Chapter 228: Bones Turned to Ash

In the General Affairs Hall of the Heavenly Yang Star Palace, Hu Hu Xuechuan was looking somewhat bored at the blood-colored dot on the star artifact Fixed Star Plate.

This blood-colored dot was the location of Qi Qi Shanye, whom he had been tracking for three years.

For the past month, this blood-colored dot had been in a very distant location, and the Fixed Star Plate couldn't even lock onto a specific direction.

But in the last two days, the position of the blood-colored dot representing Qi Qi Shanye on the Fixed Star Plate had gradually become clear.

At least, he could lock onto the direction.

It was in the southeast direction of the Heavenly Yang Star Palace General Palace, but anything more specific was unclear.

However, it wasn't difficult for him to know Qi Qi Shanye's specific location.

As long as he transmitted a few times to the Star-Plucking Tower in the southeast direction, he should be able to lock onto Qi Qi Shanye's approximate location, and then track him, but whether he could catch up was another matter.

But the most critical thing was, even if he caught up, whether he could leave Qi Qi Shanye behind was a big problem.

In three years, he had caught up with Qi Qi Shanye four times in total.

The first time, he successfully seriously injured Qi Qi Shanye and obtained a drop of Qi Qi Shanye's essence blood, and since then, he had locked onto Qi Qi Shanye's location like a maggot on a tarsal bone.

The second time, he caught up with Qi Qi Shanye and successfully blocked Qi Qi Shanye in Yanzhou, but this guy relied on a special star artifact to shield his aura, and thus began his standoff with Qi Qi Shanye.

He blocked the entire Yanzhou to death, and then used official power to encircle and suppress Qi Qi Shanye.

In the end, Dong Zhao of the Hu Jinshan Dao Academy intervened, ruining his good deed, and even performed a miraculous feat, further ruining the future of his subordinate Zhou Zhou Qingzhu, who was sent to the Star River Battlefield to serve.

The third time was when Qi Qi Shanye, for some unknown reason, completely gave up hiding his aura, allowing him to successfully catch up with Qi Qi Shanye.

Unfortunately, he fell short of success, and he was almost finished off by Qi Qi Shanye!

The fourth time was even more infuriating; he spent half his savings to trap Qi Qi Shanye in the Hengsha County City of Da Chu, originally having it in the bag, but was deceived by some secret technique of Qi Qi Shanye, and in the end, it was another bloody loss!

Failed four times.

Half his savings were gone.

His personal future was also buried.

Fortunately, he, Hu Hu Xuechuan, had some roots in the Heavenly Yang Star Palace, otherwise, he would have been sent to the Star River Battlefield to serve like Zhou Zhou Qingzhu long ago.

Now, he was holding a leisure position in the Heavenly Yang Star Palace General Palace, mixing days, seeing if he could break through to the sixth tier.

However, Hu Hu Xuechuan was very clear that, given his aptitude and soul cultivation, wanting to rely on himself to break through to the Sixth Tier was a distant prospect.

But if he could get the Clear Spirit Star Pattern he had been thinking about day and night from Qi Qi Shanye, he would definitely break through to the sixth tier in five to ten years, and the seventh tier would be in sight in twenty or thirty years!

But now the problem was, the four consecutive failures made Hu Hu Xuechuan somewhat afraid.

Even if he caught up with Qi Qi Shanye, so what?

Still failure!

If it went badly, he would lose half his life.

Last time, his iron-clad subordinate Zhu Ju died in battle.

"Palace Master."

Suddenly, his old subordinate Lin Lie appeared behind him.

Last time the Heavenly Yang Star Palace Yanzhou branch palace was broken by Magic Arrow Mo Ji, Lin Lie was also implicated, but fortunately, Hu Hu Xuechuan protected him.

"How is the contact going?" Hu Hu Xuechuan asked.

"Palace Master, I contacted five people, and only two were willing to come and help, even after promising heavy rewards," Lin Lie said gloomily.

Hu Hu Xuechuan frowned; this was truly a case of people leaving and tea cooling.

The old subordinates of the past couldn't be ordered around in the blink of an eye.

"Two, plus you and me, four fifth-tier experts, not enough!"

Hu Hu Xuechuan shook his head. "Old Thief Qi has also learned to be smart; he dared to appear again after only a month and a half, which shows he also has confidence, and maybe he has contacted another Spirit Era remnant, which is why he dared to walk in the Central Plains."

"Then does the Palace Master mean to give up?"

"Give up?"

These two words made Hu Hu Xuechuan ponder for a long time.

It was impossible for him to give up.

Having invested so much, with his future ruined, how could he give up.

But to take risks and gamble on that little probability, having failed four times, he didn't dare anymore.

If he failed this time, then next time, let alone calling two old subordinates, next time, he estimated he wouldn't even be able to call half an old subordinate.

How to break the situation?

"It seems I can only use that method," Hu Hu Xuechuan muttered.

Hearing this, Lin Lie's expression moved. "Does the Palace Master mean?"

"Since I can't eat alone, I'll share it with someone reliable. I can't fail anymore; if I fail again

"The Hu Hu Dianzhu is wise!"

While flattering him, Lin Lie silently muttered a complaint to himself.

If the Hu Hu Dianzhu had figured this out sooner, he probably would have succeeded long ago.

"Let's go, follow me to see someone."

October 16th, early morning, Leilei Mountain Range, 3:30 AM.

Qi Qi Shanye, the Magic Arrow Mo Ji, and Xu Jin, all three having recovered to their peak states, had already arrived at the chosen location.

"If Hu Hu Xuechuan arrives but I haven't finished, use your emblem without hesitation; survival comes first," Qi Qi Shanye instructed the Magic Arrow Mo Ji.

"I'm not stupid," the Magic Arrow Mo Ji replied irritably, clearly displeased.

It would be one thing if he didn't see Old Qi's disciple.

But seeing him just brings all sorts of envy and jealousy!

Why couldn't he recruit such a disciple?

"Alright, then I'm starting!"

In the next instant, Qi Qi Shanye began to chant. Suddenly, a shimmering, star-lit small building flew out from Qi Qi Shanye's body. It grew instantly in the wind, and within two breaths, it had expanded into a brilliant, nine-story star-lit tower.

Almost the moment it touched the ground, the star power from all directions surged into this branch of the Star-Plucking Tower like a tidal wave.

Qi Qi Shanye watched silently, waiting quietly for this branch of the Star-Plucking Tower to transition from void to reality and return to the present world.

"A quick retraction and deployment requires ten thousand strands of starlight. Fortunately, there were some reserves left in the branch, otherwise, I wouldn't even be able to make this star tower return to the present world so quickly right now."

Xu Jin listened, clicking his tongue in astonishment.

No wonder Uncle Mo Ji said he couldn't afford the burden.

Ten thousand strands of starlight for one quick retraction and deployment—this was simply an astronomical price.

But the teacher also said it was for a *quick* retraction and deployment.

There should be more economical ways.

In ten breaths of time, this branch of the Star-Plucking Tower transitioned from void to reality. Almost the moment it did, Qi Qi Shanye gave a sharp shout, grabbed Xu Jin, and in an instant, they stepped inside the branch.

Qi Qi Shanye first took Xu Jin to the seventh floor of this branch.

Looking across the seventh floor, it was filled with all sorts of jade tablets, numbering at least a thousand.

Qi Qi Shanye swept his large sleeves, and in an instant, over nine hundred jade tablets were swept down, which he then bundled up and handed to Xu Jin.

"Just in case, don't let it self-destruct.

Everything I can easily retrieve now is research notes and some star patterns and star techniques that I can access with my authority.

However, most of the star patterns and star techniques I can retrieve, I have already passed on to you, so they aren't of much use to you.

But the research notes you need are all here; you can study them carefully when you have time.

As for the remaining few dozen, it will depend on luck.

Having defeated his enemy in one battle, Xu Jin chose to continue challenging. A starlight message floated before his eyes; it was Qiu Shan requesting to add Xu Jin as a friend.

If they self-destruct along with it, then that's fate," Qi Qi Shanye said.

"Let's go!"

In the next instant, Qi Qi Shanye grabbed Xu Jin again and appeared on the ninth floor of the branch, where the Magic Arrow Mo Ji was already waiting.

"I'm ready," the Magic Arrow Mo Ji said.

In the next instant, Qi Qi Shanye took out a Star-Plucking Token. As star power surged into it, the token instantly emitted a three-colored radiance, and at the same time, he sank his consciousness into it and began to execute the plan.

"I propose it; once you pass it, it should be fully approved."

"Alright."

Almost simultaneously, messages appeared before Qi Qi Shanye.

【Do you confirm closing communication with the Lord Lingji Main Hall?】

【Confirm!】

【Do you confirm closing the teleportation link with the Lord Lingji Main Hall?】

【Confirm!】

【Warning: You are about to close the final contact method with the Lord Lingji Main Hall. Closing this will cause this branch to lose connection with the Lord Lingji Main Hall!】

【Close!】

【Warning: This branch has completely disconnected from the Lord Lingji Main Hall. Please re-establish contact with the main hall as soon as possible, otherwise all functions of this branch will cease.】

Upon seeing this message, Qi Qi Shanye glanced at the Magic Arrow Mo Ji.

The two exchanged a look as if they shared a single mind. In the next instant, a blinding radiance erupted from both of their Star-Plucking Tokens simultaneously.

Pfft! Pfft!

Both of them were violently shaken and spat out blood!

In the next instant, the colorful radiance within Old Qi's Star-Plucking Token instantly dissipated.

And in the very center of the ninth floor, a brilliant, colorful spiritual light emerged.

"This is the remnant Spirit of the Zhai Xing Lou! Qi Tian Sheng, quickly use your soul power to refine it!" Qi Qi Shanye roared wildly, blood still staining the corners of his mouth.

"Yes."

In the next instant, Xu Jin's soul power enveloped it like water, beginning to refine it in the direction Qi Qi Shanye had taught him.

The moment he enveloped it, light suddenly appeared before Xu Jin's eyes.

【Noble Copper-Tier Controller, do you wish to take control of this branch?】

【Yes.】 【Noble Copper-Tier Controller, if you confirm taking control of this branch, this branch will terminate its self-destruction. Please continue refining the Zhai Xing Lou Spirit to complete the final takeover.】

Upon seeing this message, Xu Jin was greatly shocked.

He hadn't expected that after the owner's self-destruction authority was triggered, the branch would directly initiate self-destruction.

But coincidentally, the Copper-Tier Controller authority he had previously obtained by challenging the Canxing Secret Realm allowed him to take over a blank Star-Plucking Tower branch.

Is this luck?

Or is it a coincidence?

"Jin'er, how long will it take to finish refining?" Qi Qi Shanye asked via sound transmission.

"I feel it will take at least two quarters of an hour."

Qi Qi Shanye was overjoyed upon hearing this; this speed was much faster than he had imagined. He had initially estimated it would take nearly half an hour.

"Good, focus on refining; don't worry about anything else."

After saying this, Qi Qi Shanye wiped the blood from his mouth and looked at the Magic Arrow Mo Ji, "Old friend, let's go. From here on, it depends on when our old friend arrives."

"Let's go. We've prepared a big gift for him today; I hope he doesn't chicken out!"

Inside the General Affairs Hall of the Lord Tianyang Star Palace, Hu Hu Xuechuan, who was sleeping, was suddenly awakened by an inexplicable fluctuation of star power.

He saw his star artifact, the Star-Fixing Disk, emitting brilliant starlight, and the blurry, blood-colored dot representing Qi Qi Shanye's location suddenly became clear and huge.

Just by glancing at it, Hu Hu Xuechuan determined Qi Qi Shanye's approximate location—Leizhou!

Within the territory of Da Chen's Leizhou!

"Lin Lie, gather the men!"

After giving the order, Hu Hu Xuechuan steadied himself and began to ponder why Qi Qi Shanye's location had suddenly become so clear.

Once he calmed down, Hu Hu Xuechuan's train of thought became completely clear.

The last time this happened, by the time he rushed over, Qi Qi Shanye had just taken that branch of the Star-Plucking Tower he coveted so much.

So, what about today?

In the next instant, Hu Hu Xuechuan became completely sober.

He immediately picked up his Star-Plucking Token and sent a star-light message to another person, a top-priority one: 【Hu Changyan, that scoundrel has appeared.】

After waiting a few breaths with no response, Hu Hu Xuechuan sent another top-priority message. It was only after a few more breaths that he received a reply.

Subsequently, Hu Hu Xuechuan, along with the two subordinates who had already arrived and Lin Lie, waited anxiously in front of the Star-Plucking Tower.

While waiting, he kept glancing at that huge blood-colored dot.

He was terrified that the blood-colored dot would disappear.

After waiting for a full twenty-plus breaths, he saw starlight descend, and an old man and a youth arrived in an instant.

Upon seeing the old man, Hu Hu Xuechuan's expression brightened with joy.

This matter was settled.

But Hu Hu Xuechuan turned to the youth, "Seventeenth Brother, I finally waited for you to arrive. Shall we set off now?"

While speaking, Hu Hu Xuechuan greeted the old man, "Old Fu."

"Hmm, is what you said true?"

"Absolutely true!"

After receiving a definitive answer, the old man nodded to the youth, Hu Hu Changyan. Subsequently, the group of six stepped into the main building of the Lord Tianyang Star Palace's Star-Plucking Tower simultaneously. Teleport!

Target: Da Chen, Leizhou!

Ten breaths later, the group of six appeared outside the branch of the Star-Plucking Tower in Da Chen's Leizhou. After showing their identity tokens to the guards, the six shot into the sky instantly, following Hu Hu Xuechuan as they flew rapidly across the stars.

This scene alarmed the Head of the Leizhou Provincial Dao Academy, the Hu Hu Dianzhu of the Lord Tianyang Star Palace's Leizhou branch, and the Hu Hu Dianzhu of the Cangming Star Palace's Leizhou branch.

After all, five Fifth Tier experts and one Sixth Tier expert arriving at the same time—it would be difficult for them *not* to be alarmed!

After thinking it over, the Head of the Leizhou Provincial Dao Academy honestly reported the situation to the Da Chen National Dao Academy.

The Hu Hu Dianzhu of the Lord Tianyang Star Palace's Leizhou branch had already been tipped off that a VIP from the main hall was conducting business, and he was told to keep an eye on the Cangming Star Palace branch and the Da Chen Leizhou Provincial Dao Academy.

The watched Hu Hu Dianzhu of the Cangming Star Palace's Leizhou branch was very curious, but he couldn't free himself in the short term.

Deep within the Leilei Mountain Range.

Qi Qi Shanye and the Magic Arrow Mo Ji sat side-by-side in front of the branch that Xu Jin was still refining, with a jar of wine placed before them. The two sat there, bowl after bowl, occasionally looking back at the Star-Plucking Tower behind them.

Because it was ownerless, the Star-Plucking Tower could not hide into the void after appearing in the world, and at this moment, it looked exceptionally brilliant.

"Cheers!"

As the wine reached his lips, the Magic Arrow Mo Ji suddenly stopped and looked into the distance, "They're here!"

In the night sky in the distance, several streaks of starlight were flying rapidly toward this direction like meteors.

In the next instant, the Magic Arrow Mo Ji downed the wine in his bowl and, with a *bang*, smashed the bowl to pieces!

"I'm going to my position!"

Two breaths later, the Magic Arrow Mo Ji's aura, hidden within the mountains, completely vanished.

Qi Qi Shanye also downed the wine in his bowl, wiped his mouth, and gave a grim smile, "They really are like ghosts that won't go away!"

While smiling, he looked at his missing right arm, his expression becoming increasingly grim.

"Five!"

"I've only discovered five people so far. This Hu Hu Xuechuan really thinks highly of me, directly mobilizing five experts. Don't hold back later; just blast the hell out of them!"

"Don't worry!"

Mo Ji's soul transmission reached his ears.

Time passed quickly. A hundred breaths later, five streaks of starlight descended rapidly. The one leading them was none other than Hu Hu Xuechuan.

As the saying goes, when enemies meet, they are exceptionally jealous.

But unexpectedly, Hu Hu Xuechuan landed far away, several hundred meters out, and did not attack immediately. Instead, he looked at the Star-Plucking Tower behind Qi Qi Shanye with an incredibly fervent expression.

The youth Hu Hu Changyan, who had been invited by Hu Hu Xuechuan, was overjoyed to see this scene, "Sixth Brother, you really didn't lie to me; there really is a branch of the Star-Plucking Tower!"

"Of course, I wouldn't dare lie to you, Seventeenth Brother, even if I lied to anyone else."

"Just as you said, this branch belongs to me, and this remnant of Lord Lingji before us belongs to you?" Hu Hu Changyan laughed.

"Of course!"

"Heh, Hu, it's been several months, but your tone has grown quite arrogant," Qi Qi Shanye sneered.

Hu Hu Xuechuan sneered as he scanned the surroundings, clearly on guard against something.

At that very same instant, the voice of the Sixth Tier expert Hu Fu, who had hidden his presence, reached the ears of Hu Hu Xuechuan and Hu Hu Changyan, "There should be two more people; I've found the residual auras of three people at the scene.

There is another Fifth Tier aura, but I don't know where it's hiding; I can't find it.

The other one is only a Third Tier aura, not worth worrying about."

"Old Fu, so you're saying there are only two or three of them."

"Yes, feel free to attack; I'll back you up."

"Young Master, stay a bit further back; don't rush in too recklessly." This last sentence was the Sixth Tier expert Hu Fu instructing the young master he was protecting, Hu Hu Changyan.

"Old Fu, didn't Grandfather say that regardless of combat experience, just in terms of raw strength, I have almost no rivals within the Fifth Tier? It's been so hard to get out once, my hands are itching!"

"Hmm, but Young Master should still be careful."

"Qi, this time next year will be your death anniversary!"

"Kill!"

In the next instant, Hu Hu Xuechuan gave a sharp shout, and they all attacked Qi Qi Shanye from different directions, carefully guarding themselves. At the same time, Hu Hu Changyan also charged toward Qi Qi Shanye.

Three hundred meters.

Two hundred meters.

One hundred and fifty meters.

In the next instant, an incredibly terrifying aura suddenly emerged from the distance. In just a split second, five vortex arrow beams flew like meteors, carrying a terrifying aura as they blasted toward the five of them.

"Magic Arrow Mo Ji, Qi, is this your backup plan? This is just handing me another big merit!" Seeing this, Hu Hu Xuechuan laughed loudly.

But as he laughed, the Magic Arrow Mo Ji's furious shots flashed and split, firing toward each of the five people.

The five were already prepared.

Although this attack was terrifying, it was split among five people, so they could handle it!

But the moment the five were pinned down by the Magic Arrow Mo Ji, Qi Qi Shanye moved violently.

With a sudden explosive dash, Qi Qi Shanye blasted out the three Fifth Tier supreme-grade emblems he had been holding between his fingers!

The moment the emblems were blasted out, the Sixth Tier expert Hu Fu, who had been hiding in the rear, shrieked instantly.

"Sixth Tier emblems! Three of them! How is this possible!"

In the next instant, Hu Hu Xuechuan, Lin Lie, and the other two subordinates, including the five Fifth Tier experts including Hu Hu Changyan, were completely submerged by the terrifying starlight erupting from the three emblems!

The three Fifth Tier supreme-grade emblems Qi Qi Shanye used were all the same type, called "Lie Kong."

With three of the same emblem erupting simultaneously, their power instantly stacked together.

The entire night sky was illuminated so brightly it was as if it were broad daylight!

And Qi Qi Shanye retreated rapidly in that split second.

The Sixth Tier expert Hu Fu, who had just revealed himself, lunged instantly toward this ball of scorching light that resembled the sun!

But the moment he approached, his protective starlight was shattered, forcing him to retreat on the spot!

Within the scorching light, one streak of starlight after another rose up, but the moment they rose, they were completely annihilated!

That was Hu Hu Xuechuan and Hu Hu Changyan frantically using their life-saving treasures!

Within the scorching light, the moment Hu Hu Xuechuan threw out the last two Fourth Tier defensive emblems and one Fifth Tier defensive emblem in his hand, he desperately activated his defensive star techniques while struggling to move toward Hu Hu Changyan.

He was pinning his hopes on Hu Hu Changyan having life-saving treasures that could save his life!

As for where Qi Qi Shanye got Sixth Tier emblems, he had no time to think about that now!

His eyes were filled with despair!

In the next instant, the radiance of the last few life-saving emblems Hu Hu Xuechuan threw out was instantly incinerated by the scorching light, just like snow meeting boiling water.

Hu Hu Xuechuan had only taken one step when, in the next instant, the scorching light swallowed him!

First, it directly dissolved Hu Hu Xuechuan's protective starlight, then his clothing and armor instantly turned to ash.

Then, his flesh and blood instantly turned to ash. As the blood mist rose, it reflected Hu Hu Xuechuan's desperate eyes, but they also dissipated completely in an instant!

In the blink of an eye, Hu Hu Xuechuan had turned into a pile of white bones!

But even the bones were incinerated under the high temperature of the scorching light, and some bones were even burned into colorful crystals.

As for the three subordinates Hu Hu Xuechuan brought, including Lin Lie, they had already turned into flying ash within the first two seconds!

In an instant, four people died miserably within the scorching light!

Only Hu Hu Changyan's life-saving measures were endless, as emblem after emblem flew out, making a final struggle!

(End of chapter)