Chapter 421: Outside Tactics

Outside the star gate of the Seven Kill Secret Realm deep in Daqing Mountain, a streak of starlight suddenly appeared.

The next instant, the starlight abruptly solidified into a figure descending—the very Sun Fujia, killed three times by Xu Jin.

Sun Fujia's face burned with rage, yet he forced himself to suppress it.

Shame!

To be killed three times by the same person, at the same location—this was an unprecedented humiliation in his entire cultivation journey.

Since stepping onto the path of cultivation eight years ago, he had advanced swiftly, receiving full support from his master, Tianyang Zhenjun.

Unrivaled within his own realm, slaying enemies one major realm higher was routine for him.

He was the kind of child other families talked about.

Yet today, he was slain across a realm by a fifth-rank third-layer cultivator—and killed three times!

"Huh? Brother Sun? You too?" Some disciples previously eliminated from the Seven Kill Secret Realm, from Yu Dachen and Tianyang Star Temple, waited outside the star gate to assist their own.

Seeing Sun Fujia appear suddenly, they were stunned.

Logically, Brother Sun Fujia was among those they believed could never be eliminated.

Yet now he had been eliminated—naturally, they were utterly shocked.

But upon reflection, since the Seven Kill Secret Realm contained eighth-rank alien beings, it was only natural that Brother Sun had been eliminated by an eighth-rank force.

Yet the moment they opened their mouths, Sun Fujia's dark, furious gaze silenced them mid-sentence.

"Stay here. I'm returning to the Star Temple first."

Sun Fujia shot skyward on starlight, flying while mentally replaying his previous battles.

When he used his third life-replacement opportunity, he hesitated for an instant over whether to continue or withdraw.

For a fleeting moment, Sun Fujia impulsively wanted to return and fight Qi Tiansheng once more.

Could he possibly kill him four times?

But reason and his master's teachings led him to decisively abandon further combat and return.

The legacy of the Seven Kill Star Lord meant little to him.

What mattered was the True Meaning of the Divine Path.

Yet the True Meaning of the Divine Path was already secured by Zhang Lin, Zhang's senior brother.

He had no need to risk his own life!

Since taking him as a disciple, Tianyang Zhenjun had constantly emphasized one phrase: Caution never leads to error; always maintain a mind of walking on thin ice beside a precipice during battle.

Over eight years, he had repeated this phrase hundreds of times.

Thus, today he decisively chose to withdraw.

He had hesitated slightly then, but now, after replaying the battle, Sun Fujia was drenched in cold sweat.

He began to thank his own caution.

He was lucky not to have returned to fight again.

Had he returned, every survival technique he possessed, every tool at his disposal, would have been useless against Qi Tiansheng's third-round chain strikes!

Especially that soul attack—it was terrifying, capable of disrupting his soul, rendering even his life-saving talisman unusable.

This was horrifying!

As cold sweat dripped, Sun Fujia began to analyze another question: If he encountered Qi Tiansheng again in the mortal world, could he kill him?

Or, if he encountered Qi Tiansheng again, could he escape alive from his hands?

Sun Fujia considered this question with extreme caution and meticulous care, even factoring in his hidden techniques and survival capabilities.

In the end, he even calculated his projected cultivation advancement!

The more he calculated, the paler his face became.

The more he calculated, the more grim his expression grew.

Alone, his chance of killing Qi Tiansheng was extremely low.

In their brief clash, he sensed Qi Tiansheng was strong in every aspect—defense formidable, attack devastating, versatile in both thunder and earth, and his soul cultivation already surpassed his own.

From his perspective, there was no weakness to exploit.

Counter-killing was impossible.

The chance of escaping alive from Qi Tiansheng's hands was even smaller.

At his current cultivation pace, his next solo encounter with Qi Tiansheng would very likely end in death again.

He wouldn't even be able to flee!

This was terrifying!

Sun Fujia even projected scenarios years ahead—but the results were even more despairing.

His cultivation had reached sixth-rank seventh-layer, nearing his first major bottleneck: breaking into seventh-rank.

According to his master Tianyang Zhenjun, even with all the resources his master provided, he might need one or two years of arduous cultivation to break through to seventh-rank.

Within three to four years, his cultivation would peak at sixth-rank ninth-layer.

But what of Qi Tiansheng?

He was only fifth-rank third-layer.

In the coming three to four years, his cultivation would rise rapidly.

Perhaps within three or four years, Qi Tiansheng's cultivation would reach mid-sixth-rank.

Yet he would still be stuck at sixth-rank peak.

Qi Tiansheng's advancement speed far outpaced his own.

When they met again, he would still be at a disadvantage—and the gap would widen.

Enhancing his soul cultivation was another avenue.

His master Tianyang Zhenjun had said that once his cultivation reached sixth-rank ninth-layer peak, he would help him instantly forge a Soul Spirit, enabling earlier breakthrough to seventh-rank.

But Qi Tiansheng's soul cultivation was already stronger than his.

What of the future?

Still no hope.

In every direction, he had no hope of surpassing Qi Tiansheng.

The gap would only grow wider!

This left the prodigy Sun Fujia with an inexplicable sense of despair.

For the next three to four years, whenever he encountered Qi Tiansheng, he must avoid him—or travel with other experts.

Even for four or five years, this would hold true.

Endless frustration.

To surpass Qi Tiansheng in strength, he could only wait until after reaching seventh-rank early stage—or even mid-seventh-rank!

At least six years from now.

The earliest possible, six years from now.

More safely, ten years from now!

Then Sun Fujia remembered Ning Yuchan's relationship with Qi Tiansheng.

They appeared close, inseparable.

Qi Tiansheng knew his identity, yet still charged forward without hesitation.

This proved their bond was extremely strong.

The grievance between him and Ning Yuchan—her broken legs, her crippling—could never be reconciled.

He regretted it now: had he not listened to the Temple Master back then, had he simply killed Ning Yuchan instead of merely crippling her, this crisis would never have arisen.

Now, because of Ning Yuchan, his future with Qi Tiansheng would likely be a death struggle.

Yet short-term, surpassing him in strength was impossible.

This crisis was not one Sun Fujia wished to accept!

He did not want to be forced to carry an eighth-rank bodyguard everywhere he went.

Where would he find an eighth-rank so idle?

As a prodigy, Sun Fujia was exceptionally intelligent.

Along his path, he had witnessed countless so-called prodigies perish.

He had personally eliminated many himself.

A prodigy who fails to grow is nothing!

In an instant, three words flashed in Sun Fujia's mind—Outside Tactics!

The crisis brought by Qi Tiansheng and Ning Yuchan must be resolved.

To resolve it, he must use Outside Tactics!

And to resolve this crisis with Outside Tactics, the methods were countless.

As Tianyang Star Temple's prodigy, he controlled immense resources and authority.

In an instant, over a dozen methods surfaced in Sun Fujia's mind.

Even more.

Yet most Outside Tactics required planning and timing.

But now, there was one extremely potent Outside Tactics he could deploy immediately.

The sooner he used it, the better.

Use it, and perhaps one day, good news would return.

An hour later, Sun Fuji, having traveled via teleportation, returned to the Tianyang Domain, where the main hall of the Tianyang Star Temple stood.

Upon arrival, he went straight to the Tianyang Grand Hall to meet his master, the Tianyang Star Jun.

On the way, he had already informed his master, the Tianyang Star Jun, of his defeat.

Because the matter concerned the True Meaning of the Divine Dao, the Tianyang Star Jun had ordered him to return immediately and personally report every detail.

The moment the Tianyang Star Jun saw Sun Fuji, he did not ask who had eliminated him, but instead probed deeply into every detail of the Seven Kill Secret Realm and the many aspects of the True Meaning of the Divine Dao.

Sun Fuji answered each question carefully, emphasizing the eighth-rank Ju Xuan.

He then added that, based on the current situation, Zhang Lin and the other two seventh-rank cultivators should be able to obtain the True Meaning of the Divine Dao.

Finally, he naturally mentioned his own elimination.

When describing how he had been killed three times, Sun Fuji's face showed fear, and he slightly exaggerated Qi Tian Sheng's combat power.

"Master, this Qi Tian Sheng killed me three times. From his performance, I don't just lack another chance—I doubt even three or five more chances would save me from being slain by Qi Tian Sheng."

"This Qi Tian Sheng is too strong!"

"Master, this Qi Tian Sheng isn't just strong in star arts—he's also strong in divine soul cultivation!"

"He has definitely forged a Divine Spirit, and not just recently."

"His divine soul star art directly immobilized me for half a breath."

"I had no chance to use my life-saving Spatial Rune Tablet—he crushed me outright!"

"Master, this Qi Tian Sheng has immense potential!"

"You know, I possess the strength to slay early seventh-rank cultivators and hold my own against mid- to late seventh-rank ones."

"Yet this Qi Tian Sheng killed me—and killed me three times."

"What's terrifying is that his cultivation is only fifth-rank third layer. What if he breaks through to sixth-rank third layer? Would even late seventh-rank cultivators stand a chance?"

"If he reaches sixth-rank peak, he might even confront eighth-rank cultivators."

"If he breaks through to seventh-rank, ordinary mid- to late eighth-rank cultivators won't be his match!"

Then Sun Fuji uttered the most explosive statement: "Master, I feel we cannot let Qi Tian Sheng grow. At this rate, he won't even need to reach eighth-rank—just seventh-rank late or peak, and he'll be able to challenge the very top eighth-rank cultivators of this era!"

"If he breaks through to eighth-rank!"

"He could become invincible under heaven!"

"Enough!"

The Tianyang Star Jun slammed his hand on the table and glared at Sun Fuji, startling him into silence.

After a long pause, the Tianyang Star Jun said, "Fuji, you've disappointed me."

Sun Fuji was confused.

"Fuji, defeat is not terrifying!"

"In my lifetime, I've been defeated many times."

"Yet each defeat made me stronger!"

"What does not kill me makes me stronger!"

"So it must be for you too!"

"Do you understand?"

"Defeat is not terrifying!"

"What is terrifying is that your heart has been utterly broken!"

"You've surrendered in your soul!" said the Tianyang Star Jun, staring at Sun Fuji.

Sun Fuji froze.

Had he surrendered?

No!

He had merely spoken the truth!

"Master, every word I spoke was true—not a single exaggeration!"

"You may ask my fellow disciples: during the third trial, Qi Tian Sheng survived even under Ju Xuan's full pursuit!" Sun Fuji urgently added, realizing something.

"I understand."

The Tianyang Star Jun waved his hand, frowning. "Enough. This trial has clearly been a great warning to you."

"Remember: beyond heaven there is higher heaven; beyond people there are greater people."

"Being defeated a few times is good!"

"Shame leads to courage!"

"From now on, strive harder!"

Though speaking sternly, the Tianyang Star Jun still gave him a box of Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills and two portions of fifth-rank divine soul medicinal herbs.

"At this moment of defeat, you must strive forward!"

"Go into seclusion!"

"First, meditate for ten days—one Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pill per day—then take these divine soul herbs."

"At that point, you will forge your Divine Spirit in one stroke!"

"Then I will teach you several secret arts—you will greatly advance your power!"

"You will surely be able to kill Qi Tian Sheng with your own hands," said the Tianyang Star Jun.

"Disciple bows in thanks for your gift!"

After kowtowing, Sun Fuji took the treasures and left.

He knew his divine soul cultivation would break through to fifth-rank—it was certain.

But after breaking through to fifth-rank and forging the Divine Spirit, could he kill Qi Tian Sheng?

Probably not.

He had no confidence.

He still needed outside tactics.

His master's outside tactics had already taken effect.

Once his cultivation boost was complete, he'd still need to use outside tactics from time to time to eliminate threats.

His identity as the Tianyang Star Jun's direct disciple and the Tianyang Star Temple's greatest prodigy carried immense influence—very useful.

Inside the Tianyang Grand Hall, the Tianyang Star Jun stared at Qi Tian Sheng's dossier, frowning in thought.

The dossier on Qi Tian Sheng had long been sent by the Sixth Elder, who oversaw the Tianyang Star Temple's intelligence agency, Chijing.

He was someone who needed special attention.

His recorded combat ability was described as capable of challenging higher ranks.

But it was nowhere near as terrifying as what his disciple Sun Fuji had claimed!

According to Sun Fuji, if Qi Tian Sheng broke through to sixth-rank, only eighth-rank cultivators could kill him.

If he reached seventh-rank peak, he could dominate the entire era.

If he broke through to eighth-rank, he would be invincible under heaven.

In other words, if Qi Tian Sheng reached seventh-rank peak, even the Tianyang Star Jun himself would be dominated!

How could that be possible?

Sun Fuji must have exaggerated.

But only slightly.

The intelligence indicated Qi Tian Sheng's cultivation was fifth-rank second layer—now fifth-rank third layer, normal.

And his disciple's strength, he knew well.

Ordinary mid-seventh-rank cultivators were no match for him.

Yet now he had been killed three times in a row.

That meant Qi Tian Sheng was truly extraordinary.

Perhaps, after reaching eighth-rank, he truly might dominate the era.

That was something he could not allow.

Thinking of this, the Tianyang Star Jun frowned again. Why had Chen Guo recently produced so many prodigies?

First there was Xu Jin's astonishing brilliance.

Now there was this Qi Tian Sheng, who might one day dominate the entire era!

Was heaven's mandate with Chen Guo?

That was absolutely unacceptable!

A few breaths later, the Sixth Elder in charge of Chijing arrived.

After paying respects, the Tianyang Star Jun tossed the jade tablet containing Qi Tian Sheng's information to him: "Reinvestigate Qi Tian Sheng—his birth, cultivation path, current relationships—everything must be uncovered in full detail!"

"Once you have the facts, report immediately."

"Yes, I will assign personnel to handle this at once."

The Sixth Elder of the Tianyang Star Temple, Xia Zhong, departed on his mission.

Inside the Seven Kill Secret Realm.

Ning Yuchan's expression was complex.

She wanted to kill Sun Fuji herself to avenge her broken leg, so she hoped Sun Fuji would escape Xu Jin's grasp—but she also knew that if Xu Jin couldn't kill Sun Fuji, her own chance to kill him in the future would be virtually nonexistent.

Without needing to ask, Xu Jin already understood the situation between Ning Yuchan and Sun Fuji.

Ning Yuchan had previously mentioned to him only that her broken leg was tied to Zeyou and the Tianyang Star Temple.

I never expected it was destroyed by Sun Fugia, the peerless genius of Tianyang Star Hall.

Xu Jin could see that Ning Yuchan was desperate to kill Sun Fugia herself to avenge her hatred.

But the difficulty is truly

Sun Fugia's strength is extraordinary.

Even I had to use my full power and repeatedly activate Divine Soul Star Arts to restrain him before I killed him three times in a row.

But Ning Yuchan is far behind in Divine Soul Star Arts.

Even with the Chengpo Star Pattern, it would still take several years.

And Sun Fugia's strength will surge forward rapidly.

"Are you hurt?" Ning Yuchan asked, concerned.

"No, what about you?" Xu Jin asked.

"Neither am I," Ning Yuchan shook her head. "I've just drained my Star Force completely. By the way, did you find the Seven Kill Token?"

Ning Yuchan didn't want to bring up the past, so Xu Jin wisely didn't press further.

"I found it, but I'm still missing one—I need to keep searching." Without asking, Xu Jin sensed that Ning Yuchan hadn't obtained the Seven Kill Token.

Previously, he had merely been pursuing the Seven Kill Token when he encountered Ning Yuchan.

"Alright, I'll go with you," Ning Yuchan said.

"No, your Star Force is exhausted. Find a place to recover fully. I'll come find you once I find it," Xu Jin said.

Hearing this, Ning Yuchan nodded lightly.

The next instant, just as Xu Jin was about to leave, Ning Yuchan suddenly called out to him and handed him a Star Jade Tablet.

"What's this?" Xu Jin asked, puzzled.

"It's the Golden Elephant Star Pattern I reverse-engineered. I used ten Silver Stars and two Gold Stars to push it to Sixth Rank Upper. Reverse-engineering Elephant-type Star Patterns is dozens of times harder than reverse-engineering Golden Source Star Patterns!

Use it for now!

I estimate that after I break through to Fifth Rank Eighth Layer, I'll likely gain one more Gold Star—possibly the last Gold Star I'll ever obtain in my life.

Then I'll be able to push the Golden Elephant Star Pattern to Seventh Rank.

Once I do, I'll give you the latest version," Ning Yuchan said.

"Alright."

Xu Jin accepted it.

No wonder Ning Yuchan's combat power had surged—she could unleash full force and force Sun Fugia into nothing but defense.

It turned out she had pushed the Golden Elephant Star Pattern to Sixth Rank Upper.

A few breaths later, Xu Jin stepped into the stars, activated the Heavenly Human Resonance, and began tracking the direction of the final Seven Kill Token, while also reviewing the previous battle and pondering another matter.

Under what circumstances could Ning Yuchan possibly kill Sun Fugia?

He could see that Ning Yuchan was desperate to kill Sun Fugia!

But in Xu Jin's view, even if Ning Yuchan's cultivation advanced further, she still had no chance of killing Sun Fugia.

In a few years, Sun Fugia's cultivation would inevitably break through to Seventh Rank.

Once Sun Fugia's cultivation surpassed Seventh Rank, Ning Yuchan would have even less chance of killing him!

She wouldn't even have a chance to defeat him and reclaim her leg.

Would Ning Yuchan then be doomed to lifelong regret?

That was not what Xu Jin wanted to see.

For a moment, Xu Jin sank into deep thought.

(End of Chapter)