Chapter 255: Surrendering to Embrace

Zi Feng Star Region.

The instant Xu Jin landed, an indescribable joy surged in his heart.

The two Thunder Feather Hearts in the Upper Star Palace vibrated with delight, crackling with continuous lightning.

This was the world's heartfelt welcome to Xu Jin.

This was the benefit of having subjugated the celestial will of this star region.

The celestial will no longer rejected him—it welcomed him.

The next instant, as Xu Jin's mind sank into the two Thunder Feather Hearts, he instantly sensed five disturbing energies.

He hated them.

He felt an urge to rush forward and destroy them.

After a brief pause, Xu Jin realized—he smiled with surprise.

He hadn't expected subjugating the celestial will of the star region would grant such an effect.

But upon reflection, it made perfect sense.

When foreign invaders arrived, even ordinary cultivators of this star region could, guided by the celestial will, instinctively charge toward the invaders' landing point.

Especially since Xu Jin had already subjugated two Thunder Feather Hearts.

He was effectively the king of this world.

The last time Xu Jin came to Zi Feng Star Region, he used the Red Scale Heart Armor to guide his fellow sect members; the entire map of Zi Feng Star Region was already etched in his mind.

Now, by sensing the positions of the five Cangming Star Palace disciples through the Thunder Feather Hearts, he immediately gained a rough range—and felt urgency rise.

Through sensing, Xu Jin had already discovered that, despite only half a day having passed, two Cangming Star Palace disciples had already merged together.

And these two were not far from Zi Yi Wangcheng.

It was highly unlikely a single Cangming Star Palace prodigy could break into Zi Yi Wangcheng.

But two? That was another matter.

Especially since the previous Zi Yi Wangcheng king had already been killed by Xu Jin, and a batch of fourth-rank experts had perished in battle.

Zi Yi Wangcheng's strength was relatively weak.

Even if he couldn't fully conquer Zi Feng Star Region, the Thunder Feather Hearts here must not be lost.

The next instant, Xu Jin unfurled his Thunder Wings without concealment and soared swiftly toward Zi Yi Wangcheng.

Passing a small city, Xu Jin casually landed, instantly slaughtering the fourth-rank, Star Condensation Stage Two city governor, then seized a set of Zi Yi noble attire and changed into it.

After a brief moment, the Hundred Variations Star Pattern reshaped his face into one with a pale purple hue, exuding the unmistakable style of the Zi Yi royal family, then he shot skyward again.

With this new face, new clothes, plus his signature Thunder Wings and the innate aura of nobility and dominance (a side effect of the Thunder Feather Hearts), even Zi Yi royals would be unable to tell he was an impostor.

This was a precaution Xu Jin had prepared in advance.

If he encountered any Cangming Star Palace disciples, he would show no mercy.

Previously, the Cangming Star Palace had openly assassinated him in Wan Yi City.

Xu Jin wasn't stingy, but he was certainly not forgiving.

Half an hour later, Xu Jin neared the hundred-li range of Zi Yi Wangcheng, but his brow furrowed slightly.

Because the two Cangming Star Palace disciples he sensed were also not far from Zi Yi Wangcheng.

Inside Zi Yi Wangcheng, the new Zi Yi king, Zi Chi, stared strangely at the northern sky.

There, a supremely dominant Zi Yi royal aura was rapidly approaching.

But the problem was, Zi Chi had lived in Zi Feng Star Region for so long—he knew every single third- and fourth-rank Zi Yi clan member by name. None were unfamiliar to him.

Where had this one come from?

Closer still.

Zi Chi's expression grew more puzzled.

The aura charging straight into Zi Yi Wangcheng faintly pressed upon him with an inexplicable dominance, stirring an impulse to kneel and worship.

This made him even more astonished.

He was the king of the Zi Yi clan.

In Zi Feng Star Region, he was the supreme being.

How could anyone else evoke such a feeling in him?

The next instant, a scene filled Zi Chi with shock and fury.

His Zi Yi Guards—his own trusted subordinates—made no move to stop this unknown Zi Yi royal.

They didn't even dare to try.

They let him charge straight into Zi Yi Wangcheng.

But then again, it made sense.

Even he, the king, felt intimidated by this aura.

How much less could others resist?

After his initial shock, Zi Chi stepped forward to greet him.

Xu Jin, who had charged directly into Zi Yi Wangcheng, changed his mind.

His original plan had been to storm the palace, violently kill the new Zi Yi king, seize the Thunder Feather Heart, and complete half his mission.

But now, the Zi Yi elite guards surrounded him—trembling, hesitant, unwilling to strike, letting him pass unimpeded.

It couldn't be due to his cultivation aura.

His true cultivation aura was only third-rank, Star Refinement Stage Nine.

There was only one explanation: the effect of subjugating two Thunder Feather Hearts.

This was the identity granted by the star region's celestial will—a natural aura of dominance.

Xu Jin decided to test whether he could directly subjugate this new Zi Yi king.

If this king agreed to let Xu Jin control his soul core and surrender his Thunder Feather Heart, Xu Jin's mission would be instantly complete—no need for further effort.

The next instant, the new Zi Yi king, clad in purple robes and flaring purple wings, swiftly approached.

It was none other than Zi Chi, the former Grand Commander of the Zi Yi Palace.

Seeing Xu Jin, Zi Chi frantically activated his newly subjugated Thunder Feather Heart to barely suppress the urge to kneel and pay homage.

This Zi Yi royal before him clearly radiated only third-rank Star Refinement Stage Nine—but up close, even Zi Chi, the king, couldn't stop himself from wanting to bow.

This sent a shiver through Zi Chi's heart—he suddenly understood.

The two lost Thunder Feather Hearts must be on this man.

There was no other possible explanation.

"Grand Commander Zi!" Xu Jin bowed from a hundred meters away.

At these words, Zi Chi was stunned again.

Anyone who dared speak his former title was already dead—but this man—

"W-who are you?"

Xu Jin chuckled, then instantly dissolved the Hundred Variations Star Pattern, revealing his true face.

The next instant, Zi Chi's eyes turned crimson. "It's you."

The very one whom their former Zi Yi king had personally summoned to the palace—the one who stole the two Thunder Feather Hearts.

Everything clicked.

"H-How dare you return!"

"What's stopping me?"

Xu Jin smiled. "I've come today to deliver a great gift to Grand Commander Zi."

"Oh? What gift?" Zi Chi asked, puzzled.

The next instant, a torrent of soul energy surged from Xu Jin. In the very moment Zi Chi became alert, blood gushed from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

His expression instantly turned dazed.

Yet simultaneously, fear flashed across his face.

Soul Star Art—Startling Dream!

Three breaths later, Zi Chi awoke and instinctively turned to flee—but at the moment he moved, his body froze. The Thunder Feather Heart in the Upper Star Palace radiated brilliant light, slowly calming his terror.

Then, lightning crackled violently across his purple wings, as if he meant to kill Xu Jin—but he forcibly restrained himself.

"Is this the great gift you brought me?" Zi Chi choked out, struggling to contain his rage, trembling with fear.

"Of course! It's a gift of life! Just now, I merely let you taste the flavor of near-death. Now, I present this gift of life—you'll finally understand its value." Xu Jin smiled.

Zi Chi was momentarily speechless. "Gift of life? Where?"

"Ah, Grand Commander Zi, can't you be quicker? My gift of life has already been delivered—otherwise, you'd already be dead." Xu Jin said.

Zi Chi instantly froze.

He finally understood.

During that moment of terror, if this man had moved, he would have been dead.

But this man's cultivation aura was clearly only third-rank Star Refinement Stage Nine.

Yet the sensation of near-death had been unbearably terrifying.

After a moment's thought, Zi Chi asked, "What do you want?"

"Simple."

Xu Jin snapped his fingers. "First, Grand Commander Zi, surrender the Thunder Feather Heart you've subjugated. You remain king of the Zi Yi clan.

Second, open your soul core and let me control a thread of it. From now on, the Zi Yi clan becomes a subordinate star region of the Chen Guo Dao Academy, paying tribute on schedule."

Of course, the Dao Academy of Chen Guo would not neglect Grand Commander Zi's other benefits.

Upon hearing this, Zi Chi's expression turned utterly grim.

He had heard this condition long ago.

Back then, when Zi Hao was king, the Cang Ming Star Palace had proposed it.

The demands were similar to those of the Cang Ming Star Palace, but the benefits offered were far superior to those of Chen Guo.

But the problem was, this young man before him was terrifying.

In an instant, he could decide Zi Chi's life or death.

For a moment, Zi Chi's mind churned with conflicting thoughts: he wanted to survive, yet he did not wish to lose his throne, nor the newly acquired Thunder Feather Heart.

There was resentment, reluctance, and fury.

And yet the enemy before him was merely a single Chen Guo disciple, a third-rank Star Refining ninth-layer one.

If he surrendered now,

Zi Chi suddenly recalled another anecdote from the mortal world.

They had learned it years ago during their invasion of the mortal world, from the texts they seized.

Bluffing!

He believed this third-rank Star Refining ninth-layer youth was almost certainly bluffing.

He might have only one strike left.

Still, he dared not risk it.

After thinking, Zi Chi suddenly said, "My lord, may I propose a condition?"

"Go on."

If he was willing to negotiate, it meant there was great hope of direct submission—saving Xu Jin a great deal of trouble.

"My lord, if you wish me to submit outright, I have two conditions. Let us draw closer, so my subordinates cannot hear." As he spoke, Zi Chi slowly approached Xu Jin. Xu Jin nodded in agreement.

But inwardly, he sighed—this would still require effort.

This Zi Chi.

Deception!

On the surface, he appeared to submit, claiming he wished to draw near to state his terms, but through the Mingji Star Pattern's perception, Zi Chi's Star Force grew stronger with every step closer.

This meant Zi Chi was activating Star Power.

What did he intend by activating Star Power while approaching?

Obviously, he planned a close-range ambush.

Zi Chi's thoughts were precisely this.

His Zi Wing clan excelled in speed.

Beyond a hundred meters, he believed this opponent might still launch a Soul Attack.

But at fifty meters, if he struck suddenly, no one could evade.

With his fourth-rank seventh-layer peak cultivation base, he could surely kill this opponent with one blow.

Then, he could claim the other two Thunder Feather Hearts.

With two more Thunder Feather Hearts, his power would surge dramatically, and his throne would be utterly secure.

Even an attack from the Cang Ming Star Palace in the mortal world would no longer frighten him.

Eighty meters.

Seventy meters.

Sixty meters.

Fifty meters.

"My lord, my first condition is—"

In the instant Xu Jin leaned forward to listen, Zi Chi's face twisted into a feral snarl. His back Thunder Wings flared violently—just one flash, and purple lightning poured like a waterfall from above Xu Jin's head.

Purple Thunder Crash!

Xu Jin showed not the slightest hint of panic.

The moment the purple lightning appeared above him, the thick Fish Curtain Golden Bell instantly materialized.

The purple lightning struck Xu Jin's Fish Curtain Golden Bell.

The Fish Curtain Golden Bell did not tremble even slightly.

As if doused with a bucket of water.

Zi Chi was horrified!

He trembled as if his liver had shaken loose.

He had never imagined this man was so powerful.

His strongest strike had not even shaken this defense by a hair.

"My lord! Spare me!"

Zi Chi's expression turned utterly terrified.

Xu Jin's expression turned icy cold.

In the next instant, Zi Chi, desperate to live, dropped to his knees before Xu Jin: "My lord, I submit!"

But Xu Jin merely tilted his head with a faint smile. "Too late. I gave you a chance."

In the next instant, Zi Chi's back Thunder Wings flared violently, attempting to flee.

But at the same moment, a Soul Wave surged upward.

Break Evil!

A seventh-rank below Break Evil strike erupted directly!

In that instant, blood gushed violently from Zi Chi's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

Like arrows of blood spurting out.

Then he fell straight from the sky, utterly lifeless.

Xu Jin paused, startled.

This fool's Soul was too weak—it had been shattered outright by Xu Jin's seventh-rank below Break Evil.

He died on the spot.

Probably brain-dead.

Xu Jin gained further insight into the power of seventh-rank Break Evil.

The Break Evil he used on Jing Meng was sixth-rank below.

This was the first time Xu Jin had used seventh-rank below Break Evil.

One breath later, a shimmering purple feather of Thunder Light rose from Zi Chi's dead head. Xu Jin's Soul Force surged forth—and the new Thunder Feather Heart shot straight toward him.

Throwing itself into his arms.

Directly acquired.

Three Thunder Feather Hearts now.

Below, within the Zi Wing Capital, the Zi Wing Guards stared at Xu Jin, who radiated a divine aura, then at their dead king—terrified, not daring to move.

In the next instant, as Xu Jin landed, the Zi Wing Guards—who had just undergone a royal succession over a month ago—scattered in panic.

Some fled for their lives.

Others rushed to report.

This time, they'd learned to be clever.

Let the new king appear first.

Otherwise, they'd just be cannon fodder.

As for Xu Jin, he had just dug out the fourth-rank above Star Core from Zi Chi's chest and casually tossed it into the Shen Dou Platform.

Instantly, he felt joy.

Indeed, a king's Star Core was of a different caliber.

Or rather, a king's Star Core that had once borne the Will of Heaven and Stars was truly exceptional.

Mid-tier Thunder Source.

Another fourth-rank above Star Core with a mid-tier Thunder Source Star Pattern.

At the same moment, atop a mountain peak outside the Zi Wing Capital, the Cang Ming Star Palace's true disciple Wang Zheng and Tan Jueming observed the Zi Wing Capital.

Protected by the half-broken feather granted by the Star Palace, they were not targeted by the Will of Heaven and Earth.

They could remain hidden here.

Originally, they planned to gather five fellow disciples outside the Zi Wing Capital before storming in.

The Cang Ming Star Palace possessed the complete map of the third-rank Zi Wind Star Zone, so any disciple entering, no matter where they landed, only needed to head toward the central capital.

But now, these two true disciples, Wang Zheng and Tan Jueming, noticed internal chaos within the Zi Wing Capital.

The Zi Wing Guards were scattering.

Their king had been severely wounded and forced to the ground by another Zi Wing royal.

This was a heavenly opportunity.

A fourth-rank Zi Wing royal without guards—how easy for the two of them to capture.

As true disciples of the Cang Ming Star Palace, though their cultivation was only third-rank Star Refining ninth-layer peak,

They absolutely possessed the ability to challenge higher ranks.

One person can easily handle a mid-stage fourth-rank opponent.

Two together can surround and kill a late-stage fourth-rank Purple Wing royal.

Opportunity knocks once; miss it, and it's gone forever!

If heaven offers and you refuse, you will suffer the consequences.

In the next instant, Wang Zheng and Tan Jueming exchanged a glance and shot out from the peak outside Purple Wing City, becoming two streaks of meteoric light racing straight into the city.

Because they had seen the Thunder Feather Heart in Xu Jin's hands—the Purple Wing royal!

This was a supreme treasure!

If you seize even one, your entire life will benefit!

Xu Jin naturally sensed the two qi signatures rushing toward him from behind.

He also knew exactly who they were.

Within the Thunder Feather Heart of the third-rank Purple Wind Star Domain, the five qi signatures were especially distinct.

Looking at the two charging toward him, Xu Jin could only sigh inwardly.

You've walked straight into hell's door!

How eager you are to seek death.

Xu Jin didn't move.

He let the two accelerate toward him from behind.

At the same moment, he replaced his newly acquired fourth-rank upper Thunder Spirit with a mid-stage Thunder Source, activating the mid-stage Thunder Source protection.

Closer!

Even closer!

BOOM!

A streak of purple lightning instantly appeared above Wang Zheng's head.

But before it appeared, a massive spiritual soul surge erupted, directly shattering Wang Zheng's spiritual soul, scattering the starlight around his body.

Then, as if stunned or dazed, he simply took the purple lightning striking him, swiftly being obliterated by it!

Tan Jueming, the other true disciple of Cangming Palace, was instantly filled with terror.

"Senior Brother!"

Tan Jueming screamed in horror.

How is this possible!

How could Senior Brother be instantly killed!

How could something like this happen?

Tan Jueming couldn't fathom it in a hundred thousand ways.

But in the next instant, Tan Jueming suddenly understood.

Because he suffered the same fate as Senior Brother Wang Zheng.

His spiritual soul shattered, his head throbbed agonizingly, the starlight around him scattered.

It was a spiritual soul attack!

But how could a Purple Wing alien use a spiritual soul attack?

This was Tan Jueming's final thought.

In the next instant, Tan Jueming was obliterated by the purple lightning.

Purple Thunder Strike was the signature star art of the Purple Wing royal clan.

Two breaths later, Xu Jin frowned slightly as he looked at the two Cangming Palace true disciples, their bodies charred to ash.

Without a Thunder Source Star Pattern to support it, relying solely on the mid-stage Thunder Source granted by a tributary Star Core, the power of this Thunder star art was still too weak.

It paled far too much compared to Fire star arts.

(End of Chapter)