Chapter 346: Taking Charge and Five Kills

The Domain Lord's mansion, and nimble fifth-rank non-humans swiftly arrived to report the news to the non-human leader.

"What?"

Upon receiving the report, the non-human leader—now Domain Lord's Staff Officer Jin Fan—paled, and hurriedly asked, "What is the fate of Shi Yan and the other two?"

"Senior Shi Yan and the other two seniors have all fallen in battle! Among the human reinforcements, two are extraordinarily fierce and immensely powerful," reported the returning fifth-rank non-human.

Nearby, Ji Xiuchuan heard this and rejoiced, "Jin Fan, our human reinforcements have arrived! If you turn back now, it's not too late! Let those humans in, then wait for the Domain Lord's judgment!"

"Now is the time to use talent—you may yet redeem yourself by earning merit!"

Jin Fan's face turned sinister; he sharply turned to Ji Xiuchuan and sneered, "Redeem myself by earning merit?"

"More like a purge!"

Jin Fan had served Ji Cheng for so many years that his knowledge, insight, and methods far surpassed those of ordinary non-humans.

Someone like him, who had caused chaos, could never regain the Domain Lord's trust—even if he wasn't purged now, he would inevitably be purged later.

Too bad that during the prior battle, Ji Xiuchuan—who held power over his life and death—had survived. Otherwise, he would already be seated on the Domain Lord's throne, leading the Golden Lion Clan to break free from servitude and become the new Golden Lion King!

"Jin Bo, you all return! Gather every fifth- and fourth-rank non-human inside and outside the Domain Lord's mansion here!"

"Hurry, immediately!"

Jin Fan issued the order at once, advancing toward Ji Xiuchuan with two other sixth-rank non-humans and the fifth-rank non-humans present.

"What are you doing?"

Ji Xiuchuan leapt to his feet, star-force surging, eyes alert.

"The Domain Lord is dead, Old Ji—join us!"

Jin Fan and the non-humans pressed forward step by step; Ji Xiuchuan retreated step by step, gradually backing into the doorway of the quiet chamber where Domain Lord Ji Cheng was recovering from his wounds.

Here, there was nowhere left to retreat.

Ji Xiuchuan unleashed a violent burst of star-force toward Jin Fan and the others, roaring, "Jin Fan, take one more step forward, and we die together!"

In that same instant, Ji Xiuchuan triggered Jin Fan's divine soul, poised to detonate.

Instantly, Jin Fan felt a terror deep within his divine soul!

He felt the utmost threat.

The moment fear surfaced in his eyes, Jin Fan waved his hand—the non-humans all halted, but surrounded Ji Xiuchuan.

Inside the quiet chamber, Domain Lord Ji Cheng's wounded aura continued to weaken!

"Clan Chief, those humans are attacking—should we…?" Jin Bo rushed over, frantic.

"First, gather all our forces!" Jin Fan said.

"Clan Chief, shall I lead a force to kill these…?"

SLAP!

Jin Fan struck Jin Bo's face hard, "Fool!"

"Weren't Shi Yan and the other two nearly equal in strength to you?"

One sentence from Jin Fan jolted Jin Bo awake.

Yes—the three sent to monitor the incoming human reinforcements, Shi Yan and the others, were slightly weaker than them, but not by much.

Now that those three were dead, if they sent their own forces—even if all five present, including the Clan Chief, went—they'd win only at the cost of a devastating defeat!

"Clan Chief, then…"

"You stay here, watch Old Ji closely. If he shows the slightest lapse, rush in and kill the Domain Lord!" Jin Fan ordered, then pulled Jin Bo aside and whispered directly into his mind.

"We have two opportunities now: first, wait for the Domain Lord's death. When he dies, Ji Xiuchuan will be affected—then you all swarm him, annihilate him in the shortest time possible, before he can detonate my divine soul."

"Second, deal with the human reinforcements outside. If we fight now, it'll be a devastating defeat! If we win at such cost, how can the Golden Lion Clan survive?"

"At that point, we'll be devoured by the other clans—better to just endure under Ji Cheng!"

"So we must eliminate these human reinforcements at the smallest cost, then fully absorb Ji Cheng's power!" Jin Fan whispered.

"But Clan Chief, the power is all here…" Jin Bo was confused.

"We need time to delay!"

"We still have four sixth-rank forces outside Red Carp City, and at least a hundred fifth-ranks."

"Delay, then gather them all here!"

"With an internal and external assault, we can eliminate the human reinforcements at minimal cost!"

"Send word to them now—have them immediately converge on Red Carp City."

"Remember, don't charge in scattered groups!"

"Have them first gather at the small hills a hundred li outside Red Carp City. Once all forces are assembled, strike together and crush the humans from both inside and out!" Jin Fan whispered his orders.

"Yes!" Jin Bo bowed and went to carry out the orders.

But Jin Fan's gaze still flickered.

There was one more point he hadn't mentioned—not even Ji Xiuchuan knew.

Time!

Previously, the Sacred Clan's envoy had secretly contacted them.

They had said that once this star domain connected with the ancestral realm, the celestial laws restraining cultivators here would be lifted, and the Dao would become active—those stuck at the peak of sixth-rank ninth layer would instantly breakthrough to seventh rank.

Those stuck at the peak of fifth-rank ninth layer would also have a chance to breakthrough.

At that moment, his own cultivation might break through to seventh rank.

Many more sixth-ranks would emerge as well.

If his cultivation broke through to seventh rank, with others launching a sudden strike, they might kill Ji Xiuchuan before he could react!

This was Jin Fan's own plan.

Now, they could only wait.

From what he'd heard, this star domain's connection was likely to succeed within just a few days!

Outside the Domain Lord's mansion, Ning Yuchan swung her heavy hammer like a whirlwind—each strike crushed or killed a fifth-rank non-human, terrifyingly fierce.

As Cui Chongguang, Li Tian, Hou Yunzhang, and others stormed in, Xu Jin's pressure eased; he no longer rushed to fight, instead quietly recovering his strength.

His earlier expenditure had been immense.

He had even drawn upon the power of the Star Arena once.

Along the way, Xu Jin observed Ning Yuchan.

Her primary combat style hadn't changed much—it was still her self-created Whirling Blade Technique—but it had clearly been upgraded: now it was Whirling Hammer!

Incredibly powerful!

Just now, she had wounded a sixth-rank fourth-layer non-human—if she hadn't rushed to save him, she could have killed him outright.

She possessed the ability to slay enemies across major realms.

Moreover, Xu Jin sensed that Ning Yuchan's Golden Source Star Mark was of unusually high rank.

Ten breaths later, the battle ended.

All three sixth-rank non-human commanders were slain.

Over a hundred of the one hundred fifty fifth-rank non-humans were killed; the remaining fifty, quick to flee, escaped.

"Move! Charge into the mansion!"

Xu Jin roared, leading the charge after the retreating fifth-rank non-humans.

This time, no one questioned him.

Everyone—including Li Tian, Cui Chongguang, Hou Yunzhang, and other fifth-rank humans—unconsciously followed behind Xu Jin, behind Ning Yuchan and Ji Hongli, storming deep into the Domain Lord's mansion.

Yet as they advanced, each carefully formed battle formations. On the battlefield, once combat began, alliances became pure:

Whoever was strongest, fiercest, held the most authority.

Everyone would instinctively obey them.

As for Director Cui Chongguang, the original leader, his poor performance had caused others to automatically ignore him!

Cui Chongguang had been severely wounded by Shi Yan's punch.

But Xu Jin had slain Shi Yan with a single sword strike!

The contrast was instantly clear.

It was the difference between heaven and earth.

Added to that, Xu Jin's solo charge had cemented him, within moments, as the unquestioned commander of this force.

Only Ning Yuchan, with her former prestige, could possibly challenge him.

But Ning Yuchan was too delighted to even consider challenging him.

"Is it really you?" As they charged forward, Ning Yuchan hurried beside Xu Jin, asking.

"What do you think?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ning Yuchan's eyebrows furrowed in anger.

"I did tell you!"

"When?"

"Remember the dream you had when you were severely wounded? At that time, your divine soul was badly injured—I went to save you myself!"

"So my dream was real! I knew it!"

Ning Yuchan's eyes reddened, on the verge of tears.

Behind them, Ji Hongli anxiously asked Xu Jin, "Senior Qi, what about my father?"

"Don't worry—I'll save your father!"

Xu Jin reassured her, while beside him, Ning Yuchan glanced at Ji Hongli, her expression slightly odd.

After a dozen breaths, the group followed the fleeing soldiers deep into the Domain Lord's mansion, charging all the way to the spot where Ji Xiuchuan had previously faced off against Jin Fan.

Even without these fleeing soldiers leading the way, Ji Hongli had already sensed and heard the standoff inside the mansion, and told Xu Jin everything.

At this moment, she was utterly terrified for her father—the man she had never met in person since she could remember.

In the next instant, Xu Jin's group saw Jin Fan, Ji Xiuchuan's nerves stretched to the breaking point, and the four sixth-rank cultivators surrounding Ji Xiuchuan, along with dozens of fourth-rank ones.

"Stop!"

"Beyond the gate is forbidden! Whoever steps over, we'll fight to the death—kill the Domain Lord first, then fight you all!" Jin Bo pointed at Xu Jin's group and roared in fury.

Jin Fan, the patriarch of the Golden Lion Clan, remained seated quietly, observing the situation, unwilling to reveal himself too much.

But he did not know that this entire scene had already been heard by Ji Hongli through the Hundred Blossom Star Pattern, and relayed entirely to Xu Jin.

Xu Jin not only knew Jin Fan was the true decision-maker, but also clearly understood the current situation here.

A stalemate of mutual leverage!

As Xu Jin halted, everyone instantly stopped.

Seeing the human reinforcements halt, the alien general Jin Bo grinned smugly. "Now, who among you can speak for this group?"

"The price for your Domain Lord's life isn't cheap!"

"Let me tell you—your Domain Lord is critically wounded, hanging by a thread, and could die at any moment!"

His arrogance and triumph filled the human ranks with fury, but they held it back.

As he spoke, Jin Bo glanced back at his patriarch, Jin Fan, and seeing the latter nod in approval, he grew even more smug.

Holding someone's weak point—what a sweet feeling!

Inside the inner chamber, Ji Xiuchuan was about to speak when Jin Fan's spiritual essence whispered into his mind: "If you want your Domain Lord dead, go ahead and speak. Let us extract some benefits—there's still a chance for reconciliation."

Seeing Ji Cheng's faint aura far behind, Ji Hongli's eyes instantly reddened.

"I will!"

Behind Xu Jin, Cui Chongguang stirred restlessly, hesitating to step forward—but a single word from Xu Jin shattered his hope, and he silently retracted his foot.

"You? A sixth-rank cultivator? Can you make decisions?" Jin Bo stared at Xu Jin, full of doubt.

"He can!" Ning Yuchan spoke up in support.

"Hahaha, good! Looks like another noble young master!" Jin Bo laughed.

Behind them, Jin Fan watched Jin Bo's performance with great satisfaction.

Let the bargaining begin!

The longer the delay, the better.

The longer the delay, the more chances for a turning point, the more opportunities for them!

Orders had already been sent out—the remaining sixth-rank and fifth-rank elites were rushing here at full speed; they'd assemble within two hours at most.

"Since you can decide, then tell us—what price are you willing to pay for this Domain Lord's life?" Jin Bo smiled.

"You name it."

"Ten mid-grade Star-Healing Rune Tablets!"

"Agreed."

As Xu Jin accepted instantly, Li Zhen behind them gaped in shock, about to object—when Ning Yuchan shot him a glare that silenced him.

"That's only the first item. I also have a hundred low-grade Star-Healing Rune Tablets!"

"Agreed."

Jin Bo beamed. "Hand them over first—then we'll talk about the rest!"

"Agreed. But I know—you can make decisions? Can you speak for your clan?" Xu Jin asked.

"Of course!" Jin Bo replied, instinctively glancing back at his patriarch, Jin Fan.

"Who is that?" Xu Jin's gaze turned to Jin Fan, asking directly.

Asked directly, Jin Fan, the sixth-rank ninth-layer cultivator who had kept a low profile, could no longer avoid it—he had to play along with the delaying tactic.

But the moment Jin Fan raised his head, Xu Jin's eyes flashed with divine light!

Kill Dream!

Jin Fan felt only a fleeting flash of starlight; the world seemed to ripple—but remained the same.

Suddenly, he saw Ji Xiuchuan, hair standing on end, glaring at him with murderous hatred: "You dog! I'll take you down with me—die!"

In the next instant, Ji Xiuchuan's spiritual essence surged with overwhelming power.

Unnameable terror rose in Jin Fan's heart—he knew Ji Xiuchuan was about to detonate his spiritual essence.

"No, we—"

In the next instant, Jin Fan felt his own spiritual essence explode—his head burst open.

He was going to die!

He was dead!

In the Kill Dream world, Jin Fan's figure dissolved rapidly into nothingness.

In the Domain Lord's mansion, Jin Fan, the patriarch of the Golden Lion Clan, who had been staring at Xu Jin, suddenly tilted his head—and lost all breath.

At this moment, the other aliens had not yet realized Jin Fan was dead.

After all—a sixth-rank ninth-layer peak cultivator? How could he just drop dead?

"Patriarch, what's wrong?" Jin Bo instinctively turned to check.

At that exact moment, Xu Jin sent a spiritual essence message to Ji Xiuchuan—whose eyes lit up with surprise—and simultaneously sent a message to Ning Yuchan and Ji Hongli.

In the next instant, Xu Jin vanished from his spot. As a terrifying sonic wave exploded, the head of a sixth-rank fourth-layer alien guarding the Domain Lord's chamber shattered into fragments.

Fourfold Flowing Flash!

In the same instant, Xu Jin stood before the Domain Lord Ji Cheng, shielding him.

Simultaneously, piercing shrieks erupted—Ning Yuchan's cry rang out as her massive hammer swept across three other sixth-rank aliens, instantly forcing them to scatter.

At the same moment, Ji Hongli and Ji Xiuchuan struck together.

A dark green radiance surged upward, attacking the forty-odd fifth-rank aliens, pinning them down.

In the next instant, Xu Jin stepped forward—the Earth Magnetism exploded violently. All fifth- and sixth-rank aliens felt their bodies grow heavy, movement crippled, speed slowed—and Firecloud Thunderlight slammed toward Jin Bo, the sixth-rank seventh-layer alien.

At this moment, Jin Bo had just realized what was happening—he roared and raised his weapon—when suddenly his head throbbed, his gaze glazed over, and the starlight around him scattered.

At that exact instant, Firecloud Thunderlight struck Jin Bo's head with pinpoint accuracy, reducing the defenseless alien to charred ash.

BOOM!

Taking advantage of Xu Jin's Earth Magnetism slowing all the aliens, Ning Yuchan swung her hammer like a hurricane—seven blows in rapid succession, smashing the head of a sixth-rank fifth-layer alien into pulp.

On the other side, sixth-rank seventh-layer Ji Xiuchuan erupted instantly, eliminating another sixth-rank third-layer alien already slowed by Xu Jin's Earth Magnetism and Ji Hongli's dark green radiance.

Five kills!

All five sixth-rank aliens eliminated!

(End of Chapter)