Chapter 397: Slashing the Eighth Rank (Ten Thousand Votes Requested)

Inside the Xunxingwei Grand Camp.

Above the city of Dachen Wan Yi, a fierce battle raged; Pei Ze, the Grand Commander of the Xunxingwei, who had been playing go with the Elder Offerer, was now distracted—his great dragon was being surrounded again and again!

"Grand Commander, your great dragon is about to be slaughtered by me!" The Elder Offerer idly placed a stone and spoke lazily.

But at the very moment the Elder Offerer placed his stone, a terrifying burst of lightning erupted above the imperial palace.

A bolt of lightning thicker than an adult's waist exploded instantly above the palace; the thunder carried divine majesty so overwhelming that both the Grand Commander and the Elder Offerer shuddered in unison.

It also sent a jolt through every Xunxingwei officer waiting nearby!

What is this?

In the next instant, the Elder Offerer could no longer sit still.

The palace is in trouble!

It's a major disaster!

Just now, that terrifying thunderous fluctuation—merely sensed from afar—had already reached the peak of the Seventh Realm, even surpassed it.

Too distant to sense clearly.

There's definitely a high-level expert assassinating His Majesty.

This is almost certainly the State Master's backup plan.

In an instant, the Elder Offerer understood much.

In a flash, he knew he had to return.

But at the very moment the Elder Offerer's star force surged, Grand Commander Pei Ze's star force erupted; behind him, a star pavilion materialized, and his hand descended like a mountain onto the Elder Offerer's shoulder!

He pinned the Elder Offerer, who was trying to leave, firmly to his seat.

"Elder Offerer, the Imperial Mandate stands above all—three games of go must be completed; no one may leave the Xunxingwei Grand Camp until then!"

The Elder Offerer's star pavilion suddenly materialized behind him; he glared fiercely, struggling to rise, and roared, "Grand Commander, the palace has changed!"

"I obey only the Imperial Mandate!" To suppress the Elder Offerer, Pei Ze's entire star pavilion now fully manifested.

In the next instant, the Elder Offerer's eighty-four-layer star pavilion became crystal clear; star force exploded outward like a detonation—even with the Grand Commander's full force pressing down, the Elder Offerer slowly, steadily rose.

"Grand Commander Pei!" the Elder Offerer roared.

"The Imperial Mandate stands above all!" Pei Ze roared back.

A storm of star force erupted again, forcing every officer around to steadily retreat!

"Grand Commander Pei, you cannot hold me!" the Elder Offerer barked. "Don't force me to use my secret technique!"

Hearing this, Pei Ze sneered. "Elder Offerer, you've cultivated for countless years—I cannot hold you. But you forgot: this is the Xunxingwei Grand Camp.

Your mistake? You shouldn't have entered it!"

In the next instant, Grand Commander Pei Ze waved his hand. "By Imperial Mandate, all officers, listen! Form the array—aid me in suppressing this man!"

"Aye!"

Amid a hundred furious roars, the long-suppressed Xunxingwei officers instantly took their positions, forming a grand array; star force layered and converged, finally channeling into Grand Commander Pei Ze.

Pei Ze's free right hand, now charged with the combined star force of over a hundred officers, slammed down.

BOOM!

The Elder Offerer, who had just half-risen, was instantly slammed back into his seat by Pei Ze's palm.

The Elder Offerer's eyes bulged with rage. "Grand Commander!"

"The Imperial Mandate stands above all—you said it yourself," Pei Ze sneered.

The Elder Offerer was now speechless, utterly helpless.

It felt like he'd picked up a stone only to smash his own foot.

"Grand Commander Pei, won't you go assist the State Master in battle?" the Elder Offerer tried another approach.

Alone, Pei Ze could be overthrown with his secret technique—but with over a hundred Xunxingwei officers added, even doubling the technique's power wouldn't suffice.

"The Imperial Mandate stands above all!" Pei Ze sneered again.

The harder the Elder Offerer had pressed before, the more bitterly he was now repaid.

At that very moment, the radiance of the State Seal above the palace faded—the State Seal had vanished.

The Elder Offerer was frantic.

Within just two or three breaths, blisters had formed around his lips from sheer anxiety.

"Grand Commander, let me go—I'll owe you a great favor, is that acceptable?" The Elder Offerer switched from force to pleading.

In normal times, the favor of this Eighth Realm Elder Offerer would be priceless.

But now, it meant nothing.

This was about choosing sides!

Grand Commander Pei, holding such a high position, understood: choosing sides determined not just personal life or death, but the survival of one's entire clan!

Once chosen, there could be no hesitation—only unwavering resolve.

The moment Grand Commander Pei shook his head, the Elder Offerer nearly lost hope.

"Grand Commander Pei, I owe you a great favor—I'll kneel before you, please!" With the crisis escalating, the Elder Offerer had lost his composure.

Meanwhile, within the palace, the aura grew even more turbulent.

Suddenly, the Elder Offerer saw Emperor Gao Ye soaring high into the air—then, a golden spear pierced through his Seven-Star Spirit Armor, pierced through his protective starlight—and in the next instant, Emperor Gao Ye seemed to be forcibly dragged down to the ground by an invisible hand.

THUD!

A jade tablet in the Elder Offerer's arms suddenly shattered into pieces.

It was a blood-refined heart tablet, forged by Emperor Gao Ye's essence blood—capable of alerting him under any circumstance.

But now it was broken.

That meant Emperor Gao Ye had… passed away!

"Your Majesty!"

The Elder Offerer's star force collapsed; his star pavilion dissolved into scattered starlight; he collapsed to the ground, two old tears instantly welling from his dim eyes.

Pei Ze watched, stunned and uncertain.

Was this the Elder Offerer's trick?

Or had Emperor Gao Ye truly…

A thousand li away from Wan Yi, Star Lord Tianyang was flying at high speed.

Forty breaths—no more than forty breaths—and he'd reach the outskirts of Wan Yi City, ready to observe this rare spectacle!

Three top Eighth Realm experts locked in battle above Wan Yi—such an opportunity was exceedingly rare.

A once-in-decades event.

Even if he gained nothing else, merely watching would bring him countless benefits.

With a bit of luck, a moment of enlightenment might even grant him the key to breaking into the Ninth Realm.

Since reaching the Eighth Realm, battles among peers had become increasingly rare!

THUD!

A soft sound—Star Lord Tianyang suddenly heard a crisp, snapping crack.

What broke?

Star Lord Tianyang's mind instantly sank into his Nirmāṇakāya space.

Inside the Nirmāṇakāya space, a blood-red jade tablet had shattered into fragments.

Whose connection was this jade tablet tied to?

Glancing at the shards, Star Lord Tianyang's pupils shrank sharply—his face turned pale!

During the Nine-Star Tide, he had been invited by Emperor Gao Ye to visit the Chen Guo imperial palace once.

Emperor Gao Ye had hinted at inviting him to lead Chen Guo against Cheng Yuexiao.

They had exchanged subtle words, but said the timing was still unclear.

At the time, they agreed upon a special method of contact.

They had jointly forged a blood-refined heart tablet using essence blood and exchanged it.

This blood-refined heart tablet could not only be used for emergency communication but also to pinpoint location—its uses were manifold.

At the time, Star Lord Tianyang had assumed it was for emergency contact from Emperor Gao Ye.

But now, Emperor Gao Ye's blood-refined heart tablet had shattered!

This was another side effect of the blood-refined heart tablet: when the one who refined it died, the tablet would shatter completely!

Now that Emperor Gao Ye's blood-refined heart tablet had broken, it meant Emperor Gao Ye was dead!

Emperor Gao Ye of Chen Guo had perished!

The ruler of a nation had just died like this?

Wasn't State Master Cheng Yuexiao currently battling the Lords of Xumiyu Palace and Muling Palace?

The mastermind behind it all was still Emperor Gao Ye!

How had Emperor Gao Ye died?

How could this happen?

Even Star Lord Tianyang, with his vast experience, was stunned.

How could things turn out like this!

But in an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Star Lord Tianyang's mind.

Emperor Gao Ye was dead.

The ruler of Chen Guo was gone.

The possibilities here are enormous.

It could indirectly bring countless benefits!

If we can pin the blame for regicide squarely on Cheng Yuexiao, then Da Chen will be thrown into complete chaos—then Da Hong and Da Chu will have justification to invade, and the Tianyang Star Hall and Cangming Star Hall will coordinate simultaneously.

Even if we drag in the Muling Palace and Xumi Palace to share in the spoils of Da Chen.

But how much could they possibly take?

Their combat strength is formidable, but their secular armies are too few.

In the end, they can't swallow much of the bounty.

Most of the benefits will go to the Tianyang Star Hall and Cangming Star Hall.

And the Qian'an Emperor is dead!

Who is the regicide?

Who now holds the State Seal?

The State Seal—he has coveted it far too long!

The Tianyang Star Hall possesses one State Dao Artifact as well, but it is nowhere near as powerful as Da Chen's.

Far inferior.

Primarily, the Tianyang Star Hall never enhanced their State Dao Artifact, as they needed to control the Da Hong Emperor.

But Da Chen's State Dao Artifact is truly powerful.

Especially the State Seal—it has been continuously empowered generation after generation by the Star Jun of the Lingji Star Hall, and by successive Grand Masters and Emperors of Da Chen, making it absurdly strong.

That's why Cheng Yuexiao, back when he was merely seventh-rank, could defend Wan Yi of Da Chen with the Jiusheng Bells.

Da Chen's State Dao Artifact is the strongest among all nations!

Also, the Qian'an Emperor is dead—what treasures lie within his personal Xumi space?

A sovereign of a nation—every single item stored in his Xumi space must be a supreme treasure!

Also, with the Qian'an Emperor dead, the Da Chen Imperial Palace will be in utter chaos.

The Imperial Palace's treasure vaults hold countless artifacts!

To be honest, he, the Tianyang Star Jun, rarely cares about treasure vaults in ordinary places—but the Da Chen Imperial Vault? Even he is deeply tempted!

He must seize his share!

In an instant, the Tianyang Star Jun made his decision.

But they are still far from Wan Yi of Da Chen—thirty breaths are enough for the regicide to take everything.

The next instant, the Tianyang Star Jun pulled from his own Xumi space a sixth-rank Space Jade Tablet.

This sixth-rank Space Jade Tablet was purchased at great cost from the Xumi Palace, a positioning teleportation seal.

As long as one has previously cultivated a spatial landmark, crushing this positioning teleportation jade will instantly transport one within three thousand li.

During the last Nine-Star Tide, when he visited the Da Chen Imperial Palace, the Qian'an Emperor specifically mentioned this.

To appease the Qian'an Emperor and to secure future advantages at critical moments, the Tianyang Star Jun had then cultivated the spatial marker of the Da Chen Imperial Palace.

When the incident in Wan Yi first occurred, the Tianyang Star Jun had also considered using it.

But he dared not.

If he had teleported directly into the palace then, a sudden eighth-rank peak aura appearing inside would have made him the target of everyone's combined assault.

And at that time, the Qian'an Emperor was still alive.

The Da Chen Imperial Palace was never easy to enter!

So he didn't use it.

But now—he must use it!

First, seize the benefits from Qian'an Emperor Gao Ye's body, then devise a plan to seize the entire situation, pin the blame on Cheng Yuexiao, and carve up Da Chen!

The next instant, the Tianyang Star Jun decisively crushed the positioning teleportation seal in his palm.

A ripple of spatial distortion flashed—and the Tianyang Star Jun vanished instantly.

Da Chen Wan Yi!

The terrifying surge from the Imperial Palace caught many people's attention.

The seven eighth-rank cultivators fighting in the sky also noticed—but none paid attention!

An eighth-rank peak opponent was right there; a moment's distraction meant life or death.

The Muling Palace Master and Xumi Palace Master were coordinating with their four disciples, searching for an opportunity to kill Cheng Yuexiao.

But Cheng Yuexiao, now wreathed in five-colored starlight, had inexplicably become absurdly resilient—after several breaths of fierce combat, they still found no opening.

To prevent further delays.

The Muling Palace Master and Xumi Palace Master instantly communicated and agreed: if no opening exists, create one.

Too many variables!

At that very moment, from within the main tower of the Da Chen Zhaixing Tower, a streak of starlight suddenly shot into the sky; a certain star in the heavens suddenly blazed to life, and upon it, starlight from all directions converged, rapidly projecting a star tower!

And the projection speed was extremely fast!

This sight stunned the Muling Palace Master and Xumi Palace Master.

Someone was breaking through to eighth-rank!

And the breakthrough was already complete—just one final step remained!

Breaking through inside the Da Chen Zhaixing Tower? It must be a Da Chen elder.

In an instant, both thought of the same person: Peng Lao!

The Peng Lao of Danxia Palace, who had been absent since the battle began!

No more delay!

Must risk everything!

Must create an opportunity for their four disciples to surround and kill Cheng Yuexiao.

Or rather—they would create the opportunity, allowing their four disciples to unleash their full strength, tying down and draining Cheng Yuexiao's power, while they themselves delivered the final, overwhelming blow!

The next instant, star towers appeared behind the Xumi Palace Master and Muling Palace Master; in the heavens, one star after another ignited, each above which a star tower was projected.

In an instant, twenty to thirty stars blazed, projecting star tower shadows.

Simultaneously, the activated stars instantly rained down torrents of immense star power into their inherited treasures.

BOOM!

Silver light, thunder, and emerald-green wood-star energy surged like three venomous dragon serpents toward Cheng Yuexiao.

Even with Cheng Yuexiao's Earth Core Earth Resonance shielding him, having injected five layers in an instant, the two Palace Masters' all-out assault was too powerful.

It shattered Cheng Yuexiao's defenses, slamming him from the sky to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth.

Opportunity!

The next instant, the Xumi Palace's Zong Yan, Song Gui, and the Muling Palace's Wei Quan and Lu Shu—the four eighth-rank cultivators—seized their opening.

They lunged like lightning, unleashing their strongest star arts at Cheng Yuexiao!

Strike while the iron is hot!

Simultaneously, the Muling Palace Master and Xumi Palace Master once again drew upon the starlight above, activating their inherited treasures to strike Cheng Yuexiao again!

At that very moment, the crimson dragon shadow that had trapped the Jiusheng Bells and the main tower of the Da Chen Zhaixing Tower suddenly shattered piece by piece.

The connection between Cheng Yuexiao and these two supreme artifacts was instantly restored!

Cheng Yuexiao was first delighted—then his heart sank.

He understood.

"Your Majesty, farewell—I won't see you off."

Silently bidding farewell, Cheng Yuexiao spread his five fingers wide.

The next instant, the Jiusheng Bells and the main tower of the Zhaixing Tower erupted with terrifying radiance!

"Go!"

The Jiusheng Bells instantly returned to Cheng Yuexiao's hand; his fingers flowed like water over them.

DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG!

In an instant, the Jiusheng Bells rang nine times; each ring sent out a ring of five-colored light.

Like ripples—nine waves in total.

Beneath the five-colored ripples, the attacks of the four eighth-rank cultivators dissolved; even one of the two Palace Masters' strikes was blocked.

At the same instant, the radiance of the Zhaixing Tower's main tower reached its peak brilliance.

A torrent of starlight, like a raging river, surged uncontrollably toward the Muling Palace Master.

In an instant, the battle reversed—Cheng Yuexiao turned from certain death to a stunning comeback.

The Muling Palace Master and Xumi Palace Master's faces changed drastically; they both turned toward the Imperial Palace.

"What did Qian'an Emperor do? Fail? Or did he and his minister conspire to betray us?" the Xumi Palace Master cried, shocked and furious.

"This won't do—we must retreat!"

At that very moment, another eighth-rank peak aura suddenly rose within the Da Chen Imperial Palace.

This instantly made the Muling Palace Master and Xumi Palace Master realize something was terribly wrong.

The trap.

This was a grand scheme!

Another eighth-rank peak had participated—and Qian'an Emperor hadn't even told them.

That meant they were being set up.

We must retreat now!

Moreover, the State-Protecting Dao Artifact, the Jiusheng Bell, and the main tower of the Star-Picking Tower have returned to the control of Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao—now we are in danger!

Cheng Yuexiao's home-field advantage has fully returned!

And there's the eighth-rank aura currently breaking through inside the Star-Picking Tower!

The Masters of Xumi Palace and Muling Palace were both ruthless and decisive; in an instant, they made their decision!

"Retreat!"

They simultaneously ordered their disciples to withdraw.

Moreover, the two of them once again unleashed their ancestral treasures in full force against Cheng Yuexiao, buying time for their four disciples to escape!

But their plan was good—yet the Master of Muling Palace was entangled by the torrent of starlight from the Star-Picking Tower's main tower; even with all his strength and his ancestral treasure, he could barely hold his ground!

The next instant, five colored meteors shot forth from the Jiusheng Bell, directly blasting the Master of Xumi Palace—who was activating the Stringless Qin—into rapid retreat.

The four eighth-rank cultivators from the two palaces retreated in flight.

"You think you can come and go as you please? How easy do you think it is?"

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao roared; a flash of Lei Guang surged forward, and he had already reached behind Song Gui, the third disciple of Xumi Palace. In the instant he closed in, he flicked his wrist—and a jet of pitch-black, gleaming Lei Guang slammed toward Song Gui.

Though both used eighth-rank Lei Yuan to generate Lei Guang, the power unleashed by the Grand Master was worlds apart from that unleashed by Xu Jin.

Moreover, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao was furious.

This single bolt of Lei Guang directly infused five strands of Jiutian Lei Yun!

BOOM!

The Lei Guang poured down, shattering Song Gui's protective Seven-Star Spirit Artifact and his protective starlight—but just as Song Gui thought he might escape alive, the five strands of Jiutian Lei Yun exploded simultaneously!

A blazing, heavenly might flashed by!

BOOM!

Song Gui was instantly reduced to ashes!

In a single strike, he had slain an eighth-rank early-stage powerhouse!

"Gui'er!"

Watching this, the Master of Xumi Palace's eyes bulged with rage, his heart shattered beyond repair!

He had raised that disciple as if he were his own son!

And now he was gone!

Cheng Yuexiao's single strike killing Song Gui, an eighth-rank early-stage cultivator, terrified the other three eighth-ranks: Lu Shu, Zong Yan, and Wei Quan.

Instant kill!

Is Cheng Yuexiao a monster?

How could he annihilate an equal-rank opponent in one blow?

They frantically unleashed their star power.

Zong Yan even shattered his life-saving Spatial Teleportation Rune, vanishing instantly.

Lu Shu and Wei Quan, the two disciples of Muling Palace, frantically activated Lei Guang, desperate to flee far beyond Wanyi.

Cheng Yuexiao was too terrifying!

But in that very instant, an eighth-rank aura streaked forth from within the Star-Picking Tower, surrounded by starlight; with a single gesture, a small mountain materialized out of thin air a kilometer away!

"Where do you think you're going?"

It was Peng Lao, who had just broken through to eighth rank!

That single strike directly blocked Wei Quan, the second disciple of Muling Palace.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao and Peng Lao had been partners for decades—their battle synergy was flawless.

Almost the instant Peng Lao moved, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao transformed into Lei Guang and surged behind Wei Quan, the second disciple of Muling Palace.

With a flick of his hand, Lei Guang slammed down instantly!

Pitch-black, utterly black!

To welcome his enemies, to honor his guests, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao infused eight more strands of Jiutian Lei Yun.

Because Wei Quan was also skilled in Lei-based star arts!

At this point, all the Jiutian Lei Yun he had accumulated was spent!

"Master, save—"

BOOM!

Wei Quan, the second disciple of Muling Palace, stared in horror as the Lei Guang descended, watching his Seven-Star Spirit Artifact's protective starlight shatter layer by layer; he barely cried out for help before he was instantly reduced to ashes!

As for his two masters—one was being battered by the starlight torrent of the Star-Picking Tower's main tower, the other was tightly entangled by the Jiusheng Bell—neither had any spare moment to save him!

PUFF!

Watching his most cherished second disciple die horribly, the Master of Muling Palace's blood surged upward—he spat a gout of fresh blood!

"Cheng Yuexiao, how dare you kill my disciples!" the Master of Muling Palace roared!

(End of Chapter)