Chapter 384

Xu Jin was still wondering if he could extract more information about the Worship of the Stars Cult from Star Official Deng Ruiyang, when he was instantly reduced to ashes.

First, Xu Jin's Thunder Star Art had its power doubled due to the Lei Xiang Star Pattern.

Second, Star Official Deng Ruiyang's combat skills were abysmal—he failed to activate his defense at the first moment.

Otherwise, he might have survived with a sliver of health.

Star Official Deng Ruiyang died horribly, and his Star Official Seal instantly became ownerless—but as if by instinct, the Seal shot straight into the sky, attempting to flee this star domain.

Xu Jin had already prepared for this.

His accidental killing of Star Official Deng Ruiyang had been intentional—he had focused all his attention on the Star Official Seal.

After handling the Star Official Seal several times, Xu Jin already understood its nature.

If he hesitated even slightly, it would vanish instantly.

In the very instant he obliterated Star Official Deng Ruiyang with a thunderbolt, as the Seal began its ascent, thunder cracked in the sky—a slightly weaker bolt of lightning struck the fleeing Seal directly.

It instantly shattered the Seal down to the ground.

Yet at the same moment, a massive surge of star force erupted from within the Star Dipper True God statue, flooding into the Star Official Seal. The Seal, dimmed and falling from the thunderbolt's strike, blazed with renewed radiance, once again striving to flee skyward.

On the other side, Lu Shuning, a sixth-rank ninth-layer cultivator, had already sensed the anomaly and led his men rushing toward Xu Jin—arriving in an instant.

Xu Jin hadn't anticipated that even without an owner, the Star Official Seal could still draw power from the Star Dipper True God statue.

The next instant, thunder exploded again.

This time, two bolts of lightning erupted.

One bolt of Fire Cloud Divine Thunder slammed into the top of the Star Dipper True God statue, injecting a Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm into it.

The lightning, like a blade, instantly severed the star-force connection between the statue and the Star Official Seal.

Simultaneously, another unenhanced Fire Cloud Divine Thunder struck the Star Official Seal again as it rose skyward.

This lightning strike was far stronger than the previous one.

Instantly, the Star Official Seal, struck by the Fire Cloud Divine Thunder, fell like a stone, its starlight dimmed to near nothingness.

But Xu Jin knew its true nature—he dashed forward, summoning a star-force hand infused with divine soul power, snatching the fallen Seal from the ground. It writhed like a slaughtered pig pinned down.

Shatter the Evil!

Without hesitation, a torrent of divine soul power surged in, obliterating the unknown soul-will embedded within.

The next instant, the Star Official Seal, like a pig slaughtered with a white knife in and red knife out, went utterly still.

At the same moment, at least five torrents of thunderbolt energy slammed into Xu Jin.

It was Lu Shuning, the sixth-rank ninth-layer cultivator, and his subordinates—just arrived—who unleashed a coordinated barrage without hesitation.

Xu Jin had spotted them long ago, but to secure the Star Official Seal completely, he endured the assault.

In the past, he would never have dared.

But now, everything was different.

The Earth Star Pattern at eighth rank also doubled the power of Earth Star Art.

Xu Jin's Fish-Scale Golden Bell, centered on Earth Source, now had its defensive power doubled!

The next instant, Xu Jin was blasted backward by the fivefold assault, flying over a hundred meters.

Yet the Fish-Scale Golden Bell covering his body showed only hairline cracks—it did not shatter.

Seeing Xu Jin unharmed despite the concentrated assault, Lu Shuning and his men were horrified—they sensed disaster.

"That's it?"

Xu Jin sneered, flaring his Thunder Wings and charging forward—thunder cracked as the Fire Cloud Divine Thunder erupted, splitting into five.

BOOM!

The five fifth-rank cultivers around Lu Shuning were instantly reduced to charred corpses under the Fire Cloud Divine Thunder.

Lu Shuning, sixth-rank ninth-layer, withstood it—but at the cost of his fifth-rank defensive star artifact shattering.

But before he could even breathe, another Fire Cloud Divine Thunder descended.

Lightning poured down, shattering Lu Shuning's offensive-defensive star art, dissolving his protective starlight, and turning his flesh to ash in an instant.

Killing a sixth-rank ninth-layer required only two Fire Cloud Divine Thunder strikes.

At the same moment, Lu Shuning's nascent soul fled his body, trembling weakly.

As a nascent soul, it was extraordinarily fragile in the mortal realm.

Xu Jin's divine soul hand stretched out and seized it.

Xu Jin had already sensed that Lu Shuning's soul cultivation had reached the peak of fourth-rank ninth-layer.

So had Deng Ruiyang's.

Probably because proximity granted advantage.

Trapped in a fifth-rank star domain, with the Worship of the Stars Cult's star officials skilled in gathering soul energy, reaching this level was unsurprising.

Over thirty other fourth- and fifth-rank human cultivators arrived simultaneously.

Activating Fire Cloud Divine Thunder and Chain Star Patterns, Xu Jin instantly obliterated more than ten.

Only then did a few clever ones realize they should flee—but Xu Jin caught up and slaughtered them one by one at blinding speed.

Watching these failed human escapees, Xu Jin shook his head.

Their awareness of danger paled in comparison to that of the Great Saint Long Yu of the Gou Dao.

Non-human cultivators who had worshipped the Star Dipper True God statue also rushed in—but whether sixth-rank or fifth-rank, all were slain with a single thunderbolt, effortlessly.

After acquiring the Lei Xiang and Earth Star Patterns and advancing them to eighth rank, Xu Jin's star art power had doubled across the board.

Now, dealing with sixth-rank cultivators was already easy and effortless.

The remaining non-human worshippers within the star city screamed and roared, fleeing in all directions.

Xu Jin didn't pursue—there were too many, not worth the effort.

Earlier, he had chased those humans for a reason: they were either Worship of the Stars Cult disciples or close aides of Marquis Chai Ce, possibly possessing special communication methods.

If Marquis Chai Ce learned of this too soon and blocked the Star River passage, it would be a problem.

Xu Jin unleashed a vast wave of divine soul power, searching for and drawing out the Sumeru spaces of Lu Shuning and Star Official Deng Ruiyang, hoping for some gains.

Of course, the greatest prize was still the massive store of soul energy within the Star Dipper Statue.

Within the Seventh-Rank Chaotic Star Domain.

More precisely, now it was the Worship of the Stars Cult's Divine Realm—its newly appointed Vermilion Bird True Person was using the torrent of star force generated by the realm's expansion to continuously elevate his cultivation, striving to push his base toward mid-seventh rank.

Hoping one day to break into eighth rank.

While fully immersed in cultivation, the Vermilion Bird Seal hovering above the Vermilion Bird True Person suddenly trembled—five surrounding starlight strands shattered, one instantly vanishing. At that same instant, the Vermilion Bird True Person's soul screamed in agony, his spirit disrupted, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

This immediately drew the attention of all high-ranking Worship of the Stars Cult members, their gazes locking onto the newly appointed Vermilion Bird True Person.

The Vermilion Bird True Person knew exactly what had happened.

According to the Worship of the Stars Cult's tradition, his Vermilion Bird True Person seat had originally held seven Star Official Seals—but one had been lost for various reasons.

Later, his predecessor lost another, becoming a sacrifice.

He became the new Vermilion Bird True Person, and by the time it reached him, only five Star Official Seals remained under his command.

Now, one of the starlight strands had suddenly shattered—meaning a Star Official Seal's Vermilion Bird Mark had been destroyed, and the Seal was lost.

He had just assumed office—and already lost one Star Official Seal.

And it was lost within the star domain.

How could he possibly recover it in this vast star realm?

His predecessor had failed to recover his lost Seal—and became a sacrifice. His charred remains still drifted in the wind, not yet fully scattered.

Now, he had lost one too!

Under the gaze of so many, the newly appointed Vermilion Bird True Person nearly wept.

Why was he so unlucky?

He had barely sat down on the Vermilion Bird True Person's chair.

Fear gripped him, but facing the Cult Master's questioning gaze, he rose and knelt, "My Lord, I do not know why—while cultivating, one of my Star Official Seals' Vermilion Bird Marks vanished completely, and I lost all connection. It appears lost!"

"Another Star Official Seal lost? Quickly investigate—identify which one! Is the Star Official still alive?"

For the Worship of the Stars Cult, Star Official Seals were the foundation—without them, the Cult could not absorb countless nourishments; they were vital.

Now, just after drawing down the True Dao Intent of the Star Dipper God, each Star Official Seal had received a fragment.

If one was lost, the loss would be immense!

The True Dao Intent—even the Cult Master himself had received only five percent.

Now, one percent was gone outright—what a catastrophic loss!

Instantly, the Worship of the Stars Cult's high ranks moved into action, especially the Execution and Punishment True Lord and the Vermilion Bird True Person.

Within a dozen breaths, results emerged.

"Star Official Deng Ruiyang? The Seal from the Lanshan Star Domain—the one collaborating with the Hidden True Lord Chai Ce—has vanished. His aura is gone. The Star Official is dead?"

Instantly, everyone recalled Deng Ruiyang's earlier troubles.

"My Lord, since it was lost in Lanshan Star Domain, the Seal must still be there. Should we notify the Hidden True Lord Chai Ce to handle it?" suggested the Execution and Punishment True Lord.

"My Lord, I disagree! According to Star Official Deng Ruiyang's report, the strongest presence in Lanshan Star Domain was the envoy and his subordinates sent by Hidden True Lord Chai Ce—far stronger than Deng Ruiyang himself!

If something happened within the domain, we have reason to suspect Hidden True Lord Chai Ce was behind it," said the Five Directions True Lord.

If something happens within the Star Domain, we have reason to suspect whether the secluded True Person Chai Ce is behind it," said the Five Directions True Person.

"Simple—the benefits of the True Dao Intent were not shared with those few Hidden True Lords.

And those few Hidden True Lords are all stuck at the peak of seventh-rank ninth-layer."

And those few secluded True Persons had their cultivation bases mostly stuck at the peak of Seventh Realm, Ninth Layer.

If one attains the true essence of the Divine Dao, the probability of breakthrough becomes very high.

"It's very likely that this Star Official Deng Ruiyang carelessly leaked the news, stirring the interest of the secluded True Person Chai Ce," said the Five Directions True Person.

"There is merit to that possibility."

"Lord, the secluded True Person is of utmost importance to our sect; we must not lightly provoke him," said the Execution and Killing True Person.

"I know."

"But we must find out who did this."

"The Star Official's seal must not be lost, and the true essence of the Divine Dao must not be lost!"

"It must be recovered!"

In the next instant, the Lord of the Worshiping Stars Sect suddenly activated the Star Dipper Divine Seal atop his head, sensing its presence.

After several breaths, the Lord of the Worshiping Stars Sect opened his eyes and said, "I can sense that the true god's statue in that star region still exists, and the fragments of divine bone remain. If we activate the divine bone fragments, we can draw a portion of my power there—perhaps enough to uncover the truth. If we can successfully borrow the power within the statue, we can easily kill the thief."

At these words, the Vermilion Bird True Person finally exhaled in relief.

If the Lord acts, the Star Official's seal can be recovered.

He won't have to become a sacrifice.

But beside him, the Execution and Killing True Person spoke up, "Lord, think carefully!"

"Indeed, this matter is of grave consequence. Lord, please proceed with caution," said the Five Directions True Person. "Your identity has always been concealed; taking this action risks exposing your aura and your true self.

Secondly, it will expose our sect's foundational treasure—the divine bone fragments!

Each fragment lost is one less fragment!

Lose one fragment, and we lose one more statue capable of being erected by our Divine Sect!"

Having been challenged by two True Persons, the newly elevated ninth-rank Lord of the Worshiping Stars Sect showed slight displeasure on his face.

"Though I can only project my primordial spirit energy, with my primordial spirit cultivation, once projected, if I trigger the power within the Star Dipper True God's statue, even a sixth-rank peak cultivator is no match—let alone a seventh-rank! One comes, I kill one; two come, I kill two!"

Moreover, the Lan Mountain Star Region cannot possibly harbor a seventh-rank cultivator.

There will be no danger!"

After speaking, the leader of the Bai Dou Shen Jiao added, "The true essence of the divine path must be recovered! Each fragment of divine true meaning represents a future eighth-rank cultivator; gathering many such fragments could even create a ninth-rank!"

As he spoke, the Lord of the Worshiping Stars Sect gazed up at the heavens and murmured, "In the future, if I wish to break through my limits, I will need even more true essences of the Divine Dao!"

Hearing this, the Execution and Killing True Person glanced at the sect's Lord and knew further words were useless.

Though he was the Execution and Killing True Person, known as iron-faced and impartial, that did not mean he was oblivious to human relations.

"The true essence of the Divine Dao must be recovered! I support the Lord's decision," said the Execution and Killing True Person.

Seeing this, the Five Directions True Person realized he could not oppose it and bowed deeply, "Since the Lord insists, please perform the ritual swiftly, lest the stolen Star Official's seal be moved or other mishaps occur.

Moreover, since we suspect this incident may have been orchestrated by the secluded True Person,

I strongly advise immediately warning all Star Officials to be wary of potential enemies among their own, to raise their vigilance, and under no circumstances allow their Star Official's seals to be lost.

Simultaneously, require all Star Officials to report more precise locations and information, and strengthen control measures."

"This is sound reasoning. Since you proposed it, you shall arrange and execute it," said the Lord of the Worshiping Stars Sect.

"Yes, your servant obeys!"

In the next instant, the Lord of the Worshiping Stars Sect extended his left hand, and the Star Dipper Divine Seal hovering above his head instantly fell into his palm. "Two Divine Sons, guard me!"

"Yes!"

As the two Divine Sons took positions beside him, the Star Dipper Divine Seal in the Lord's palm and the towering hundred-meter Star Dipper True God statue before them emitted two vast, interweaving auras.

Within moments, as the aura of another Star Dipper True God statue faintly emerged, a divine light shot forth from the Star Dipper Divine Seal, piercing the heavens like a meteor, carrying a thread of the Lord's primordial spirit, and vanishing instantly into the sky!

(End of Chapter)