Chapter 301: How Dares He?

Inside the second floor of the main tower of the Great Chen Star-Plucking Tower.

State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao was handling starlight messages flooding in like snowflakes, sending out orders through starlight transmission while simultaneously recording entries on another jade tablet.

Only someone with a powerful Divine Soul cultivation base could manage this; any ordinary person would be overwhelmed.

The Nine-Star Tide had already entered its second day, and the number of opened Star Domains was dwindling.

But each opening still imposed a burden on Great Chen at this moment.

The entire second-floor hall held only the State Tutor and Peng Lao.

One commanding from afar, one holding the State Dao Academy in place—there was little mobile force left.

Fortunately, thanks to Xu Jin, the addition of two Seventh-Rank and several Sixth-Rank talents had already proven its worth.

Dong Zhao, former disciple of the former State Tutor, had broken through to Sixth Rank and displayed extraordinary combat prowess; he had already completed his first sealed star-gate mission and, without returning, was directly ordered by State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao to shift and reinforce another location.

Similarly, Meng Yanhui and Kou Jing, both newly elevated to Seventh Rank, had already been dispatched to reinforce the second location.

Cheng Yuexiao still remembered the last Nine-Star Tide, when he, as State Tutor, had no time to sit idle—he was forced to take the field himself.

Along the way, he constantly shifted battlefronts, fought enemies, and issued commands on the fly.

By the end, he was dazed; after the battle, he slept for a full day before recovering.

This Nine-Star Tide was completely different.

What about the next one?

By the next Nine-Star Tide, things should be even more relaxed.

After all, the benefits brought by this super-talent Xu Jin have only just begun to show; once fully absorbed over two or three years, Great Chen nine years from now will be an entirely new Great Chen.

As he thought this, State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao's face broke into a genuine smile.

Suddenly, Cheng Yuexiao glanced at the water clock, his brow furrowing—why hadn't Xu Jin returned yet?

It had been over fifteen minutes since Xu Jin sent his last starlight message and departed from Guan County.

Theoretically, he should have arrived within fifteen minutes.

Could something have happened to him?

"Peng Lao, ask Xu Jin where he is—why hasn't he arrived yet?"

Cheng Yuexiao casually gave the order, then sank his mind into the Star-Plucking Talisman, continuing to process the snowfall of official duties within it.

Peng Lao immediately set down his tasks, accepted the order, and sent a starlight message to Xu Jin.

But his brow immediately knitted again.

He tried once more—still failed. His expression turned grave.

"Lord, we cannot reach him."

"Cannot reach him? What does that mean?" Cheng Yuexiao looked up, startled.

"Lord, the starlight message failed to send!" Peng Lao said.

Cheng Yuexiao was stunned; in an instant, he dropped his current duties and sent a starlight message directly to Xu Jin—displayed: send failed.

Cheng Yuexiao's expression turned utterly grim.

Only he understood this situation—even Peng Lao did not.

A failed starlight message meant Xu Jin's Second-Rank Star-Plucking Talisman was no longer within the Star-Plucking Tower's coverage range.

But based on Xu Jin's last known location, that was virtually impossible.

Unless an absolute top-tier expert had ambushed Xu Jin, killed him instantly, and tossed his Star-Plucking Talisman into a Numinous Space.

But Xu Jin carried several Sixth-Rank Inscribed Seals, possessed a powerful Divine Soul, and had the Mingji Star Pattern of the Spirit Record Star Palace to warn him—in theory, even a Seventh-Rank expert couldn't ambush him.

Unless it was someone of the caliber of the Solar Star Lord or the Azure Star Lord!

Only then could Xu Jin be killed before he could even send a warning or call for help.

Is that possible?

Yes.

Normally, the Solar Star Lord and Azure Star Lord couldn't enter without triggering his detection via teleportation.

But if they concealed their presence entirely, suppressed their aura, and flew at low speed, they could slip into Great Chen silently.

Someone like the Solar Star Lord? He truly might do it.

But even then, even the Solar Star Lord wouldn't have time—yet here it was.

In an instant, the blood drained from State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao's face.

He leapt to his feet—dizziness and vertigo struck him instantly; after one breath, he steadied himself.

"Peng Lao, you hold the line—I'm going to find Xu Jin."

In an instant, State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao used his Star-Plucking Talisman to select the Star Gate in Yangjiang County, Danzhou—star gate appeared, he stepped through!

Bang!

He was violently bounced back, as if hitting a stone wall!

Teleportation failed.

Cheng Yuexiao froze.

In panic, he was momentarily unable to react.

Peng Lao stepped forward, steadying Cheng Yuexiao, and asked in surprise, "Lord, teleportation blocked? Could the Star-Plucking Tower have suffered an accident?"

It was Peng Lao's words that snapped Cheng Yuexiao back to awareness—hope stirred in his chest again.

If the Star-Plucking Tower had suffered an accident, then Xu Jin was not necessarily dead.

But how could the Star-Plucking Tower suffer an accident?

The Star-Plucking Tower had existed for thousands of years—never once had an accident occurred, unless it was deliberate!

At that thought, the blood drained from Cheng Yuexiao's face once more.

If it was deliberate, then only he and the one in the Imperial Palace could accomplish this.

In an instant, Cheng Yuexiao sank his mind into the Star-Plucking Talisman, activating his authority over the main tower to check the status of the Danzhou Yangjiang County Star-Plucking Branch Tower.

He looked—and his face turned ashen.

Closed.

Forced shut—locked in Tower Lockdown mode.

Only the Emperor himself could bypass him to lock down a Star-Plucking Branch Tower.

His mind raced—he couldn't fathom what Emperor Gan'an intended.

For Xu Jin's Golden Star?

But Xu Jin had already deduced the Earth-Origin Star Pattern.

He simply hadn't delivered it yet.

"Forget it—save Xu Jin first!"

This was State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao's immediate decision.

But saving Xu Jin had two paths: one, Cheng Yuexiao teleports to Danzhou, where the Star-Plucking Branch Tower operates normally.

That way, he could reach Danzhou without alerting Emperor Gan'an, then fly at full speed for roughly two hundred breaths to arrive at Yangjiang County.

The second path: Cheng Yuexiao uses his main tower authority to reboot the Yangjiang County Star-Plucking Branch Tower—then he could arrive in mere seconds, but the downside: it would alert Emperor Gan'an.

He weighed it for a single instant—and made his decision.

The second path.

Whether he was alerted or not—didn't matter.

Save Xu Jin first.

If a Seventh-Rank or even Eighth-Rank expert had struck, two hundred breaths would be enough to kill Xu Jin a hundred times over.

"Peng Lao, issue orders: State Dao Academy on full alert!

Activate the Academy's protective array!

From this moment, no one enters or leaves without my command—anyone who forces entry, kill!" As he gave the order, Cheng Yuexiao threw his official seal to Peng Lao, temporarily entrusting him with it.

"Yes!"

Peng Lao clasped the seal with both hands, his expression now grim beyond measure.

In the next instant, Cheng Yuexiao activated his authority over the main Star-Plucking Tower, reactivating the Danzhou Yangjiang County Star-Plucking Branch Tower—the star gate flickered and reappeared.

But before stepping into the gate, Cheng Yuexiao paused and added, "Peng Lao—even if the Imperial Palace sends someone, do not let them in!

Force entry? Kill!"

In the next instant, Cheng Yuexiao stepped into the teleportation gate and vanished instantly, leaving Peng Lao standing there, gasping.

Was this the work of the one in the Imperial Palace?

But no matter what, Peng Lao would firmly and resolutely carry out the State Tutor's orders—that was the tradition of Danxia Palace!

Inside the Imperial Palace, Emperor Gan'an, gazing toward Danzhou from the Getyue Pavilion, suddenly felt his Star-Plucking Talisman tremble slightly—he sank his mind into it and saw his face darken.

The half-day lockdown he had imposed on the Yangjiang County Star-Plucking Branch Tower had been forcibly lifted and reactivated.

Only State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao could do this in all of Great Chen.

He had been discovered!

Even more infuriating to Emperor Gan'an Gao Ye was that Cheng Yuexiao, knowing full well it was his order, had not even bothered to seek his approval—he had simply broken it.

He was growing increasingly arrogant.

He no longer respected him at all!

After his fury, Emperor Gan'an's brow locked tight.

The discovery of the Yangjiang Branch Tower meant his plans there would be exposed.

If that matter gets exposed, it'll be trouble.

The Emperor of Qian'an had no concern for his own safety.

He feared the scheme would be ruined—if Chu Zheng failed to break through this time, it would be even harder later!

And his imperial son, the Fourth Prince, Xin Wang, who most resembled him!

The State Master could not touch this emperor, but dealing with Chu Zheng and the Fourth Prince Xin Wang? That was easy.

Suddenly, the Emperor of Qian'an turned toward the empty air behind him and whispered, "Chief Eunuch, Chu Zheng's matter may have been discovered by Cheng Yuexiao. Could you go check? Whatever it takes, stop Cheng Yuexiao from sabotaging this."

The hunched, eighth-rank Chief Eunuch materialized from the void, bowed slightly to the Emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, by ancestral law, those who wield the Nine Sheng Bells may not be touched by this servant."

"Chief Eunuch, you know the situation—if Cheng Yuexiao ruins this, Chu Zheng won't just fail to break through—he might lose his life!"

"Your Majesty, the State Master is the empire's pillar, the anchor of Chen Guo. You should consult him more on state affairs," the Chief Eunuch replied calmly.

This finally enraged the Emperor of Qian'an, who shouted, "Chief Eunuch, are you refusing my order?"

"Your Majesty, my duty is to protect you and safeguard the palace. As long as I remain within these walls, I will not let what happened twenty years ago repeat." With that, the Chief Eunuch bowed and vanished back into the void.

Only the Emperor of Qian'an remained, raging impotently, his face dark with fury.

But the Emperor of Qian'an still sought to act.

He sank his thoughts once more into the Star-Picking Token and instantly sent a command to the State Master, Cheng Yuexiao.

【State Master, I have an urgent matter—come to the palace at once.】

Several breaths passed. No response.

The Emperor of Qian'an sent another decree: 【State Master, return to the palace immediately—this is an imperial order. There is an urgent matter.】

Still no response. The Emperor's face turned black with rage.

In the valley east of Yangjiang County, watching the Fourth Prince Xin Wang's head explode under Xu Jin's grip, Chief Eunuch Chu Zheng felt a chill race up his spine.

The Fourth Prince Xin Wang!

The future Crown Prince!

He'd just been killed by Xu Jin!

Regicide!

This was equivalent to regicide!

For Chief Eunuch Chu Zheng, who had served the imperial family since childhood and whose mind was stamped with the absolute supremacy of the imperial clan, this was shattering.

For a moment, he felt terror.

In that instant, Chu Zheng wanted to kill Xu Jin.

Only by killing Xu Jin could he slightly appease the Emperor of Qian'an's fury.

In that moment, Chu Zheng forgot the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Array.

But as he was about to break free from the array, he hesitated for a heartbeat.

If he left now, all his efforts would be wasted!

If he failed to break through, his value—

his future—

But if he didn't kill Xu Jin, he couldn't break through either.

As Chu Zheng hesitated, the seventh-rank, second-layer eunuch he had dispatched suddenly appeared as a shower of starlight, bowing: "Great Eunuch, no one above seventh-rank has been detected nearby."

Earlier, Chu Zheng had sent this man to scout.

Two purposes: reconnaissance, and baiting the enemy.

If Cheng Yuexiao truly came, this seventh-rank eunuch would be the first to spot him—and then he could flee.

Now it seemed Cheng Yuexiao hadn't come; instead, Xu Jin had foolishly walked in.

"Go. Kill Xu Jin. Beware—he may have a sixth-rank rune," Chu Zheng snarled.

"Yes!"

The moment the seventh-rank eunuch accepted the order, Chu Zheng's Star-Picking Token flashed violently.

His face changed instantly—he knew exactly what this meant.

He sank his thoughts into it. It was a starlight message from the Emperor of Qian'an.

The starlight message had two parts.

【How is it going? Have you broken through? What of Xin Wang? Cheng Yuexiao may be coming—withdraw.】

Seeing the latter half of the message, Chu Zheng's body turned icy.

On the other side of the valley, Xu Jin had just crushed the Fourth Prince Xin Wang's head. He now casually obliterated several fourth-rank guards who charged at him like madmen, his expression tense.

His thoughts were locked on the Falling Stars Token, his hand gripping a nurtured sixth-rank rune.

Ready to flee at any moment.

If Chu Zheng attacked, Xu Jin planned to use two nurtured sixth-rank runes to stall him, then escape with the Falling Stars Technique!

Two nurtured sixth-rank runes should buy him a heartbeat—enough time to flee.

Xu Jin had already calmed down and made his plan.

Once he escaped, he must find a way to warn the State Master.

The Yangjiang County Star-Picking Tower was sealed—but the Danzhou one shouldn't be.

The Danzhou Star-Picking Tower branch was heavily used, constantly active. If it were sealed, the State Academy would detect it immediately.

Just then, Xu Jin saw the seventh-rank, second-layer eunuch charging toward him.

If there were only one enemy, Xu Jin might have used every trick he had to fight the seventh-rank eunuch!

With so many nurtured sixth-rank runes, various sixth-rank star arts, and the enhanced star arts from his eighth-rank star pattern—he refused to believe he couldn't wear the man down!

But now, there were too many enemies.

Everyone in the valley except him was an enemy.

If he tangled with this seventh-rank eunuch and even one fifth-rank slipped in a surprise strike, he was done.

So the moment he saw the seventh-rank eunuch charging, Xu Jin made his decision.

Flee first!

The next instant, he prepared to unleash the nurtured sixth-rank runes to stall, activate the Falling Stars Technique, then vanish and stealth.

He had planned every step.

But in that same instant, his Star-Picking Token flashed violently.

Three rapid flashes.

Emergency!

Xu Jin's expression lit up with sudden joy.

A starlight message meant the ban on the Yangjiang Star-Picking Tower might be lifted!

He could reconnect with the outside world.

He could warn the State Master.

As he sank his thoughts into it, he saw a starlight message from State Master Cheng Yuexiao.

【Still alive? If you're in danger, activate the Small Star-Shift Rune immediately!】

One glance, and Xu Jin understood.

He understood everything.

The State Master was coming!

And he was within a thousand li.

The next instant, Xu Jin pulled the Small Star-Shift Rune from his Numinous Space and crushed it instantly.

Almost simultaneously, a massive spatial disturbance erupted.

The seventh-rank, second-layer eunuch had closed to within two or three hundred meters and was about to unleash his full attack—but he was puzzled: why wasn't Xu Jin fleeing or dodging?

He didn't care.

The Great Eunuch had ordered it—he would obey.

Kill Xu Jin!

Suddenly, intense spatial ripples coalesced into a figure beside Xu Jin.

The next instant, the seventh-rank eunuch, who had just been about to strike, froze in terror.

"S-State Master!"

State Master Cheng Yuexiao appeared instantly.

One glance, and he immediately deduced the truth. His mind roared. Fury erupted uncontrollably.

BOOM!

He slapped his palm forward.

The seventh-rank, second-layer eunuch tried to flee.

But the moment he turned, azure light wrapped him instantly, followed by a torrent of flame that pierced through his body, splitting him into countless fragments—then the blazing light incinerated him into nothingness.

Instantly killed.

First, the State Master struck in rage.

Second, the seventh-rank eunuch, seeing the State Master, was so terrified he fled without resistance—hence the devastating effect.

Inside the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Array, Chief Eunuch Chu Zheng had just sent his reply to the Emperor of Qian'an. He planned to flee immediately—but he never expected the State Master to arrive so fast!

Without hesitation, Chu Zheng broke free from the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Array and fled.

CLANG!

The booming sound of the Nine Sheng Bells erupted instantly.

"How dare you, eunuch!"

Amid Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's furious roar, four-colored starlight shot forth from the Nine Sheng Bells, instantly streaking like meteors straight into the back of the eunuch supervisor Chu Zheng, who had turned to flee.

Cheng Yuexiao unleashed his full power.

But Chu Zheng was not like those seventh-rank second-layer palace attendants—he had prepared in advance!

In the instant he fled, he threw up his utmost defense, and behind him appeared a sixth-rank star artifact.

Yet the next instant, the four-colored meteor strikes from the Nine Sheng Bells shattered Chu Zheng's sixth-rank star artifact and defense as easily as felling rotten wood.

A second four-colored meteor struck, obliterating Chu Zheng's physical body outright.

Chu Zheng, now reduced to nothing but his head, froze in shock.

Is he this strong?

When did the Grand Master become this strong?

He, a peak seventh-rank ninth-layer cultivator, couldn't even survive two moves against the Grand Master?

The next instant, a four-colored giant hand seized Chu Zheng's head.

The fear in Chu Zheng's eyes instantly turned to despair.

(End of Chapter)