Chapter 230: Brothers

Chen Guo, Leizhou City.

Almost the instant the eighth-rank expert Hu Zhen stepped foot on the ground, the sentinels of the Star-Picking Tower's branch in Leizhou sensed the teleportation fluctuation.

At once, the three sentinels each urgently reported to their direct superiors.

The moment the starlight message was sent, Hu Zhen had already stepped out of the Star-Picking Tower's teleportation gate.

At a single glance at the three sentinels outside the gate, the three fourth-rank sentinels felt unbearable pressure and involuntarily bent their waists.

One with weaker cultivation nearly collapsed to his knees.

"Greetings, Second Elder."

The sentinel of the Tianyang Star Hall's branch spotted him instantly and knelt on one knee in full reverence.

Hu Zhen merely cast a cold glance, then took a step forward—starlight surged beneath his feet, and he flew toward the Thunderfall Mountains thousands of li away.

At the same moment, the sentinels of the Great Chen State Dao Academy and the Cangming Star Hall immediately sent another message to their superiors.

【Second Elder of the Tianyang Star Hall has suddenly arrived in Leizhou.】

When this message reached the Cangming Star Hall, the reaction was not great.

The branch director of the Cangming Star Hall in Leizhou, Zha Wei, reported the intelligence to the main hall as per protocol.

Experts of seventh-rank and above are extremely powerful in the mortal realm; exaggerating slightly, they can wipe out cities and annihilate prefectures.

Therefore, according to all sides' security regulations, once a seventh-rank or higher expert enters a territory, it must be reported immediately.

"What's going on today?"

After submitting the report, Zha Wei looked curious.

Half an hour ago, five fifth-rank Dou-Ding experts and one sixth-rank expert headed toward the Thunderfall Mountains.

Fifteen minutes ago, a faint daylight glow appeared in the direction of the Thunderfall Mountains, lasting two or three breaths.

Now, an eighth-rank expert has appeared, chasing after the Thunderfall Mountains.

An eighth-rank expert—this is already among the tiniest, most powerful beings in the mortal realm.

So what exactly has happened?

Thunderfall Mountains?

A chance for fortune?

A vendetta?

Or a star gate?

Zha Wei first dismissed the possibility of a star gate.

It's not yet the time for star gates to manifest, and even if one did appear, this is Great Chen territory—it's not the Tianyang Star Hall's elders' place to intervene.

That leaves only a chance for fortune or a vendetta!

Vendetta?

After thinking it over, Zha Wei dismissed this idea.

It's unlikely to be a vendetta.

Who in the mortal realm would be foolish enough to offend the Second Elder of the Tianyang Star Hall?

He is among the tiniest group of people with the utmost power and authority in the mortal realm.

So it's highly unlikely to be a vendetta!

Then it must be a chance for fortune!

Very likely a star treasure has emerged!

What kind of fortune would compel someone like the Second Elder of the Tianyang Star Hall to personally come?

"Maybe I can get a share? Even if I only pick up scraps, it'll make me rich."

In an instant, Zha Wei, director of the Cangming Star Hall's Leizhou branch, made his decision.

A few dozen breaths later, after watching Hu Zhen's starlight vanish into the distance, Zha Wei cautiously followed from afar.

He was only here to scavenge leftovers, so he wasn't in a hurry.

He couldn't afford to be in a hurry.

If the eighth-rank expert Hu Zhen noticed he was being followed, he'd be in deep trouble.

Inside the Cangming Star Hall's main hall, upon receiving this starlight message, they issued only a single order: monitor the situation and report any changes immediately.

In contrast to the Cangming Star Hall's calmness, the Great Chen State Dao Academy was in chaos.

This alert message reached the Dao Academy at once; Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao and Grand Commander Pei Ze received it simultaneously.

The next instant, a blue streak of light shot across the sky and landed before the Danxia Academy—Grand Commander Pei Ze appeared inside the Danxia Academy, and at that moment, the stern Senior Manager Peng Lao emerged and immediately led him inside.

"Grand Master, this Hu fellow has lost his mind—suddenly shows up in Leizhou without so much as a greeting.

He's headed for the Thunderfall Mountains.

And his expression is hostile. That's all we have so far.

What do we do?

Should I go, or should you?" Pei Ze asked.

An eighth-rank expert entering without notice, though not a declaration of war, is still a profoundly unfriendly act.

Great Chen must respond—at least must be on alert.

In all of Great Chen's mortal realm, only Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao and Pei Ze are the two sole eighth-rank experts.

Perhaps there's one more in the imperial palace, but that one rarely ever acts.

While they spoke, the Left and Right Sacrifices also arrived at the Danxia Academy and were invited in.

"Grand Master, perhaps I and Senior Manager Peng Lao should go?" said Left Sacrifice Meng Yanhui.

Hearing this, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao shook his head. "This Hu has grown increasingly arrogant these years. If you go, you might suffer greatly.

I'll go myself."

"Grand Master, you must remain in Wanyi—you cannot move lightly. Let me go instead," Grand Commander Pei Ze volunteered.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao shook his head again. "No. You are Grand Commander of the Star-Patrol—your status here prevents you from intervening directly, even in minor disputes. I'll go. I'm more flexible. I want to see what this Hu intends."

"Grand Commander Pei, you must remain in Wanyi at the Great Chen Star-Picking Tower. Do not leave unless it's an emergency of the utmost urgency! Even if you must leave the tower, you must notify me." Cheng Yuexiao instructed.

"I understand. Rest assured, Grand Master."

"Senior Manager Peng, you and the two Sacrifices remain on standby at the Dao Academy. Also, order the four Senior Academicians to enter standby status."

"Yes."

After spending another few dozen breaths making various arrangements, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao stepped into starlight and soared straight to the main tower of the Star-Picking Tower, vanishing instantly.

Hu Zhen's identity is special; before his intentions are clear, Great Chen must avoid drawing too much attention.

All possibilities must be guarded against.

In the struggle between great states, one walks on thin ice—extreme caution is required; everything must be considered.

Moreover, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao dared not bring many people; too many might provoke Hu Zhen.

For now, Great Chen still does not wish to engage in direct conflict with the Tianyang Star Hall.

It still needs time to lie low and grow stronger.

Almost the instant Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao stepped into the Star-Picking Tower's teleportation and departed, the entire Great Chen State Dao Academy silently entered a state of alert.

Inside the Star-Patrol barracks, the two seventh-rank deputy commanders, who had been resting at home, now one remained to hold the barracks while the other personally led a patrol through Wanyi!

At this moment, half a quarter-hour had passed since Hu Zhen entered Leizhou.

Simultaneously, the Great Chen imperial palace also stirred with activity.

But in the end, only several orders were issued, with no major actions taken.

Outside the Thunderfall Mountains.

Hearing his teacher Qi Shanye say he had a method, Xu Jin looked at him with eager anticipation, desperate to know what survival tactic Qi Shanye had in mind.

Xu Jin had already considered many methods before.

Including the soul-splitting technique he used earlier to help Old Qi temporarily evade pursuit.

But it was useless.

As Master Mo Ji had said, the Blood Soul Trigger is relentless—it cannot be concealed or hidden.

Even if the soul-splitting technique fooled the pursuer for a moment, it wouldn't last long.

Once the pursuer found and destroyed the soul-splitting illusion, he'd soon catch up to Master Mo Ji again.

Mo Ji, the Demon Arrow, had already given up hope of survival.

But who wants to die?

As long as there's a chance, one must still try.

Moreover, Mo Ji has bloodline descendants left in the world!

Entrusting one's bloodline to others to care for—how could that compare to caring for them oneself?

"Star Realm!"

"Go to a sixth-rank Star Realm—it's the only way to escape. In a sixth-rank Star Realm, we can enter, but due to the star gate's restrictions, seventh-rank experts absolutely cannot enter. That's how we survive!" Qi Shanye said.

"But sixth-rank Star Realms have their own dangers."

At these words, Mo Ji's eyes flashed brightly—it was indeed a path to survival.

But the brightness vanished instantly, for it was impossible to achieve.

"It's possible in theory, but the star gates that lead to sixth-rank Star Realms are all located in the Star River Battlefield!

I'm a wanted criminal—I cannot use the Star-Picking Tower's teleportation system.

Even if I could use the Star-Picking Tower's teleportation to reach the Star River Battlefield, let alone other obstacles, just reaching the Star River Pass would take at least half a day at the fastest."

More than half a day had passed—more than enough time for him to catch up to me several times.

Besides, I can't even use the Star Tower's teleportation function.

Saying this, Mo Ji's gaze dimmed. "Let it be this way—we part here. If you can, help me with those few things."

At these words, Xu Jin felt even more pained, while Qi Shanye grew frantic. "Wait, Old Mo, why don't you trust me? Do you even know where I was appointed as the second deputy abbot?" "Songzhou!"

"That's right. In my second year, the Star Gate appeared once every three years—and that year, Songzhou suffered a great disaster. Five Star Gates opened within its borders, one of them a sixth-rank Star Domain gate."

I nearly died then. In the end, the Fourth Elder of the Star Hall came to reinforce me, and together we sealed that sixth-rank Star Domain gate.

Normally, such a gate must be sealed completely and returned to chaos.

But we'd only sealed half of it when the Fourth Elder received urgent news: the Heavenly Sun Star Hall and the Azure Star Hall had joined forces to attack the Star Hall's main temple. He gave me a few instructions and rushed back immediately.

I lacked the ability to fully seal the gate, so I merely marked its location and returned to the branch hall to support the main temple.

Everything that happened after that, you already know."

At this, Qi Shanye's expression suddenly grew intense. "If no one reinforces that seal to return it to chaos, then that sixth-rank Star Domain gate still exists."

We rush there, blast it open, and charge inside!

Then we'll be safe!" Qi Shanye exclaimed excitedly.

"Is there really such a gate?" Mo Ji asked, surprised.

"Do you think I'd lie to you about this? Hurry!"

"Where is it?" Mo Ji asked.

"I know the exact location—on the border of Taohua County, Shilong County, Songzhou. Just dozens of li from Shilong County's city walls. If we push hard, we'll arrive in just over a quarter-hour."

Hearing this, hope flared again in Mo Ji's eyes.

"Fine. No time to waste—we set off immediately. My disciple will leave now and cannot accompany us. When we arrive, I'll go alone to escape. You, Old Qi, stay out."

"Understood."

Qi Shanye agreed at once.

Without a word, the two prepared to part from Xu Jin.

But Xu Jin paused, then pulled out dozens of elixirs and talismans.

He handed over every single stimulant elixir, superior stimulant elixir, and Star-power recovery elixir he had—including Four-Xuan Star-Recovery Elixir, Three-Yuan Star-Return Elixir, and One-Qi Star-Return Elixir—whether cultivated or not—all to his uncle Mo Ji.

Xu Jin knew well the dangers within the Star Domains—he had personally entered them.

Even within a sixth-rank Star Domain, threats from seventh-rank experts are abundant.

Fortunately, the invisibility technique worked well, but returning from a sixth-rank Star Domain was extremely difficult, making replenishment and recovery elixirs the most critical shortage.

At this moment, Xu Jin gave them all to his uncle Mo Ji.

Simultaneously, he handed over every fourth- and fifth-rank talisman he possessed—all of them cultivated, totaling over a dozen—to Mo Ji.

Except the one for summoning the Grand Master.

Mo Ji tried to refuse, but Xu Jin cut in: "Uncle, I have nothing else. As long as I live, I want to see you again. I'll care for your bloodline descendants—wait for your return!"

Then, without hesitation, Xu Jin slapped the sixth-rank talisman given to him by Kou Jing into Mo Ji's hand.

"The sixth-rank Star Domain is dangerous. This double-strength sixth-rank talisman should aid you greatly!"

In that instant, even Mo Ji was moved by Xu Jin's actions.

His eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Only in great peril does true character show.

This disciple of mine is truly admirable.

Old Qi has such good fortune.

Mo Ji knew full well the immense wealth and power Xu Jin had just given him.

As Qi Shanye said, even a sixth-rank Star Domain had its own dangers.

Within it lurked seventh-rank experts, and the hostility of heaven and earth was exceedingly perilous.

To say it was nine deaths and one life was no exaggeration.

But compared to the mortal world, at least there was one life!

With Xu Jin's gifts, Mo Ji felt his chances of survival in the sixth-rank Star Domain might now exceed thirty percent.

Qi Shanye, watching nearby, was deeply satisfied.

This disciple of mine? Not a single wasted effort.

Worth it.

Even if I died for this disciple, it would be worth it!

Suddenly, Qi Shanye turned back—and saw a streak of light, like a falling star, racing toward them from afar.

Almost certainly the pursuer.

"We must go—now!"

"Jin'er, stay low and don't use Star power!" In his urgency, Qi Shanye called Xu Jin by his given name.

"Got it!"

In an instant, the three dashed off in different directions.

Xu Jin sped ahead first. Qi Shanye unleashed a burst of Star power over the spot where Xu Jin had stood, erasing all traces of his Star energy, then flew swiftly with Mo Ji toward Taohua County, Shilong County, Songzhou.

At the same moment, Qi Shanye received a Star-message from Xu Jin.

"Master, have Uncle use the Soul-Partition Technique, then fly low—you'll buy us some time."

"I'd forgotten that."

In the next instant, Qi Shanye passed the Soul-Partition Technique Xu Jin had given him to Mo Ji, then lifted Mo Ji onto his back and flew at full speed.

Let Mo Ji create the soul fragment—he'd handle the escape.

Those trained in the Spirit Chronicle Star Hall—even those of the Object-Controlling School—were masters of soul manipulation.

In this emergency, Mo Ji disregarded the risks and simply mimicked the technique.

After a hundred breaths, blood spurted from Mo Ji's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth—his soul was wounded—but it worked.

The next instant, the soul fragment entered a crow Qi Shanye had already captured along the way, then the talisman bearing the fragment was tied to the crow's back and released instantly.

The startled crow shot off in another direction.

At once, Qi Shanye and Mo Ji activated the Return-to-Storage Star Pattern, suppressing and concealing their energy signatures while flying low toward Taohua County, Shilong County, Songzhou.

After a few minutes, the streak of light in the sky, like a falling star, veered sharply toward the crow's direction.

Far away, seeing the streak change course, Qi Shanye and Mo Ji both exhaled in relief, hearts still pounding.

The speed of that pursuer meant he was either an eighth-rank or a peak seventh-rank—far beyond their ability to resist.

One misstep, and they'd be caught before even reaching the sixth-rank Star Domain.

Now, they'd bought themselves precious time.

Qi Shanye and Mo Ji accelerated.

As they flew, they spoke.

"Old Qi, you go! Give me the location—I'll rush in alone to seize that sliver of life. Don't let me drag you down with me."

"Who said I'd let you go alone into the sixth-rank Star Domain?"

"I'm not stupid!"

"You go in alone? Under the hostility of heaven and earth in a sixth-rank Star Domain—even with my disciple's survival treasures—how long can you last?

You won't be killed by enemies—you'll just collapse from exhaustion!"

"I'm going in with you!"

"Get lost!"

"One person is enough. Two? Unnecessary!"

"Who said we're two burdens?"

"We watch each other's backs and take turns resting! With our combined strength, even mid-to-late sixth-rank alien experts won't be our match."

As long as we're not catastrophically unlucky, our chances of surviving in the sixth-rank Star Domain are high.

We might even become kings there, with a harem of beauties!"

"Besides, when I called you, you came to fight Hu Xuechuan with me!

I succeeded!

But you took the blame!

Now, I'm telling you to go alone into another realm to survive—and you'll die without a grave?

If I did that, would I still be human?"

"My mind is made up—stop arguing!" Qi Shanye grew more heated. "If you refuse again, I'll turn back and fight that bastard right now—even if I die, I'll buy you time!

And don't think I'll spend my life mourning you!"

"You…"

A warm tear slipped again from Mo Ji's corner of his eye.

He'd already prepared to be buried in a foreign land—but now, Old Qi had given him hope again.

To have a brother like this in this life? Enough.

"But if you leave with me, what about your disciple?" Mo Ji asked.

At the mention of his disciple, Qi Shanye couldn't help but smile. "My disciple? I'm not worried at all. That kid's full of secrets—he pulls out over a dozen fifth-rank talismans with doubled power!

I've never seen anything like that in my life!

And those elixirs with sixfold potency!"

And a sixth-rank rune seal with doubled power!

Do you think he still needs your concern?

I've taught him everything I know!

Now, I'm only worried about you!

"Get lost! Stop being so sappy!"

Laughing and scolding, Qi Shanye suddenly spotted something: "Hahaha, I see it! I see it!"

You old bastard is crying!

Mom!

Damn, you're such a crybaby!

"Remember to tell your disciple," Mo Ji said.

"True enough!"

In the next instant, Xu Jin, who had been skimming close to the ground, received a starlight message, shuddered violently, and abruptly halted, whirling around to gaze far into the distance!

He froze!

Is Old Qi also entering the sixth-rank star domain?

(End of Chapter)