’s elite combat strength.

Three months from now, facing the Chen Guo warriors who descend, the difficulty will only increase further!

As for him personally taking the field—

He dared not.

His soul was still under the control of the Chen Guo National Master; he guessed that if he dared to join battle, the Chen Guo National Master would crush him instantly.

He still remembered the National Master’s majestic presence over twenty years ago.

He had crushed him beneath his foot like a dog, then refined the Chi Lin Heart in his hand.

The only consolation was that the National Master did not know the Chi Lin clan possessed three Chi Lin Hearts!

Otherwise, the Chi Lin clan might never rise again.

“This time, I have nearly exhausted the strength of my entire clan—surely this will be enough.”

On Huigui Mountain, when dawn returned, Xu Jin slowly opened his eyes after a night of cultivation.

Within the Zhongxing Palace, the Star Core had just barely broken through to the Late Stage of Star Casting an hour ago, its radiance dense and flashing; as the core rotated, it already showed signs of internalization. When its radiance fully withdrew inward, Xu Jin’s cultivation in the Zhongxing Palace would reach the Peak of Star Casting.

He rose and casually unleashed several star arts, gathering precise data.

Upon suddenly reaching Late Stage Star Casting, the range of his Star Arrow increased by two meters, reaching twenty-nine meters.

The power of his other star arts also increased somewhat.

But compared to Chi Mu, who had been at Eighth Level Star Refinement, this increase did not significantly improve his chances of victory.

However, his total star power had risen by a full ten percent.

“Xu Jin, I see you’ve spent another night on Huigui Mountain. I have a suggestion.” Immediately after finishing his cultivation, Xu Jin received a message from National Master Cheng Yuexiao.

“Please, National Master.”

“The enemy coming to crush you is already on the move. But from now on, you must make them chase after you, lead them by the nose—only then will you have a chance to survive in the cracks.”

Also, you might pay extra attention to the five tribes.”

The Chi Lin clan operates under a tribal system.

The Royal Court is merely one tribe with powerful experts and overwhelming dominance.

The five tribes under the Chi Lin Royal Court are not united as one.

You may try to gain the support of their local forces!” National Master Cheng Yuexiao advised.

Hearing this, Xu Jin’s heart stirred.

One point—he and the National Master had thought alike.

After the stronghold battle ends, it’s time for mobile warfare.

Since Chi Mu failed, if the Chi Lin Royal Court isn’t foolish, the next force sent will be overwhelming.

Xu Jin had already anticipated this.

His original plan was to leave Huigui Mountain after morning cultivation and visit the nearest tribe—whether to break them one by one or wage mobile warfare, he could no longer stay put.

But the National Master Cheng Yuexiao’s latter suggestion was something Xu Jin had not considered.

Gain support from local forces?

“Xu Jin, if they support you, you may promise them anything.”

But you must not agree too readily to their demands.”

The chieftains of the Chi Lin tribes are no fools—if you agree too easily, they won’t believe you!”

“From this moment on, you are my full-power envoy. If an opportunity arises, negotiate with the five chieftains—I will support you.” Cheng Yuexiao said.

“Thank you, National Master!”

This thanks was sincere.

First, the National Master had replied to every message instantly these past two days; second, Xu Jin could feel the National Master’s support was utterly unreserved and comprehensive.

This was Xu Jin’s fortune!

“Xu Jin, there is one more thing I must warn you,” National Master Cheng Yuexiao said again.

“Please, National Master.”

“The Chi Lin clan resembles the barbarians of the mortal world—they fear power, not virtue. If you go directly to negotiate with the five chieftains, nine out of ten times they will sell you to their Chi Lin Lord.”

“But if you defeat them first, then seek cooperation or their support, it will be easy.” National Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

“Thank you, National Master. Your disciple remembers.”

After ending the communication, Xu Jin glanced at the map and swiftly headed toward the nearest Chi Lin tribe—Huoluo Tribe.

(End of Chapter)