Chapter 372: Opportunity and Fragments of Shadow

"Palace Master!"

Inside the Danxia Palace of the Da Chen State Dao Academy, when Peng Lao saw State Master Cheng Yuexiao return with a deathly pale face, he immediately grew anxious.

Grand Marshal Pei Ze, who had rushed over, also wore an expression of deep concern.

"No harm done."

After continuously channeling stellar power, State Master Cheng Yuexiao spat out a clot of stagnant blood, and his complexion slightly improved.

"The Palace Master of Xumi is indeed formidable. I gave my all, and on the surface it was evenly matched, but in truth, I suffered minor internal injuries and a slight disturbance to my spirit, yet nothing serious," said State Master Cheng Yuexiao.

"Had State Master not held back the State Artifact, he could have severely wounded this Xumi Palace Master," said Grand Marshal Pei Ze.

"Severely wounding him may not have been certain, but gaining the upper hand was inevitable! Yet this battle also serves as a warning to other factions—if I had used the State Artifact, the Nine Sheng Bell, I would have appeared weak."

"Without using the Nine Sheng Bell, yet still holding my own against an eighth-rank peak Xumi Palace Master, the other factions will now have to think twice."

Grand Marshal Pei Ze nodded lightly upon hearing this.

Indeed.

Strike one punch to open the way, and a hundred others won't follow.

The effect of State Master forcing back the Xumi Palace Master without using the State Artifact was far stronger than if he had used it to drive him off.

"Has this Xumi Palace Master been at eighth rank for six or seven decades? Meanwhile, State Master has only been at eighth rank for a little over a decade—otherwise, State Master might even have had a chance to trap him," said Peng Lao.

"That's true! Whether in stellar power or spiritual essence, this Xumi Palace Master surpasses me—but given a few more years, it might not be so."

Though State Master Cheng Yuexiao spoke these words aloud, what he truly thought of were the high-rank stellar patterns Xu Jin had deduced over the past few months—even someone as powerful as him had barely just grasped them, such as the eighth-rank Lei Yuanxing pattern, which he had only recently succeeded in comprehending.

He had not yet completed a coherent tactical system; if he did, things would be entirely different.

"Has anyone from the imperial palace come out?" Cheng Yuexiao suddenly asked.

"State Master, that eighth-rank elder guest once appeared in the sky far away to observe the battle," said Grand Marshal Pei Ze.

"Observing is enough."

Saying this, State Master Cheng Yuexiao turned to Peng Lao. "This Xumi Palace Master's arrival, along with the multiple Xumi emissaries who previously intercepted us, all relate to this. After this battle, though the Xumi Palace Master won't give up and will still seek ways to expand into Da Chen…"

"The imperial palace's restrictions can now be tightened."

"Within the state, I won't interfere—that's the emperor's responsibility."

"But any imperial emissary who dares to travel abroad shall be executed without mercy."

"Understood," replied Peng Lao, accepting the order.

Grand Marshal Pei Ze, upon hearing this, frowned slightly.

"Grand Marshal, Da Chen may cooperate with other factions and exchange what each needs—but absolutely no traitorous cooperation!"

"Da Chen is not merely the Gao family's domain—it belongs to Da Chen's millions of cultivators and billions of citizens!"

"Da Chen's interests must never be sold for personal gain!"

"Grand Marshal, do you agree?" State Master Cheng Yuexiao fixed his gaze steadily upon Grand Marshal Pei Ze.

Grand Marshal Pei Ze met Cheng Yuexiao's gaze, pondered carefully for several breaths, then nodded firmly.

"State Master is right! Da Chen's interests must never be sold for personal gain!" said Pei Ze.

"Then in these matters, I hope Grand Marshal will lend your full cooperation in the future."

"Where righteousness lies, I stand!"

Grand Marshal Pei Ze bowed respectfully.

A few breaths later, Grand Marshal Pei Ze took his leave; State Master Cheng Yuexiao watched him depart, and his gaze grew slightly more relaxed.

On the matter of restraining imperial power, he had reached an understanding with Grand Marshal Pei Ze!

But to resolve the imperial power issue in stages, time was still needed—and a crucial opportunity.

In the Tianyang Star Hall, opposite the Tianyang Star Hall, the star projection of Cangming Star Jun sat in meditation, engaged in the most private of exchanges: "Cangming, Cheng Yuexiao's combat power has risen rapidly. Before, even when using the State Artifact, Cheng Yuexiao could barely defend himself before us."

"Now, he has repelled the Xumi Palace Master without even using the State Artifact."

"In the future, if we wish to visit Wan Yi in Da Chen, we must be cautious."

"Otherwise, if you end up with a bloody head, don't blame me for not warning you."

"The one who should watch out for a bloody head is you. My Cangming Star Hall has always maintained good relations with Da Chen."

"Twenty years ago, the first to storm into Da Chen's Wan Yi was your Cangming Star Hall," sneered the Tianyang Star Jun.

At these words, Cangming Star Jun's smile suddenly stiffened.

Xumi Palace.

Upon returning to Xumi Palace, Palace Master Luo Xian closed his eyes and reviewed the previous battle. After long contemplation, he finally shook his head.

If he spared no cost, he might have severely wounded Da Chen's State Master Cheng Yuexiao.

But the problem was, Cheng Yuexiao never used the State Artifact.

That meant, even if he spared no cost, as long as Cheng Yuexiao used the State Artifact, he still could not severely wound him.

In that case, it would be far more difficult for Xumi Palace to break into Da Chen and secure a foothold.

There was only one choice left.

【Palace Master Chi, if you have time, please visit Xumi Palace for a brief stay.】

【Palace Master Luo, speak plainly.】

【Our two palaces' expansion into the mortal realm ultimately requires a foothold. Though the barbarian lands are geographically better suited for the Mu Spirit Palace, most of the barbarians are uncivilized. To recruit disciples widely, the Central Plains are still best. If interested, please visit Xumi Palace for a brief stay.】

【Palace Master Luo, you were blocked entering Wan Yi today—are you seeking to cooperate with me?】

【Brother Chi, cooperation benefits both.】

【Hahaha, Brother Luo, wait a while longer—I shall personally visit Xumi Palace.】

【Good. I shall keep a cup ready for you, Brother Luo.】

Inside the Star Dome Secret Realm of Zhaixing Tower in Da Chen's War City, Xu Jin opened his eyes, a trace of regret in them.

Not enough.

Xu Jin had inscribed another eighth-rank lower Lei Xiangxing pattern, but no matter how he activated it, not a single thread of Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm condensed.

This shattered his earlier hypothesis.

The Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm was so potent—merely injecting it into a thunder-based star technique could boost its power by fifty percent.

It could certainly become Xu Jin's future trump card.

But the problem was, there were too few of them!

If one Lei Xiangxing pattern could produce one thread of Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm per day, Xu Jin's seventy-two star cores would need at least fifty or sixty such patterns inscribed.

Then, if he could produce fifty or sixty threads daily, he could inject several into each thunder-based star technique.

But testing revealed this idea was unworkable.

Only one thread of Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm could be produced per day—far too few.

The idea of increasing the number of Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythms by inscribing more star patterns had failed.

After much thought, Xu Jin realized there was only one direction left to increase the number of Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythms.

That was to continue deducing the Lei Xiangxing pattern to elevate its rank.

See if it could be increased.

Having settled on this direction, Xu Jin immediately activated another Canxing star to deduce the Lei Xiangxing pattern.

But this time, after activating the Canxing star, he first used its ability to raise a star pattern's rank by one minor tier, then began the high-rank Dao derivation.

The rank of the Lei Xiangxing pattern rose directly to eighth-rank middle.

In the instant it reached eighth-rank middle, a flood of insights surged into Xu Jin's mind—he understood at once.

The eighth-rank middle Lei Xiangxing pattern added no new star technique; the only special technique remained the Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm—but it had changed.

Two.

The eighth-rank middle Lei Xiangxing pattern could now produce two threads of Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm per day.

Then, Xu Jin activated high-rank Dao derivation to continue deducing the Lei Xiangxing pattern.

But the deduction process was excruciatingly slow; after one high-rank Dao derivation, the eighth-rank middle Lei Xiangxing pattern had only yielded one branch.

Yet Xu Jin was not discouraged—failed deductions were still accumulation.

With enough such accumulation, a qualitative transformation would inevitably come.

Four Canxing stars remained.

Xu Jin hesitated—should he use another Canxing star to elevate the Lei Xiangxing pattern to eighth-rank upper?

If elevating it to eighth-rank upper only increased daily Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm from two to three threads, it would not be worth it.

But if it doubled—from two to four—then the gain would be entirely different.

That would be extremely worthwhile!

Moreover, from prior usage, Xu Jin sensed that the effect of injecting Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm into star techniques was cumulative.

That meant, injecting multiple threads would multiply the effect—accumulated over time, it could serve as a decisive trump card.

After hesitating for several breaths, Xu Jin activated another Canxing star, directly elevating the eighth-rank middle Lei Xiangxing pattern to eighth-rank upper.

No new star technique was gained—the Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm changed again.

Not the hoped-for doubling, but an additional thread.

Now, three threads of Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm could be condensed daily.

Slight disappointment, but not a waste.

Then, he used high-rank Dao derivation to deduce the eighth-rank upper Lei Xiangxing pattern, pushing toward ninth rank.

Its difficulty exceeded even Xu Jin's expectations.

Even with all enhancements, one high-rank Dao derivation yielded only a single branch.

There are three Canxing stars, and nine Jinxing stars.

What should I deduce next?

Given the massive improvement in Lei Xiangxing's pattern, Xu Jin temporarily shifted his stacking-armor deduction direction to the Tu Xiangxing pattern.

Previously, the Tu Xiangxing pattern, deduced through ancestral bloodline inheritance of the Tu element, reached only Fourth-Rank Upper.

Xu Jin directly used Jinxing stars to activate High-Rank Yan Dao for deduction.

Perhaps due to the stronger reinforcement of Fourth-Rank Earth Dao principles, only two Jinxing stars were enough to elevate the Tu Xiangxing pattern from Fourth-Rank Upper to Seventh-Rank Lower.

Following his prior experience and to avoid wasting the High-Rank Yan Dao of Canxing, Xu Jin immediately activated one Canxing star: first opening High-Rank Yan Dao to push the Tu Xiangxing pattern from Seventh-Rank Lower to Seventh-Rank Upper, then using the Canxing star's unique property to fill one minor rank.

The Tu Xiangxing pattern was also pushed all the way to Eighth-Rank Lower.

Without testing, based on the earlier results from Lei Xiangxing, Xu Jin knew his Earth-star technique's power had doubled.

Thus, the defensive power of Yu Mu Jinzong naturally doubled as well.

Earthheart Earth Rhythm: Can generate one thread of Earthheart Earth Rhythm daily; a hundred threads can coalesce into the Xuanhuang Earth Seal, usable for refining the body or enhancing Earth-star technique power.

Sensing this unique star technique's reward, Xu Jin smiled, as expected.

This is exactly what I wanted.

Another power like a secret weapon.

The Tu Xiangxing pattern alone doubles the power of Xu Jin's Earth-star techniques; combined with Earthheart Earth Rhythm, each thread boosts his Earth-star technique power by fifty percent.

At critical moments, it's an absolute lifesaver.

More reliable than a Sixth-Rank Supreme Star Artifact.

Must hoard it—for lifesaving use at the critical moment.

Ideally, the Tu Xiangxing pattern should have been pushed to Eighth-Rank Middle or even Eighth-Rank Upper, to rapidly accumulate this special power.

But deducing beyond Eighth-Rank for 'Xiang'-type star patterns is extremely difficult—one minor rank requires one Canxing star.

I only have two Canxing stars left now; must use them sparingly.

The stacking-armor direction is complete.

Next, I'll deduce speed-related star patterns.

Once stacking armor is complete and speed-related star patterns are deduced, even if Xu Jin encounters another Seventh-Rank Peak powerhouse like Yangdu Marquis, he won't fear.

At worst, he can still escape alive.

Even if he faces an Eighth-Rank powerhouse, his chances of survival remain high.

Then, the return of the Great Sage won't be far off.

For speed-related star patterns, Xu Jin had originally planned to use Liu Xu Xingwen.

Liu Xu Xingwen is currently at Fifth-Rank Upper.

Xu Jin immediately used two Jinxing stars to push the Liu family's secret Liu Xu Xingwen from Fifth-Rank Upper to just beyond Seventh-Rank Middle.

Then, Xu Jin activated another Canxing star.

He pushed Liu Xu Xingwen all the way to Eighth-Rank Lower, then used the Canxing star's property to elevate it to Eighth-Rank Middle.

Another Eighth-Rank star pattern acquired.

At this point, Xu Jin still had five Jinxing stars and one Canxing star left.

Unexpectedly, Liu Xu Xingwen brought Xu Jin a surprise.

The speed increase from Eighth-Rank Middle Liu Xu Xingwen was modest.

It only boosted Xu Jin's current speed by twenty percent, raising his normal maximum speed to just over four hundred meters.

The improvement was not significant.

The surprise came from the unique star technique unlocked after Liu Xu Xingwen broke into Eighth-Rank: Xu Ying.

At Eighth-Rank Lower, Xu Ying can use star force to split into two doppelgängers carrying Xu Jin's aura, to confuse enemies.

At Eighth-Rank Middle, the unique star technique is still Xu Ying, but the number of doppelgängers created by star force increases from two to four.

After inscribing the star patterns, Xu Jin exhaled deeply and smiled in satisfaction.

Now, his confidence is even greater.

Moreover, this Xu Ying technique can be further deduced using the Star Lamp—there's still room for improvement.

Next, it's time for Yu Mu Xingwen.

But just as he was about to begin deduction, the starlight above the Star Dome Secret Realm suddenly vanished—all the starlight that had once granted Xu Jin boundless clarity and inspiration now dimmed completely.

The four-hour meditation window for this month in the Star Dome Secret Realm had been fully consumed.

"Enough for this month. I mustn't waste Jinxing stars—my frequency of obtaining Jinxing and Canxing stars will only decrease from now on."

It's time to contact the Grand Master and begin clearing the Fourth-Rank Star Domains!

With this thought, Xu Jin sent a starlight message to Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, waited for the Grand Master's reply, then activated the Can Dou Lamp Realm to begin researching and deducing Lei Dun Xingwen using the Lei Dun Xingwen ancestral blood, Earth-Star Core, and Leiying tribe's blood.

Lei Dun Xingwen is Xu Jin's primary focus for future speed development!

(End of Chapter)