Chapter 335: Concealing Secret Technique and Ambush

Present-day human race!

Under five-tenths of the celestial authority, Xu Jin not only pinpointed the invader's location immediately but also clearly sensed the invader's aura.

Present-day human race, fifth-rank, ninth-layer peak.

This puzzled Xu Jin—had a present-day human come here?

Could he also be here to hunt alien races in the star domain, like him?

This possibility was quite likely.

A fifth-rank ninth-layer expert daring to roam alone in a fifth-rank star domain must surely possess the combat power to challenge sixth-rank aliens—nine out of ten, he was a genius among present-day humans.

Suddenly, the invader's aura grew faint.

Not that it faded—it was that the celestial will of this star domain's resistance or hostility toward him had weakened, diminishing greatly within a few breaths.

This surprised Xu Jin—could such a technique exist?

If one possessed this technique, entering certain star domains would become vastly less difficult and dangerous.

"Xiao Yu'er, have you sensed the invader?" Xu Jin suddenly asked.

Ji Hongli had assimilated one-tenth of the celestial stellar will—her perception must be extremely keen.

After closing her eyes and sensing for a few breaths, Ji Hongli shook her head.

Xu Jin then turned to Lei Lingwang and Lei Jie, seeking confirmation from them.

If even they could not sense the invader, Xu Jin would have to find this person and try to trade for this method.

Lei Jie shook his head, indicating he sensed no trace of the invader.

Lei Lingwang first shook his head, but then suddenly said, "My Lord, I sensed one invader's aura—in that direction."

Xu Jin was startled, thinking perhaps Lei Lingwang, as a sovereign, was more favored by this realm's celestial will—even he, wielding five-tenths of the celestial authority, could not sense it, yet Lei Lingwang could.

But the next instant, Xu Jin understood the reason.

It was not that Lei Lingwang was more favored—it was that another invader had arrived.

Another invader's aura had descended, from a different direction.

With the five-tenths celestial authority enhancing him, Xu Jin immediately located this one and clearly sensed his aura—another present-day human.

Fifth-rank, ninth-layer.

They must have come together to fight in this star domain.

Two breaths later, the third arrived; the second invader's aura began to fade, vanishing from Lei Lingwang and the others' perception. Three breaths later, the third's aura also began to vanish.

Among everyone present, only Xu Jin, who wielded five-tenths of the celestial authority, could still sense their presence.

Could they be a team-based mercenary squad?

Three members per team, possessing this secret technique to conceal their auras.

This possibility was extremely high.

Because on the Star River Battlefield, mercenary squads—including many guilds and family combat teams—were highly active.

More active than official army operations.

The reason? Simple—hunting gold!

Star domains are dangerous, but within them lie countless opportunities to strike it rich.

Miracles of overnight fortune constantly unfold on the Star River Battlefield.

Xu Jin originally had no intention of interfering—present-day humans, let them hunt what they could, it was their own skill.

As long as they didn't hunt down Lei Lingwang and the other elites he had subdued.

He then took out the seventh-rank star core he had previously seized and began examining it closely.

His soul force instantly sank into it, beginning detailed perception and study.

After only three breaths of study, the hairs on Xu Jin's back stood on end.

Same-type aura.

This star core—more precisely, a star core specially refined—was deadly: it emitted a human aura.

Others might perceive this aura vaguely.

But Xu Jin, who bore the Mingji Star Pattern, sensed every minute detail.

This must have been a star core extracted from the star palace of a seventh-rank human, a common fire-type star core, refined by a master into something resembling a talisman, capable of unleashing astonishing attacks.

No wonder the Holy Clan envoy claimed it could instantly kill a sixth-rank ninth-layer peak.

Not boasting.

The star technique sealed within this seventh-rank star core could indeed do it.

Moreover, unlike a talisman, this item was not single-use—it could be activated multiple times, at least twice or more.

The Holy Clan actually possessed such technology.

Did that mean, in the eyes of the Holy Clan, humans were merely cultivation materials?

At first, Xu Jin's spine chilled—but soon, he relaxed, or rather, understood.

This was clan warfare.

Just as he harvested alien star cores.

In the mountains, tigers eat humans, and hunters kill prey—even hunt tigers.

No right or wrong.

Only sides.

Only strength!

Once he understood this, Xu Jin's desire to return to the Star River Battlefield grew even more urgent.

He must return to the present world in the shortest time possible, report this to the Grand State Master, and have the Grand State Master warn all factions in the present world and organize a response!

Instantly, Xu Jin turned his gaze to Lei Yingwang, the one Lei Lingwang had persuaded to surrender—his killing intent surged.

He had no patience left.

"Still unwilling?" Xu Jin walked up to Lei Yingwang with a dark face. Lei Lingwang immediately bowed deeply. "My Lord, he's already tempted, but still hesitating. Please give me a little more time."

"I have no time."

Xu Jin's face darkened as he stared at Lei Yingwang. "I ask you one last time—will you surrender?"

As he spoke, the fluctuation of Earth's Primordial Magnetism rose in his palm.

If Lei Yingwang uttered even half a word of refusal, Xu Jin would crush his skull with one palm, seize the celestial stellar will he controlled over the Spring Thunder Star Domain, store the corpse in the Nirmala Space, then give Lei Lingwang some talismans to command the army and begin unifying the Spring Thunder Star Domain.

There would surely be setbacks.

But all other sovereigns were already dead—unification was merely a matter of time.

"I surrender!"

"I surrender!"

As Lei Yingwang's voice rang out, Lei Lingwang stared in shock, then kicked him hard. "You damn eagle! I've pleaded with you for ages, and you pretended to resist—were you playing me?"

Seeing Xu Jin's dark expression, Lei Lingwang quickly added, "It's still Your Lord's divine might!"

Lei Yingwang's face—the sharp, eagle-like visage of his race—wrinkled into a bitter gourd.

He wasn't pretending!

This present-day human was terrifying!

He cultivated a sensing secret technique—he had truly, unmistakably sensed this present-day human's killing intent.

If he'd held out any longer, he would have been dead!

His earlier hesitation with Lei Lingwang was just to squeeze out a better price for his surrender.

He never expected this present-day human to be so ruthless.

Asked once—and he'd kill.

He felt that if he'd knelt even a fraction slower, he'd already be dead!

"Smart of you. Hand over the celestial stellar will you control, then open your soul!" Xu Jin, impatient, ordered with a dark face.

Lei Yingwang said nothing—he immediately surrendered the one celestial stellar will he controlled.

Only one-tenth!

Xu Jin frowned slightly but said nothing.

This much, once Lei Yingwang opened his soul and came under his control, Xu Jin would know everything clearly—no need to worry about hidden tricks.

Xu Jin directly tossed the celestial stellar will into the Nirmala Space, not bothering to refine it yet.

He swiftly implanted a control seal into Lei Yingwang's soul, ready to give orders.

After giving orders, he planned to leave.

But as he was about to speak, Xu Jin's brow suddenly furrowed.

Wrong!

The three invader present-day human auras were heading in three different directions.

The three directions, viewed broadly, pointed toward the capital cities of the Lei Clan, the Water Spirit Clan, and the Lei Ying Clan.

This made no sense.

Even the most reckless mercenary squad, if entering a fifth-rank star domain to hunt gold, would prioritize grouping together—not splitting up to charge straight toward three royal capitals.

Wouldn't that be suicide?

Even Xu Jin himself had to carefully plan strategy and tactics when entering the three royal capitals.

One misstep, and he'd be destroyed body and soul!

Something's wrong!

These three are definitely suspicious!

Previously, their behavior could still be reasonably explained as that of a mercenary squad.

But their current actions cannot be explained by any mercenary squad.

Reversing their earlier behavior suggests one possibility—highly organized discipline!

If this had been Xu Jin a few months ago, he might not have cared.

The road is wide; everyone walks their own path.

This Spring Thunder Star Region isn't Xu Jin's personal domain.

But Xu Jin, after enduring so much deceit and treachery, now thinks entirely differently.

His vigilance is also completely different—he's considered many possibilities.

Especially the alien races within the Spring Thunder Star Region, whose combat power is extraordinarily high, speed is extreme, and danger is immense.

Just half a day after Xu Jin entered, three of them arrived—this demands serious thought.

The danger here must be eliminated!

"Xiao Yuer, Lei Ling, you two assist Lei Ying in reorganizing Lei Ying Wangcheng. Lei Ling, Lei Ying—you two first clear out the sixth-rank beings inside Lei Ying Wangcheng; leave them to you. Make them all release their spirit cores so Xiao Yuer can control them!

Do it well, and you'll be rewarded.

If you mess it up!

Hmph!"

The next instant, Xu Jin shot into the sky, his speed pushed to its limit by triple Flowing Flash plus a fifty-percent enhancement from celestial authority.

Xu Jin estimated his speed might exceed 1500 meters per second.

Three li per second.

Unfortunately, this speed only works within the Spring Thunder Star Region.

Outside the Spring Thunder Star Region, such astonishing speed vanishes.

The nearest present-world invader was roughly a thousand li away.

In less than five minutes, Xu Jin had closed the distance to less than a hundred li.

Mainly because this one was heading toward Lei Ying Wangcheng, flying directly toward Xu Jin.

At fifty li, Xu Jin instantly vanished, then continuously adjusted his direction, waiting along the invader's inevitable path.

Ten breaths later, a human figure, partially concealed even while flying, appeared in Xu Jin's perception.

This concealment technique was clever; even at high speed, he was nearly impossible to detect unless very close.

The next instant, a vast surge of spirit core energy erupted.

Break the Curse!

Xu Jin held nothing back.

The fifth-rank ninth-layer human didn't even react—he spurted blood from eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, plummeting from the sky. Xu Jin instantly flashed forward, his palm touching the man's forehead as Wen Meng activated.

Enhanced Dream Induction!

As he forcibly dragged the man into the dream, Xu Jin's expression grew darker.

Something's wrong.

If this were truly a member of a mercenary squad hunting gold, such weak skill would have gotten him killed long ago.

Moreover, his spirit core cultivation was only Star Refining seventh layer—he hadn't even broken through to the fourth rank.

Typically, experts who venture into star regions to hunt gold must have broken through to the fourth rank.

Without breaking the fourth rank, you cannot open a Numinous Space—you can't carry away much of anything you acquire.

Even if you could carry a hundred or a thousand jin of loot, you'd just be a living target!

After landing, Xu Jin carefully found a spot and began interrogating with Wen Meng.

"What are you here for?"

"By order of our Minister, we've been sent to scout the condition of the Spring Thunder Star Region."

Xu Jin dared not directly ask critical questions, fearing he'd trigger a spirit core seal.

But questions about missions like this are generally safe.

Spirit core seals aren't something anyone can casually cast; they wouldn't apply one just for every mission.

"What specific conditions of the Spring Thunder Star Region are you scouting?"

"The Minister said powerful beings are hunting the kings of the Spring Thunder Star Region. We're to investigate the kings' status—if any king perishes, immediately notify the Minister via secret method."

Xu Jin's face darkened instantly.

They're truly targeting him.

Indeed, his judgment was correct.

A mercenary squad would never head straight for the three royal cities.

Xu Jin had wanted to ask who the Minister was, but held back—it was a critical question.

"How do you conceal your aura? How do you avoid being targeted by the Spring Thunder Star Region's celestial forces and avoided by its alien races?" Xu Jin asked.

This question was crucial.

If he obtained the answer, its value would be incalculable.

"It's a secret technique passed down by our Minister."

Xu Jin had wanted to ask for the technique itself, but dared not—past experience warned him!

"What do you need to use for this secret technique?"

"To activate this technique, you must prepare the star core and blood of the native alien races of the target star region."

At these words, a thunderclap exploded in Xu Jin's mind.

A question he'd been pondering suddenly found direction.

Previously, Xu Jin had tried every method with Lei Ling Wang's inherited blood, yet could not decipher the star patterns within or attain insight.

Yet he could clearly sense the star patterns were there.

He always felt something was missing!

He always sensed that a human trying to comprehend alien inheritance star patterns needed some medium.

But he couldn't pinpoint what.

Hearing "alien blood and star core" now instantly reminded him.

Perhaps that's what was missing.

In the future, he could try using alien star cores and blood to attempt comprehending the star patterns in the inherited blood.

If he could master them, his sources of star patterns would multiply!

Priceless!

Simultaneously, Xu Jin now roughly understood why concealing one's aura required the blood and star core of native alien races.

It must be a disguise technique—most likely using secret methods to activate the alien's blood and star core, coating the user's body to deceive the celestial will of this star region.

No, the celestial will could not be deceived.

Xu Jin himself could detect them.

It must be a technique that drastically weakens their presence, preventing ordinary alien races from noticing them.

Xu Jin still dared not ask directly about the technique.

Such a technique was almost certainly sealed with a spirit core restriction.

He couldn't ask about the technique, but could ask indirectly.

"What is the first step in activating this technique?"

"First, draw out the star force from the alien's star core."

"What's the second step?"

"Then inject the star force drawn from the alien's star core into the blood?"

"What's the third step?"

"Inject the alien star core-infused blood into…"

Boom!

The present-world human's head exploded violently.

Clearly, he had triggered a spirit core restriction—touched upon the critical secret technique.

After searching his body, the man was pitifully poor: a few life-saving talismans, all fifth-rank, mostly enhancing speed—none were sixth-rank.

Aside from that, only two special communication talismans and a few elixirs—nothing else.

After thinking, Xu Jin instantly soared into the sky, heading in another direction.

Half a minute later, another present-world human flying toward Hanbing Wangcheng was ambushed and captured alive by Xu Jin.

A minute later, a fifth-rank ninth-layer present-world human flying toward Lei Ling Wangcheng was ambushed, captured, and rendered unconscious.

Xu Jin dared not conduct any further critical interrogations.

One wrong question, and the head explodes.

Not only would he gain no information, he'd risk alerting the enemy.

But Xu Jin's past life was a world where language could be twisted into art.

Terms like "Wolong Fengchu," "family members," "honest people"—their meanings shifted enough to shock the ancients!

Can't ask directly? Then ask in circles.

"Has your so-called Minister set up ambushes outside the Star River Passage?"

I don't know.

Has this ever happened before?

Given how meticulously this was arranged, such an event could not possibly be the first.

"Three months ago, there was one—some guy obtained a Heavenly Cosmic Will from the Fourth-Rank Star Region. We detected it, and then the Minister snatched it away. We all earned great merit and were rewarded!"

Damn, it really happened!

After that, Xu Jin dared not ask further, but began to think carefully.

The current problem was that Xu Jin wanted to return to the Star River Battlefield to issue a warning.

He needed to deliver an urgent military report to the State Advisor as quickly as possible.

But there were ambushes waiting for him and Ji Hongli at the Star River Passage!

If he were in the position of this calculating Minister, what kind of force would he ambush outside the Star River Passage?

It certainly couldn't be Fifth-Rank!

Sixth-Rank?

Also unlikely.

Because their surveillance focused on whether Xu Jin and Ji Hongli had slain a Star Region King and obtained a Thunder Heavenly Cosmic Will.

If they had slain a Star Region King, it meant Xu Jin and Ji Hongli possessed the strength to kill a Sixth-Rank Ninth-Layer Peak cultivator—even amidst a group of Sixth-Rank cultivators.

Under such power, sending Sixth-Rank cultivators to block the Star River Passage would be either foolish or insane.

Seventh-Rank was the most likely.

But it certainly couldn't be a Seventh-Rank beginner.

It was far more likely to be an established Seventh-Rank cultivator—or even more than one!

If Xu Jin were arranging the ambush, he would deploy overwhelming strength.

A cultivator capable of effortlessly annihilating a Sixth-Rank Ninth-Layer Peak alien.

At minimum, an established Seventh-Rank—or multiple Seventh-Ranks!

Only then could success be guaranteed.

So the question was: under these circumstances, how could Xu Jin survive the Star River Passage and reach the mortal human realm to issue a warning?

(End of Chapter)