Chapter 334: Warning and Reinforcements? (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

"Lei Ling, I'm entrusting him to you. Convince him well—if he surrenders, he'll become a valuable subordinate."

Finding a safe spot, Xu Jin directly tossed the unconscious King of Thunder Eagles to the King of Thunder Spirits, instructing him to begin the persuasion.

Letting the King of Thunder Spirits speak first would greatly increase the chance of subduing the King of Thunder Eagles.

As an afterthought, Xu Jin tossed him a Three-Variant Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixir.

For subordinates who take their duties seriously, you must always offer a sweet incentive.

This elixir—even a sixth-rank cultivator would fight over it, let alone a seventh-rank. It's an absolute treasure.

"My Lord, what is this?"

"Something excellent. Eat and refine it before you go persuade him," Xu Jin said.

The King of Thunder Spirits had no suspicion—he swallowed it whole right before Xu Jin's eyes.

Xu Jin controlled his very life and death; there was no need for tricks.

Even if it were truly poison, he'd still swallow it without hesitation.

The King of Thunder Spirits understood this clearly.

In the next instant, joy surged in the King of Thunder Spirits' eyes. "My Lord, this is—"

"Refine it first!"

"Yes!"

The King of Thunder Spirits immediately found a spot, sat cross-legged, and began refining the elixir's power.

Xu Jin then handed the other two bottles of Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixir to Ji Hongli. "Take one each morning and evening—it should enhance your soul power. Go refine it now."

Ji Hongli recognized the elixir at once and pushed it back. "Senior Brother Qi, I already have Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixir. When I left, my grandfather gave me four bottles, telling me to take one daily—it would raise my soul cultivation by four ranks and two sub-levels."

"Take one and refine it first."

In the next instant, seeing Ji Hongli still resisting, Xu Jin glared. "What? Are you refusing orders now?"

"Oh, I'll go right away."

Ji Hongli nodded dejectedly and stepped aside to take and refine the elixir.

This scene made Lei Jie and the other three stare enviously. "If you work hard and give your all, you won't be left out. Stand guard for now."

"We obey your orders, My Lord!" The four sixth-rank Thunder Spirits instantly perked up with renewed vigor.

There was a future ahead!

After making arrangements, Xu Jin dragged over the unconscious Sacred Clan messenger.

Though his limbs had been severed, his ninth-layer fifth-rank cultivation ensured he wouldn't die.

First, he searched the body.

He found nothing useful—not even the Sacred Clan Golden Token the man had shown earlier.

It must be stored in a Numinous Space. After interrogation, kill him, then carefully extract the contents of his Numinous Space to see if there's anything else of value.

In the next instant, Xu Jin activated Wen Meng and began interrogation.

"What's your name?"

"Ju Jiu."

"Why are you here?"

"By the Young Master's command, I've come to subdue the kings of the Spring Thunder Star Region and link it to our ancestral cave heaven, helping our ancestral cave heaven firmly establish itself in this starry expanse."

This answer sent a chill through Xu Jin.

If Ju Jiu had been exaggerating or lying during his earlier talks with the King of Thunder Spirits and King of Thunder Eagles, it was possible.

But under Wen Meng's interrogation, he could not lie—it was absolute truth.

Xu Jin had intended to ask who the Young Master was, where they came from, and more.

But before the questions left his lips, he forcibly stopped himself.

These critical questions—who knew if the man had set soul seals?

From Ju Jiu's soul cultivation and the single-use soul defense previously inscribed on his Star Palace, his master's soul power was formidable.

Asking the wrong question and triggering a seal would be a disaster.

Better to ask indirect questions first and gather intelligence.

"How many people did you send on this mission? Or rather, how many targets?"

"Thirty messengers, thirty targets—eighteen fifth-rank star regions and twelve fourth-rank star regions."

"Which star regions specifically?"

"The fifth-rank star regions include—"

Boom!

The moment Ju Jiu was about to name the specific star regions, his head exploded like a watermelon—shattered into fragments.

Xu Jin was speechless.

He'd been careful—but still triggered the soul seal.

A pity—the most critical information was still unobtained.

But as a warning, it was already enough.

The Sacred Clan emissary had dispatched thirty messengers: eighteen fifth-rank star regions, twelve fourth-rank star regions.

Xu Jin didn't know what would happen when these star regions linked to the so-called ancestral cave heaven—or what the Sacred Clan emissary would gain!

But even without other considerations, if all eighteen fifth-rank star regions were linked, at least forty newly promoted seventh-ranks would join the emissary's ranks.

Possibly fifty, even sixty.

Most fifth-rank star regions had at least three star kings.

Fifty seventh-ranks.

If organized and allowed to break free from their star regions and strike into the Star River Battlefield, this force would be terrifying.

Under surprise conditions, it could even sweep across the entire Star River Battlefield.

The consequences of this discovery were incalculable.

At that moment, Xu Jin made his decision: issue a warning.

He must return to the Star River Battlefield in the shortest possible time, alert the current human factions through multiple channels, and compel them to intervene before the Sacred Clan messengers could subdue the star regions and link them to the ancestral cave heaven.

As for how to intervene—it was simple: send elite cultivators into the fifth-rank star regions to sabotage the process.

Of course, how exactly to do that was the concern of the Star River Command, the leaders of the current human factions, and the various Star Juniors.

Leave the Spring Thunder Star Region in the shortest possible time.

Xu Jin had decided: if the King of Thunder Eagles showed sense and surrendered, he'd accept it; if he was too stubborn, kill him outright.

Let the King of Thunder Spirits handle the conquest and unification of the Spring Thunder Star Region.

No time to waste.

Even the Thunder Spirit Capital and Thunder Eagle Capital, and the previously discovered site of the Azure Water Spirit Marrow, wouldn't be visited—first, issue the warning.

Come back later to harvest resources and explore.

Xu Jin now controlled half the celestial will of the Spring Thunder Star Region—nearly a demi-god here. Its resources were like meat stewed in the pot—no one could take them away.

In the next instant, Xu Jin's powerful soul force enveloped Ju Jiu's corpse and activated the Five Mingji Star Patterns to their full potential.

Under the intense perception of the Five Mingji Star Patterns, Xu Jin instantly detected a faint spatial fluctuation within Ju Jiu's corpse.

It must be his Numinous Space.

Slowly, his soul force oozed forth, gently drawing out the contents of the Numinous Space.

After a few breaths, a pile of items tumbled out.

Not much.

Ju Jiu had only barely fourth-rank soul power—his Numinous Space was small.

A few garments, two bottles of elixirs Xu Jin had never seen, a token—the very Sacred Clan Golden Token he had shown earlier.

Its aura was unique and immense, but inert.

To prevent danger, Xu Jin sealed it and stored it in his own Numinous Space.

There was also a palm-sized array disc, shimmering with starlight.

Xu Jin understood—this must be the Ancestral Star Nexus Array Disc Ju Jiu had mentioned, capable of linking this star region to the ancestral cave heaven.

Xu Jin tried channeling star power into it—and frowned.

Star power wouldn't enter. Did this Ancestral Star Nexus Array Disc require a special method—or bloodline power—to activate?

Curious, Xu Jin tried activating it with his soul force. In the next instant, his soul perception plunged deep into the disc.

The palm-sized disc instantly rose into the air, expanding into a massive array spanning hundreds of meters. Xu Jin instinctively understood its function: activating it required the celestial authority of this star region.

At least fifty percent of the celestial authority.

But it did not require the celestial star will force.

The Sacred Clan messenger Ju Jiu had lied to the King of Thunder Spirits and King of Thunder Eagles.

The celestial star will force Xu Jin had obtained—or that the King of Thunder Spirits and others had previously held—could be divided into two parts.

One was the celestial authority of this star region; the other was its vessel: the celestial star will rules inherent to this star region's heavens.

Just like Xu Jin's forged Fire Spirit Heart—it was pure fire-element celestial star will rule force.

But the celestial authority of the former coexisting star regions—Red Scale Star Region, Fire Bamboo Star Region, Fire Cloud Star Region, etc. still existed, merely separated.

So, was Ju Jiu's deception his own act?

Or was it ordered by the Sacred Clan emissary?

If it was his own act, it was manageable.

But if this was arranged by the Holy Clan's Special Envoy, then it means this Special Envoy not only seeks to link the Star Realms with the Ancestral Realm's Cave Heaven, but also plots to seize the cosmic will and rules of these star realms.

If the cosmic will and rule power of thirty star realms were concentrated in one person, how powerful would that person become?

Xu Jin could not imagine!

Even now, having acquired only partial cosmic will and rule power from a dozen star realms, he had grown so strong.

And that was only a portion.

What about thirty?

Although Xu Jin's current combat boost does not come entirely from his Inner Fire Spirit Heart or Thunder Spirit Heart.

Yet the cosmic will and rule power within him—such as the Fire Spirit Heart, Thunder Spirit Heart, and Earth Spirit Heart—provide him with a major portion of his additional combat enhancement.

That is the source of the power that makes him stronger than others.

Simply put, if two individuals have identical cultivation base, identical Star Art and Star Rune tiers, and identical Divine Soul cultivation, the one possessing lower-tier cosmic will and rule power has an extremely high chance of victory.

The one possessing two low-tier ones will surely win.

The one possessing three or four low-tier ones, or even a single mid-tier or higher, possesses the power to instantly kill the opponent.

The importance is evident.

Xu Jin does not know the Special Envoy's cultivation level, but regardless of his rank, if he acquires the cosmic will and rule power of thirty—or even fifteen—star realms, he will be unbeatable within his own tier.

Instantly kill peers!

Absolutely capable of challenging higher tiers!

"Regardless, I must warn the mortal realm at once!"

In the next instant, Xu Jin retracted his Divine Soul force, sealed the Ancestral Realm Star Pivot Array plate with multiple layers of restrictions, and tossed it into the Sumeru Space.

It might prove immensely useful in the future.

"Lord! Your servant thanks you for this gift!"

Xu Jin had just finished, when the Thunder Spirit King, having fully absorbed the Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixir, rushed over, knelt before Xu Jin on one knee, his expression brimming with ecstatic joy.

Xu Jin already knew why.

The Thunder Spirit King's Divine Soul cultivation had broken through.

Previously at the late stage of Fourth Tier, Second Layer, he had now ascended to Fourth Tier, Third Layer.

Such a breakthrough meant little to Xu Jin.

But to the Thunder Spirit King, it was monumental.

For these star realm alien races, cultivating Divine Soul power was excruciatingly difficult, relying solely on slow, grinding progress.

As king of the Thunder Spirit Clan, he had spent over a hundred years just to reach late-stage Fourth Tier, Second Layer.

Under normal circumstances, to advance from late-stage Fourth Tier, Second Layer to Fourth Tier, Third Layer, even under ideal conditions, he would need at least three years.

And that was the best-case scenario.

Normally, after three years, his cultivation would merely reach the peak of Fourth Tier, Second Layer, requiring another year of gradual accumulation before even a chance of breakthrough.

But now, his Lord had granted him a single elixir—and he had broken through.

One elixir, saving three to four years of grueling effort.

No wonder he was stunned with joy!

"Do well. You've done well—rewards will not be lacking. Go persuade the Thunder Hawk King to surrender. I have other plans." Xu Jin said.

"Yes, Your servant goes at once."

The Thunder Spirit King immediately rushed off to persuade the Thunder Hawk King.

Suddenly, Ji Hongli walked over and carefully returned the two bottles of Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixir Xu Jin had just given her.

It was still the same two bottles he had given her.

"Senior Brother Qi, these are too precious—I dare not accept them. Each of your elixirs is worth six of mine, and in value, more than ten times greater." Ji Hongli said.

Looking at Ji Hongli, Xu Jin smiled.

This little fish had clear boundaries—she knew what to accept and what not to.

"Bring me your four bottles of Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixir."

"What?"

"Your four bottles of Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixir—all of them, give them to me." Xu Jin extended his hand.

Though puzzled, Ji Hongli handed over her four bottles of Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixir.

Xu Jin took them, then pushed the two bottles back toward Ji Hongli. "I'll keep your four. Use these—they raise your cultivation and combat power faster."

"Also, from now on, any ordinary Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixir you obtain, give it all to me."

"It's an exchange."

"How can this be an exchange, Senior Brother Qi? Your elixirs are worth ten times mine!" Ji Hongli exclaimed.

"Listen to me! In addition, all spoils from future battles will be allocated and disposed of by me alone—you get no share. This is one condition for you using these elixirs."

"But the value—"

"Then train hard, and prove greater value in battle."

"And obey me." Xu Jin said.

"Yes, alright, I'll try!" After all, she was a woman of the martial world, with a straightforward spirit—Ji Hongli nodded firmly, accepting.

"By the way, don't tell anyone about this elixir—not your grandfather, not your grandmother, not even the State Advisor. Can you do that?" Xu Jin asked.

"I can."

This time, Ji Hongli answered with unhesitating certainty.

Xu Jin trusted Ji Hongli's word, yet still felt some unease.

To keep his Dantai's elixir cultivation secret, mere verbal warnings were insufficient.

He needed to find a Divine Soul restriction technique—only then would he feel truly secure.

Only then would accidents be less likely.

Xu Jin believed Ji Hongli's promise—but he did not trust the transcendent forces of this world.

Like Wen Meng—or other powers like Wen Meng.

They could effortlessly extract the deepest secrets of a person's mind.

I'll ask the Grand State Advisor later.

After calming Ji Hongli, Xu Jin was about to retrieve the seventh-tier Star Core he had seized earlier—but the moment he pulled it out, the five-tenths of cosmic authority he controlled over the Spring Thunder Star Realm trembled.

A profoundly repulsive aura surged forth.

Xu Jin's mind instantly sank inward, sensing overwhelming rejection within the cosmic authority.

An intruder's aura had appeared.

Someone had invaded the Fifth-Tier Spring Thunder Star Realm!

In the past, Xu Jin would have assumed it was a mortal human.

But now, the appearance of the Holy Clan's Special Envoy had shattered his old understanding.

Other alien races could also enter the Fifth-Tier Spring Thunder Star Realm.

Recalling the Holy Clan envoy he had just slain, Xu Jin's mind leapt—could this be the reinforcement sent by the Special Envoy mentioned by Ju Jiukou?

In the next instant, Xu Jin's mind traced the intruder's presence!

(End of Chapter)