Chapter 285: The Seal of Silence

"All disciples, hand over your Star Tokens immediately. Do not ask why; just do as I say. They will be returned to you shortly."

Just as the triumphant disciples were rejoicing, Inspector Chen Liao arrived on the second floor of the Star-Plucking Tower with several black-clad inspectors. He unleashed his Seventh Tier aura without reservation, terrifying the disciples, who looked toward Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao in confusion and suspicion.

"Follow the Inspector's arrangements; it is merely a routine disciplinary measure."

Since Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had spoken, the disciples had no choice but to hand over their Star Tokens at once. They were then led by the black-clad inspectors, one by one, into quiet rooms that had been prepared in advance.

Xu Jin, Dong Zhao, and the others handed over their Star Tokens as required. It was only when it was their turn that they fully understood what this was for!

Secrecy.

Everyone had their Star Tokens confiscated immediately to prevent anyone from passing information to the outside, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Furthermore, all disciples were to enter the quiet rooms individually and in turn to be briefed on confidentiality matters. They were forbidden from disclosing anything they had seen, heard, or discovered during this Battle of Tower Tributes to anyone other than the Grand Master, the Left Libationer, or the Inspector.

At the same time, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao used the Nine-Sheng Chimes to reinforce the seal.

Xu Jin did not know how effective this so-called seal reinforced by the Nine-Sheng Chimes was, but its deterrent power was incredibly strong.

Even if someone truly wanted to leak information, they would have to consider the consequences of doing so.

What if the seal of the Nine-Sheng Chimes actually took effect?

That was a Daoist treasure that guarded the nation of Chen Guo; once its power erupted, who could withstand it?

The purpose of doing this was primarily to keep the conquest of multiple star domains completely secret.

Conquering a Third Tier star domain was already rare.

But this time, Chen Guo had conquered four at once!

If one counted the Purple Wind star domain, that made five.

This was already frightening enough!

In Xu Jin's view, this was a super-enhanced version of the "Jimi" (loose rein) policy of the Tang Dynasty from his previous life.

The Tang Dynasty's Jimi policy was merely for winning over and controlling, but the star domains conquered by Chen Guo could provide a sustainable stream of massive resources after being brought under control, and at times, could even provide reinforcements.

Its nature was not quite the same as expanding territory, but it was far stronger than a vassal state.

Beyond that, they had also directly conquered a Fourth Tier star domain, which was unprecedented.

There was also the possibility of conquering another Fourth Tier star domain, the Giant Elephant star domain, in the future.

If this news were to spread, it was hard to imagine what kind of situation Chen Guo would face.

Because of this, everyone, including Xu Jin, Dong Zhao, Pan Hong, Meng Yanhui, Yu Da, and others, had to accept the seal of the Nine-Sheng Chimes.

Without exception.

This action by the National Dao Academy was actually extremely beneficial to Xu Jin.

At the very least, Xu Jin's true combat power, his star technique characteristics, and his actual battle record could all be perfectly hidden.

Plucking six gold stars in a row was merely being a super genius.

But a super genius capable of killing a Fifth Tier, Ninth Layer alien king head-on was an entirely different matter.

The top floor of the Deyue Tower in the Chen Guo Imperial Palace.

Emperor Qian'an was gazing into the distance toward the Chen Guo National Dao Academy, while Chief Eunuch Chu stood to one side, hands tucked into his sleeves, his back slightly hunched.

"Great Companion, the Battle of Tower Tributes should be ending soon, right? Have the participating disciples returned?" Emperor Qian'an Gao Ye suddenly spoke.

"Replying to Your Majesty, it will end in less than an hour, and the results should be roughly determined! This old servant congratulates Your Majesty here first: in this Battle of Tower Tributes, our Chen Guo has suppressed the Tianyang Star Palace and won first place.

For the next three years, the tribute burden on our Chen Guo's Star-Plucking Tower will be extremely light, and Your Majesty will also be much more relaxed.

As for the participating disciples, they have already returned," Chief Eunuch Chu said in a low voice.

Emperor Qian'an gave a cold, expressionless "hmm." "And the inside story?"

"It is said that as soon as these disciples returned, the Grand Master issued a gag order and even used the Nine-Sheng Chimes. This old servant arrived a step too late and could no longer extract any intelligence. The Grand Master said that once he finishes handling the minor details of the Battle of Tower Tributes, he will submit a memorial detailing the matter to Your Majesty," Chief Eunuch Chu said.

"Submit a memorial detailing it!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qian'an Gao Ye couldn't help but sneer. "It will probably be written with 'Spring and Autumn' brushwork (obfuscation)! He even dared to deny to me that Xu Jin plucked six gold stars in a row previously; what else would he not dare to do!"

Once these words were spoken, Chief Eunuch Chu couldn't help but shrink his neck, and only after a long while did he say in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the Grand Master must have his own hidden difficulties in doing this."

"Hidden difficulties!"

"Is this his reason for deceiving the Emperor?"

"I asked him how the last remaining gold star Xu Jin had was to be arranged, and he also brushed me off. Tell me, is this Grand Master still my Grand Master?"

Emperor Qian'an Gao Ye's questioning caused the color to instantly drain from Chief Eunuch Chu's face; this was not an easy remark to respond to.

If he were to follow Emperor Qian'an's words, he would be sowing discord between the Grand Master and His Majesty.

If the old Chief Eunuch or the Grand Master found out, they would definitely skin him alive.

But if he didn't follow along, His Majesty would be even angrier.

Yet, in all honesty, Chen Guo—at least the current Chen Guo—really could not do without the Grand Master.

"Your Majesty, the gold star is, after all, in Xu Jin's hands," Chief Eunuch Chu said cautiously.

"Hmph!"

Emperor Qian'an Gao Ye gave a cold snort. "And how many gold stars Xu Jin actually has in his hands is still uncertain! The Grand Master says there is only one left; why am I so inclined not to believe him?"

"This... this old servant does not know."

Hearing this, Emperor Qian'an turned his head and glared at Chief Eunuch Chu, terrifying him into lowering his head even further. "When it comes down to it, it is because your cultivation has not broken through to the Eighth Tier. Otherwise, either you or my own backbone could be a bit stiffer."

After speaking, Emperor Qian'an paused and asked, "How has that matter been arranged? What is the final success rate?"

"Your Majesty, it has already been arranged!

It can be completed in six days!

It is expected that two pills will be formed, each of which can increase the probability of a Sixth Tier breaking to Seventh, or Seventh breaking to Eighth, by ten percent," Chief Eunuch Chu said.

"Twenty percent, plus your own thirty percent success probability, that makes fifty percent. Then, adding that treasure, a seventy percent breakthrough probability—you breaking through shouldn't be a problem, right?" Emperor Qian'an Gao Ye asked.

"Seventy percent—theoretically, it is no problem."

"That is good."

"Your Majesty, rest assured. During the process of my breakthrough, I will use those two pills at the very end. If I am lucky enough to break through early, then these two pills will be just right for Your Majesty to use," Chief Eunuch Chu said.

"As you wish, but the prerequisite is that you must break through!

As for my own breakthrough, do not worry; I have already made arrangements," Emperor Qian'an Gao Ye said.

"Your Majesty is referring to?"

"I suspect that the remaining gold stars in Xu Jin's hands should be at least two. I will just have him use all the remaining gold stars to deduce the Earth Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern. If there is a Seventh Tier Earth Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern, my probability of breaking through to the Seventh Tier will also be extremely high," the Emperor said.

"I am only afraid that the Grand Master has other arrangements on his side," Chief Eunuch Chu said.

Not exacerbating the conflict between Emperor Qian'an and the Grand Master was the only requirement the old Chief Eunuch had given him.

"And so what? I will issue an imperial decree directly to Xu Jin; does he dare to resist the decree?"

"Also, such a peerless genius as Xu Jin must be heavily rewarded, including his family!

You choose a princess and arrange a marriage for Xu Jin!

Let him become a relative of the imperial family directly; that should be enough favor, right?

Also, I hear Xu Jin dotes on his younger sister extremely.

Let his sister marry into the royal family and let her fly up the branch to become a phoenix; this great favor should be heavy enough, right?

In a few days, once you have broken through, invite Xu Jin's sister into the palace and let my sons take a look; whoever takes a fancy to her, she will belong to him.

At that time, prepare a title for Xu Jin's father as well.

And prepare a posthumous title for his late mother.

Arrange this early," Emperor Qian'an Gao Ye said.

Chief Eunuch Chu nodded upon hearing this. "Your Majesty, should we notify the Grand Master?"

"The Grand Master? Forget it.

If I notify him, he will probably think I am trying to snatch Xu Jin away.

When the time comes, once everything is ready, I will issue the imperial decree directly!

I do not believe that he would dare to resist the decree directly," Emperor Qian'an Gao Ye said coldly.

"Yes."

Inside the National Dao Academy, Right Libationer Song Bing gazed into the distance toward the Star-Plucking Tower, and suddenly, a sense of desolation washed over him.

He felt as if everyone in the entire National Dao Academy was busy.

Only he was very idle.

Song Bing knew very well that he had already been cast aside by the Grand Master.

However, he did not regret it.

Once a move is made, there is no regret.

After thinking for a while, Song Bing left the National Dao Academy quietly, and before long, appeared at the gate of the Imperial Palace.

At the Chen Guo National Dao Academy, the Fourth Young Master of the Xumi Palace, Dai Guanwen, was accompanied by Left Libationer Meng Yanhui, and this banquet of appreciation was incredibly joyful. All kinds of ingredients—truly mountain delicacies and sea treasures—were available.

There were even some ingredients he had never seen before; Chen Guo had truly put in their best effort.

But when the banquet of appreciation entered its most important segment—the so-called gift segment—Dai Guanwen's expression instantly sank.

The so-called gift of appreciation turned out to be two crates of Chen Guo's local specialties.

The items were quite exquisite, but they had absolutely no value.

Dai Guanwen had a feeling he had been swindled.

But he was still looking forward to the so-called long-term cooperation.

Meng Yanhui did indeed talk to him about long-term cooperation and successfully negotiated it.

But the so-called long-term cooperation made Dai Guanwen even more disappointed.

Because the so-called long-term cooperation of the Chen Guo National Dao Academy was to increase the procurement volume from the Xumi Palace.

The original plan of buying one set of fixed star gate space jade tablets and related materials every year had changed to buying two sets every year.

And they had to buy an extra set this year.

This was indeed long-term cooperation.

But it had nothing to do with him.

It was just asking him to pass on a message.

Dai Guanwen's original intention was for Chen Guo to cooperate with him long-term, with him contracting Chen Guo's future incremental business; he had even thought about making concessions on the costs previously.

But Chen Guo had not given him any opportunity at all.

Coming with high spirits and returning in low spirits—that was about it.

Dai Guanwen no longer wanted to stay in Chen Guo; he didn't even want to stay for another half-quarter of an hour.

He felt slighted, even despised.

However, Meng Yanhui remained smiling, accompanying him with a respectful tone.

What Dai Guanwen did not know was that Chen Guo had already confirmed that the intelligence had leaked from him.

Start long-term cooperation with Dai Guanwen?

Was Chen Guo stupid?

Only someone with a problem in their brain would cooperate with such a person.

Dai Guanwen's disappointment was also normal.

If it weren't for Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao fearing the Palace Master of the Xumi Palace, Dai Guanwen wouldn't have been able to walk out of the Chen Guo National Dao Academy this time.

From the root of the facts, the fallen Vice Academician Shen Wei had been killed because of Dai Guanwen!

Without Dai Guanwen's intelligence support, it would have been absolutely impossible for the Tianyang Star Palace to know that the Fifth Tier star domain Chen Guo had chosen was the Lingwu star domain.

Left Libationer Meng Yanhui accompanying him with a smile at this moment was just to avoid tearing off the mask of civility.

After one banquet, the time for the Battle of Tower Tributes was almost up.

Dai Guanwen no longer had any intention of lingering in Chen Guo and just wanted to leave directly.

When he saw his Junior Sister Haoyue, whom he hadn't seen for five or six days, Dai Guanwen was taken aback.

She had gained a little weight!

Originally tall and thin, she was now a bit more rounded.

She looked even better.

And she had more of a young girl's charm.

Upon hearing that they were about to leave, this little princess of the Xumi Palace, Princess Haoyue, refused. "Senior Brother, I must see someone before I can leave. If I don't see him, I'm not leaving."

"Who do you want to see?" Dai Guanwen could do nothing about this Junior Sister and could only ask.

"Xu Jin."

"I want to see Xu Jin, the champion of this year's autumn examination at the Chen Guo National Dao Academy! These two sisters have almost praised Xu Jin as a deity! Omnipotent, omniscient, almost an invincible existence—I must see him.

I don't believe it; there really is such a person," Princess Haoyue said.

"Junior Sister, you believe such exaggerated words!" Dai Guanwen said, his head aching.

"Then you go back first; I will see him and then go back!" Princess Haoyue did not indulge Dai Guanwen; on the contrary, Dai Guanwen had to indulge her.

Unable to sway Princess Haoyue, Dai Guanwen could only look helplessly at Chen Guo's Left Libationer Meng Yanhui.

"Since the little princess wants to see Xu Jin so much, I will ask and see if Xu Jin is willing," Meng Yanhui said.

Princess Haoyue was stunned; there was someone who didn't want to see her?

But she hadn't spent these past few days with Tang Chuo and Jiang Yuan for nothing; Haoyue had become a bit more grounded.

"Then please ask the Left Libationer; I really want to see him," Princess Haoyue said.

A few breaths later, Xu Jin, who had just returned to his small courtyard and was talking to his younger sister Jiang Er, suddenly received a starlight message from Left Libationer Meng Yanhui.

In an instant, he frowned slightly.

Zuiyue Xianzi Haoyue of the Xumi Palace wanted to see him?

He had originally wanted to refuse directly.

But Xu Jin remembered Dai Guanwen.

He had to see this scoundrel, lock onto his aura, and even if he couldn't kill him openly in the future, he could still take a shot in the dark to finish him off.

A grudge must be repaid!

Half a quarter of an hour later, Xu Jin came to see Zuiyue Xianzi Haoyue.

When he first arrived, he saw a back view, and only then did Zuiyue Xianzi Haoyue turn around.

He had seen Zuiyue Xianzi Haoyue once before, and Xu Jin had only felt that her figure was somewhat familiar, but he hadn't paid attention.

This time, seeing her back view suddenly, it became extremely familiar.

At the same time, he remembered Zuiyue Xianzi Haoyue's identity.

The little princess of the Xumi Palace, space?

A rare space star technique.

In an instant, the two figures overlapped!

Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue!

And the moment she saw Xu Jin, Zuiyue Xianzi Haoyue smiled slightly.

In the Practice Arena Secret Realm, she could never see his face; now, she had finally seen it clearly.

So this guy looked like this.

Dai Guanwen, standing to the side, watched Xu Jin return safely, and his heart stirred. He immediately sent a message via his Star Token to his Second Senior Brother.

【Xu Jin has returned safely from the Fifth Tier Lingwu star domain.】

Dai Guanwen didn't care anymore; since Chen Guo wouldn't give it to him, he would take it himself.

Anyway, news related to Xu Jin was worth a thousand wisps of starlight per piece.

Who would complain about having too little starlight?

【Xu Jin's state looks good, and his spirit is also good, so his teachers in the Fifth Tier star domain should still be alive.】

Dai Guanwen sent another sentence.

To the side, seeing that Xu Jin and Princess Haoyue were chatting quite well, Left Libationer Meng Yanhui suddenly suggested, "Little Princess, since you and Xu Jin are chatting so well, why don't you add each other as friends on your Star Tokens so you can keep in touch in the future?"

When this suggestion came out, Xu Jin was startled.

But Princess Haoyue was the first to get anxious. "No."

Under Meng Yanhui's surprised gaze, Princess Haoyue hurriedly explained, "We just met and aren't familiar yet; we'll add each other when we're familiar later."

"Fourth Senior Brother, let's go."

Just kidding, if she added him as a friend face-to-face right now, wouldn't she, Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue, be exposed on the spot!

That would be so awkward!

She had already met the Great Sage Equal to Heaven in person; the Great Sage definitely didn't know, and she would have to tease the Great Sage well in the future.

That would be fun!

Thinking of this, Princess Haoyue—that is, Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue—was the first to be happy.

That heartfelt smile made Xu Jin stare slightly; this little rich girl, Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue, was quite pretty, and even prettier when she smiled.

"Sister Tang, Sister Jiang, I'm leaving first; we'll meet again if fate allows!"

After shouting, Princess Haoyue bowed to Xu Jin and the Left Libationer, and the next moment, she stepped onto the star boat.

A few breaths later, she turned into starlight and vanished.

(End of chapter)