Chapter 339: Slashing Through the Seventh Stage

"Die!"

In the instant they focused fire on Xu Jin, the strongest of the six-stage cultivators let out a roar.

There was no choice—he had received a direct order: if this man lived, they would be exiled to the Star Regions or receive generous compensation!

Thus, as the main attacker, this six-stage cultivator poured every ounce of his strength into this strike!

Seeing his attack land on target, the six-stage seventh-rank cultivator smiled.

A four-stage fifth-rank cultivator struck by his desperate blow from a six-stage seventh-rank? Impossible to survive!

But in an instant, the smile on his lips froze rigidly.

His razor-sharp metal star technique strangely curved away, as if sliding off, and slammed directly into another five-stage fourth-rank companion.

In an instant, the five-stage fourth-rank companion was shredded by golden sword light!

Star Technique: Transfer Flower!

The next instant, Xu Jin ignored the attacks of the other four, stepped forward, and flicked his finger lightly—a spark of fire erupted violently from his chest.

At the very moment he concentrated all his defense, purple lightning poured down from above his head.

Front and back.

The terrifying solar brilliance shattered his defense and his protective starlight; just as he thought he had weathered the first wave, the lightning descended and turned the six-stage seventh-rank powerhouse into charred ash!

As for the attacks of the other four, Xu Jin absorbed them all.

They inflicted no damage whatsoever.

The six-stage supreme star armor, the Golden Scale Armor, was no mere ornament.

In short, as long as Xu Jin wore the six-stage supreme Golden Scale Armor, any cultivator below fifth-stage ninth-rank could stand there and strike him three or five times without causing him any harm.

A dark green radiance surged instantly, piercing the bodies of three four-stage assassins like ten thousand arrows through the heart—it was Ji Hongli who had acted.

The next instant, a spiritual soul disturbance rose.

The other five-stage assassin, who had just prepared to strike again, spewed blood from all seven orifices, his eyeballs exploding outright—he died on the spot.

His spiritual soul was too weak; crushed instantly by Xu Jin's Break Evil, his spiritual soul shattered and he perished.

The desperate situation vanished in an instant.

Six kills in an instant.

"Little Fish, keep one alive," Xu Jin suddenly transmitted a message.

But at the very moment Xu Jin sent the message, three high-speed advancing six-stage auras suddenly appeared in his Mingji Star Pattern's perception.

Xu Jin understood—this might be the real killing move.

Three six-stage assassins sneaking in from concealment!

If well-coordinated, they could even severely wound a seven-stage cultivator!

But unfortunately, what Xu Jin feared least was concealment.

The instant these three six-stage cultivators entered the four-hundred-meter range, their precise locations appeared clearly in Xu Jin's Mingji Star Pattern perception.

A howl rang out—the Fire Ox Sword and Moon Shadow Sword erupted simultaneously!

In the next instant, one six-stage fourth-rank assassin tumbled out of concealment, his skull pierced clean through by the Moon Shadow Sword; another staggered violently from concealment, even rolling head over heels in a clumsy fall.

Had he not done that, the Fire Ox Sword would have split his head open.

But even so, he could not escape death!

The moment he hit the ground, a terrifying suction force surged from the earth, pinning his body firmly to the ground as he helplessly watched the Fire Ox Sword plunge deep into his skull and twist violently.

He lost consciousness.

Almost simultaneously, a crimson flame seal slammed down onto Xu Jin's head.

It was the last six-stage sixth-rank assassin, who had successfully closed in from concealment, launching his surprise attack.

But to his shock, Xu Jin did not dodge or retreat.

He directly met the blow with the Fish Curtain Golden Bell he had just activated!

Despite the full-force surprise strike of the flame seal, the Fish Curtain Golden Bell did not ripple even once.

"How is this possible?"

The assassin's heart lurched in alarm—suddenly, pain struck the back of his skull.

The Wind Shadow Sword had appeared soundlessly behind his head, pierced through, and twisted violently!

Six-stage Star Technique: Break Void!

Why was the Fish Curtain Golden Bell's defense so tough, so powerful?

The reason was simple: Xu Jin had just activated the eighth-stage Earth Source Star Pattern to cast the special star technique, Root of the Earth.

The six-stage sixth-rank cultivator's full-force strike should have caused the Fish Curtain Golden Bell to ripple heavily—or even crack.

But Xu Jin's feet, like roots, plunged deep into the earth and instantly drew massive quantities of earth star force from beneath the ground into the Fish Curtain Golden Bell.

The consumed energy was more than replenished.

Naturally, it remained unscathed.

Nine kills!

Yet compared to this result, Xu Jin's mood was both shocked and furious.

The mastermind behind this had audacity beyond belief!

In broad daylight, they had launched a chain of assassinations inside Dahuang War City!

Or perhaps they were colluding with Dahuang War City's official forces.

"Senior Qi, keep one alive!"

Ji Hongli used dark green starlight to drag one four-stage assassin over—it was the sole survivor Ji Hongli had spared.

Xu Jin pressed his palm against the back of the assassin's skull and activated Dream Weaving.

Immediate interrogation.

In only two breaths, Xu Jin had his answer!

The boss of the Divine Sword Gang had ordered them!

Either the target (Xu Jin) died, or all their families were exiled!

The Divine Sword Gang was the third-largest gang in Dahuang War City; its boss, Feng Yi, was a seven-stage powerhouse with immense influence throughout the city.

At the same moment, Xu Jin confirmed the Divine Sword Gang's base location.

"Let's go, Little Fish!"

Xu Jin grabbed Ji Hongli and flew swiftly toward the Starfall Tower branch in Dahuang War City.

At the same instant, Xu Jin's Starfall Token glowed urgently.

【Xu Jin, this is critical—did you truly hear the Holy Clan's envoy? Do you have any proof?】 National Master Cheng Yuexiao asked.

【National Master, I obtained the Holy Clan's Golden Token, but I can't show it to you now—I'm being hunted!】

【Where?】

【Dahuang War City】

【I'll send someone to meet you.】

【Is that convenient?】

【If not for spatial limitations, I'd be perfectly convenient right now.】

【National Master, I'm about to obliterate the Divine Sword Gang and track down the mastermind. If convenient, send someone.】

【Agreed!】

As they spoke, Xu Jin had already arrived with Ji Hongli at the Starfall Tower branch; the moment he arrived, he stepped inside, sent Ji Hongli into the Starfall Tower's Star Dome Secret Realm, left a single sentence, and stepped out of the Star Dome Secret Realm.

"Little Fish, train here for a while—I'll be right back."

Beneath Xu Jin's calm expression, fury had reached its peak!

Ji Hongli was strong enough; in the Star Regions, she'd be a valuable ally.

But for the coming counter-assassination, Ji Hongli was insufficient!

The next instant, Xu Jin lunged toward the Divine Sword Gang's base, as revealed by interrogation.

The Divine Sword Gang was the third-largest gang in Dahuang War City, with two seven-stage cultivators—one, Shang Tai, already slain.

They also had eleven six-stage cultivators, over forty five-stage cultivators, and hundreds of four-stage cultivators!

Almost the moment Xu Jin left the Starfall Tower branch and charged toward the Divine Sword Gang's base, the gang's boss, Feng Yi, was both shocked and furious: "All dead? Barely a scratch?"

"Order: Second and Third Teams, advance together!

I don't believe I can't kill him!"

Almost at the same moment Feng Yi issued the order, his Starfall Token flared again.

【Lao Feng, you go too! This kid is extremely strange—strike when the chance arises, or you won't have a chance. After this strike, the Master will personally give you a new identity.】

Looking at the empire he had built under the Divine Sword Gang, Feng Yi gritted his teeth and agreed.

If this succeeded, fine. If it failed, his empire meant nothing.

But barely three breaths after issuing the order, Feng Yi received a report: no one was there!

Gone!

The target vanished!

How were they supposed to attack now?

As Feng Yi frowned, he immediately contacted his superior—the head of the Shadow Division—and explained the situation.

【Wait a moment—we Shadow Division's spies are searching too. He truly vanished! This kid's concealment technique feels even more refined than ours. Recall your forces. Wait until we locate him, then strike with full force.】 The Shadow Division Elder reluctantly ordered.

This target was unprecedentedly troublesome!

Not yet successful, but already lost one seventh-rank and over ten sixth-rank warriors.

This loss is too great!

But no matter how great the loss, we must carry it out.

Compared to the Lord's firm authority and the plan so close to success, even greater sacrifices are worth it.

Inside the Divine Sword Gang's encampment, seventh-rank expert Feng Yi activated another low-grade Star Healing scroll to begin healing himself.

Previously, in the Star River passage, though he'd only been struck once by that thunder-and-fire torrent—and even then, he'd dodged quickly—he'd still suffered serious injuries; this was already his third Star Healing rune.

While healing himself, he pondered his next move.

Since joining the Lord's side, his path had been smooth: his cultivation base surged through the seventh-rank, now reaching seventh-rank eighth layer, and in the future, he might even touch the eighth-rank.

All thanks to this Lord.

And this magnificent foundation he'd built!

Originally, he planned to seize an opportunity, mobilize forces, and conquer a star domain; at the very least, he could build a city on the Star River battlefield and become a regional lord; at best, he might one day proclaim himself king over a star domain, the supreme sovereign!

Unfortunately, after today, at least this foundation would have to be rebuilt from scratch.

As he pondered, Feng Yi already considered which elite core members he would take with him.

Leaving with a portion of these elite core members would let him rise swiftly again, rapidly dominating a region!

While deep in thought, Feng Yi suddenly sensed something strange before him.

It felt as if a presence had appeared just ahead, as if a pair of eyes were watching him!

Feng Yi instantly startled, snapping his eyes open.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw the boy he'd ambushed in the Star River battle.

The boy stood directly across from him, coldly staring.

But the instant Feng Yi met Xu Jin's gaze, Xu Jin's eyes suddenly deepened into an abyss, swallowing him whole!

At the very moment Feng Yi saw him, Xu Jin activated Killing Dream.

The starlight before him subtly shifted—he still stood in place, still in his meditation chamber—but an indescribable sensation gripped him.

The next instant, terrifying thunderlight erupted from the boy's palm.

This thunderlight was utterly terrifying, impossible to defend against; each strike shrunk his form by a full circle.

He frantically channeled Star Force, trying to resist!

But it was useless!

His body continued shrinking under the hammering thunderlight!

Fear rose in his heart.

Feng Yi had a premonition: if this continued, when his form vanished, he would surely die.

He must use his life-saving treasure.

As a seventh-rank expert with such vast assets, he still possessed at least one life-saving artifact for extreme emergencies.

With a thought, Feng Yi tried to retrieve his life-saving Chaos-Space Teleportation Rune.

But after several attempts, he could not extract it.

This was impossible!

Spatial suppression—this ability was said to exist only in the hands of the Master of Xumi Palace!

How could this happen?

As a seventh-rank expert, Feng Yi had seen much.

Illusion!

He was trapped in an illusion!

The moment he realized this, the starlight before him began to shatter.

But at that same instant, Xu Jin, aware his Killing Dream had been broken, had already left.

The moment he departed, without hesitation, a vast Soul Wave surged—Awakening Dream!

Instantly, Feng Yi, just escaping the illusion, froze in stunned silence.

The next instant, Xu Jin unhesitatingly unleashed two cultivated sixth-rank Great Sun Runes.

Because Feng Yi had been immobilized for that instant, the two cultivated sixth-rank Great Sun Runes exploded almost directly above his head!

As they detonated, Feng Yi snapped back to awareness; his protective starlight and star artifacts flared instantly.

Various starlights flickered wildly.

Caught utterly off-guard, Feng Yi endured wave after wave of Great Sun radiance, spewing blood with each impact; his old wounds reopened, his injuries worsening rapidly.

Such violent Star Force explosions within the meditation chamber would surely alert other experts in the encampment.

The Divine Sword Gang's encampment still held six sixth-rank experts—all loyal followers he planned to take with him.

As Feng Yi desperately withstood the Great Sun radiance, he waited for their arrival.

With such commotion, they should arrive immediately.

Once they arrived, he could break free.

And he could kill this monstrous boy!

But at that very instant, outside the meditation chamber, beyond the explosion's center, terrifying and violent Star Force waves erupted in succession.

Inside the Divine Sword Gang's encampment, at least a dozen sixth-rank experts were locked in fierce combat.

None of his loyal followers could come to his aid!

Feng Yi's shock was indescribable!

His mind raced through final calculations.

Fight to the death?

Or flee?

After only a fleeting moment of deliberation, Feng Yi made his decision: flee!

He was a seventh-rank eighth-layer expert—so long as he lived, he could rebuild!

Any faction would treat him as an honored guest!

But first, he must survive!

Pushing himself to the limit, Feng Yi barely endured the two waves of devastating star techniques—then, at that very instant, another vast Soul Wave surged; his head felt as if struck by an arrow, reeling like lightning.

Blood trickled from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

But to his surprise, the terrifying boy before him suddenly shattered the window and fled.

In that moment of relief, Feng Yi unhesitatingly pulled out his Chaos-Space Teleportation Rune!

The instant he retrieved it, a roaring void-splitting sound erupted.

Feng Yi saw a crimson swordlight suddenly expand before him, then engulf him.

Agony!

Blinding head pain!

"I'm going to die."

This was Feng Yi's final thought.

His skull had been shattered by the Fire Ox Sword!

Under broken defenses, quadruple Flowing Flash plus Fire Ox Sword!

Xu Jin, having slain Feng Yi, immediately seized the Chaos-Space Teleportation Rune from his hand and stored it in his Xumi Space; then, with a sweep of Soul Force, he instantly located the connection point between Feng Yi's Xumi Space and the physical world, and pulled Feng Yi's Xumi Space out.

Whoosh!

All manner of valuable items—Feng Yi's lifetime of accumulated wealth—piled into a mountain before Xu Jin.

Xu Jin didn't even glance at them; he bundled the pile along with Feng Yi's corpse and stored them all in his own Xumi Space.

Fortunately, Xu Jin's recent cultivation of the Yuan Spirit had greatly increased the efficiency of expanding his Xumi Space; he'd already expanded it considerably, or else it wouldn't have fit.

The next instant, Xu Jin moved like a phantom into the outer encampment of the Divine Sword Gang.

The eight sixth-rank experts urgently dispatched by the Grand Master were locked in battle with the Divine Sword Gang's six sixth-rank experts; the hall was littered with dozens of corpses—all fifth-rank warriors of the Divine Sword Gang who had fought.

Most fourth-rank warriors had already fled in panic.

Originally, the sixth-rank experts dispatched by the Grand Master held only a slight advantage.

Now, with Xu Jin's entry, it had become a massacre.

But Xu Jin's purpose in joining the battle was not merely to vent rage through slaughter.

He sought to capture one of the sixth-rank experts alive, to interrogate them.

Xu Jin's goal was to uncover the true mastermind behind this plot!

(End of Chapter)