Chapter 273

【Great Sage, what are you even doing? Why didn't you show up in the Training Realm tonight again? No one to spar with—I'm so bored.】

In the quiet chamber of the Star-Picking Tower, Xu Jin sank his thoughts into the Star-Picking Token; in a day and a half, he had received two more starlight messages from the Immortal of Drunken Moon—one per day.

All of them were pressing him.

Every day, pressing him.

Is this little rich girl getting so bored she's sprouting flowers?

She hounds him daily, invites him to fight daily.

She never used to be this clingy.

After thinking it over, Xu Jin decided not to reply at all—he'd spare this little rich girl a few fights after the Tower Tribute War ended.

Xu Jin had just finished reading the starlight message in the Star-Picking Token when Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao entered and he immediately reported.

Even though he'd been stunned multiple times before, Cheng Yuexiao was still overwhelmed with delight upon hearing Xu Jin's good news.

Not only was there a chance to fully conquer a fourth-rank star domain, but more importantly, he had saved Fang Ying and the others' lives.

This made Cheng Yuexiao inwardly sigh with relief.

In current cultivation, the third and fourth ranks are a watershed.

Like waves sifting sand, only one or two in ten cultivators can break through to the fourth rank.

Those chosen by Cheng Yuexiao to join the Tower Tribute War in fourth-rank star domains are the elite among that two or three percent.

In the future, nearly all of them will break through to the fifth rank and become the backbone of Chen Guo's future.

A few might even have a chance to break through to the sixth rank.

Xu Jin's rescue mission was invaluable.

"Your decision was correct! Under these conditions in the Fourth-Rank Elephant Star Domain, only the method you described can slowly conquer it."

"Moreover, I estimate that with your cultivation speed, it will take two or three years to break through to the fifth rank—plenty of time."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao first affirmed Xu Jin's judgment, then chuckled bitterly, "Besides, even if you conquered it now, Chen Guo couldn't build a fixed star gate in the short term. Constructing a fixed star gate consumes enormous resources. Including the Purple Wind Star Domain, we've just conquered at least three third-rank star domains, possibly four, plus one fourth-rank Fire Cloud Star Domain."

I've already nearly sold the pots and pans just to build these fixed star gates.

We simply have no surplus strength to build new ones anytime soon."

Xu Jin knew this well; upon hearing it, he casually pulled out the valuable materials he'd acquired in the Elephant Star Domain—starfall iron and the like.

But it was only six or seven cubic units' worth; though precious, to an empire it was a drop in the ocean.

But Xu Jin's next piece of news made Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao overjoyed.

"Really?"

"Master, rest assured—I've already arranged it. The fifth-rank alien I control will, before the Tower Tribute War ends tomorrow evening, transport as many treasures from the treasury as possible to the designated location near the star gate; then Fang Shixiong and the others will simply toss them out, and you can receive them directly."

As he spoke, Xu Jin suddenly had an idea: "Master, I just realized I overlooked this—the Fourth-Rank Fire Cloud Star Domain can be handled the same way. I'll go back in once more, give instructions, and we can bring back even more supplies."

"Good, good, good!"

Cheng Yuexiao was nearly laughing until he couldn't close his mouth.

Conquering several star domains was indeed a great harvest, but these gains were all long-term; right now, more investment was still needed.

But with Xu Jin's actions, Chen Guo immediately received a flood of resources—not enough to make the empire rich overnight, but at least enough to ease its current resource crisis.

"Since you're going in, bring some supplies for Ye Anshi and Yang Miao too. Wait a moment—I'll be right back."

A dozen breaths later, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao returned with Master Kou Jing, the Chief Academician.

Seeing his student again, Kou Jing's expression was complex.

In his lifetime, he'd taught countless students, most of whom offered him some token of gratitude.

But none had ever changed his fate the way Xu Jin had.

"In just over a day, I rushed and scrambled to make only one sixth-rank rune, two fifth-rank runes—take them. These are gifts from your teacher, meant only for you." As he spoke, Kou Jing glanced at Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao.

The meaning was crystal clear.

These were his own gifts to Xu Jin, unrelated to the State Academy—keep them for yourself.

Cheng Yuexiao naturally understood Kou Jing's thoughts; who wouldn't cherish a disciple like this?

If only he could enter the fourth-rank star domain, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao himself would have gone in to guard Xu Jin.

"These two fifth-rank runes are what I filched from Chief Academician Fang for his disciple—give them to Fang Ying. These ten fourth-rank runes, distribute among them. And these five Star-Healing Runes."

"These pills—ten vials each—hand them out too. Tell them to use them without hesitation."

"As long as they return alive, each will have great merit," said Cheng Yuexiao.

After speaking, Cheng Yuexiao chuckled bitterly again: "Xu Jin, logically I should have prepared more fifth- or sixth-rank runes for you, but I've got nothing left."

"Master, I know! My teacher already gave me some, and I haven't even used up the ones he gave me before," Xu Jin replied.

"Good. Go with confidence. Remember—no matter what, come back alive. Your good days have only just begun! In a while, I'll prepare you a dozen sixth-rank runes."

"Don't even say fifth-rank—bring me two or three sixth-ranks, and I'll have you crush them under a storm of runes!" Master Kou Jing's tone was utterly brazen.

"Hahaha, crush them—I love it!"

Xu Jin laughed, bowed to Kou Jing and Cheng Yuexiao, then stepped out the door, took one stride—and entered the second floor of the Star-Picking Tower.

He bowed slightly to Chief Instructor Yu Da and the Fourth Young Master of the Vajra Palace, Dai Guanwen, then stepped again into the Fourth-Rank Fire Cloud Star Domain.

This puzzled Dai Guanwen.

Why had Chen Guo's prodigy, Xu Jin, entered the Fourth-Rank Fire Cloud Star Domain again?

He couldn't figure it out.

Not figuring it out didn't matter.

He still quietly noted it down on his jade tablet.

This was his golden goose.

In just these few days, by selling information on Xu Jin's activities to his second senior brother, he'd received not only his senior brother's research notes but also six thousand strands of starlight.

This single entry was worth a thousand strands of starlight.

Strangely, half an hour later, Dai Guanwen was startled to see Xu Jin return again.

What was he doing?

Dai Guanwen couldn't understand, but he still recorded it.

One update on Xu Jin's movements could fetch a thousand strands of starlight.

Inside the Fourth-Rank Fire Cloud Star Domain, Xu Jin directly sent a distant message to the Leopard-Tail Queen, ordering her to transport the treasury's vast supplies to designated locations as quickly as possible; then he visited Ye Anshi and Yang Miao to deliver supplies.

Thanks to the blessing of the Heavenly Authority, his flight speed doubled, so he returned in just a little over half an hour.

Now, Xu Jin faced two choices: enter the Fourth-Rank Emerald Bamboo Star Domain, or enter the Fifth-Rank Lingwu Star Domain.

His sole goal: acquire the Heavenly and Stellar Will first.

But according to the Star Spirit, the Heavenly Will of the Fourth-Rank Emerald Bamboo Star Domain had already been claimed by Wang Rusong.

Another day or two had passed—had Wang Rusong achieved any further victories?

If he had, Xu Jin might make a wasted trip.

"Star Spirit, what's the current situation in the Fourth-Rank Emerald Bamboo Star Domain? Has any Star Domain King been slain again?" Xu Jin asked.

Moreover, if given a choice, Xu Jin still preferred to enter a fourth-rank star domain first.

As for fifth-rank domains, frankly, they were dangerous.

Fifth-rank star domains housed not only many fifth-rank experts, but also numerous sixth-rank ones.

"No. Wang Rusong used a rune to slay one Star Domain King, then had no strength left—he's now fighting guerrilla-style to earn points, but his condition is still stable," said the Star Spirit.

"So there are still two Star Domain Kings left in the Fourth-Rank Emerald Bamboo Star Domain?"

"Yes. Two remain," the Star Spirit confirmed.

Since two Star Domain Kings still lived, he must enter the Fourth-Rank Emerald Bamboo Star Domain first.

Two Star Domain Kings—conservatively, he could obtain at least two initial-grade Heavenly and Stellar Wills; if lucky, three or even four were possible—still a substantial harvest.

But just as Xu Jin was about to enter, the Star Spirit suddenly spoke: "There's a piece of news—do you want to hear it? About the Fifth-Rank Lingwu Star Domain."

"Of course." "Give me one more chapter of Journey to the West after the battle," the Star Spirit demanded.

"Fine."

Seeing Xu Jin agree so readily, the Star Spirit suddenly regretted it—he should've asked for two chapters, no, three.

"No, I was wrong—I need four chapters," the Star Spirit suddenly changed his demand.

Xu Jin glanced at the void above the Star-Picking Tower. "Then forget it. I'm not listening."

He wouldn't indulge the Star Spirit's antics.

The next instant, Xu Jin feigned stepping into the Fourth-Rank Emerald Bamboo Star Domain—this panicked the Star Spirit. "Fine, fine, fine! One chapter, one chapter! I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"

Hearing this, Xu Jin smiled. The Star Spirit was, bit by bit, being tamed.

"Your mountain master and your teacher are both in dire straits inside the fifth-rank star domain," the Star Spirit suddenly said.

"Dire straits? What do you mean?" Xu Jin frowned.

"They were surrounded. Three hours ago. It was extremely dangerous," said the Star Spirit.

Xu Jin frowned. Logically, with Mountain Master Dong Zhao's wisdom, he shouldn't have been caught in an ambush.

When entering alien star domains, one must never stay in one place longer than an hour—constant movement is essential, or ambushes become inevitable.

But now…

He had to rescue them.

But the difficulty of Xu Jin entering a fifth-rank star domain alone was entirely different from rescuing someone inside it.

When entering alone, Xu Jin had his invisibility and the Chaos Star's protection.

Under invisibility, the chance of being detected was low.

If you can't win, run anytime.

Even if a sixth-rank powerhouse spots him, a sharp soul-spirit strike lets Xu Jin escape anyway.

Xu Jin is too skilled at guerrilla tactics.

But rescuing someone means direct confrontation.

The difficulty rises exponentially.

One misstep, and you'll get trapped too.

Xu Jin calculated: he'd recently acquired five sixth-rank talismans, and had already used one.

Currently, three were fully nurtured, one still being nurtured.

But he had around twenty fifth-rank talismans already nurtured—more than enough.

As for the Grand Master, he's probably been drained dry.

If he had any sixth-rank talismans, he'd have given them to you already.

Still, I should inform the Grand Master about this.

"What? Don't rush in—wait a moment." The Grand Master was stunned by the news.

Twenty breaths later, the Grand Master hurried over and handed Xu Jin two more sixth-rank talismans, his face grim.

"I just plucked these from Left Sacrificial Wine Master Meng Yanhui and Ji Bang, Dean of the Wan Village Dao Academy—they're sixth-rank talismans they kept for emergency defense. Take them. Use them once you enter."

"Now, remember two things."

Cheng Yuexiao said solemnly, "First, Dong Zhao, Liu Qingzhu, Tang Hui, Shen Wei, and Han Qing are the pillars of our Chen Guo Dao Academy, and will be its future backbone. If you can save them, save them—don't hoard sixth-rank talismans."

"Second, among Dong Zhao, Liu Qingzhu, Tang Hui, Shen Wei, and Han Qing, you matter more! They are merely Chen Guo's future pillars, but you are Chen Guo's future hope. Losing them means losing a few key forces.

But lose you, and Chen Guo's future hope is gone!

So, save them if you can.

If danger arises, your safety comes first.

You must return alive. If you get trapped, rescuing them all means nothing.

Can you remember that?" Cheng Yuexiao fixed Xu Jin with his gaze.

"Master, I understand."

"Don't delay. Go."

In the next instant, Xu Jin turned and stepped into the fifth-rank star domain: Lingwu.

Beside him, Dai Guanwen watched, curious but silently noted it down.

Xu Jin's movements were unpredictable—good for him. Another thousand strands of starlight secured.

Instantly, Dai Guanwen sent word of Xu Jin's entry into the fifth-rank star domain Lingwu via the Star-Picking Token.

Inside Danxia Palace, the Grand Master and the newly elevated Left Sacrificial Wine Master Meng Yanhui frowned deeply.

They were discussing their next move.

"Master, this is critical. Should we violate the rules and send a rescue team? We could nullify all points earned by Dong Zhao and the others—but if they're trapped, the loss will be catastrophic," Meng Yanhui said.

"I'm considering that."

Cheng Yuexiao nodded gravely. "But can a rescue team be effective?"

At this, Meng Yanhui's face darkened with bitterness—it was indeed a major problem.

Sending reinforcements was possible, but effectiveness? Uncertain.

The fifth-rank star domain was vast. Even a fifth-rank powerhouse flying at full speed, regardless of cost, needed half a day to cross it.

But then, how much combat power would remain?

More crucially, Dong Zhao, Liu Qingzhu, Tang Hui, Shen Wei, and Han Qing—already inside the fifth-rank Lingwu domain—are the absolute peak of Chen Guo's fifth-rank combat strength.

Sixth-rank cannot enter. Only fifth-rank can be sent.

Any additional fifth-rank sent in would be weaker than these five.

If we had ample fifth-rank upper or sixth-rank talismans, we might send a small squad and achieve a miraculous rescue.

But now, every sixth-rank talisman Chen Guo could squeeze out has been given to Xu Jin.

Sending another squad would barely yield a few fifth-rank talismans—still useless against sixth-rank alien foes.

Judging by Xu Jin's combat power in the fourth-rank star domain and the fifth- and sixth-rank talismans he possesses, only he has the capability to rescue Dong Zhao and the others.

To guarantee a successful rescue with another team, there's only one way: send a massive force of fifth-rank powerhouses—minimum one hundred.

Only then might rescue succeed.

But Cheng Yuexiao could not do that.

Such a rescue would be gambling—gambling the nation's fate.

If it succeeded, fine.

If it failed, and dozens more of the hundred sent in were lost, it would be a catastrophic waste.

Chen Guo would be crippled!

"For now, let's…"

As he spoke, Cheng Yuexiao frowned again.

The difficulty of campaigning in star domains lay precisely here: no timely updates on changes within.

But Xu Jin just mentioned Star Spirit?

In the next instant, Cheng Yuexiao vanished, reappearing directly inside the Star Dome Secret Realm.

"Star Spirit, I need you to notify me in real time of Xu Jin's condition within the fifth-rank star domain. Can you do that?"

"No."

"You want Xu Jin to die there."

"How could I? Absolutely not! Xu Jin cannot die—I…"

"Then report Xu Jin's condition to me at intervals. If danger arises, I will send rescue at any cost."

"Real-time is impossible, but I can report every few hours."

"Good."

(End of Chapter)