Chapter 275: The Pirate Ship

"Prince Xingjun, the Zongyan Sect of Xumi Palace has sent word—the Xu Jin has entered the Fifth-Rank Spirit Martial Star Domain?" Grand Elder Wang Kan said with delight.

At these words, the Tianyang Star Jun sharply turned his head, "Is this true?"

"Absolutely certain. Zongyan says his junior brother saw it with his own eyes—and only recently entered." Wang Kan replied.

The Tianyang Star Jun lightly tapped his fingers against the table; Wang Kan remained silent, knowing well that this meant the Star Jun was deliberating.

"Has there been word from Liu Meng?" the Tianyang Star Jun suddenly asked.

Liu Meng was the man Wang Kan had bribed with beauty to cheat the Xumi Palace's Qiao Fifth Young Master into smuggling into the Fifth-Rank Spirit Martial Star Domain two and a half days ago.

Cultivation base: Fifth-Rank Ninth Layer peak.

"Your Highness, Liu Meng sent his latest update yesterday—the other side has already moved. The ones who stormed into the Fifth-Rank Spirit Martial Star Domain are Dong Zhao, Deputy Director of the Chen Guo Dao Academy, and several other Deputy Xuezheng."

They are about to complete the encirclement; ideally, they might annihilate them entirely.

At worst, they can eliminate three or four.

We should hear news within the next day or two," Wang Kan said.

"I understand. The Chen Guo Dao Academy sent Xu Jin in—nine times out of ten, it's to rescue them; otherwise, there's no reason."

"And Xu Jin must possess extraordinary abilities—perhaps even the combat power to surpass a Fourth-Rank Ninth Layer peak, or at least escape from Fifth-Rank experts."

Here, the Tianyang Star Jun's gaze sharpened, his tapping ceasing. "Grand Elder, it seems we underestimated Xu Jin."

"Previously, we assumed Xu Jin could break through the Fourth-Rank Star Domain because Chen Guo mobilized its entire nation to rapidly elevate his Divine Soul cultivation to Fourth-Rank, granting him a Sixth-Rank Talisman to smash through the Fourth-Rank Domain using Fifth- and Sixth-Rank Talismans."

"But now it appears Xu Jin's own strength may allow him to fight Fifth-Rank beginners—or at least escape from Fifth-Rank experts."

"Or perhaps he excels in speed, or other areas."

"He must have exceptional abilities."

"Otherwise, Cheng Yuexiao would never have sent him in for rescue."

"Your Highness sees clearly. Xu Jin likely excels in speed, and with his Divine Soul cultivation now broken into Fourth-Rank, he has opened a Xumi Space, allowing him to carry Talismans inside—hence Cheng Yuexiao sent him for rescue," Wang Kan said.

Hearing this, the Tianyang Star Jun nodded. "Likely so. It seems Xu Jin must have brought many Sixth-Rank Talismans inside."

"Definitely. Without Sixth-Rank Talismans, rescue is impossible."

"But in Chen Guo, only Kou Jing can produce Sixth-Rank Talismans."

"Two others can barely manage Fifth-Rank Talismans at best."

"That won't help."

"I estimate Xu Jin brought no more than five Sixth-Rank Talismans inside," Wang Kan analyzed.

"Five?"

The Tianyang Star Jun shook his head. "You're overestimating. Kou Jing produces only five or six per year."

"When Dong Zhao and his four others entered, they must have carried Talismans. Did Dong Zhao's Divine Soul cultivation break into Fourth-Rank?"

"He likely did."

"Then Dong Zhao certainly carried Sixth-Rank Talismans. Dong Zhao and his group took several; Wang Rusong's Divine Soul cultivation also broke into Fourth-Rank—he must have taken several too."

"Then how many Sixth-Rank Talismans can Chen Guo still have left?"

"I estimate Xu Jin brought at most three inside."

Here, the Tianyang Star Jun paused. "But better to overestimate the enemy. Let's assume Xu Jin brought five Sixth-Rank Talismans as our baseline."

"Grand Elder, what do you suggest we do next?"

Wang Kan sneered. "Send a team into the Fifth-Rank Spirit Martial Star Domain. If Xu Jin dies inside, Cheng Yuexiao won't even dare rage—he'll just swallow his teeth and blood."

"Send more people into the Fifth-Rank Spirit Martial Star Domain? That might be difficult," the Tianyang Star Jun mused.

"The entrance to the Fifth-Rank Spirit Martial Star Domain in the Star River Battlefield is controlled by Chen Guo's Star River Battlefield Military Office—we cannot send anyone in."

"But the temporary star gate at Zhaixing Tower already sent one person in. Sending a few more—I fear Qiao Fifth Young Master will turn hostile."

But a person has already been sent through this temporary star gate at Zhaixing Tower; sending a few more might make Qiao the Fifth Young Master of Xumí Palace turn hostile.

Wang Kan sneered. "He's already helped us cheat once. If he keeps accepting our bribes, fine.

But if he refuses, I'll expose this to the Xumi Palace's old master. The boy's future will be ruined."

"That old master values face above all—he'll never expose his own family's shame. He'll even help us cover it up."

That old thing from Xumí Palace values his reputation above all—he would never expose his own family's shame if this came to light; instead, he'd help us cover it up a little.

Hearing this, the Tianyang Star Jun pointed at Grand Elder Wang Kan and laughed. "You truly understand human nature."

"Still, treat Qiao Fifth Young Master with courtesy. Don't break the bridge if you can avoid it."

"That old master of Xumi Palace values face—but he holds grudges. He'll swallow this insult now, but one day he'll take it out on Tianyang Star Sect."

"Better not to offend him if you can help it," the Tianyang Star Jun instructed.

"Your Highness, rest assured—I'll know the limits."

"Good. Send another team in? Give each man one Sixth-Rank Talisman, the captain two, plus local forces—overwhelm Chen Guo's elites by sheer numbers."

"Tell them: Xu Jin is the top priority."

"Kill Xu Jin, and it's a great merit."

"The others' lives matter little."

The Tianyang Star Jun said.

"Understood. Should we send Zhang Yucheng as captain? If he achieves this great merit and returns, we can reward him with the resources to break into Sixth-Rank," Grand Elder Wang Kan said.

"Agreed."

Upon receiving confirmation, Grand Elder Wang Kan of Tianyang Star Sect bowed and withdrew from the hall.

Fifteen minutes later, Grand Elder Wang Kan of Tianyang Star Sect arrived on the second floor of Zhaixing Tower with a group of five, all at Fifth-Rank Ninth Layer peak.

Upon entering, Qiao Fifth Young Master of Xumi Palace was startled.

He didn't understand Wang Kan's intent.

Wang Kan glanced at the temporary star gate Qiao Fifth Young Master had opened earlier; the young master's face turned pale.

He was no fool—he instantly understood Wang Kan's meaning.

Wang Kan wanted to send more people into this domain.

Qiao Fifth Young Master had already figured this out days ago.

When Wang Kan asked him to open a temporary star gate during the Lou Gong battle, the matter was clearly tied to it.

Very likely cheating.

Since it was a newly opened gate, the experts Wang Kan sent in were probably meant to disrupt or hinder the other three domains.

Previously, Wang Kan had sent only one person; Qiao Fifth Young Master had agreed.

One person wouldn't change much.

Besides, his second senior brother had instructed him: accommodate Tianyang Star Sect's requests when possible, but don't be rigid.

So Qiao Fifth Young Master had half-heartedly agreed to Tianyang Star Sect's earlier actions.

One person.

Even if discovered, he had excuses.

But now, Wang Kan's intent was to send five people?

Five people—that would be a huge commotion.

One misstep, and if Chen Guo got evidence, Xumi Palace would be humiliated—and he, Qiao Fifth Young Master, might lose his cultivation and be expelled.

The risk was too great.

Qiao Fifth Young Master concluded Tianyang Star Sect meant to sabotage Chen Guo because he'd heard the score rankings.

Previously, the top two—Da Hong and Tianyang Star Sect—were now crushed by Chen Guo, whose score had doubled theirs.

Tianyang Star Sect must be desperate.

Hence this move.

In the next instant, Qiao Fifth Young Master flashed forward, blocking the temporary star gate, then activated a star technique to seal it shut.

"Grand Elder, this is too much—it violates protocol. If this leaks, neither you nor I can bear the responsibility," Qiao Fifth Young Master said.

Both were intelligent—no need to spell it out.

Grand Elder Wang Kan smiled. "Fifth Young Master, rest assured—these five are utterly loyal to Tianyang Star Sect. They won't betray us." As he spoke, he handed over a jade tablet. "Here is a gift list. Please accept it."

This time, Wang Kan brought heavy gifts.

Besides the base ten thousand strands of starlight, there were ten Fifth-Rank Star Jade Tablets, one Sixth-Rank Star Jade Tablet, a chest of rare treasures and jewelry, three properties, and fifteen beauties.

Yet Qiao Fifth Young Master didn't even glance at the list—he offered a pained, apologetic smile. "Grand Elder, this isn't about gifts anymore. The stakes are too high. If anything goes wrong, my future—"

"This matter is vital to Tianyang Star Sect. Please, Fifth Young Master, grant us this favor," Grand Elder Wang Kan said, offering a second gift list.

Double the gifts.

Seeing this, Qiao Fifth Young Master still refused without even looking.

In the next instant, Wang Kan's face darkened.

"Fifth Young Master, do us this favor—it benefits both of us. Otherwise, we'll both lose face," Wang Kan sneered.

"What do you mean?" Qiao Fifth Young Master's face drained of color—he sensed something.

"Fifth Young Master, you're intelligent."

"I've said it: this matter is critical to Tianyang Star Sect."

"If you refuse, I'll take this to your master and demand justice."

"You can't help halfway."

Qiao Fifth Young Master's face turned deathly pale.

Suddenly, he understood everything.

With his master's temper, if the Sun Yang Star Palace reported this, they would likely crush it entirely—it would be too embarrassing for the Xuemi Palace.

They might even agree to the Sun Yang Star Palace's demands.

But he would be in terrible trouble.

He would very likely be secretly eliminated by his teacher.

Completely ruined.

Just as Fifth Young Master Qiao was nervously torn inside, Elder Wang Kan pushed two gift lists before him again.

"Fifth Young Master, rest assured—they won't cause any trouble. Their spirit cores have been sealed; they cannot reveal their identities."

"They won't bring you any trouble," Wang Kan assured.

"Ah!"

Fifth Young Master Qiao let out a long sigh.

Suddenly, he felt a pang of resentment toward Second Senior Brother.

If not for Second Senior Brother's suggestion, he never would have boarded the Sun Yang Star Palace's ship.

Getting on was easy; getting off was hard.

From now on, his ties to the Sun Yang Star Palace would be impossible to sever.

But accepting these gifts now was better than refusing.

He silently accepted the gift lists, then reactivated the star gate and stepped aside in silence.

"Fifth Young Master, your noble conduct shall not go unrewarded by the Sun Yang Star Palace."

After Wang Kan bowed and gave a slight signal, the five figures behind him—Zhang Yucheng and his party—swiftly stepped into the temporary star gate and vanished.

Within the fifth-rank Spirit Martial Star Domain, Xu Jin casually crushed the captured fifth-rank early-stage cultivator trapped in a dream, extracted his star core, and left swiftly.

After interrogating two captives, Xu Jin obtained all the intelligence he needed.

The fifth-rank Spirit Martial Star Domain contained four ethnic groups: the Gold Spirit Clan of the Five Elements Spirits, and from the Eight Wildernesses, the Fire Ox Clan, the Stone Armor Clan, and the Golden Snake Clan.

There were four factional powers in total.

Upon learning this, Xu Jin exhaled in relief.

From his experience, the fewer the factions within a star domain, the more terrifying it was.

If this fifth-rank star domain were a unified realm, Xu Jin would dare not even stay here.

A celestial authority of forty or fifty percent or more was terrifying.

That authority was like real-time tracking and telepathic communication—it was as if Xu Jin had brought into this world the command system of modern warfare from his past life, and only one side possessed it while the other had none.

Overwhelming.

Just as when Xu Jin had slain the ten death agents sent by Yang Du Marquis in the fourth-rank Fire Cloud Star Domain, with fifty percent celestial authority over that domain, he hadn't needed to lift a finger—he had simply unleashed the domain's full power to easily surround and annihilate them.

In this fifth-rank Spirit Martial Star Domain, four factions coexisted, each ruled by its own king.

This strongly suggested that none of the kings held three percent or more of the celestial authority.

Most likely, each held around two percent.

Celestial authority below three percent had only minor effects.

Previously, the Star Spirit had told Xu Jin that Dong Zhao and the others were besieged in the southern region of the Spirit Martial Star Domain.

The southern region was mostly under the rule of the Golden Snake Clan.

Among the two groups of captives, one fifth-rank early-stage captive had revealed some basic information.

The higher the cultivation level, the harder it was to break through.

This applied equally in the alien star domains.

Within the fifth-rank Spirit Martial Star Domain, elite forces remained primarily third- and fourth-rank aliens; fifth-rank were the high-end combatants.

As for powerful sixth-rank aliens, they were rare among all four clans.

Most numbered around ten.

The Golden Spirit Clan, the strongest faction, had only eleven sixth-rank experts.

The other three clans each had fewer than ten.

But kings were invariably sixth-rank ninth-layer peak.

Currently, Dong Zhao and the others were trapped within the Golden Snake Clan's territory.

As Xu Jin flew across the stars, he calculated the talismans in his possession.

Including the one just given by Kou Jing and the two from the Grand Preceptor, he now had seven sixth-rank talismans.

Three had been fully nurtured; one was nearly ready; the three he had just acquired had been nurtured for only one hour.

He had twenty-four fifth-rank talismans fully nurtured.

These were his main force.

In addition, Xu Jin had eleven other fifth-rank-and-below talismans he had made himself and fully nurtured.

He had many more fourth-rank-and-above talismans nurtured, but they were of little use.

Still, they could be useful in critical moments.

Even nurtured fourth-rank-and-above talismans could unleash a full-strength strike equivalent to a mid- to late-stage fifth-rank.

Flying southward, Xu Jin encountered three attacks along the way.

All were relatively random squads—not like in the Giant Elephant Star Domain, where each group was stronger than the last and all were elites.

This confirmed Xu Jin's judgment that the Golden Snake King's celestial authority did not exceed two percent.

Searching for someone in a star domain was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Fortunately, Xu Jin had a general direction; each time he encountered a group of Golden Snake aliens, he captured one or two for interrogation.

With these methods aiding his judgment, three hours after entering the Spirit Martial Star Domain, Xu Jin finally located the precise spot where Dong Zhao was besieged.

A place called Green Snake Fortress.

As Xu Jin rushed toward it, still hundreds of miles away, he saw brilliant starlight erupting again and again into the sky ahead.

Brilliant starlight rose and fell continuously.

For an instant, Xu Jin even saw Master Shanzhang Dong Zhao's Star-Sealing Ring blazing brightly in the sky—then struck by golden light, its radiance instantly dimmed.

It was clearly dire.

(End of Chapter)