Chapter 366: Star Dipper Divine Seal

The Divine Soul Sealing Technique.

Before entering the Fifth-Rank Spring Thunder Star Domain, the Grand Preceptor had already taught it to Xu Jin, and Xu Jin met the stringent cultivation requirements, but he had been constantly occupied lately and hadn't practiced it.

Now, however, it was time he must cultivate it.

Whether cultivating his own inner circle or enhancing the strength of a few close associates, certain critical safeguards were necessary.

To avoid accidents as much as possible.

Prepare, and you succeed; fail to prepare, and you fail!

The Divine Soul Sealing Technique is strenuous to perform and requires three conditions: first, the secret transmission of the Divine Soul Sealing Technique; second, a star artifact capable of bearing the Divine Soul's will; third, a Yuan Ling, at minimum a Yuan Ling prototype.

These three elements are indispensable.

The most crucial is the star artifact capable of bearing the Divine Soul's will.

Such star artifacts are exceedingly rare.

Each one is a priceless treasure.

According to the Grand Preceptor, only two are known to exist in the entire Chen Guo.

The Nine Sheng Bell, carried by successive Grand Preceptors, and the Chen Imperial Jade Seal, passed only among emperors.

No current master of artifact forging in the world can craft a Divine Soul star artifact.

All existing Divine Soul star artifacts are relics passed down from antiquity.

Fortunately, the Star Official's Seal Xu Jin previously seized was one such Divine Soul star artifact.

And according to the Grand Preceptor, the origin of the Star Official's Seals of the Worshiping Stars Cult stems from their sect's foundational artifact: the Star Dipper Divine Seal.

Besides its main body, the Star Dipper Divine Seal has twenty-eight Star Official's Seals, each a top-tier sixth-rank star artifact—the lowest-ranked Divine Soul star artifacts in the world, yet also the most wondrous sixth-rank star artifacts of this age.

A thousand years ago, the Star Official's Seals of the Worshiping Stars Cult were taboo; even if someone obtained one, no one dared use it.

The primary threat still came from the Worshiping Stars Cult itself.

But over the past millennium, the Worshiping Stars Cult has steadily declined, and the so-called Star Dipper True God has vanished as if fallen from the heavens, and the seals gradually became known—even now, some have begun coveting them.

The Heavenly Sun Star Temple is said to have acquired one Star Official's Seal.

The Grand Preceptor had previously told Xu Jin much about them.

But now Xu Jin was pondering one question: if the twenty-eight Star Official's Seals outside the main body are all top-tier sixth-rank Divine Soul star artifacts, then what rank is the Worshiping Stars Cult's Star Dipper Divine Seal itself?

Is it at least on par with the Nine Sheng Bell held by the Grand Preceptor?

Xu Jin even considered another matter: would the Worshiping Stars Cult and the Spirit Record Star Temple be a perfect match?

If the Worshiping Stars Cult's method of gathering Divine Soul energy were slightly modified—to collect only Divine Soul energy without worshiping any deity—the benefits would be unimaginable.

It might even allow for the mass production of powerful cultivators who could condense a Yuan Ling.

Xu Jin had such a thought.

If he ever gets the chance in the future, he must thoroughly investigate the Worshiping Stars Cult and see if he can put this idea into practice.

There's no need to exploit followers as the Worshiping Stars Cult does.

Like later Buddhism, have disciples simply perform morning and evening rituals.

As long as it's officially recognized and accepted by society, once the base number grows, the harvest would far surpass the extreme exploitation practiced by the Worshiping Stars Cult.

Xu Jin even had a comprehensive plan.

Unfortunately, it's not possible yet.

First, he doesn't yet understand the Worshiping Stars Cult well enough; second, his strength is insufficient.

When one lacks sufficient strength, undertaking something with such immense benefits is like a child carrying gold through a crowded market—inviting disaster!

But if opportunity arises in the future, he can slowly plot it out.

After a few breaths, Xu Jin suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind, and with a thought, the Star Official's Seal emerged from his Numinous Space.

It spun smoothly, engraved with intricate patterns, exquisitely crafted.

On its side were engraved the characters "Gui Su."

This must be Gui Su, one of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions.

In his past life, had there also been a concept of the Four Symbols and Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions?

That such cultural heritage was identical made Xu Jin entertain a ridiculous thought: could the two worlds be connected?

If they were, might he one day, upon breaking through to the Eighth or Ninth Rank, traverse the void and return to that world?

This thought made Xu Jin's heart leap sharply.

In the past, Xu Jin would have scoffed at it.

Now, it was different: everything was possible!

Xu Jin had already encountered and possessed transcendent power.

The next instant, Xu Jin activated his Yuan Ling, and his powerful Divine Soul mental force surged like a flood, sweeping over the entire Star Official's Seal once more.

He had previously cleansed the Star Official's Seal, but his current Divine Soul mental force had more than doubled since then—so he cleansed it again.

Half a quarter-hour later, following the Grand Preceptor's method, Xu Jin first separated a fragment of his Divine Soul origin and infused it into the Star Official's Seal; instantly, the Seal felt as responsive as an extension of his own body.

Then, within the Seal, using his own Divine Soul will as the foundation and his Divine Soul mental force as the brush, he began inscribing and solidifying the Divine Soul Sealing Technique.

The process was arduous; according to the Grand Preceptor, most people required months of effort to succeed.

But Xu Jin had already completed the preparatory process in the Star Lamp.

After a quarter-hour, he completed it in one continuous motion!

Then came the consecration.

He had to use his own Divine Soul mental force to continuously consecrate the inscribed and solidified Divine Soul Sealing, merging it completely with the Star Official's Seal, while also aligning his Yuan Ling's aura and will with the Divine Soul Sealing—only then would it be complete.

In the future, whenever he activated the Divine Soul Sealing Technique, it would be a Divine Soul Sealing saturated with his own intense personal will.

It was somewhat like a predator marking its territory!

Meanwhile, the Divine Soul Sealing Technique had two methods: one called "Seal," the other called "Prohibit."

The Seal method involved suppressing and imprisoning specific information; even if you wished to speak, you could not utter it—it became your deepest Divine Soul instinct.

The Prohibit method was more violent: like another beast intruding into a predator's territory, it triggered the fiercest backlash—but this backlash was internal.

Like when Xu Jin previously interrogated captives: the moment they touched critical information, their heads exploded!

That was simply triggering the Prohibit method within the Divine Soul Sealing, causing an immediate detonation.

"Yuchan, come here for a moment."

Xu Jin sent a direct Divine Soul transmission to Ning Yuchan.

The Thirty-Six Mingji Star Patterns in the Lower Star Palace had propelled Xu Jin's Divine Soul perception range to eighteen hundred meters.

He was almost like a living radio.

Ning Yuchan, who had just rested, was surprised but silently entered Xu Jin's room.

Xu Jin laid out his idea bluntly, causing Ning Yuchan to show a faint look of surprise.

"Hmm, then try it."

Ning Yuchan openly released her Divine Soul, sat cross-legged before Xu Jin, and allowed him full liberty.

Xu Jin carefully activated the Star Official's Seal and implanted the Divine Soul Sealing into Ning Yuchan's Divine Soul.

This was Xu Jin's first time activating the Star Official's Seal; the process went smoothly, but as he completed the Divine Soul Sealing, his brow suddenly twitched.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," he said aloud, yet he sat cross-legged, continued activating the Star Official's Seal, and simultaneously activated all thirty-six Mingji Star Patterns, focusing his perception fully.

Under the full activation of the thirty-six Mingji Star Patterns, his previously vague perception gradually sharpened slightly.

He had faintly sensed dozens of extremely indistinct auras while activating the Star Official's Seal.

This startled Xu Jin, who had never activated the Star Official's Seal before.

What were these?

Under the full activation of the Mingji Star Patterns, Xu Jin suddenly sensed twenty-eight extremely subtle and indistinct auras.

These subtle auras were located in different directions.

The first aura was the most powerful, yet also the most indistinct—even with full activation of the Mingji Star Patterns, he could only sense its immense presence, not its location.

After a few breaths of astonishment, Xu Jin suddenly understood.

The auras he sensed were the other twenty-seven Star Official's Seals—and the Star Dipper Divine Seal!

He could not sense the location of the Star Dipper Divine Seal at all.

The other twenty-seven Star Official's Seals, under his full activation of the thirty-six Mingji Star Patterns, gave him only the faintest sense of direction—still extremely vague.

"Will I ever find one or two more Star Official's Seals in the future? If I can, perhaps I can begin implementing that grand plan—and even strengthen the Divine Soul Star Techniques!"

During the act of implanting the Divine Soul Sealing, Xu Jin discovered that Divine Soul star artifacts could amplify Divine Soul fluctuations.

In other words, if he inscribed a Divine Soul Star Technique onto one, wouldn't it dramatically enhance the technique's power?

He could experiment with this later.

"Xiaoyu, come to my room." After implanting the Divine Soul Sealing into Ning Yuchan and activating the Can Dou Light Domain for her to explore its subtleties, Xu Jin sent a Starlight Message to Ji Hongli.

Upon receiving the Starlight Message, Ji Hongli froze.

In the middle of the night?

What did her senior brother want her for?

Instantly, countless thoughts flooded her mind; imagining a possible scenario, her cheeks flushed crimson!

Should she go—or not?

The girl's reserve and fluttering heart wavered in hesitation!

After fully half a quarter-hour of deliberation, Ji Hongli clenched her silver teeth and decided: go.

Why not go!

It's just Senior Brother.

I've already told him countless times he's a peerless hero!

What's there to fear?

Right away, Ji Hongli quickly tidied herself up, changed into a beautiful red dress, then arrived before Xu Jin's room, heart pounding, and knocked.

Xu Jin was already anxious waiting.

What's that little fish doing? Why hasn't she come yet after all this time!

Just as I was about to urge her, she's here!

The door flew open with star force, and Ji Hongli, her cheeks flushed and heart racing, froze in shock.

Ning Yuchan is here too!

Still cultivating?

This...

After a few breaths of stunned silence, Ji Hongli stepped into the room. She didn't remember a word Xu Jin said, privately embarrassed and annoyed, but obediently released her soul essence.

After all, there are benefits.

Xu Jin was also slightly surprised; tonight's little fish seemed unusually alluring.

After cultivating for four hours in the Can Dou Lamp Domain, both Ning Yuchan and Ji Hongli were utterly astonished.

They now understood why Xu Jin had sealed their soul essences regarding this matter.

The Can Dou Lamp Domain is truly a cultivation marvel.

It has countless subtle advantages.

It allows one to practice engraving star patterns without damage or nearly no consumption.

Star patterns that normally required a month of cautious study to master could now be grasped in half a day.

The more complex the star pattern, the greater the benefit.

It also enhances the effectiveness of star pattern deduction.

Xu Jin took the opportunity to teach them several newly refined star patterns, boosting their strength.

Such as the Flowing Star Pattern, the Swimming Fish Star Pattern, the Clear Soul Pattern, the Bright Record Pattern, the Shatter Hex, and the Soothe Dream Pattern.

After teaching them, he resealed their soul essences.

As for Xu Jin himself, he began researching and deducing the Lei Xiangxing Star Pattern.

Xu Jin had already felt the importance of the Lei Xiangxing Star Pattern from the protection granted by the star core enshrined on the Can Dou Platform.

With free time available, he must deduce it.

The advantages of the Can Dou Lamp Domain also became evident during his research and deduction.

In just three days, Xu Jin successfully deduced the Lei Xiangxing Star Pattern.

But Xu Jin didn't just think of himself—he thought of the Grand National Master.

One of the Grand National Master's primary star arts is Earth-based.

Xu Jin had previously obtained part of the Earth Xiang Star Pattern's bloodline inheritance in the Hua Shi Star Domain, and now in the Ji Chuan Star Domain, he acquired several more.

Five days later, the Earth Xiang Star Pattern was also successfully deduced.

Unfortunately, although the Ji Chuan Star Domain's strongest faction was the Wind-elemental barbarians,

when we destroyed the Qingyi King City, all the top-tier sixth-rank Qingyi warriors were wiped out.

Of the five remaining sixth-rank beginner Qingyi captives, not one knew the Wind Xiang Star Pattern, so naturally, no Wind Xiang inheritance bloodline could be obtained.

As for Ning Yuchan and Ji Hongli, their combat power surged dramatically within these eight or nine days.

For Ji Hongli, after her cultivation base skyrocketed, it normally took two or three months to fully engrave all the star patterns and achieve true fourth-rank ninth-layer peak combat power.

Yet in just eight or nine days, she completed it entirely.

Many star patterns were upgraded to sixth-rank superior grade; seventh-rank ones require insight.

In these few days, both Ji Hongli and Ning Yuchan had comprehended the Flowing Star Pattern to seventh-rank middle level.

This was Xu Jin's requirement!

Speed star patterns increase combat power and ensure survival.

Absolutely necessary!

On February 23, Xu Jin received a message from Meng Yanwei, the Domain Lord, forwarded by Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao.

Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao's message was simple: he had nearly prepared the fourth-rank star domain data and temporary star gate Xu Jin requested.

Since the National Master had prepared everything, Xu Jin prepared to return.

Early clearance of a fourth-rank star domain has its advantages.

On February 24, Xu Jin, Ning Yuchan, Ji Hongli, and Hou Yunzhang departed the Ji Chuan Star Domain under the farewell of Domain Lord Meng Yanwei, returning to the Great Chen War City.

Upon return, the Star-Picking Token was immediately re-covered by the branch tower's range.

Xu Jin was fine—under the shield, few could send him starlight messages.

But the starlight messages on Hou Yunzhang's, Ji Hongli's, and Ning Yuchan's Star-Picking Tokens flashed rapidly.

Ning Yuchan's were even more extreme—a string of urgent starlight messages.

But after glancing at the starlight messages, Ning Yuchan's lovely face darkened.

(End of Chapter)