Chapter 268: Filial Heart (Wan Er Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets)

On the fourth full day after the Battle of Lougong began, on November 8 at noon, Xu Jin suddenly stepped out from the star gate into the Fourth-Class Fire Cloud Star Domain.

This instant drew the attention of Dai Guanwen, the Fourth Young Master of Xumigong, who was on duty here.

The next moment, Dai Guanwen's expression turned sharp.

He's back.

Xu Jin had entered the Fourth-Class Star Domain for barely a day and a half—and returned completely unharmed.

What startled Dai Guanwen even more was that before entering the Fire Cloud Star Domain, Xu Jin's cultivation base was Third-Class Ninth Layer; now, upon his return, it was Fourth-Class First Layer.

His aura was stable—certainly at least mid-Fourth-Class First Layer.

How could this be so fast?

Even under normal cultivation, it would take one or two months for anyone to break from the peak of Third-Class Ninth Layer to mid-Fourth-Class First Layer.

Yet Xu Jin achieved this breakthrough—and a significant leap—in less than a day and a half.

This is truly

Xu Jin said nothing more; he merely bowed to Dai Guanwen, then bowed to Meng Yanhui, the Left Sacrificial Master, who wore an expression of delight, before swiftly heading to his private meditation chamber outside Zhaixing Tower.

He needed to recover with Wen Meng's slumber for a while before entering the next star domain.

But before falling asleep, his mind sank into the Zhaixing Token.

For just as he arrived at Zhaixing Tower, the Zhaixing Token had vibrated several times faintly—new starlight messages had arrived.

The first was a safety message from Ning Yuchan, briefly describing her condition: she was well, but preparing for the imminent Nine-Star Tide.

The second came from the Drunken Moon Immortal.

She sent two messages—one the night before last, one last night.

【Great Saint, hurry up and challenge me! I haven't seen you in days—I miss you so much.】

Reading this starlight message, Xu Jin smiled.

This little rich girl's boldness has grown even greater.

She's started teasing him now.

Great Saint, what are you doing? Why haven't you been around for days? You haven't appeared in the Combat Training Realm, and you haven't replied to my messages—I'm utterly bored.

【I've been busy. Wait a few more days—I'll fight you a few rounds once I'm free. Train hard, or you'll get crushed.】

Xu Jin didn't overthink it; he replied plainly to the Drunken Moon Immortal, then activated Wen Meng and quickly fell asleep to recover.

Two qing later, Xu Jin awoke. As before, the Grand Preceptor entered immediately and activated the starlight barrier.

"How did it go?" the Grand Preceptor asked, eyes full of anticipation.

"I have not disgraced your trust."

Xu Jin bowed.

The Grand Preceptor's face lit up with surprise. "Judging by your appearance, you've slain at least two Fourth-Class Star Domain Lords and obtained at least three, perhaps even four, Heavenly Star Will fragments?"

Now it was Xu Jin's turn to be startled.

"How did you know?"

"Points. In your day-plus inside, our Chen Guo's points surged wildly—nearly ten thousand points in total, now nearly double the lead over second place.

I guessed you must've had a major haul," said Grand Preceptor Cheng Yuexiao.

"You guessed right—almost exactly.

I did kill two Star Domain Lords and obtained five fragments of Heavenly Star Will."

As he spoke, Xu Jin retrieved from his Xumigong space several tens of thousands of jin of Starfall Iron.

Cheng Yuexiao was stunned again.

Just as the Grand Preceptor's face broke into a smile, Xu Jin suddenly added, "But these are not all—nor are they my greatest gain from this journey."

The Grand Preceptor's expression turned sharply surprised. "If these aren't your greatest gain, then what is?"

"A massive amount of resources?" the Grand Preceptor asked.

Xu Jin shook his head, making Cheng Yuexiao even more curious. "Then what? I can't imagine anything greater than obtaining five fragments of Heavenly Star Will."

"Grand Preceptor, dare to think bigger," Xu Jin smiled.

Cheng Yuexiao froze, then stared fixedly at Xu Jin, his eyes widening slowly, locking onto him more intensely. "You little brat—don't scare me!

That's impossible.

According to all known public records, no star temple or empire has ever conquered a Fourth-Class Star Domain. You were in there for how long? It's absolutely impossible."

"Grand Preceptor, congratulations—you're right."

In the next instant, Grand Preceptor Cheng Yuexiao stood utterly still, as if petrified by a spell, staring at Xu Jin, then trembling as he finally spoke, "Truly?"

"Three alien races total—I slew the Star Domain Lords of two, and took control of the strongest one. All fifth-rank mid-to-high-level aliens within these three factions have been eliminated.

Currently, only seven fifth-rank Dou Qi-level aliens remain in the entire Fire Cloud Star Domain.

Five of them have already had their soul cores controlled by my senior brothers and sisters.

I left the fifth-rank talismans you gave me with each of them.

We now fully control the Fengling Bao Wei tribe's army and are actively subduing the other two alien factions. We expect full unification within one or two months."

As Xu Jin spoke, the Grand Preceptor's inner excitement became indescribable.

This wasn't conquest—what else could it be?

Once a fixed star gate is established in the mortal realm leading to the Fire Cloud Star Domain, the domain will be fully conquered.

A Fourth-Class Star Domain.

In true terms, this is the first zero breakthrough in the mortal realm.

No one could have imagined that the first zero breakthrough of a Fourth-Class Star Domain would occur in the weak Chen Empire.

This is an almost heavenly level of gain.

This is the highest possible honor.

Cheng Yuexiao believed that even if Chen Guo were to one day fall, this achievement would be recorded in history, written in bold letters.

He and Xu Jin would be immortalized for it.

But then again—if a Fourth-Class Star Domain brought such immense gains, could Chen Guo possibly still fall? Cheng Yuexiao found that unlikely.

Cheng Yuexiao struggled fiercely to control his emotions.

Though this was profoundly shocking and brought immense joy, he couldn't let himself go too far.

Through immense restraint, Grand Preceptor Cheng Yuexiao remained outwardly calm.

But his trembling hands betrayed his joy.

"The Bowing Star Cult?"

"The Star Official Seal?"

"Evidence of Yangdu Marquis's collusion with the Bowing Star Cult?"

Xu Jin naturally told the Grand Preceptor everything—there was no need to conceal it.

The Grand Preceptor was surprised by the first two, but showed no shock at the third—something Xu Jin clearly sensed through his Mingji Star Pattern.

"Don't take it out."

Cheng Yuexiao stopped Xu Jin from retrieving the Star Official Seal. "The Star Official Seal is a Chuancheng treasure of the Bowing Star Cult. Until fully subjugated, it will auto-return to its origin the moment it re-enters the mortal realm.

When you have free time later, go to another star domain—or the Zhaixing Tower's Star Dome Secret Realm—and you can fully subjugate it.

This Star Official Seal is said to be one of the fragments of the Bowing Star Cult's sacred artifact. Even as a fragment, it's a Sixth-Class Star Artifact, said to possess infinite wonders.

After subjugating it, you can slowly explore its powers."

"As for Yangdu Marquis—you did right. Now is not the time to openly break with him."

Since Xu Jin had uncovered evidence, Cheng Yuexiao directly told him many things.

Cheng Yuexiao had long suspected Yangdu Marquis's collusion with the Bowing Star Cult—he simply lacked proof.

Discovering the hidden base of the Bowing Star Cult's branch in Yangdu Marquis's territory only confirmed it further.

To deal with Yangdu Marquis, one must wait for the right opportunity.

Not to mention, Yangdu Marquis Chai Ce commands heavy forces on the Star River Battlefield—this alone makes any sudden move dangerous.

Especially since the relationships among the Three Kings and Seven Marquises on the Star River Battlefield are extremely complex.

One must wait patiently for the right moment.

"Keep that prisoner, Qian Shaowei—he'll be useful someday," said Grand Preceptor Cheng Yuexiao.

As Xu Jin nodded, Cheng Yuexiao asked, "What are your plans next?"

"I want to enter the Fourth-Class Star Domains of Emerald Bamboo and Giant Elephant. If opportunity arises, I'll claim one or two fragments of Heavenly Star Will. If things go well, there may even be a chance of conquest—we'll know only after entering," Xu Jin said.

"Take these talismans—they were urgently crafted these past days by Grand Academician Kou," Cheng Yuexiao handed over seven talismans.

Six were Fifth-Class; one was even Sixth-Class.

He himself understood the difficulty of crafting Fifth-Class talismans—Grand Academician Kou had been pushing himself to the limit.

As for Sixth-Class talismans, the Sixth-Class Star Jade Gui alone is priceless.

"Tell me anything else you need—I'll prepare it all for you. Move quickly and enter," Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Grand Preceptor, when you gave me the Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus Seed last time, you said it had a chance to help your soul core break into Fifth-Class.

I want to know—is its effect unique?

Or does it contain vast amounts of soul core energy?

Or what exactly is your requirement for breaking into Fifth-Class soul core cultivation?" Xu Jin asked.

"The Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus Seed contains vast soul core energy, but its greatest function is healing soul core injuries and greatly replenishing the damaged soul core's origin.

Conversely, its role in breaking through soul core cultivation realms is not primary."

"Spiritual objects that can assist the soul's breakthrough are hard to find—might as well try anything at all." The National Master said.

"So, National Master, your soul cultivation base is stuck at the fifth rank because you lack a massive amount of soul force?" Xu Jin asked.

"That's correct."

"National Master, I'd like to know: how much soul force do you need to break from the peak of fourth-rank ninth layer to the fifth rank? If measured in Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills."

"Why compare it that way? Even if I took ten Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills at once, I'd gain at most the effect of two—even less than two."

"No matter how many Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills you have, you cannot use them to break through your soul cultivation realm."

"They're excellent for enhancing soul cultivation, but for breaking realms? Far from sufficient." Cheng Yuexiao said.

"I know that—but I just want a rough comparative number." Xu Jin insisted.

"If I must give an estimate, then if you could obtain the potency of roughly fifty Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills all at once, the probability of my soul cultivation base breaking from peak fourth-rank ninth layer to fifth rank should exceed sixty percent."

"If you could obtain the potency of sixty pills at once, the breakthrough probability should exceed eighty percent." Cheng Yuexiao said.

Hearing this, Xu Jin smiled.

"National Master, one last question: if your soul cultivation base breaks into the fifth rank, how much will your combat power increase? Will you become much stronger?"

"This question is more complex. If my soul cultivation base breaks through, my combat power will certainly grow stronger—but by how much, I'm not entirely sure. At least a twenty percent increase, I'd estimate."

"More specifically: previously, outside Wan Yi, if I encountered the Star Lord of Tianyang, I would surely lose—but even he would pay an extremely heavy price to kill me."

"If I defended Wan Yi, the Star Lord of Tianyang could do nothing to me."

"Even if both the Star Lords of Tianyang and Cangming arrived together, trying to kill me in Wan Yi would still cost them an extremely heavy price."

"Once my soul cultivation base breaks into the fifth rank, and after some time, I will fully comprehend the eighth-rank Fire Source Star Pattern."

"Then, even outside Wan Yi, I could match the Star Lord of Tianyang evenly."

"Inside Wan Yi, I would have a chance to severely wound—or even kill—the Star Lord of Tianyang."

Here, National Master Cheng Yuexiao shook his head with a bitter smile. "These are merely figures on paper. In actual combat, it's far more complex, with too many external factors."

"Whether it's me or the Star Lord of Tianyang, if we truly fought a decisive battle, neither of us would fight alone."

"In this regard, Chen Guo still lags a bit behind."

"But ultimately, my strength will certainly see a tremendous boost." Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Then it's settled!"

As he spoke, Xu Jin directly handed over a Star Jade Tablet.

It was the Star Jade Tablet Xu Jin had previously sealed with one-tenth of the soul force from the Divine Image of the Star Dipper God within the Fire Cloud Star Domain.

The soul force sealed inside was roughly equivalent to eighteen Three-Variant Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills.

Since one Three-Variant Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pill equaled six ordinary Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills, the soul force contained in this Star Jade Tablet, sealed with one-tenth of the Divine Image's power, approached the combined potency of 110 ordinary Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills.

Far exceeding the sixty pills Cheng Yuexiao had mentioned.

Thus, helping National Master Cheng Yuexiao break through should now be certain. Cheng Yuexiao stared in astonishment, utterly confused.

Xu Jin explained, and Cheng Yuexiao immediately understood.

He also understood why Xu Jin's cultivation base had surged to the peak of fourth-rank Star-Condensing first layer in such a short time.

It was because he had benefited from the Worship of the Dipper Cult.

"National Master, I'd like to know why Director Peng is stuck at the peak of seventh rank and cannot break through."

Upon hearing this, National Master Cheng Yuexiao immediately grasped a possible reason, his eyes brightening. "And?"

"There's more!"

Xu Jin admitted frankly.

"Director Peng cannot break through for two reasons. First, his repeated failures in comprehending the eighth-rank Wind Star Pattern cost him his chance to break through."

"Now that you've deduced the eighth-rank Fire Star Pattern, he's relearning and cultivating it—he'll soon regain his chance to break through."

"But if his soul cultivation base could also improve, his probability of breakthrough would increase further—even if he fails, his combat power will still rise to some degree."

Here, National Master Cheng Yuexiao hurriedly added, "Xu Jin, I don't mean anything else—whatever you've gained is yours to decide. I'm just voicing this thought."

"You've already granted me one tablet to help me break through—that's more than I dared hope for."

Hearing this, Xu Jin smiled. "National Master, I understand your meaning. But I also know clearly: the stronger you become, the more I can rely on you in the future."

"By the way, where is Director Peng right now?"

"Director Peng should be in your small courtyard."

"Good. I'll be right back."

In the next instant, Xu Jin left the quiet chamber and dashed toward his small courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, Director Peng was guiding Jiang Er in studying and comprehending Star Patterns. The old man and the boy sat side by side, and Director Peng, with unusual affection, demonstrated how to engrave Star Patterns directly onto a Jade Tablet for Jiang Er.

Suddenly, Director Peng looked up and saw Xu Jin—his expression startled.

"Brother!"

Jiang Er leapt up excitedly and hugged Xu Jin's arm.

Xu Jin patted Jiang Er's head and snapped his fingers. "You'd better study hard—Director Peng is giving you a live demonstration. Even Chen Guo's imperial princes and princesses don't get this treatment."

"I know, brother." Jiang Er shrank his head.

"Go, bring me some water."

After sending Jiang Er away, Xu Jin directly handed Director Peng another Star Jade Tablet sealed with one-tenth of soul force. "Director Peng, the soul force sealed here is roughly equivalent to the total potency of 110 Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills. Take it at the right moment—it should help your soul cultivation base break through."

"As for its origin, I won't explain now—time is short. The National Master knows." Xu Jin said.

Director Peng was stunned and immediately pushed it back. "This is far too precious! If you truly want to give something, give it to the National Master instead!"

"The National Master already has his."

Before Director Peng could react, Xu Jin vanished in a flash of starlight.

A few breaths later, Jiang Er returned with tea, only to find his brother gone—his face filled with surprise.

"Your brother left on urgent business. Let's continue studying."

"Who is it? I said not to disturb me these days—except for the National Master, I won't see anyone!"

In Master Kou Jing's study hall, Xu Jin had just stepped inside when he heard his master's furious shout.

He was in a terrible temper.

Anyone who had engraved high-rank Patterns nonstop for seven or eight days straight would be.

Master Kou, the Senior Academician, had begun engraving high-rank Patterns nonstop mere days before the Lou Gong Campaign, right after his own breakthrough, to supply the campaign's needs.

"Teacher, it's me."

Seeing his most favored disciple, Xu Jin, Master Kou's anger vanished instantly.

BOOM!

A torrent of star force erupted violently before Master Kou. His body shimmered with starlight as he leapt backward—but still, the explosion injured him.

Several strands of his beard and hair were charred.

It was because Xu Jin's arrival had distracted him.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

Master Kou coughed several times to cover his embarrassment from the failed engraving.

To fail an engraving in front of a student—and so clumsily—was mortifying.

"The Lou Gong Campaign isn't over yet! Why are you running around? You've made me blow a pattern!"

"Teacher, it's not over yet—but there's good news."

Xu Jin stepped closer, smiling, and whispered, "Teacher, isn't your soul cultivation base stuck at the peak of fourth-rank ninth layer, unable to break through?"

Hearing this, Master Kou looked at Xu Jin as if he were insane. "What are you thinking? Even the National Master has been stuck at the peak of fourth-rank ninth layer for years without breaking through."

"Why should I rush?"

"I'm not in a hurry at all."

"I haven't even considered breaking into the fifth rank."

"Oh? Never considered it? Then what benefits would you gain if your soul cultivation base did break into the fifth rank?" Xu Jin asked with a smile.

"Benefits? Of course there are many."

"Increased combat power, faster cultivation speed, extended lifespan—the three most obvious ones."

Here, Master Kou paused. "Of course, as a Grand Master of Patterns, I might even be able to create Patterns exceeding the power of peak sixth-rank ones."

"Though only approaching the power of a seventh-rank powerhouse's full burst—I still need to explore and research further."

Xu Jin was surprised, but his focus was on the extended lifespan part. "Teacher, can soul cultivation breakthrough to the fifth rank extend lifespan?"

"Of course."

"And it's the key to extending lifespan."

"Below seventh rank—including peak sixth-rank and even those who've reached peak fourth-rank ninth layer—the maximum lifespan is roughly two jiazi."

"The recorded maximum is 150 years for any cultivator below seventh rank—it's complex, involving both body and soul."

"Once you break into seventh rank, you can partially draw star force to nourish your body and extend your life—but only slightly, usually about one jiazi."

"Depending on the individual, lifespan reaches around 180 years."

"As for breaking into eighth rank, it's said you can gain another jiazi."

"But the greatest lifespan extension comes from breaking into fifth rank and condensing the Primordial Soul."

"It's said those who condense the Primordial Soul can extend their lifespan by at least two jiazi."

"But in this world, 99. % of people cannot condense the Primordial Soul."

"Breaking into fifth rank and condensing the Primordial Soul is extremely difficult." Kou Jing sighed.

Hearing this, Xu Jin's heart suddenly stirred. "Teacher—if I use pills to raise my father's soul cultivation base to fifth rank, could he directly extend his lifespan by two jiazi?"

Kou Jing shook his head. "It's not as simple as you think. If you truly do that, your father will explode and die."

The spirit and the physical body mutually nurture each other. Without a sufficiently powerful body, a sudden surge in spiritual power will cause the body to collapse instantly.

If you truly wish to extend your father's life, just find some elixirs.

Or, have your father begin cultivation. If he can take that path, consuming vast resources might raise his cultivation base to the peak of the sixth rank. Whether he can break through to the seventh rank depends entirely on his destiny."

After speaking, Kou Jing added solemnly, "I know you are filial, but in this matter, you must not cling to obsession. Do your best, and that's enough."

"Master, I understand!"

Xu Jin nodded with a smile and presented, like offering a treasured gift, a star jade tablet sealed with ten percent of the statue's star power. "So, I've come to show filial piety to my master."

"What is this?" Kou Jing stared in shock.

"Master, this contains the medicinal power equivalent to 110 Dragon Turtle Spirit-Forge Elixirs. Take it when the time is right—your spiritual cultivation should break through to the fifth rank and form an elemental spirit."

At these words, Kou Jing slapped Xu Jin hard on the head. "You brat, what nonsense are you spouting? How could such a treasure exist in this world?"

If such a treasure existed, wouldn't you rush to give it to the Grand Master?"

Only then could the people of Great Chen live better lives."

"I already gave it to him," Xu Jin said seriously, nodding.

Hearing this, Kou Jing froze. "You're serious?"

"Of course. How could I be anything but serious about something meant for you? Take it. Absorb it when you're ready—ideally within nine days. Otherwise, it will keep leaking."

With that, Xu Jin spoke one last phrase and swiftly departed.

He still had to continue in the Tower Tribute War.

Watching Xu Jin's retreating figure, Grand Academician Kou Jing picked up the treasure that could grant his spirit a breakthrough—and his hands trembled.

If his spiritual cultivation could break through to the fifth rank and form an elemental spirit,

he would gain two full decades of extended life. His future lifespan might exceed three hundred years, and his chance of breaking through to the eighth rank would greatly increase.

If he formed an elemental spirit, his speed in inscribing runes would surge dramatically. Previously, it took him a month or two of careful preparation to successfully inscribe a single sixth-rank rune.

Now, he could do it in just a few days.

In emergencies, he could complete one in a single day.

If he formed an elemental spirit, creating a rune with power nearly equal to the seventh rank would be within reach.

If he formed an elemental spirit, with his current cultivation just below the seventh rank, he could easily fight against seventh-rank mid or even seventh-rank high opponents.

If he broke through further, his combat power would place him among the very top in the world.

It seemed this single star jade tablet had changed his fate.

In the next instant, Grand Academician Kou Jing shook his head. No—it wasn't this star jade tablet that changed his fate.

It was his disciple, Xu Jin.

Without Xu Jin, he could never have broken through to the seventh rank.

Without Xu Jin, his spiritual cultivation would have remained forever trapped at the peak of the fourth rank's ninth layer—he wouldn't even have dared to dream of breaking through, let alone succeeded.

But now, breakthrough was within reach.

All kinds of benefits would follow in succession.

In the next instant, Grand Academician Kou Jing reached for the star jade tablet to break through—then immediately stopped.

The Tower Tribute War was still ongoing. His disciple Xu Jin was clearly still fighting. He must continue inscribing runes, preparing fifth- and sixth-rank runes for Xu Jin's battle.

But then he reconsidered—if his spiritual cultivation broke through to the fifth rank and formed an elemental spirit, his rune-inscribing speed would increase dramatically.

If Xu Jin was telling the truth, his chance of forming an elemental spirit was extremely high—perhaps within one or two hours.

In an instant, Grand Academician Kou Jing decided: he would break through.

But to break through, he needed a perfect state.

In the next instant, Grand Academician Kou Jing rose and headed straight for Danxia Palace—he would have the Grand Master perform the Dream-Warm Technique, allowing him to sleep and recover rapidly, then break through.

He also needed to ask about the relevant details.

Inside the second floor of the Star-Picking Tower, Xu Jin was choosing his next star domain to enter: the fourth-rank Emerald Bamboo Star Domain, or the fourth-rank Giant Elephant Star Domain?

After thinking, Xu Jin directly asked the Star Spirit: "Star Spirit, what are the results in the Emerald Bamboo and Giant Elephant Star Domains?"

Xu Jin asked about the results because he wanted to know whether either team had slain the Star Domain King.

His main goal was to obtain the Heavenly and Stellar Will—if the Star Domain King was slain, there would be no harvest.

"The team led by Wang Rusong, which entered the fourth-rank Emerald Bamboo Star Domain, achieved greater results—they've already slain one Star Domain King. But slaying a second one is unlikely."

"Why?" Xu Jin asked, puzzled.

"Because Wang Rusong used two sixth-rank runes to slay the first Star Domain King. I estimate he has no sixth-rank runes left. Beyond that, I don't know."

"What about the Giant Elephant Star Domain?"

"The Fang Ying squad in the Giant Elephant Star Domain is in dire straits. They've narrowly escaped death several times and are still barely holding on, moving toward a temporary star gate—likely planning to withdraw."

"Understood."

"When will you give me the next update?" the Star Spirit demanded.

"After the battle."

In the next instant, Xu Jin stepped forward, and before the gaze of Meng Yanhui and Dai Guanwen, he took one step into the fourth-rank Giant Elephant Star Domain.

Not long after Xu Jin entered the fourth-rank Giant Elephant Star Domain, Peng Lao, the white-haired chief steward, stepped into Danxia Palace, his face beaming with joy.

(End of Chapter)