Chapter 296: The Tidal Surge Arrives

Early morning of November 13th, two hours before the Nine Star Tidal Surge descended.

Xu Jin, who had finished his evening lesson, wanted to rest.

But lying down, it was like his previous life—looking at his phone before sleep—his mind sank into the Star-Plucking Token and directly entered the Practice Arena Secret Realm.

This was the first time Xu Jin had entered the Practice Arena Secret Realm since breaking through to the Fourth-tier; the Practice Arena Secret Realm Xu Jin entered was naturally the Fourth-tier Practice Arena Secret Realm.

There were starlight messages flying in, the ordinary kind; Xu Jin didn't rush to look at them.

Instead, he observed the various information within the Fourth-tier Practice Arena Secret Realm.

【Qi Tian Da Sheng】

【Cultivation: Fourth-tier Condense Star Second Layer】

【Title: Flat Field Starlight, Flowing Moon and Meteor】

【Points: 0】

【Ranking: 564,355th】

Xu Jin had zero points, ranking after 560,000.

So the total number of Fourth-tier cultivators included in the Star-Plucking Tower's range should be around 600,000, and absolutely no more than a million.

Compared to the number of Third-tier cultivators, it had plummeted directly.

When Xu Jin first entered the Third-tier, his ranking was over eight million; Xu Jin estimated that the number of Third-tier cultivators included in the Star-Plucking Tower's range in the present world likely wouldn't exceed ten million.

Now, the Fourth-tier had plummeted to 500,000 or 600,000.

Among every twenty or so Third-tier cultivators, only one Fourth-tier could appear.

This breakthrough probability was definitely not high.

So how many could there be at the Fifth-tier?

Don't know if there were 50,000.

Further up, it was estimated that the Sixth-tier and Seventh-tier were even fewer; as for the Eighth-tier, they could be counted on one's fingers.

Anyway, the Eighth-tier of Chen Guo—not counting those in the Star River Battlefield—in the present world, Xu Jin only knew of three: the Grand Master, the Great Commandant of the Star-Patrol Guard Director Pei Ze, and the old consultant in the Imperial Palace the Grand Master mentioned.

Xu Jin casually scanned the leaderboard of the Fourth-tier Practice Arena Secret Realm; the first place was a cultivator named "Tiger of Jingshan."

As for the others, Xu Jin didn't look.

If it were according to his mindset at the Third-tier, Xu Jin would definitely have fought a few good matches.

But at this moment, Xu Jin felt that he was standing at a crossroads of fate, and he didn't have that mood.

Obtaining first place in the Fourth-tier Practice Arena should just be a matter of time.

There was no difficulty at all.

On this point, Xu Jin was very confident.

But if he obtained first place in the Fourth-tier Practice Arena, it would likely cause a huge uproar again.

The gold content of the first place in each Practice Arena was different.

For the First-tier and Second-tier, the rotation cycle was extremely fast; perhaps learning one more star pattern could make one first place. Basically, the top geniuses of all parties could reach the top, so the reference value wasn't too great.

Starting from the Third-tier, each tier had significant reference value.

Because starting from the Third-tier, one needed comprehensive strength to reach the top.

This point was even more obvious at the Fourth-tier.

At the Second-tier and Third-tier, having family support to throw resources, and having the background to obtain a few high-tier star patterns, made it possible to reach the top.

But at the Fourth-tier, especially for Fourth-tier mid-to-late stage cultivators, the main combat star patterns were all Fifth-tier as a base; those who could rank in the top thousand or even top hundred all had Sixth-tier star patterns and complete sets of Star Arts to rely on.

One could imagine the first-place holder.

The degree of attention from all parties was also different.

Even within the Chen Guo National Dao Academy, there were relevant reward regulations.

If a disciple could kill their way into the top thousand, top hundred, or even top ten of the Fourth-tier Practice Arena, there were different rewards.

Because of this, although Xu Jin's hands were itchy, he didn't fight for this ranking.

Everything would wait until the Nine Star Tidal Surge ended and he began Heart Tempering in a Foreign Domain to see the situation.

Having made the decision, Xu Jin casually clicked on the starlight messages; there were three, two from Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue and one from Yue Zhongying.

【Actually broke through to the Fourth-tier; you just wait for me.】

This was the harsh words released by Yue Zhongying.

This woman, she was just too vengeful.

Xu Jin ignored it as usual.

【Why did you break through to the Fourth-tier so fast? I still wanted to continue practicing with you! You didn't even say to wait for me; now that you've broken through, who am I supposed to practice with?】

Two starlight messages, Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue babbled a long string, which Xu Jin found funny.

This little rich woman, she probably didn't know that he already knew her true identity, and here she was complaining.

Xu Jin was also idle, so he replied, and didn't expect Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue to not be asleep yet; she replied in seconds.

Back and forth, the two started chatting.

At first, Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue still had the intention of setting Xu Jin up, mentioning that she had gone on a long journey, met two good sisters, ate a lot of delicious food, was very happy, etc. After chatting for a few sentences, it turned into pure complaining.

Complaining about her current life, being managed too strictly, not being free to go out.

Even having people follow her when she went out, and even complaining about a certain good sister, chatting about daily life.

Xu Jin also chatted one sentence at a time, occasionally expressing some extremely insightful views, which made this little rich woman surprised again and again, exclaiming how brilliant he was.

This actually made Xu Jin laugh.

It felt like chatting online in his previous life.

Suddenly, Xu Jin's expression changed; chatting online in his previous life only used data.

But this Star-Plucking Tower chat cost one strand of starlight per message.

Old expensive, old expensive.

Taking a look, Xu Jin felt a bit of heartache.

He had replied seventy or eighty messages; seventy or eighty strands of starlight—this was too extravagant.

That was to say, now; if it were before, he would definitely have felt heartache to death.

But looking again, Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue had sent more, over three hundred messages.

That was three hundred strands of starlight; she was worthy of being a little rich woman.

【Alright, rest early; the Nine Star Tidal Surge is about to open, I'm going to participate in the war.】 Xu Jin ended the chat directly.

【Da Sheng, you are also going to participate in the war? Then pay attention to safety; if you have anything, remember to call me; I am also very powerful!】 Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue sent another starlight message.

Xu Jin didn't reply, and just when he was about to leave, Zuiyue Xianzi Zuiyue sent another message, 【Contact me anytime, don't disappear like before.】

Xu Jin was stunned, replied with a "good" word, and decisively left the Fourth-tier Practice Arena Secret Realm.

With a movement of his mind, he drew upon Dream Warmth.

In an instant, he fell into a deep sleep!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Xu Jin was awakened by the dull sound of war drums.

The low and murderous sound of war drums resounded throughout the entire Chen Guo National Dao Academy, and resounded over the sky of the Chen Guo Imperial Capital, Wanyi.

Xu Jin woke up from his deep sleep, washed his face, finished the meal prepared by Qing Fan in a few mouthfuls, and then gently hugged Jiang Er who was on the side.

"Cultivate well, don't leave the National Dao Academy; if you have anything, find Peng Lao, wait for brother to return."

"Mm!"

As Jiang Er nodded heavily, Xu Jin stepped on the stars and entered.

Within the Lower Star Palace, two Bright Era Star Patterns were operating at full power; Xu Jin vaguely sensed that the chaotic and violent Star Power between heaven and earth had already descended. Over Wanyi, in all directions, it was filled with violent and chaotic Star Power. Dawn had not yet arrived, and the firmament was generally pitch black, but the stars in the firmament tonight were exceptionally bright.

Within the Chen Guo National Dao Academy, teams of elites were patrolling over Wanyi, fully prepared.

The city defense of Wanyi had been fully opened, and the starlight flashing from the city defense array was like starlight, lighting up the entire Wanyi.

The positions of the star gates opened by the Star Power turbulence during the Nine Star Tidal Surge were completely random.

That is to say, it was possible to open outside Wanyi, and it was even possible to open in the center of Wanyi, so the vigilance was extremely strict.

In the recorded thousand years, because of bad luck, cities being slaughtered and even countries being destroyed during the Nine Star Tidal Surge were numerous.

Some foreign star gates opened directly in the center of a small city; by the time reinforcements rushed over, they had already been looted, and the people had all been killed.

Therefore, they were so vigilant.

Xu Jin arrived at the second floor of the Star-Plucking Tower; the usually empty hall was already a bit crowded.

The Grand Master, the Great Commandant, the Left and Right Libationers sat high in their seats; other Fifth-tier and Sixth-tier powerhouses, whether Xu Jin knew them or not, such as the four Great Deans and Vice Deans, and a portion of those wearing the Star-Patrol Guard military uniforms—there were at least three or four hundred people, all standing in line waiting quietly.

Xu Jin entered, found a position at the very back, stood in line silently, and then waited quietly.

After waiting for about half an hour, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's Star-Plucking Token suddenly flashed rapidly; one after another, starlight flashed continuously, still flashing three times, all of the ten-thousand-fire-urgent kind.

"Song Ziye, a Fifth-tier Star Domain star gate has appeared in Zhangwu County, Songzhou; take a team of Fifth-tier elites and set off immediately."

"Subordinate receives the order."

The next instant, Song Ziye took ten Fifth-tier experts and quickly teleported away.

Just as Song Ziye teleported away, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had already issued four orders in a row; the teams receiving the orders all teleported away through the Star-Plucking Tower, quickly rushing to support.

The National Dao Academy only sent support when Fourth-tier, Fifth-tier, or Sixth-tier Star Domain star gates appeared.

But it didn't mean that Second-tier or Third-tier Star Domains were ignored.

The Left and Right Libationers, as well as Great Commandant Director Pei Ze, were busy with these things.

When Second-tier, Third-tier, or Fourth-tier Star Domain star gates appeared, they would first prioritize mobilizing the elites of nearby counties through the troop distribution map of Chen Guo's counties.

But there were also those that needed support from the Chen Guo National Dao Academy.

For example, Shancheng County in Jingzhou was relatively unlucky; in a short period of time, a Fourth-tier Star Domain star gate, two Third-tier Star Domain star gates, and a Second-tier Star Domain star gate appeared within its territory. In this situation, the National Dao Academy sent a team of Fifth-tier experts to support.

Within just half an hour, more than half of the five or six hundred elites gathered had left, and the remaining ones were less than a hundred.

But they were all waiting quietly.

Suddenly, Grand Master's expression changed abruptly, and he looked up, "A Seventh-tier Star Domain star gate has appeared in the East County of Leizhou."

Once these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the hall became solemn.

Within a Seventh-tier Star Domain, the strongest was Eighth-tier; although Eighth-tier powerhouses couldn't come out through the star gate, if two or three Seventh-tier powerhouses came out, it would also be very troublesome.

The destructive power of one Seventh-tier powerhouse exceeded ten Sixth-tier ones.

Moreover, even if only one Seventh-tier came out, the Sixth-tier ones accompanying them would be at least five or six, and at most ten or so.

This was already not something ordinary people could handle.

The next instant, Star-Patrol Guard Great Commandant Director Pei Ze stood up with a smile, "Grand Master, let me make a trip."

Cheng Yuexiao also stood up and saluted, "Then I will trouble the Great Commandant; I hope the Great Commandant will be extra careful."

"Grand Master, rest assured."

A few breaths later, Great Commandant Director Pei Ze took five Sixth-tier experts and ten Fifth-tier experts and quickly teleported away.

However, since then, the opening frequency of foreign star gates had significantly decreased, with an urgent report coming every half hour.

But the mobile power in the hall was becoming less and less.

After most of the day, there were only a few people left in the hall.

There were only the Grand Master, Supervisor Chen Liao, Peng Lao, Xu Jin, and two Fifth-tier Vice Deans; everyone else had been sent out.

An hour later, the two Fifth-tier Vice Deans were also sent out.

The Grand Master had already begun to mobilize experts from the Forbidden Army of Wanyi.

The Nine Star Tidal Surge was coming aggressively; in half a day, the prepared support teams had been sent out, and no support teams had returned. Cheng Yuexiao had almost no reinforcements left to send.

An hour later, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's Star-Plucking Token flashed three times again. After reading the message, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao looked at Xu Jin.

"Xu Jin, a Fourth-tier Star Domain star gate suddenly appeared outside Guan County, Yangjiang County, Danzhou; the known Fourth-tier foreign races that have killed their way out are at least dozens. I'll send you there; you have no problem, right?" Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

"No problem," Xu Jin received the order and said.

"Be careful when you go. The East of Yangjiang County previously reported the appearance of a Fifth-tier Star Domain gate, but the power of the county Dao Academy could solve it. Pay attention on the road, don't get entangled in battle. After solving the foreign races and sealing the star gate, return immediately."

While speaking, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao directly threw two Star Jade Tablets to Xu Jin.

One was a Fifth-tier Sealing Jade Tablet, specially made by emblem masters to seal star gates in emergencies.

After killing the foreign races, then use the Sealing Jade Tablet to seal the star gate; as long as it wasn't broken through again within half an hour, it would be fine.

The other jade tablet was a jade tablet used to make Star Domain markers.

These foreign star domains opened within Chen Guo's territory would all have Star Domain markers made, so that in the future, as long as there was an opportunity, Chen Guo would kill its way back to eliminate future trouble.

Although currently, including the Xumi Palace, they hadn't figured out the relationship between the star gate opening positions during the star tide and the corresponding spatial positions.

But according to experience, as long as a star domain had appeared within a certain country's territory, then in future star tides, it would likely appear again in a certain country and open a star gate.

Therefore, after the star tide, all parties would also open temporary star gates according to the made Star Domain markers to kill their way in.

One for revenge, two to weaken them.

Even if the star gate opened again during the star tide in the future, the foreign races would be much weaker.

"Go. I have already sent the information about your support to the Guan County Magistrate and the National Dao Academy disciples in the surrounding areas; they will contact you at any time and tell you the location of the foreign races," the Grand Master instructed.

The next instant, Xu Jin saluted the Grand Master, the Supervisor, and Peng Lao, and stepped into the star gate.

Teleportation: Target Chen Guo, Danzhou, Yangjiang County!

Before his eyes, the starlight of heaven and earth changed, like a dream.

A few breaths later, a sense of weightlessness came; Xu Jin had already set foot on the Star-Plucking Tower branch building in Yangjiang County, Danzhou.

Just as Xu Jin appeared, a Third-tier disciple greeted him. After clarifying his identity and purpose, he immediately pointed out the direction to Xu Jin.

Guan County was five hundred miles west of Yangjiang County.

Xu Jin thanked him, and while stepping on the stars to rise, he looked at Yangjiang County below, and also the east of Yangjiang County.

In the east of Yangjiang County, a huge star gate was swaying and shining in the night, but no shouting or killing came.

However, Yangjiang County was bustling with noise.

Thousands of city guards, holding torches, rushed toward the south of Yangjiang County, with countless figures mixed in the middle.

Xu Jin just glanced at it.

Could it be that a foreign star gate also appeared in the south of Yangjiang County?

But since it was the city guards going to solve it, then even if a foreign star gate appeared, the rank wasn't high.

Moreover, everything was coordinated by the Grand Master.

The next instant, Xu Jin stepped on the stars and went straight toward Guan County.

A distance of five hundred miles, for ordinary people, couldn't be reached in a day or two, but for Xu Jin, it didn't take much time.

Especially since Xu Jin was anxious about the situation in Guan County, he flew at full speed all the way.

In less than half a quarter of an hour, he saw Guan County, and saw the huge star gate outside Guan County.

At this time, that huge star gate was continuously rushing out Third-tier and Fourth-tier Eight Desolation foreign races.

The next instant, Xu Jin rushed over instantly.

The Cover Moon Sword had already begun to circle and whistle.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 297 =====