Chapter 337: Thunder and Lightning Torrent Slays

My lord, it is confirmed: three shadow spies I sent to the Spring Thunder Star Region have not all perished—two remain alive, but something has gone wrong; nine times out of ten, they've been captured.

I'm uncertain whether these two have spoken. My lord, should we adjust the Star River Passage defenses?

Still the same quiet chamber, still the same burly old man—but this time, he was playing chess, left hand against right. When the starlight message arrived, he smiled.

"A casual move not only recovers that lost piece, but seems to yield great gains. Feng Yi's side has two seventh-rank and four sixth-rank, correct?" the old man asked.

"Precisely."

"Seventh-rank cannot be hastily redeployed. Those few seventh-rank are all occupied with critical duties. Send three more sixth-rank ninth-layer experts."

"With this force, even two fifth-rank ninth-layer won't break them—even a weak eighth-rank would struggle to hold ground for long." The old man dropped his stone instantly.

"Your servant obeys. I'll arrange it at once."

Within the Spring Thunder Star Region, Xu Jin was completing his final preparation before breaking out of the star region: brainwashing.

A military formation composed of fifth-rank aliens would inevitably suffer casualties against seventh-rank Qiangzhe, and might even sustain massive, horrific losses in a short time.

If such a scenario occurred, this army would collapse before battle even began, and Xu Jin's plan to concentrate fire and create openings would fail.

Moreover, when entering the Star River Passage, Lei Ling Wang and Lei Ying Wang could not accompany them. Without these two kings to suppress morale, the army would be even more prone to collapse.

Brainwashing was essential.

The method was simple: divinity.

In fact, for the past half-month, Xu Jin had done this every single day.

He had laid the groundwork gradually.

After absorbing the one-tenth of the Spring Thunder Star Region's celestial will held by Lei Ying Wang, Xu Jin now controlled six-tenths of the region's heavenly authority.

Six-tenths of heavenly authority still could not enable Xu Jin to teleport.

But it could create countless miracles.

Xu Jin could even make his figure swell to a thousand zhang tall.

With a snap of his fingers, the heavens changed, the sun and moon reversed.

He had been doing this all through the past half-month.

Nearly three hundred fifth-rank ninth-layer experts, along with the dozen or so sixth-rank experts, had long since regarded Xu Jin as a god.

Under the leadership of Lei Ling Wang and Lei Ying Wang, they already called him Lei Shen.

But it remained insubstantial.

Today, Xu Jin would etch the deepest imprint of Lei Shen into the hearts of these nearly three hundred fifth-rank aliens.

Even if shattered to dust, they would protect their god.

And Xu Jin was that god: Lei Shen!

To ensure effectiveness, he used the most crude method: Wenmeng.

Then he used dreams to show them everything, imprinting it into the deepest recesses of these aliens' souls.

Originally, dreams alone could never achieve this.

But the half-month of divine miracles had made it possible.

Yet it was still a laborious, exhausting undertaking.

At first, activating Wenmeng to hypnotize one person required fifteen minutes; only eight could be done per hour.

But the dreams he wove were identical for all.

As Xu Jin grew more skilled with Wenmeng, after several hours he could hypnotize two in fifteen minutes; by noon, three.

By day's end, the task was complete.

Nearly twenty sixth-rank aliens were also casually hypnotized, their minds branded with the belief that Xu Jin was the god of the Spring Thunder Star Region.

The burning, frenzied gazes fixed on Xu Jin made Ji Hongli even a little afraid.

Ji Hongli believed that if Brother Qi gave the order now, these fifth- and sixth-rank aliens would not hesitate to kill themselves.

These forces were terrifying only because they were stranded in a foreign star region—if stationed long-term on the Star River Battlefield or among human realms, they would be horrifying.

At this moment, Ji Hongli was beginning to understand why her grandfather had sent her to Brother Qi's side.

But the more she interacted with him, the more she became confused.

The details in which Brother Qi resembled her world-shaking hero were increasing.

Especially as a woman, with a mind as fine as silk.

Ji Hongli realized that her feeling when interacting with Brother Qi was identical to how she felt with Senior Brother Xu Jin.

Casual, relaxed, yet with a faint air of dominance.

Completely unlike the feelings she got from other senior brothers.

How could two people be so alike?

Behavior, habits—even star techniques and soul techniques.

Except for their appearances, which differed.

But she had verified: no mask?

Could there be a more sophisticated disguise technique in this world?

Only because she was trapped in the Spring Thunder Star Region did she not immediately ask friends and relatives about the secrets of disguise.

January 15, Xu Jin led nearly three hundred mid- to late-stage fifth-rank aliens to the star gate leading to the Star River Passage, making final arrangements.

Moments later, Xu Jin took a deep breath, activated the Earth Spirit Heart, expanded the Fish Curtain Golden Bell to its limit, and for the first time raised the sixth-rank star weapon Fire Ox Shield in his left hand. Simultaneously, his mind sank into the sixth-rank supreme star armor Golden Scale Armor, ready to trigger its innate star technique, Golden Scale Overlapping Armor, with a single thought.

Xu Jin had never been the type to endure blows without retaliation.

Having prepared so long, he intended to play a grand game.

The next instant, Xu Jin and Ji Hongli, holding the sixth-rank seal, stepped through the star gate to the Star River Passage.

As starlight shifted before their eyes, Xu Jin and Ji Hongli appeared within the Star River Passage.

Xu Jin's Six Mingji Star Patterns began spinning at high speed.

Notably, after the Mingji Star Patterns reached six, Xu Jin's perception range had expanded to nearly four hundred meters.

Within four hundred meters of the Star River Passage, there was no trace of any presence—no ambushers.

But in the distance, faint starlight flickered.

Almost simultaneously, Xu Jin saw several streaks of starlight rising from all directions.

The next instant, nine streaks of starlight surged toward them from various angles, three of them moving at extreme speed.

Two of these starlight auras were overwhelmingly vast—when they erupted, they resembled the sun bursting into the sky; merely glancing at them sent chills down the spine!

These must be the elite hidden by the mastermind behind the ambush.

At the same moment, subtle soul vibrations rose continuously.

Sixth-rank star technique of the Lingji Star Palace: True Illusion!

Almost the instant Xu Jin activated the sixth-rank star technique True Illusion, the fifth-rank aliens who had just streamed out of the star gate vanished.

Xu Jin and Ji Hongli watched the nine streaks of starlight racing toward them, advanced only a few dozen meters, then stopped—behind them, nothing remained.

But within Xu Jin's perception, over a hundred fifth-rank aliens had appeared behind them, already forming their formation according to the training of the past half-month.

In barely an instant, the two starlight auras resembling the rising sun entered Xu Jin's Mingji Star Pattern perception range—their power instantly startled him.

One was a seventh-rank eighth-layer expert, the other a seventh-rank sixth-layer expert.

The seventh-rank eighth-layer expert had already slowed, his face veiled in hazy starlight, indistinct.

The seventh-rank sixth-layer expert, about to reach Xu Jin's position, suddenly accelerated again and shouted toward Xu Jin, "Young friend, excuse me!"

Xu Jin instantly understood his intent.

He meant to rush past them and block the star gate—trapping Xu Jin and Ji Hongli so they could neither escape nor retreat.

With this force, they weren't afraid Xu Jin would flee—they feared he'd retreat back into the fifth-rank Spring Thunder Star Region. That would be a nightmare; all their days of waiting would be wasted.

Hence the polite cry: "Excuse me!"

Had Xu Jin not captured the shadow spies, he might have believed them and thought they were merely passing through.

But now, it was different!

The next instant, Xu Jin unleashed a torrent of soul energy—Po Sha!

Simultaneously, Xu Jin and Ji Hongli hurled their cultivated fifth-rank superior seals.

Brilliant White Day erupted simultaneously.

"Young friend, why attack me?!"

The seventh-rank sixth-layer elder's flying form stumbled abruptly, his words faltering—affected by Xu Jin's Po Sha.

But the effect lasted only an instant; he recovered instantly, slapping forward with one palm. Earth-yellow star energy surged like a tidal wave, instantly annihilating the two fifth-rank superior seals—each with power equivalent to a sixth-rank superior seal—that Xu Jin and Ji Hongli had thrown.

"Old Feng, be careful—this kid's soul cultivation is terrifying." Seventh-rank sixth-layer elder Shang Tai transmitted a message to Feng Yi behind him, while feigning furious outrage, "We are heading to the rear Star River. Why do you attack us?

If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll make you regret it!"

"Old Shang, you can't even block the rear path? What good are you?" Feng Yi frowned from behind.

The critical step of their operation was to seal off the retreat route to the fifth-rank Spring Thunder Star Region—if these two escaped back, it would be a disaster.

They could wait ten or fifteen days without issue, but months? That was impossible!

"These targets are tough—give me a moment."

Shang Tai transmitted a message, then turned again to Xu Jin with a sharp rebuke.

Xu Jin now understood their trick. Since they were acting, he'd play along.

A little delay would let the formation hidden by True Illusion become even more perfect!

"My apologies, elder. We've just returned from a great battle within the star region. Seeing you rush toward us, it was merely an instinctive reaction!" Xu Jin explained.

"Very well. Given your recent battles, I'll overlook this. We have urgent business in the rear Star River!"

"After you!"

Seeing Xu Jin gesture politely, Shang Tai secretly rejoiced.

Intelligence suggested this kid might have sensed something, and would be on guard—he'd almost thought he was exposed just now.

But now it was clear: this kid had discovered absolutely nothing!

In the next instant, Shang Tai, along with two other sixth-rank ninth-layer experts who had arrived, shot into the air and lunged behind Xu Jin and Ji Hongli.

If they blocked the star gate behind them, they'd cut off Xu Jin's escape.

These two fourth-rank brats—even if they held sixth-rank top-grade rune tablets, what then?

Wouldn't that just make things easier for them?

This mission was going far too smoothly!

But just as the three of them soared to within dozens of meters before Xu Jin and Ji Hongli, Xu Jin suddenly stepped forward—and vast starlight erupted!

Earth's Magnetic Core!

Instantly, the two sixth-rank ninth-layer experts were helplessly pulled down to the ground.

At the same time, a soul-wave surged forth.

Dreamstart!

But what stunned Feng Yi, the seventh-rank eighth-layer expert behind them, was the torrent of lightning that erupted behind Xu Jin—and the sudden appearance of over a hundred aliens!

"Shang, watch out!" Feng Yi roared, lunging forward almost instinctively.

Yet at the very moment Feng Yi shouted, Shang Tai, the seventh-rank sixth-layer expert, was struck by the soul-star art Dreamstart.

This time, it wasn't just a stumble like the previous soul attacks.

Suddenly, Shang Tai's star-force aura flickered and fractured for a single instant.

And that single instant of collapse decided the fate of seventh-rank sixth-layer expert Shang Tai.

The torrent of lightning behind Xu Jin poured straight onto Shang Tai.

Three sixth-rank star artifacts within Shang Tai's body activated one after another—each swallowed by the lightning torrent.

Could such a concentrated barrage from nearly two hundred Spirit Clan and Lei Yi Clan lightning star arts be taken lightly?

The star artifacts were instantly shattered; Shang Tai snapped out of Dreamstart—but agony had already struck.

His starlight defense had been consumed; his skin and bones began to melt—he was now drowning in a sea of lightning.

"Feng, save—"

The twisted scream had barely begun when Shang Tai, seventh-rank sixth-layer, was reduced to ash—obliterated by concentrated fire.

"Damn it, aliens—you're all dead!"

With his old comrade dead, Feng Yi roared as emerald starlight blotted out the sky, striking Xu Jin—and the aliens behind him.

At the same moment, Ji Hongli had already unleashed four third-layer sixth-rank top-grade rune tablets.

The terrifying solar brilliance instantly annihilated the two sixth-rank ninth-layer experts.

Normally, two third-layer sixth-rank top-grade rune tablets wouldn't necessarily kill them instantly.

But they'd already been immobilized by Xu Jin's Earth's Magnetic Core, frozen in place.

Then, unable to dodge or resist, they took the full brunt of two third-layer sixth-rank top-grade rune tablets in unison.

At this point, Xu Jin held nothing back.

One misstep meant life or death—no mercy allowed!

Vast waves of emerald starlight, radiating terrifying power, surged toward them.

This was a large-scale wind-star art from a seventh-rank eighth-layer expert.

But Xu Jin had anticipated it.

He merely stepped back one pace—eighty-plus fifth-rank mid-to-late-stage Water Spirits in the formation simultaneously raised layer upon layer of fifth-rank water-star art Turtle Shields.

Dozens of blinding Turtle Shields stacked together, completely shielding Xu Jin and the aliens ahead.

Feng Yi's large-scale seventh-rank star art was entirely blocked by the hundred-plus Turtle Shields—not a single ally was wounded.

In the next instant, Xu Jin roared, "Kill!"

Instantly, the nearly three hundred fifth-rank aliens behind Xu Jin moved as one, surging forward dozens of meters—and unleashed another torrent of lightning, this time aimed squarely at Feng Yi, the seventh-rank expert!

In the next instant, Feng Yi's face turned ashen!

If these three hundred aliens had faced him alone under normal circumstances, he could have slaughtered them all.

But now, formed into a battle array, they posed a grave threat.

He dared not meet it!

Absolutely not!

"Fall back!"

He roared, ordering everyone to retreat.

But the other five sixth-rank experts moved like they were trapped in mud—their ascent slowed to a crawl.

They were caught by Xu Jin's Earth's Magnetic Core!

Feng Yi's face darkened—he tried to rescue them, unleashing a terrifying beam of starlight toward the ground, hoping to disrupt the Earth's Magnetic Core.

But it only delayed the torrent for an instant—the lightning surged forward, instantly vaporizing one of Feng Yi's sixth-rank star artifacts; as his protective starlight dissolved, he recoiled again—but his chest trembled violently, blood trickled from his lips—he was wounded!

At the same moment, the eighty-plus fifth-rank Water Spirits at the front of the formation dispersed their fire.

Under Xu Jin's command, the eighty-plus fifth-rank Water Spirits unleashed five streams of blue starlight, obliterating the five sixth-rank experts trapped by Earth's Magnetic Core.

Far behind, on the Star River corridor's rear, the war drums of Da Hong's Bao Ri Army began to thunder.

It was the Assembly Drum!

The Assembly Drum only sounded when large-scale alien invasion was detected!

Feng Yi, retreating, stared at the five sixth-rank experts—bodies destroyed, heads intact—trying to erase the evidence, but the lightning torrent pressed forward relentlessly, granting him no chance.

He could only glare hatefully at Xu Jin, then vanished in a flash of emerald light.

In the distance, the war drums of Da Hong's Bao Ri Army grew ever louder!

(End of Chapter)