Chapter 265: Conquest

In Fengling City, the sixth-rank Divine Soul technique Zhenhuan continued to operate; under Xu Jin's deliberate control, the illusionary figure he conjured had grown over fifty meters tall, taller than the statue itself.

Far away, the members of the Fengling Baowei clan—including the Baowei Queen, who had been standing in silent wait—stared at the colossal figure slowly devouring the statue, their eyes filled with ever-deepening reverence.

Inside the illusion, Xu Jin had just drained the final drop of Divine Soul energy from the statue.

The power of the Star Lord statue had been completely siphoned dry by Xu Jin.

The remaining sixty percent of Divine Soul energy, Xu Jin sealed into seven Star Jade Tablets.

The first Star Jade Tablet held the most—fully one and a half percent of the statue's Divine Soul energy.

How much was that?

Xu Jin estimated that, measured against the Divine Soul energy boosted by Three-Vessel Dragon Turtle Soul-Forge Pills, it equaled roughly twenty-eight pills.

Without exaggeration, if a cultivator with only Level One Star Refinement in their Divine Soul absorbed the energy sealed in this tablet, their Divine Soul cultivation could surge from Level Three Star Refinement One to Level Four or even Five.

Even that might be conservative.

It was roughly twice the potency of Three-Vessel Golden Core elixir.

More than enough to break through a bottleneck.

The second, third, and fourth Star Jade Tablets each held one percent of Divine Soul energy—equivalent to about eighteen Three-Vessel Dragon Turtle Soul-Forge Pills.

Suitable for breaking bottlenecks, or as gifts.

The fifth, sixth, and seventh Star Jade Tablets each held half a percent of Divine Soul energy from the Star Lord statue—equivalent to about nine Three-Vessel Dragon Turtle Soul-Forge Pills.

Enough to rapidly enhance Divine Soul energy or elevate Divine Soul realms below Level Five.

Seven tablets in total.

Each with its own purpose.

Some for his own use, others prepared for his masters.

The debt of a master's grace is hard to quantify in material terms.

Just like Ning Yuchan's earlier loan of several thousand taels of silver, or the Transformation Pill Master Dong Zhao had specially granted him—now, to Xu Jin, they were trivial, a mere drop in the ocean.

But back then, for Xu Jin, they were lifesaving, nearly priceless.

Because back then, Xu Jin had no possibility of acquiring such resources himself.

Without their help at that time, Xu Jin would never have become who he is now.

Such a master's grace cannot be repaid simply by returning three times the amount borrowed.

But Xu Jin would not turn it into an unpayable lifelong burden.

That would cease to be grace—it would become hatred.

So Xu Jin's approach was this: within his means, whenever an opportunity arose, he would repay even a little.

Sincerity was enough.

Just like now.

Of these Star Jade Tablets, each sealed with vast Divine Soul energy, Xu Jin planned to give away a portion to repay his masters' grace.

The seven Star Jade Tablets, sealed tightly, Xu Jin carefully placed them all into his Numinous Space.

Then he began to consider his next strategy.

The Fengling Baowei clan had now been largely subdued.

The Baowei Queen appeared utterly submissive.

In the entire Huoyun Star Region, only the Huohu clan remained.

For Xu Jin now, this was not difficult.

With his cultivation now broken through to Level Four, though his Star Patterns had not advanced, the surge in his cultivation and Divine Soul energy had once again greatly increased his combat ceiling.

Not to mention anything else—compared to Level Nine Star Refinement in Level Three, his current Star Power was nearly doubled in magnitude.

The Huohu clan was no problem.

The issue was the specific implementation.

Xu Jin did not wish to remain in the Huoyun Star Region for long.

Two more Level Four star regions awaited him—he intended to explore them; such opportunities were rare.

Previously, Dai Guanwen needed eight thousand strands of Starlight to open a temporary Star Gate for a Level Three star region—how much more for Level Four?

Under these circumstances, the remaining unification efforts must fall to Ye Anshi and his four senior sisters.

These five possessed the strength to challenge ordinary Level Five Gathering Star cultivators.

Two or three working together could even kill a Level Five Gathering Star mid-stage cultivator.

But facing Level Five late-stage or peak-stage alien cultivators, they would struggle immensely.

One misstep, and they might die in battle.

Thus, Xu Jin's next course of action became clear.

After doing everything possible to reduce their difficulty, the rest could be left to them.

Suddenly, Xu Jin's Mingji Star Pattern flickered.

Before this, Xu Jin had temporarily blocked all sensory input from cultivators below Level Five in his Mingji Star Pattern.

This sudden response meant a new Level Five cultivator had appeared near Fengling City.

And not just one.

Many?

In the next instant, Xu Jin pushed his Mingji Star Pattern to its limit and instantly sensed the situation.

Outside Fengling City, eleven Level Five cultivators were approaching.

All were strong.

Five were Level Five late-stage; the rest were all Level Five mid-stage.

Where had these experts come from?

And why had they halted outside Fengling City?

Could it be the Huohu clan had come to attack?

Xu Jin's mind shifted—he instantly dissolved the illusion.

The moment the illusion vanished, the Star Power he had been channeling into the statue retracted.

Almost instantly, the Star Lord statue behind Xu Jin began to collapse like melting ice.

The massive statue disintegrated behind him.

And Xu Jin stood proudly atop its ruins.

This bizarre sight stunned the Baowei Queen, who had been watching from Wangcheng, and she knelt again—this time in full worship.

This time, it was prostration.

Xu Jin watched this scene, feeling a quiet reflection: whether human or alien, once subdued, submission became easier—almost habitual.

A matter of inertia.

In that same instant, Xu Jin turned his gaze toward the outskirts of Fengling City.

From his high vantage point, Xu Jin clearly recognized the Level Five experts outside the city.

They were the commanding general of the Fengling Baowei clan he had encountered earlier in Huoling City.

So the question arose: normally, even in a favorable battle, such a swift conclusion was impossible.

Logically, even after capturing Huoling City, this Baowei general would need to dispatch troops to sweep and occupy other territories of the Huoling clan.

It would take days—two or three—let alone two hours.

Yet this general had returned to Fengling Wangcheng at this critical moment.

Had the Baowei Queen summoned him?

Looking at the Baowei Queen kneeling on the ground, Xu Jin dismissed the idea.

It wasn't her.

If she had summoned him for rescue, she would have rushed out to meet him.

But she had not moved.

Then the general's return carried deeper intent—worth pondering.

But regardless of his intent, it no longer mattered.

Because Xu Jin had already decided.

Outside the city, the Baowei clan's commanding general, Feng Zhi, was gathering intelligence.

Though an alien commander, over countless years, the Fengling Baowei clan had seized many human military texts.

Knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory—a fundamental principle they still upheld.

Feng Zhi summoned several Baowei soldiers and questioned them about the city's details.

The soldiers spoke hesitantly, offering only vague accounts: a powerful human had arrived, slaying the Divine Envoy.

With only this rough intelligence, and pressured by the Star River Battlefield's superior, Feng Zhi immediately pulled out a special communication Jade Tablet and reported the general situation and his planned actions, then activated it instantly.

In the next instant, the tablet erupted into a streak of Starlight, shooting skyward and vanishing.

Feng Zhi then began planning his next tactic.

Feng Zhi knew the Divine Envoy's strength.

It was not great.

Just two months ago, he had sparred with the Divine Envoy.

Frankly, his combat ability was mediocre—in Feng Zhi's view, if he fought to the death, he could kill the Divine Envoy himself.

Thus, the outsider's feat of slaying the Divine Envoy seemed unimpressive to Feng Zhi.

Even if stronger than him, not by much.

After all, the restrictions of the fourth-rank star domain remain.

And Feng Zhi is not fighting alone.

As for the intelligence that this present-day human had once ambushed and slain two Fifth-Rank Eighth-Layer commanders, Feng Zhi remained alert but did not take it seriously.

Badge.

Should be a Fifth-Rank badge.

When the Divine Envoy first breached the Firecloud Star Domain, he succeeded partly through great incentives that brought them benefits, and partly because he bore a Fifth-Rank badge, allowing him to establish himself within the Wind Leopard Tail clan.

But now, Feng Zhi is not fighting alone. Besides the ten Fifth-Rank elites behind him, the Fifth- and Fourth-Rank experts within Wind Spirit City are also at his disposal.

In comparison, his own prestige as Great Commander of the Wind Leopard Tail clan within the military far exceeds that of the Queen.

Then, this matter is simple.

Just kill this present-day human.

Moreover, Great Commander Feng Zhi had other thoughts.

If the Queen can submit to others, why not to him?

The Queen's trusted left and right commanders are already gone.

He still has the support of that great one from the Star River Battlefield.

In fact, tonight he could make the Leopard Tail Queen come to serve him in bed!

At this thought, Feng Zhi's heart burned hot.

"Go!"

With a wave of his hand, he led the ten Fifth-Rank elites and nearly a hundred Fourth-Rank elites gathered in the outer city, charging into the city.

Inside the city, Xu Jin had already reached the Leopard Tail Queen's side.

He hadn't noticed before, but now he saw: the Leopard Tail Queen's figure was extraordinarily alluring, and with her constantly swaying spotted leopard tail, she was truly wild.

"Enough, rise and answer."

Xu Jin gave a light hum, and only then did the Leopard Tail Queen dare to rise.

At that very moment, Great Commander Feng Zhi had arrived at the city gate, only three or four hundred meters from Xu Jin.

Behind him, in addition to the ten Fifth-Rank experts, he had also gathered two more Fifth-Rank Early-Stage aliens from the city's garrison, along with over a hundred Fourth-Rank soldiers.

No words needed—his intent was clearly hostile!

Beside Xu Jin, as the furious Great Commander Feng Zhi charged forward, the Leopard Tail Queen was about to speak, but Xu Jin waved his hand to stop her and shouted at Feng Zhi and his men, "You dare not bow before the Queen! What is your meaning?!"

"Audacious!"

The instant Feng Zhi pointed his spear at Xu Jin and roared, Xu Jin's back erupted with Lei Yi's wings, and he moved instantly.

BOOM!

Xu Jin surged directly before Feng Zhi, then unleashed a violet-black flame that blasted toward him.

At the same moment, a divine soul tremor rose.

Break Evil!

Break Evil caused Feng Zhi's seven orifices to spew blood, but the more terrifying thing was the violet-black flame.

This was Xu Jin's first use of the High-Rank Fire Source Star Pattern's Flame of Soul-Consuming Fire.

The main purpose: to establish authority!

The instant the violet-black flame touched Feng Zhi, he screamed like a slaughtered pig, his seven orifices already gushing blood.

Flame of Soul-Consuming Fire.

It damages both body and divine soul!

And it burns!

It slowly, relentlessly burns the divine soul—its agony rivals slow dismemberment, excruciating beyond measure.

Yet at that same instant, Feng Zhi's Fifth-Rank experts all roared and charged toward Xu Jin.

Xu Jin did not dodge or retreat; he merely raised the Fish-Scale Golden Bell and stood firm, letting the Wind Leopard Tail Fifth-Rank experts pound him.

The strikes from Fifth-Rank Early- and Mid-Stage aliens only caused slight ripples in the Fish-Scale Golden Bell.

Only the strikes from Fifth-Rank Late-Stage aliens caused major vibrations.

Yet Xu Jin swung his fists continuously, each strike unleashing a spiral explosion of Starfire.

Each explosion killed a Fifth-Rank expert.

Fifth-Rank Early-Stage aliens were obliterated instantly, reduced to ash without even struggling.

Fifth-Rank Mid- and Late-Stage aliens could resist for at most half a breath before being annihilated.

In the space of one breath, Xu Jin slaughtered all twelve Fifth-Rank experts, leaving only Feng Zhi, whose body was now engulfed in violet-black flames, screaming in agony.

The hundred or so Fourth-Rank aliens summoned by Feng Zhi, seeing the situation turn dire, scattered in panic.

Xu Jin flapped his Lei Yi wings behind him, determined to leave none alive.

If he was to establish authority, he would do it thoroughly.

Watching Xu Jin slaughter their elite, the Leopard Tail Queen and the few remaining Fourth-Rank palace guards trembled in fear.

How could they not fear? Even Fifth-Rank Mid- and Late-Stage masters were killed like dogs!

Xu Jin himself was reveling in the slaughter.

Previously, fighting the Fire Spirit clan had been difficult.

Fundamentally, the Fire Spirit clan had strong resistance to fire-based star arts.

But the Wind Leopard Tail clan was different.

Moreover, after conquering the Fire Spirit clan, Xu Jin's combat power had risen twice.

Once from acquiring the Fire Spirit Heart and the Crimson Dragon Ring; the other from his cultivation breakthrough to Fourth-Rank and two consecutive leaps in divine soul cultivation.

Both greatly enhanced Xu Jin's combat power.

At this moment, such strength was not surprising.

In less than thirty breaths, Xu Jin used the incredible speed granted by Lei Yi's wings and the Star Pattern to slaughter every single Fourth-Rank elite who had followed Feng Zhi—none escaped.

He even killed more than necessary!

At this moment, within the entire Wind Spirit City, there remained not a single Fifth-Rank except the Leopard Tail Queen.

Only after Xu Jin finished his massacre did Feng Zhi, consumed by the Flame of Soul-Consuming Fire, curl into a ball and fall utterly silent.

This was the terror of the Flame of Soul-Consuming Fire.

Once it clings, it immediately burns the divine soul, then uses the divine soul as fuel, burning ever fiercer.

Until the divine soul is completely consumed.

Of course, the Flame of Soul-Consuming Fire is not invincible.

Those who understand it can immediately cut away the flesh it has touched, severing its connection to the body and preventing it from reaching the divine soul, thus escaping.

Those who do not understand it cannot extinguish it.

No matter how they try, they cannot put it out.

Because it feeds on the divine soul.

At this moment, the Leopard Tail Queen and the survivors of Wind Spirit City—including the clan members—looked at Xu Jin with awe and terror, as if a heavenly god had descended.

"Queen, how many Wind Spirit Hearts do you possess?" Xu Jin flew to the Leopard Tail Queen's side, gently lifting her before she could kneel, and asked softly.

"Wind Spirit Hearts?" The Leopard Tail Queen looked confused.

"They are the celestial will of this star domain," Xu Jin said.

"Are you referring to the Leopard Tail Scepter?" the Queen asked.

"Show me."

In the next instant, two staff-like objects, shaped like green leopard tails, floated before the Queen, emitting faint starlight and the same aura as the celestial will Xu Jin had previously obtained.

"Yes, those are them."

As Xu Jin nodded, he looked at the Queen and said, "Queen, I need them. Will you give them to me?"

"Of course, my heavenly god!"

In the next instant, the Queen's will surged, her body trembling as she voluntarily severed her mental link with the Leopard Tail Scepters, blood trickling from her lips.

In the next moment, the Queen, blood on her lips, offered the two green Leopard Tail Scepters with both hands.

Xu Jin casually took them and tossed them into his Numinous Space.

Two low-rank Wind-element celestial wills, yet each infused with twenty percent of the Firecloud Star Domain's celestial will.

"Queen, I require your absolute loyalty. Will you open your divine soul to me?"

"I will!"

Her compliance made Xu Jin almost hesitate.

But he still used the secret technique passed down by the Grand Preceptor to extract a strand of the Queen's divine soul, refined it, and branded it with his mark.

From now on, the Leopard Tail Queen's life and death were entirely in Xu Jin's hands.

At Xu Jin's slightest thought, she would die instantly.

Just as the Grand Preceptor had remotely aided Xu Jin in slaying the Crimson Scale King.

"I accept your loyalty, and I shall protect you. Take these six badges—they are refined and can be used in critical moments; even a Fifth-Rank Ninth-Layer peak expert can be gravely wounded or slain."

After a slap, offer a sweet.

The Leopard Tail Queen had already received several slaps—she deserved some rewards.

The reward Xu Jin gave the Leopard Tail Queen was six badges he himself had crafted and refined, below Fifth-Rank.

Although it cannot compare to a fifth-rank insignia that has been nurtured, its power exceeds that of an ordinary fifth-rank insignia and may even approach an un-nurtured sixth-rank insignia below the peak.

It is perfect for the Leopard Tail Queen to use for preserving her life and protecting her body.

In the future, as long as the Leopard Tail Queen lives, the unified Fire Cloud Star Region will not descend into chaos!

"Go. Of these three positions, there are five living human beings. Carry my token and send someone to invite them to Wang Cheng."

"Yes."

After the Leopard Tail Queen issued her orders, Xu Jin used a Gentle Dream to plunge her into deep sleep.

Begin healing the damage to her divine soul.

Meanwhile, the Leopard Tail Queen, drawn into the Gentle Dream, once again sank into Xu Jin's meticulously crafted dream!

As the true controller of the first fourth-rank star region to be conquered, Xu Jin must strengthen control in every aspect.

After all, the benefits brought by a fourth-rank star region are no ordinary matter.

After arranging all this, Xu Jin casually entered a palace and began refining the two newly acquired low-grade Leopard Tail Scepters.

The wind-elemental celestial and terrestrial star will was something Xu Jin had never obtained before.

But Xu Jin looked forward to what would happen after refining these two low-grade Leopard Tail Scepters—adding them to the ones he already possessed, he would theoretically gain forty percent of the celestial and terrestrial authority over the Fire Cloud Star Region. What changes or gains would that bring?

(End of Chapter)