Chapter 347: Unable to Decide

This battle inside the mansion ended faster than the one in Wengcheng before.

Not only did Cui Chongguang, Li Tian, Hou Yunzhang, and others join the fight sooner, but also Ji Xiuchuan, a sixth-rank seventh-layer cultivator, entered the fray.

More importantly, half of the fifth-rank alien beings gathered here were routed troops.

After Jin Fan's death, these routed troops had barely engaged before losing heart and fleeing again.

But this time, many aliens died on the run.

Previously, they were retreating; now, they were charging outward.

Only a handful managed to escape.

Sporadic fighting continued, but Xu Jin, Ning Yuchan, Cui Chongguang, Ji Hongli, Li Tian, and others were already moving toward the unconscious Domain Lord Ji Cheng.

Although Xu Jin and the others had just resolved the crisis, Ji Xiuchuan remained highly alert, watching them all.

Aside from Xu Jin, who had rushed in first to resolve the crisis, Ji Xiuchuan trusted no one.

The next instant, Ji Hongli rushed forward, tears in her eyes; Ji Xiuchuan raised his hand to block her—then froze in shock.

"Miss!"

"Uncle Ji!"

Ji Xiuchuan and Ji Hongli had never met in person, but had seen each other many times through the projection of the Zhaixing Token, so they recognized each other immediately.

In an instant, Ji Hongli pulled out several Star Healing Seals, two of them mid-rank, intending to heal Ji Cheng.

Ji Xiuchuan's expression seemed to say something, but he said nothing in the end.

Xu Jin, however, observed this and first stopped Ji Hongli, then ordered the others to step back.

"Senior Ji, have you already used a mid-rank Star Healing Seal?"

"Correct. After the prolonged battles, I had only one mid-rank Star Healing Seal left, and using it made little difference," Ji Xiuchuan said helplessly.

"Let me handle it."

Ji Xiuchuan stared in astonishment. "You can?"

Ji Hongli also stared at Xu Jin in shock.

"A little."

The next instant, Xu Jin placed his palm over Ji Cheng's chest, sank his mind into the Can Dou Platform, replaced the star core enshrined there with four wood-element star cores, and selected to obtain two wood sources, one wood image, and one mid-rank Star Healing rune.

Simultaneously, Xu Jin activated the Wood Spirit Heart at the fourth-rank level; instantly, thick green star energy brimming with boundless vitality slowly flowed into Ji Cheng's body.

Ji Cheng's weakening aura suddenly stopped declining, as if injected with a stimulant, and began to slowly recover.

This was why Xu Jin had stopped Ji Hongli from using the mid-rank Star Healing Seal.

Xu Jin, as a rune master, knew the hidden truth.

Most mid-rank Star Healing Seals circulating on the market were of low quality, at most fourth-rank upper-grade Star Healing Seals.

Their effect was only three or four percent stronger than low-rank Star Healing Seals.

They could handle ordinary injuries, but were insufficient for severe wounds inflicted by sixth- or seventh-rank cultivators.

To treat severe injuries caused by sixth-rank cultivators, you needed at least a fifth-rank Star Healing Seal.

The reason was simple: wounds from sixth-rank cultivators often left residual star energy, and fourth-rank Star Healing Seals were too weak.

One must admit, the Wood Spirit Palace was exceptionally shrewd in profit-making.

If you wanted a genuine life-saving fifth- or sixth-rank Star Healing Seal, you had to buy it at an auction.

As for the mid-rank Star Healing Seal Xu Jin was using now, its effect was naturally far stronger.

Although the rune was obtained through Star Core Protection, Xu Jin estimated its maximum effect was fifth-rank; combined with the Wood Spirit Heart's enhancement, the effect was very potent.

Even so, fully healing Ji Cheng's injuries would take a long time.

Fortunately, Xu Jin had already sent Ning Yuchan to check on his father and Jiang Er; otherwise, he couldn't have focused so calmly.

Three powerful star energy traces lingered in Ji Cheng's body—likely inflicted by three sixth-rank late-stage cultivators—and Xu Jin could only slowly dissolve them with wood-element star energy.

The Star Healing rune's power was still too weak.

Xu Jin had already decided: when he had time, he would master the true Star Healing rune.

Then he would instantly evolve it to sixth-rank, seventh-rank, even eighth-rank.

Only then would he no longer be bound by the Wood Spirit Palace.

Healing others would become far simpler and more convenient.

As for the Wood Source rune, Xu Jin had already decided: he would learn it from Ji Hongli—it shouldn't be a problem.

Of course, the star runes he needed to learn from the aliens also included the Wood Image.

But the Wood Image, Earth Image, and other runes must also be arranged.

These runes could substantially enhance Xu Jin's combat power in practice.

Xu Jin's healing lasted nearly half an hour before ending.

This surprised both Ji Xiuchuan and Ji Hongli.

Fortunately, Xu Jin was here; otherwise, Ji Hongli's two mid-rank Star Healing Seals could at best have slowed Ji Cheng's deterioration.

"Domain Lord Ji will awaken in fifteen minutes. Xiao Yu, stay with him a while—I'll step out first. Senior Ji, discuss the situation in Huashi Star Domain with the others outside."

Before healing, Xu Jin had cast a Gentle Dream on Ji Cheng to accelerate recovery; now, as he left, he subtly activated it again—Ji Cheng would definitely awaken in fifteen minutes.

As for the situation in Huashi Star Domain, let Cui Chongguang and the others discuss it with Ji Xiuchuan for now.

Of course, the final decision would still rest with Xu Jin.

Xu Jin needed to see his father and sister first!

When Xu Jin found his father and sister, Ning Yuchan had just found them too.

In a subterranean fortress built in the back courtyard of the Domain Lord's mansion, a fifth-rank defensive array platform supported the defenses, guarded by six fifth-rank human cultivators.

One could only say Domain Lord Ji had thought of everything.

Of course, this underground fortress held not only his father Xu Dajiang and sister Jiang Er, but also the families of Domain Lord Ji and other human elites in the mansion—hundreds in total.

As soon as the war began, they were all moved into the underground safe haven.

They hadn't been overly frightened.

When Xu Jin and Ning Yuchan led his father and Jiang Er out, Ning Yuchan shot Xu Jin a fierce glare.

That look was both charming and sharp!

"You talk with Uncle Xu and Jiang Er first, then come find me."

As she left, Ning Yuchan's piercing gaze made Xu Jin smile.

She was going to devour him.

"Father, are you comfortable here?"

"At first, it was a bit unfamiliar, but we've gotten used to it now! The food and supplies were all on a list we made ourselves—your State Advisor specially shipped them over from Chen Guo, saying he feared we'd be uncomfortable!"

It's quite good!

Just this time was scary.

As he spoke, Xu Dajiang glanced at his two concubines. "These two useless ones nearly fainted—I had to carry them in myself. But Jiang Er? She was calm and composed.

The Domain Lord's Lady praised her every day.

She's practically turned the girl into a flower!"

Back in the courtyard where Xu Dajiang and Jiang Er lived, Xu Jin looked at the furnishings and felt deeply moved. The State Advisor and the Ji family had truly put thought into this.

The objects and decor all bore the style of Jinshan County.

Remember, this was an alien star domain—transporting even one item here came at a heavy cost.

But Xu Jin understood: this was also his value.

After chatting for a while, Xu Jin simply cast a Gentle Dream on his father and both concubines, sending them into deep, restorative sleep.

These past days in the safe haven, though secure, had been filled with fear and unease.

One Gentle Dream should fully restore them.

Xu Jin then called Jiang Er aside alone and tested her.

Soon, Xu Jin nodded in satisfaction—Jiang Er had mastered two star arts that she could now cast instantly.

With this, she could begin Star Forging.

Perfect—Xu Jin also wanted to implement his plan: train Jiang Er to farm stars.

Even if she couldn't farm Brilliant Stars, she could farm Gold Stars.

The key to this plan was Divine Soul cultivation.

The Divine Soul cultivation of the Inner Demons and Gatekeepers was fixed; before fourth-rank early stage, stronger Divine Soul cultivation still offered enormous advantages!

Use this time to lay a solid foundation for Jiang Er.

At the same time, Xu Jin made a crucial decision!

He would teach Jiang Er the Cheng Po Star Rune.

Xu Jin had personally verified the effect of the Cheng Po Star Rune.

The earlier she learned it, the greater the benefit.

Previously, Xu Jin had discussed it with his master Qi Shanye, but the safety risk was too great, so he hadn't passed it on.

But back then, Xu Jin himself hadn't forged a star yet.

Now, everything was different.

Within two to three months, Xu Jin's cultivation would surely reach fourth-rank ninth-layer peak.

Once he broke through to fifth-rank, he even had the confidence to fight ordinary seventh-rank cultivators.

Meanwhile, if Xu Jin could successfully research and evolve the Thunder Image, Fire Image, and Earth Image runes from the aliens, his combat power wouldn't just double—it would skyrocket.

He can also protect Jiang Er.

Moreover, for the short term, Jiang Er will still reside in the Huashih Star Region, with little risk!

But transmitting the Chengpo Star Pattern is extremely troublesome.

When Qi Shanye taught Xu Jin, he didn't have nearly that much time—only a dozen days.

That was even with Xu Jin using the Star Lantern.

According to Qi Shanye, normally, most people—even geniuses from the Lingji Star Temple—need about a month to learn the Chengpo Star Pattern.

Right now, Xu Jin is most short on time.

But before coming here, Xu Jin had already thought of a solution to this problem.

Xu Jin can warm dreams; Qi Shanye cannot.

In reality, teaching is limited by fragile soul power and requires direct guidance, taking an extremely long time.

But learning in dreams allows one to repeat the process hundreds of times in a very short span and memorize it.

Theoretically, one could learn to inscribe it on their own.

If not, Xu Jin will personally teach it.

This is also Xu Jin's experimental improvement to the transmission of the Chengpo Star Pattern.

This took a full hour to complete.

During that hour, Xu Jin didn't idle—he used star force to temper Jiang Er's body once, and in her dreams, he taught her the simplest third-rank Chengpo Pattern forty to fifty times.

When Xu Jin found Ning Yuchan, she was in a quiet chamber, meditating on strengthening her Star Pattern!

That aura was extremely vast.

In Xu Jin's perception, Ning Yuchan was nearly reaching the third layer of her Jin Yuan Star Pattern.

Moreover, Ning Yuchan was using fifth-rank Star Force to strengthen it—this efficiency paled far beside that of Yuan Ling.

"Sister Yuchan, have you always trained this hard?" Xu Jin asked curiously.

At this, Ning Yuchan fell silent for a moment. "Only by growing stronger can I fully control my own fate!"

After my legs were broken, I learned this—so I trained day and night without rest.

I never waste any spare moment."

After a pause, Ning Yuchan added, "Especially after your accident—I only cursed my own weakness, trained even harder, and cursed why a day isn't twenty-four hours long!"

The next instant, Ning Yuchan's eyebrows shot up. "Now, tell me plainly—why have you been hiding this from me?"

Inside the Domain Lord's mansion, Domain Lord Ji Cheng had already awakened; father and daughter reunited in hardship, naturally had endless words to exchange.

But with a great enemy looming over the Huashih Star Region, Domain Lord Ji Cheng soon left to confer with the reinforcements—not only to reestablish control over the current star region, but also to consider the connection already forged between Huashih Star Region and the Ancestral Cave Heaven.

Outside, Ji Hongli had not found Qi Tian Sheng, so instinctively activated her Baihua Star Pattern, intending to locate her senior brother Qi Tian Sheng, since the next steps required his approval.

But soon, she suddenly heard Qi Tian Sheng's voice—and Xu Dajiang's, and Qi Tian Sheng calling Xu Dajiang "Father," and Jiang Er calling him "Brother!"

Ji Hongli knew Xu Jin's father, Xu Dajiang, and had met Xu Jin's younger sister Jiang Er several times, even secretly played with Jiang Er.

Now she heard Jiang Er calling Qi Tian Sheng "Brother!"

And she recalled everything she had seen and thought before.

First came anger.

But the next instant, her cheeks flushed crimson to her ears.

A world-hero!

Her world-hero returning!

Her beloved!

Her heart belonged!

Recalling the things she had said to Qi Tian Sheng—no, to Xu Jin—Ji Hongli's face burned so hot she could have roasted fish; even though Xu Jin wasn't here, she wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it!

It would have been bearable if she'd said it to someone else.

But she had said it to her senior brother—that her senior brother was her world-hero!

Confessing to her senior brother in front of her senior brother—this…

The next instant, Ji Hongli's cheeks were nearly aflame, but her gaze turned murderous.

Too cruel!

Senior Brother Xu Jin is far too cruel!

He made her confess to her senior brother countless times.

Not only did he not warn her—he sometimes even led her on.

In an instant, Ji Hongli's gaze grew impossibly complex—she wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it, yet also wanted to kill someone.

Inside the Domain Lord's mansion, Domain Lord Ji Cheng, Military Commander Ji Xiuchuan, were discussing the next strategic moves with Reinforcement Supervisor Cui Chongguang, Li Zhen, Hou Yunzhang, and others.

"Reasserting control over the occupied regions of Huashih Star Region isn't difficult, but maintaining a firm hold afterward will be extremely challenging!" Domain Lord Ji Cheng analyzed the current situation. "Previously, two-thirds of the sixth-rank experts were aliens."

But after this battle, though we survived the crisis, those alien experts are gone. Currently, the other four sixth-rank aliens have returned to my side since my awakening—and they're still usable!"

But the current problem is: regardless of whether the connection to the Ancestral Cave Heaven succeeds or fails, in the future, my Hongli City will face furious counterattacks from the other three races!"

We lack sixth-rank experts!

If the connection succeeds, we may even face seventh-rank alien counterattacks!

So, Supervisor Cui, I need to know—can you strike again to weaken the elite forces of the other three races?"

If you can, we still have a chance to reestablish ourselves!

If you cannot!

We must immediately organize a full retreat!

And we must decide immediately!

Because there are over ten thousand human beings still in Huashih Star Region!

Retreat takes time!

So I need a definite answer from you!"

"Can you weaken the sixth-rank elite forces of the three races?" Domain Lord Ji Cheng asked.

Facing Ji Cheng's question, Cui Chongguang, Li Zhen, and Hou Yunzhang looked at each other, none speaking.

Only when Ji Cheng grew impatient did Cui Chongguang say, "Domain Lord Ji, we cannot decide this ourselves!"

Ji Cheng was stunned!

(End of Chapter)