Chapter 411: Luck

"Dong brother, long time no see."

"Zhang brother, long time no see."

The seventh-rank cultivator from the Tianyang Star Hall, upon seeing Dong Zhao, was startled but still bowed and greeted him.

Amid his own surprise, Dong Zhao carefully motioned for everyone to step behind him, then returned the bow with a smile—though it carried a hint of bitterness.

Clearly, they were old acquaintances—with a story between them.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhang Lin from the Tianyang Star Hall asked, "May I ask, Dong brother, did you encounter the director of our Tianyang Star Hall's Yanzhou branch, Kang Jie, on your way here?"

"I did not."

"Then that's strange," said Zhang Lin, a seventh-rank cultivator in early stage. "Why did I find traces of battle and scorch marks outside the star gate of the Qisha Secret Realm?" At his words, the elite of the Tianyang Star Hall behind him all raised their star energy.

The Chen Guo Dao Academy side refused to back down; in an instant, tension flared.

"I'm equally puzzled," Dong Zhao snapped. "Three of our Jinshan Dao Academy disciples have been guarding the Qisha Secret Realm's star gate—yet they've vanished. I'd like to ask, Zhang brother, have you seen them?"

"I have not."

"Then this is truly strange!" Dong Zhao threw his words back at him—but Zhang Lin's aura had already locked onto Dong Zhao, who refused to yield.

On the other side, beyond the invisible spatial barrier, the Jinzhu barbarian Ju Xuan stood with arms crossed, watching like a spectator.

It would be best if these two sides fought first, blood flowing like a river—that would be perfect.

Zhang Lin glanced at Ju Xuan watching from afar, then suddenly smiled. "Long time no see. I wonder how much progress you've made, Dong brother? Perhaps we can arrange another duel one day—will you accept?"

"A former beaten opponent? What's there to fear?" Dong Zhao replied with pride.

"Times change."

With a casual wave, Zhang Lin's smile remained as his elite behind him lowered their energy, becoming cordial. "We're here for the Qisha Secret Realm. No need to let these outsiders laugh at us. Don't you agree, Dong brother?"

"Exactly right!"

Dong Zhao let out a loud laugh, and the disciples of the Chen Guo Dao Academy behind him all exhaled in relief.

In numbers, the Tianyang Star Hall still held a clear advantage.

The Chen Guo Dao Academy had brought over sixty; the Tianyang Star Hall had over a hundred.

Not only did they outnumber them, but the Tianyang Star Hall had a seventh-rank cultivator and eight sixth-ranks, while the Chen Guo Dao Academy had only four sixth-ranks.

If fighting broke out, the Chen Guo Dao Academy's defeat was inevitable.

Yet those who came here were the elite among elites—each with unshakable combat resolve.

If battle truly erupted, even if they were annihilated, they could inflict devastating losses on the Tianyang Star Hall's forces!

Zhang Lin, after weighing all factors, chose peaceful coexistence with the Chen Guo Dao Academy.

Especially after he saw Qi Tian Sheng—Xu Jin.

Intelligence on Qi Tian Sheng had already been placed on every Star Hall's desk.

There is no wall that doesn't leak.

Xu Jin, disguised as Qi Tian Sheng, had revealed himself many times—inevitably drawing attention.

The Tianyang Star Hall's assessment of Qi Tian Sheng: fifth-rank cultivation base, combat strength equivalent to late sixth-rank. Encounter with caution!

"Hey, why aren't you fighting? Fight! I was ready to watch!" Ju Xuan's disappointed voice rang from afar.

Zhang Lin coldly glanced at Ju Xuan. "When I was fifth-rank, I slew a sixth-rank barbarian. When I was sixth-rank, I slew a late seventh-rank barbarian!

Now, though I'm only seventh-rank fourth layer, I might still kill you!

And add another victory to my record of overcoming higher ranks!"

Hearing this, Ju Xuan burst into laughter. "Fine, I'll wait. There'll be plenty of chances to fight in the Qisha Secret Realm—just don't chicken out when the time comes!"

"I'll be waiting," Zhang Lin said with absolute confidence.

Afterwards, both sides withdrew to their respective corners and waited in calm.

In the distance, within the spatial barrier, starlight occasionally descended.

Those entering through the same star gate were all within the same spatial zone.

No major conflicts had yet arisen.

Moreover, star energy in the Qisha Secret Realm was extremely dense.

Twice as dense as that of a fourth-rank star energy secret realm—truly a sacred place for cultivation.

All who came here were resolute in will; each immediately began cultivating on the spot.

Meanwhile, Xu Jin had finished his telepathic exchange with his master Liu Qingzhu and learned some of the past between Director Dong Zhao and Zhang Lin.

Director Dong Zhao and Zhang Lin were both top-tier geniuses twenty years ago, nearly the same age.

Back then, Dong Zhao's master was the former Grand State Advisor Pei Gang—dashing, brilliant, and gifted in cultivation.

Each time they met, Dong Zhao crushed Zhang Lin.

Hence the term "former beaten opponent."

But their fates diverged drastically afterward.

The former Grand State Advisor Pei Gang died in battle; Dong Zhao, as his disciple, instantly became an orphan. At the time, the new Grand State Advisor's position was vacant, and Dong Zhao—the former advisor's disciple—became a target for suppression by all sides.

Legally speaking, Dong Zhao had the right to inherit the political legacy of the former Grand State Advisor.

But Dong Zhao had only just begun cultivating and possessed low cultivation.

Subjected to deliberate suppression, he wasted years.

Only after Cheng Yuexiao became Grand State Advisor several years later did his situation improve slightly.

But the gap had already widened.

As the Tianyang Star Hall's top genius, Zhang Lin received focused cultivation and rose swiftly, his cultivation base surging forward.

Now, at the same age, Zhang Lin had already reached the Seventh-Rank Ascension Path.

But Dong Zhao's cultivation base was barely sixth-rank third layer.

Meeting again, their cultivation levels were worlds apart.

Dong Zhao's heart swirled with countless emotions.

Xu Jin listened, deeply moved—it was fate playing tricks.

Master Liu Qingzhu had spoken at length with Xu Jin, and finally gave him important warnings.

Among the Tianyang Star Hall's strong ones he had seen, besides seventh-rank Zhang Lin, whom Xu Jin needed to guard against, there was one other person Liu Qingzhu specifically highlighted: Xu Jin must be extremely cautious if he encountered him.

Sun Fu Jia, the Tianyang Star Hall's top genius.

The fastest cultivator in the Tianyang Star Hall's history.

Unless Xu Jin's cultivation speed was compared, Sun Fu Jia was the fastest cultivator in recorded history.

Not only in speed—Sun Fu Jia's combat strength was also extraordinary. Since third-rank, he had consistently fought and defeated opponents of higher realms.

Though his cultivation base was only sixth-rank seventh layer, he possessed seventh-rank combat strength.

Liu Qingzhu knew Xu Jin's true combat strength.

Anyone Liu Qingzhu singled out for caution must be treated with extreme care.

Xu Jin carefully studied Sun Fu Jia several times, memorizing his appearance and aura.

Should he encounter him later, he must be extremely cautious.

In the distance, starlight continued to fall.

Besides multiple star gates appearing in the mortal world, several star gates had also opened on the Star River Battlefield.

Thus, the number of participants vying for the Qisha Secret Realm would certainly be immense.

Already, the shadowy figures visible numbered over a thousand.

This was also good news.

Even if the barbarians had eighth-ranks, the mortal humans held a massive numerical advantage.

But it still depended on whether the mortal humans could unite.

If they continued infighting, they would only give Ju Xuan something to laugh at.

If judged by selection criteria, Ning Yuchan and Ji Hongli would likely also join the battle—but if they did, they would almost certainly be at the star gate on the Star River Battlefield.

At this moment, only shadows could be seen, nothing clear.

And no way to communicate.

But given Ning Yuchan and Ji Hongli's strength, there was little danger—so Xu Jin simply focused on cultivation.

The cultivation efficiency within the Qisha Secret Realm was quite good.

Higher by several tenths than his efficiency in the fifth-rank Star Gathering Array—it was an excellent place to cultivate.

Yet on the fourth day of cultivation, with one and a half days remaining until the Qisha Secret Realm's opening, the sky's screen suddenly changed. 【Number of entrants to Qisha Secret Realm exceeds upper limit of 2,100. Qisha Secret Realm will commence early.】

【First Trial of Qisha will begin in one hundred breaths.】

【First Trial of Qisha: Fate】

【The Dao of Destiny grants access to those with affinity. Before you lie forty-nine Qisha Star Paths, each bearing one of seven fates: Life, Death, Struggle, Injury, Illusion, Shock, Repulsion. Choose one path and step forward—each according to your fate. Those who successfully traverse the path may enter the Second Trial of Qisha.】

Lines of text appeared, filling all present with excitement.

After waiting for days, the Qisha Secret Realm had finally opened.

Everyone was thrilled, astonished.

The sensation from the Qisha Secret Realm was nearly identical to that of the Star-Picking Tower.

Did the Qisha Secret Realm also house a being similar to a Star Spirit?

Or was someone controlling it from behind?

Doubts aside, people immediately began studying the forty-nine Qisha Star Paths before them.

Each star path shimmered with colored starlight—no pattern could be discerned.

Moreover, Xu Jin discovered that before each of the different Star Gate zones, forty-nine Star Paths had appeared.

In other words, no matter which side, the difficulty was identical across the board.

If one tried trial-and-error, the Star Gate with more people had the advantage.

The forty-nine Star Paths were fixed.

If the person ahead entered this Star Path safely, then the next person entering should also be safe.

Among the seven types of Star Paths—Life, Death, Strife, Injury, Illusion, Alarm, and Repulsion—the Life Paths were certainly the best.

No one wanted to step onto a Death Path.

Of the four types—Strife, Injury, Illusion, and Alarm—their names suggested possible setbacks; one had to rely on one's own ability to enter them.

The Repulsion Paths, however, were hard to judge.

Those who came here were no fools.

For a moment, everyone stared at each other, even observing the elites from other Star Gate zones to see how they navigated the Star Paths, buying time to gather information.

For a moment, a strange scene formed.

The Seven Kill Secret Realm had opened, yet no one had stepped in yet.

Just as everyone was sizing each other up, starlight appeared again in the sky.

【The First Trial of the Seven Kill has begun. It will close in two hundred breaths. Those who have not entered the Seven Kill Star Paths after two hundred breaths will be eliminated.】

The moment this starlight appeared, everyone panicked instantly.

Someone immediately began to try.

In comparison, the more than a hundred Eight Wilderness barbarians, under the command of their Gao Jie strongholds, had unified leadership.

Quickly, the first batch of thirty Eight Wilderness barbarians stepped onto the Seven Kill Star Paths.

The moment they stepped in, the character "Life" appeared; one barbarian vanished instantly at the path's end.

The character "Death" also appeared.

The instant the "Death" character appeared, it transformed into a vast, overwhelming starlight that slashed toward the intruder.

Instantly, the Five-Stage barbarian elite who stepped onto the Death Path was shredded into a pile of bloody flesh!

This sight sent a chill through everyone instantly.

Uncontrollable!

This death was completely uncontrollable!

Those who stepped onto the Illusion Path wandered like headless flies.

The Repulsion Path had also been tested.

Those who stepped onto the Repulsion Path were instantly expelled by an inexplicable force, vanishing from the Seven Kill Secret Realm—fate unknown!

But combined with the Death Path's outcome, they were most likely still alive; nine out of ten were simply expelled and eliminated.

The barbarian elites had paved a path for everyone, but it was only of reference value.

Because the Star Paths in each Star Gate zone were different.

At this moment, the countdown in the sky had reached one hundred seventy breaths.

"Brother Dong, let's each take one side."

"We take the left, you take the right, how about that?"

"Agreed!"

As Dong Zhao and Zhang Lin reached an agreement,

both sides began assigning ten people each to enter the Star Gates.

On the other side, Ju Xuan's second wave also began entering the Star Gates.

But unlike before, when the first wave entered and the Star Gate displayed "Life," the second wave entering the same gate now showed "Death."

Instantly, flesh and blood splattered everywhere; two died on the spot.

On this side, someone about to step into the path previously tested as "Life" froze mid-step, sweat pouring down!

The Star Paths were constantly changing.

Each person who entered triggered a change.

In this short time, with only two waves having entered, the barbarians' elimination rate had already reached thirty percent.

On the Chen Guo side, the first ten who entered saw two step onto Death Paths and die instantly, turning everyone's faces grim.

The Tianyang Star Hall also lost two dead and three eliminated.

For a moment, the pace of entering the Star Paths slowed sharply, yet the sky's countdown continued to dwindle.

Xu Jin took a deep breath, chose a Star Path, and slowly stepped forward. The Mingji Star Pattern sensed for a long time but yielded no insight.

Just as he was about to step in, Xu Jin's heart suddenly stirred.

Why not try that Star Art?

In the next instant, Xu Jin activated the newly acquired Star Art: Celestial Resonance!

The moment Celestial Resonance activated, the twenty-four Seven Kill Star Paths before Xu Jin felt entirely different.

Three of the Star Paths gave him an extremely perilous sensation.

As he slowly passed before these three paths, Xu Jin felt as if knives and axes were pressing against his body.

The other Star Paths gave him varying sensations.

But none were as perilous as these three.

Xu Jin judged that these three were most likely Death Paths.

Xu Jin's mind stirred; he quickly whispered his findings to Master Dong Zhao, then stepped back.

Master Dong Zhao's face showed surprise, then he swiftly gave orders.

Immediately, twenty-one people, under Dong Zhao's command, stepped onto the Star Paths—except for the three paths Xu Jin had specifically warned against.

In the next instant, starlight flickered.

Some entered Life Paths, others Illusion, Alarm, or were expelled by Repulsion and eliminated from the Seven Kill Secret Realm.

But no one stepped onto a Death Path.

This filled Xu Jin with great delight.

This newly acquired Star Art, Celestial Resonance, was incredibly powerful.

It actually still worked!

Moreover, Xu Jin had memorized every sensation the Star Paths gave him while activating Celestial Resonance.

The sensations for Illusion, Alarm, Injury, and Strife were vague.

But the Repulsion Path was crystal clear.

In the next instant, Xu Jin stepped forward again; this time, he excluded not only the Death Paths but also the Repulsion Paths!

When he informed Dong Zhao, Dong Zhao arranged another fifteen to enter.

Then Xu Jin stood still, activating Celestial Resonance to sense carefully, and had Dong Zhao send in another wave—this time, Xu Jin directly selected a Life Path for him.

Watching Dong Zhao pass through, Xu Jin activated Celestial Resonance again. Among the Chen Guo Dao Academy disciples, only Xu Jin and Liu Qingzhu had not yet entered.

In the next instant, after activating Celestial Resonance, Xu Jin used telepathy to point Liu Qingzhu toward a direction, then each stepped onto a separate Star Path.

Two large "Life" characters appeared.

Xu Jin and Liu Qingzhu vanished instantly at the end of their Star Paths!

Zhang Lin and the Tianyang Star Hall members who had not yet entered stood frozen.

Ju Xuan, watching from the side, was utterly stunned.

This luck?

Too good!

(End of Chapter)