Chapter 351: One Woman, Two Marriages?

Morale is precisely this crucial!

When morale is low, everyone thinks of fleeing; even achieving eight or nine out of ten combat effectiveness is considered top-tier.

When morale is high, one can unleash twelve out of ten combat effectiveness.

Especially the four previously slackening foreign race sixth-rankers—after Xu Jin's outburst, each fought more desperately than the last, slaughtering the fleeing foreign race with greater ferocity and speed than anyone else.

In this battle, eight sixth-rank foreign race were slain, three severely wounded and captured.

Over a hundred fifth-rank foreign race were slain, seventeen captured.

Over a thousand fourth-rank foreign race were slain, over a hundred captured.

All captured fourth- and fifth-rank foreign race were handed over to the elite human troops under Ji Cheng's command, to be controlled in tiers—immediately strengthening Ji Cheng's forces.

The three captured sixth-rank foreign race, under normal procedure, could be persuaded to surrender and have their soul cores controlled, further bolstering Ji Cheng's power as a domain lord.

But Ji Cheng was now considering how to deal with the four wavering foreign race.

Deal with them—or not?

And the disposition of battle spoils.

Not to mention the star cores unearthed, the scales and hides stripped from the Fire-Scale and Rock-Armor clans—they were all wealth, let alone the other spoils.

In the past, Ji Cheng would have made the decision unilaterally.

But this time, Ji Cheng did not rush to arrange anything; instead, he waited until after the battle and specifically invited Xu Jin—the Qi Tian Sheng!

Privately, Ji Cheng inquired of Cui Chongguang, Ning Yuchan, and Ji Hongli about the origins of Qi Tian Sheng, also known as Xu Jin.

A fourth-rank seventh-layer cultivator, yet capable of instantly slaying sixth-rank seventh-layer foreign race.

Such a person was something Ji Cheng had never seen in his life.

Even stretching the timeline across vast historical records, few such figures could be found.

The Lord of the Star-Picking Tower from three thousand years ago was said to have achieved such feats.

But that was a legend from around three thousand years ago, passed down countless times—who knows how it had been distorted?

Yet no matter what, Qi Tian Sheng's opinion was absolutely worthy of his respect.

In extraterrestrial campaigns, strength almost always dictates authority.

Soon, Ji Cheng received replies.

Supervisor Cui Chongguang's reply: a powerful wandering cultivator with mysterious origins.

Ning Yuchan's reply: only six characters—Absolutely trustworthy.

The strangest was his daughter Ji Hongli's reply.

"Father, consult with him. He won't harm you. No matter what, you won't suffer any loss."

What kind of thing was that to say?

What did she mean, "no matter what, you won't suffer any loss"?

Ji Cheng felt Ji Hongli's thinking was off.

Though Qi Tian Sheng was indeed outstanding, and Ji Cheng liked him very much.

Had he not already been betrothed, he would have considered making Qi Tian Sheng his son-in-law.

But a marriage contract is a marriage contract!

It was arranged by the old patriarch, and Ji Hongli herself had agreed at the time—now, no matter how outstanding or dazzling Qi Tian Sheng became, there could be no going back.

Ji Cheng had decided: once the battle eased, he would properly discipline this girl—this dangerous thought must be nipped in the bud!

He would also have to find a way to separate Ji Hongli from Qi Tian Sheng.

Qi Tian Sheng was too dazzling; young maidens naturally admired such men.

If Ji Hongli even entertained thoughts of breaking the betrothal, it would become extremely difficult!

The groom's father had already been brought to this star domain for a long time.

"Young Master Qi, how do you propose we divide the spoils?"

Without Xu Jin, Red Carp City would likely have been slaughtered by the foreign race—this post-battle distribution naturally required Qi Tian Sheng's opinion.

Upon Ji Cheng's words, Li Tian and Hou Yunzhang both looked at Xu Jin with expectant eyes.

In this battle, two mercenary squads lost three members; all others were wounded.

Naturally, they hoped for a larger share of the spoils.

"These captives, including the sixth-rank ones, are entirely under your discretion, Domain Lord!" Xu Jin stated his first proposal.

"Young Master Qi is magnanimous!"

Ji Cheng rose to express his gratitude.

Had Xu Jin truly bargained with him, he could have sold these captives for jade tablets or celestial treasures—but he didn't.

"The sixth-rank star cores—I need them all. They're mine." Xu Jin looked at Li Tian and Hou Yunzhang.

Both immediately shook their heads, indicating no objections.

Nor did they dare to object!

In the prior battle, each of them had been badly wounded; half were critically injured!

Had Xu Jin not personally treated them, many of their injuries would have required mid-tier Star Healing to recover.

Using one mid-tier Star Healing pill would have cost them half their mission reward.

Xu Jin treated them for free—who would dare complain?

"The remaining spoils: thirty percent to the mercenary squads, thirty percent to Supervisor Cui and his subordinates, the rest you may distribute as you see fit."

This delighted Li Tian and Hou Yunzhang.

Previously, they had received at most twenty percent; now they gained an extra ten percent.

Crucially, most of these spoils came solely because of Xu Jin.

Instantly, the fifth-rank members of the mercenary squads raised their thumbs toward Xu Jin!

For them, an extra ten percent from such a major battle's spoils meant a massive windfall—enough to sustain their cultivation for the next half-year, even a full year.

"Young Master Qi, how do you suggest we handle these four sixth-rank foreign race?" Ji Cheng briefly recounted the earlier situation to Xu Jin, seeking his opinion out of respect.

"This is simple. Domain Lord, you're in need of manpower now—these foreign race shouldn't be executed yet. But their repeated betrayal must be punished. Let me handle it."

"I'll ensure you can use them more effectively from now on!" Xu Jin said.

"This—"

Ji Cheng had merely intended to ask for advice, but Xu Jin had taken full responsibility. As he hesitated, his daughter Ji Hongli's voice echoed in his mind: "Father, do as Young Master Qi says."

Ji Cheng's face froze.

She's developed feelings for him!

Disaster!

He had to act quickly!

The marriage contract was already signed; the groom's father was already in the mansion—this could not happen!

Ji Cheng had decided: his daughter must be disciplined immediately!

In truth, Xu Jin took full responsibility because of Ji Cheng's identity.

Ji Cheng didn't know who he was, but Xu Jin knew exactly who Ji Cheng was.

At least, nominally, he was his future father-in-law.

His father was still here.

He had to cultivate this relationship, ensure Ji Cheng remained firmly rooted in the Huashi Star Domain.

It was also a way to guarantee the safety of his father and sister.

"Very well, then. Let Young Master Qi handle it."

Soon after, Xu Jin began processing each of the sixth-rank foreign race, especially the newly captured ones.

This was also one reason he had volunteered to handle them.

First, he needed to interrogate them about intelligence regarding the connection between this star domain and the ancestral heavenly realm.

The result: the connection was still ongoing; they didn't know exactly when it would succeed, but it was likely imminent.

The Earth Spirit King had led them to attack the city primarily because the Sacred Clan emissary had ordered it.

After the connection succeeded, human blood would be sacrificed to the ancestral deity to celebrate the return of the Eight Wilderness Clan's ancestral glory to this world—hence the Earth Spirit King's mission.

"You've already established contact with the Sacred Clan emissary?" Xu Jin frowned.

"My lord, not just contact—we've already seen the Sacred Clan emissary above the Heavenly River. Truly majestic."

The sixth-rank foreign race abruptly fell silent halfway through.

He cursed himself—captured, and still praising the Sacred Clan emissary.

Xu Jin paid no mind; he was pondering another matter: could the connection between the Huashi Star Domain and the ancestral heavenly realm still be stopped?

If it couldn't be stopped, then preparations must be made for the large-scale evacuation of humans in the Huashi Star Domain!

This was the most critical decision Xu Jin needed to discuss with Domain Lord Ji Cheng.

What followed was simple: Xu Jin began processing the four wavering foreign race first. How?

Dream weaving.

He wove a nightmare so terrifying they would dread it beyond all else, then repeated it endlessly.

After enough repetitions, the nightmare became indistinguishable from real memory.

Thereafter, whenever faced with similar situations, they would never dare again.

The concept was simple, but execution was complex.

Of course, Xu Jin had done this many times now—it was effortless, almost routine.

Half an hour later, it will be over.

At the same time, fifteen drops of inherited blood bearing the Golden Elephant Star Pattern, and fifteen Blood-Obfuscating Blood Pearls!

After finishing, the sixth-rank seventh-layer Golden Lion alien nearly collapsed into a limp-legged lion.

It was only through this interrogation that Xu Jin discovered that the Golden Elephant, Fire Elephant, and Earth Elephant Star Patterns were not known to all aliens.

Only the top-tier aliens knew them.

Among the seven sixth-rank alien captives, there were Fire-Scale Clan, Earth-Spirit Clan, and the most were Golden Lion Clan—but only the sixth-rank seventh-layer Golden Lion alien possessed the Golden Elephant Star Pattern.

This was only because this sixth-rank seventh-layer Golden Lion alien was from the former Golden Lion royal lineage.

The other six sixth-rank captives did not know either the Earth Elephant or Fire Elephant patterns.

But Xu Jin was not in a hurry; with access to the source and methods for analysis, research, and deduction, acquiring the Earth Elephant and Fire Elephant Star Patterns was merely a matter of time.

Even the Golden Elephant Star Pattern, Xu Jin currently had no time to study or deduce.

The Thunder Elephant Star Pattern and Thunder-Dodging Star Pattern obtained from Lei Lingwang and Lei Yingwang had yet to be analyzed or deduced.

Xu Jin planned to give Ning Yuchan the inherited blood of the Golden Elephant Star Pattern, along with the methods for analysis, research, and deduction, to see if she could deduce the Golden Elephant Star Pattern.

Theoretically, the likelihood was low.

Because under normal circumstances, even Xu Jin himself needed forty to fifty drops of the Golden Elephant Star Pattern's inherited blood to possibly analyze and deduce it.

Moreover, since Xu Jin had little research into Metal Star Patterns, he might need even more.

Yet precisely because of these circumstances, Xu Jin wanted to entrust the Golden Elephant Star Pattern's inherited blood to Ning Yuchan for research and analysis.

Ning Yuchan had always specialized in Metal Star Arts and Star Patterns.

Without the aid of the Star Dome Secret Realm or the assistance of Metal Heavenly Celestial Will, she had directly used a single Metal Star to comprehend the seventh-rank Metal Source Star Pattern, then deduced it up to seventh-rank—even reaching halfway to eighth-rank, though incomplete.

This talent!

Or rather, her accumulation in Metal Star Patterns—even Xu Jin himself could not match her!

So entrusting this to Ning Yuchan might yield a surprising result!

Of course, she needed to be given plenty.

Just as Xu Jin was handing over the relevant Golden Elephant Star Pattern inherited blood, the Golden Lion alien's blood pearls and star cores, along with the analysis and deduction methods, to Ning Yuchan, the newly freed Domain Lord Ji Cheng summoned his daughter Ji Hongli into his study and casually activated a Star Shield to prevent eavesdropping.

"Hongli, since childhood, I have always supported your decisions in every aspect! Even when clan members accused me of spoiling you, I paid no mind! If they have the ability, let them go to the alien frontier like me and spoil their own children—I won't oppose it.

But this matter, I must warn you—actually, I must caution you!

What you're doing is wrong!" Ji Cheng said solemnly in his study.

"Father, what are you talking about?" Ji Hongli was utterly confused.

"You and Qi Tiansheng!"

"What about me and Senior Brother Qi?" Ji Hongli was puzzled.

"You!"

Ji Cheng spoke urgently—did his daughter really want him to say it outright?

"You—"

"Father, just say it!" Ji Hongli grew even more confused.

"Hongli, have you truly not noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"Sigh!"

Ji Cheng stamped his foot and had to speak plainly: "Hongli, haven't you noticed how close you've become to Qi Tiansheng? The way you look at him is different! Remember, you're betrothed!

Though you haven't married yet.

But your marriage contract bears the seals of your grandfather and your future father-in-law, and was witnessed by the Grand State Master!

Without this contract, you may love whomever you wish!

I support you!

But with this contract, you cannot love Qi Tiansheng!

You must keep your distance from Qi Tiansheng!

Let's say this is settled—I'll ask the Grand State Master to assign you a new mission after this is over, far away from Qi Tiansheng."

Ji Hongli stared in shock. "Father, what are you saying? My marriage contract is with Qi Tiansheng. No no no—my marriage contract is with Senior Brother Xu Jin!"

"Look! Even you can't remember your betrothed's name!

Your marriage contract is with Xu Jin!

You want a contract with Qi Tiansheng too?

Can one woman be betrothed to two men?

No way!

We can't wait!

Starting today, you must separate from Qi Tiansheng!"

"Father!"

Ji Hongli was stunned by this explosive revelation.

The marriage contract she held was with Qi Tiansheng—her grandfather said Qi Tiansheng had saved him!

But her father claimed the contract was with Xu Jin!

Suddenly, Ji Hongli understood—she had finally realized everything.

"Father, Qi Tiansheng and Xu Jin are the same person!"

"Impossible! You're delirious, daughter!"

"Father, think carefully about Xu Jin and Qi Tiansheng's achievements—could Chen Guo possibly produce two such heroic figures within just a few years?

Grandfather—he's the big bad!

He must know the truth!

He even lied to me, saying Senior Brother Xu Jin died in battle!" Ji Hongli bit her teeth in fury.

Ji Cheng was also bewildered.

But he was a sharp-minded man; after half a quarter-hour, he fully understood.

His old father had pulled off a double deception—lying to his daughter and also to his own son.

Of course, one thing was true: the marriage contract!

"Hongli, does Xu Jin know you've discovered his true identity?" Ji Cheng asked.

"He probably doesn't. I only confirmed it this morning by accident, using the Hundred Flowers Star Pattern to overhear his conversation with his sister Jiang Er." Ji Hongli said.

"So my future son-in-law—"

"Father!"

"Alright, alright—this Xu Jin knows all of this, but he thinks you still don't, correct?"

"Yes, that's likely."

"Then for now, don't mention it to anyone. The Grand State Master arranged this to protect him—we must protect him too, and you especially must protect him, understood?" Ji Cheng instructed.

"Understood!"

Half an hour later, inside the Domain Lord's mansion, Xu Jin, Domain Lord Ji Cheng, Staff Officer Ji Xiuchuan, Cui Chongguang, Li Tian, Hou Yunzhang, and others gathered in one hall and made their final decision!

The human evacuation from Huashi Star Domain must begin immediately!

To be safe!

Although evacuation would take considerable time.

But if this star domain successfully connects to the alien ancestral realm, every extra human life saved is worth it!

Yet they could not abandon it entirely.

A elite force must be sent to the alien site connecting to the ancestral realm to investigate whether there's any chance of stopping it.

Huashi Star Domain had supported over one-tenth of Chen Guo's previous extraterrestrial revenues—it could not be lightly abandoned.

At the same time, every effort must be made to buy time for the human evacuation.

And to secure even a sliver of hope for Domain Lord Ji Cheng and Staff Officer Ji Xiuchuan!

Everyone else in Huashi Star Domain may evacuate—but if evacuation truly begins, the sixth-rank Domain Lord Ji Cheng and Ji Xiuchuan must remain behind to fight to the death, until their last drop of blood is spilled!

The altar connecting to the ancestral realm lies within the Rock Armor King City of Huashi Star Domain!

Three thousand eight hundred li away!

An hour later, Xu Jin and his dozen companions boarded a Star Vessel and swiftly headed toward the altar's location: Rock Armor King City!

(End of Chapter)