Chapter 444: Seven Killings True Transmission

The Xumigong's complete inheritance contains countless star patterns; within a short time, Xu Jin cannot possibly learn them all.

So Xu Jin now only selects a few of the most practical spatial star patterns to use.

What Xu Jin values most is spatial displacement.

After learning it, he discovered that the Seven Killings Escape Dragon Stake already contains the main star pattern for spatial displacement.

After mastering it, he found that the Seven Killings Escape Dragon Stake and spatial displacement have some overlapping effects.

But after careful comparison, he still studied it seriously—there are indeed differences.

The Seven Killings Escape Dragon Stake requires prior refinement and preparation of stake positions, and its maximum range is just over a hundred li.

If the prepared stake positions vanish, the Seven Killings Escape Dragon Stake cannot be used.

Spatial displacement, once learned, can be used freely.

And its range is longer.

According to Qiao Shen, their maximum displacement distance is about four hundred li.

Their master, Luo Xian, once performed a single spatial displacement exceeding eight hundred li.

But spatial displacement also has drawbacks.

Within line of sight, it can be directed.

In most cases, a person's line of sight is only twenty to thirty li—even under optimal visibility.

Beyond line of sight, spatial displacement becomes the famed survival star technique—the Spatial Displacement Seal.

The direction of displacement depends entirely on luck.

In escape situations, spatial displacement has the advantage; in combat, the Seven Killings Escape Dragon Stake is more precise.

According to Qiao Shen, Xumigong also possesses a powerful spatial star technique called Spatial Jump.

But only senior cultivators who break through to the eighth-rank are taught it.

Xu Jin learned spatial displacement with great ease; his second major spatial star technique was Spatial Barrier.

It forms an invisible spatial barrier that, in defensive power, is slightly stronger than same-rank star techniques.

The key is, it's invisible to the naked eye and faster than other star-force shields.

This is an excellent stacking armor technique—must learn.

Xu Jin learned the sixth-rank upper-tier Spatial Barrier star pattern from Qiao Shen; now, he can add another layer of armor.

The third star pattern he learned was Spatial Folding.

Xu Jin originally studied it intending to stack armor.

But after mastering it, he made a different discovery.

This Spatial Folding technique can be used for both offense and defense; at critical moments, it can twist an opponent's attack path.

However, Spatial Folding demands extremely high soul cultivation.

It is the second star technique Xu Jin has ever seen that requires engraving on the soul-star core.

The first was related to invisibility.

Its rank is low—only sixth-rank lower.

Xu Jin has already decided that in the future, he will invest one or two Golden Stars into Spatial Folding.

The fourth star pattern Xu Jin learned was Spatial Cutting—the only offensive spatial star technique he has learned, and the foundation of all offensive spatial star techniques.

But just as Xu Jin barely mastered Spatial Cutting to sixth-rank lower, the time within the Seven Killings Secret Realm reached its final day.

The date was now August 29.

After today, regardless of whether anyone becomes the true heir of the Seven Killings True Person, the Seven Killings Secret Realm will close.

Xu Jin was now at the point where he must act.

After adjusting and restoring his state, Xu Jin prepared to fly and search for the illusionary form of the Seven Killings True Person at age forty.

But after flying for only fifteen minutes, he realized he had reached the limit.

In an instant, he understood: the Seven Killings Secret Realm shrinks continuously as time passes.

If so, by the end, there would be no place to hide.

He could only fight others to the death.

Soon after, Xu Jin successfully located the illusionary form of the Seven Killings True Person.

Its aura fluctuated exactly as before.

In the next instant, Fish Curtain Golden Bell rose over his body, Lei Yi materialized, the Seven-Star Superior Spirit Armor, Fire Rhino Armor, appeared—he prepared himself, then instantly transformed into a streak of lightning striking straight at the Seven Killings True Person's illusion!

Starlight filled the sky; before he even neared, the starlight coalesced into a terrifying sword beam descending upon Xu Jin's head.

BOOM!

Five Elemental Divine Thunder simultaneously slammed down upon the sword beam.

One strike shattered more than half of it!

In the instant Xu Jin believed he had blocked it, starlight flickered in the heavens—the shattered sword beam instantly restored itself, reforming into another terrifying blade that slashed down upon him again, as if shadowing his every move.

In shock, Xu Jin unleashed all his techniques, unleashing continuous Lei Guang strikes, even using his newly learned Spatial Barrier to stack armor.

In frantic haste, he barely held on.

Having slain Ju Chu Xuan, Xu Jin had assumed he could now withstand the Seven Killings True Person's illusion for ten breaths—easily.

But in actual combat, it was not so.

The illusion of the Seven Killings True Person grew stronger the more he resisted.

In an instant, sword beams rained from all directions, appearing and vanishing unpredictably, forcing Xu Jin to use the Seven Killings Escape Dragon Stake to save himself.

Fortunately, he had witnessed the Seven Killings True Person's Void-Cutting Sword before, so this time he was extremely cautious, constantly activating the Mingji Star Pattern to sense for anomalies.

If any spatial disturbance occurred, he would not use the Seven Killings Escape Dragon Stake.

Continuously stacking armor, he shifted to offense as defense, and under full defense, Xu Jin barely held on until the ninth breath.

At that moment, the Seven Killings True Person's illusion, watching Xu Jin's desperate defense, suddenly smiled, "Good. Take my final sword—you'll pass!"

In the next instant, starlight swayed in the sky; as the sword beam formed, it seemed to cover heaven and earth, while a vast soul ripple surged—a blade emitting strange ripples instantly slashed down upon Xu Jin's head.

Before the blade even touched him, as it descended toward his body, Xu Jin's vision suddenly went black.

All around, everything plunged into chaotic darkness; all sound vanished in that instant.

Xu Jin was terrified—he instinctively frantically activated the Mingji Star Pattern.

But the piercing blade had already descended upon his head.

Deprived of sight and hearing, Xu Jin reacted helplessly.

In an instant, he felt a slight pain at his third eye—his sight and hearing returned.

The Seven Killings True Person's illusion stood dozens of meters away, sword in hand, smiling at Xu Jin.

In a flash, Xu Jin realized—he had already died.

He still hadn't lasted ten breaths.

Is the illusion of the Seven Killings True Person at age forty really this strong?

But what terrified Xu Jin even more was the final sword of the Seven Killings True Person's illusion.

One slash, and it directly erased Xu Jin's sight and hearing.

First encounter—too terrifying!

It threw Xu Jin completely off balance.

"May I ask, True Person, what sword art is this?" Xu Jin bowed and asked.

"True Person?"

Xu Jin froze, then instantly understood: "May I ask, Master, what sword art was that just now?"

"This sword is called Killing Perception Sword Art—one of my Seven Killings Swords—specialized in severing auditory and sensory perception. If refined deeply, it can even briefly sever all six senses," said the Seven Killings True Person's illusion.

"So your mastery is not yet at the highest level?" Xu Jin asked.

"Correct. Severing eye and ear perception is easy; severing bodily and conscious perception is difficult. I am still contemplating it, but I believe that with time, this sword will surely reach perfection," said the Seven Killings True Person's illusion. Suddenly, Xu Jin realized—the illusion before him spoke only of his own feelings at age forty.

In the future, he must have perfected it.

"Master, if I pass the trial, can I learn this sword?" Xu Jin asked.

"Naturally! But the cultivation conditions for this sword are extremely difficult, and its comprehension is even harder—whether you can learn it depends entirely on your own insight!"

"But to learn it, you must first pass the trial and become my true heir," said the Seven Killings True Person's illusion.

Then the illusion asked, "Will you continue your challenge?"

Hearing this, Xu Jin shook his head. "Not yet."

"The time in the Seven Killings Secret Realm is running out."

"Master, allow me a moment to reflect and find a way to counter it."

"Otherwise, if I challenge again now, I'll still lose," said Xu Jin.

"Agreed."

Immediately, Xu Jin moved to a nearby spot, sat cross-legged, and began to review and analyze.

Even knowing the technique, countering the Seven Killings True Person's Killing Perception Sword remained extremely difficult.

The Mingji Star Pattern might offer some compensation.

But could he pass?

Xu Jin had no confidence.

Then he could only use those special forces.

Reinforcing the Fish Curtain Golden Bell with Earth Heart Earth Rhythm should allow him to withstand this sword.

But the best method is still to attack!

Since this is the final chance, there's no need to hold back!

Half an hour later, Xu Jin slowly rose and walked toward the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person.

"Master, I wish to challenge again."

"This is the last time."

"I understand."

In the next instant, the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person extended a finger in the Immortal's Pointing Gesture, pointing diagonally at Xu Jin, signaling him to strike first.

Without hesitation, Xu Jin leapt among the stars, and the Five Element Divine Thunder once again erupted in a continuous barrage toward the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person.

From the start, Xu Jin launched a preemptive assault.

But only two strikes.

As the swordlight flared, it merged with the starlight above, forming a sword formation that struck in rapid succession, shattering Xu Jin's Five Element Divine Thunder outright, then slicing down toward his head.

But this time, Xu Jin did not activate the Seven Kill Dragon Stake.

In the instant the swordlight descended, he met it head-on—and was simultaneously knocked down to the ground.

Because the Fish Curtain Golden Bell had already been infused with five strands of Earth Core Earth Resonance, it did not shatter.

Almost the moment he hit the ground, the Roots of the Earth spread out, strengthening Xu Jin's defense further.

At the same instant, the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person dove toward Xu Jin, its swordlight like a pillar of stars crashing down upon him.

In the next instant, Xu Jin instantly summoned ten strands of Earth Core Earth Resonance and activated Earth Primordial Magnetism!

Instantly, the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person sank as if trapped in mud, plummeting with the weight of a mountain.

At that same moment, Xu Jin channeled fifty strands of Nine Heaven Thunder Resonance into the Five Element Divine Thunder; a bolt of lightning, thick as a water barrel and blazing with brilliance, poured down upon the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person.

Simultaneously, the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person, now bound by Earth Primordial Magnetism, suddenly frowned and slashed downward at an invisible point beneath it.

Almost the instant that slash was delivered, Xu Jin felt his Earth Primordial Magnetism lose its target—its hold on the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person vanished.

That slash had severed Earth Primordial Magnetism.

Xu Jin was stunned!

After using Earth Primordial Magnetism for so long, this was the first time he had ever seen anyone sever it.

And it wasn't just a simple break.

Xu Jin's Earth Primordial Magnetism still lingered there, still actively active; the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person still hovered above.

Yet the power of Earth Primordial Magnetism could no longer affect the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person.

Xu Jin's only consolation was that his attack speed was fast enough.

The speed of his Five Element Divine Thunder was fast enough.

At the very instant the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person severed the connection between him and Earth Primordial Magnetism, the Fifty-Strand Nine Heaven Thunder Resonance-infused Five Element Divine Thunder had already crashed onto the Illusory Form's head.

Instantly, the Illusory Form's protective starlight shattered, and the swordlight it had just unleashed to counterattack was also obliterated.

In the next instant, the Illusory Form of the Seven Kill True Person, in the prime of middle age, dissolved into scattered starlight amid the thunder.

Success!

Less than five breaths.

And he had slain it!

The plan succeeded!

Both the standard and hidden conditions were fulfilled.

Though special forces were used, they still fell within the rules.

Now, let's see what reward awaits.

Xu Jin waited quietly for a few breaths, when suddenly starlight flickered into view before him.

【Congratulations. You have passed the Seventh Trial of the Seven Kill Secret Realm. You are now the sole Inner Disciple of the Seven Kill Secret Realm. From this moment, your status has been elevated to the sole True Disciple of the Seven Kill True Person.】

【Congratulations. You are the first True Disciple of the Seven Kill True Person in four thousand years. As such, you shall receive the highest legacy of the Seven Kill True Person, along with the complete celestial authority of the Seven Kill Secret Realm. Proceed to the Seven Kill Palace to claim it.】

These two starlight messages, even the second, only slightly exceeded Xu Jin's expectations.

The complete celestial authority of the entire Seven Kill Secret Realm.

That meant only a True Disciple could fully inherit all of the Seven Kill True Person's legacies—even his "estate."

But the hidden reward Xu Jin had anticipated did not appear.

The Star Spirit's words were based on speculation by the Ultimate Emperor.

Had the Ultimate Emperor's judgment been wrong?

But even if it was wrong, that was normal.

The fifty strands of Nine Heaven Thunder Resonance had been wasted.

Because merely enduring ten breaths required only Earth Core Earth Resonance.

In the next instant, Xu Jin leapt among the stars and flew toward the gates of the Seven Kill Palace.

As if welcoming him, the gates of the entire Seven Kill Palace swung fully open as he arrived.

The moment he stepped inside, starlight shimmered into view before him.

【First, meditate upon the complete Seven Kill Legacy. Once you have comprehended it fully, use the Seven Kill Legacy's method to locate and subjugate the celestial authority of the Seven Kill Star Domain—you shall gain something.】

Xu Jin was stunned.

"You shall gain something?"

This final hint felt less clear than the previous ones.

So where, then, was the True Disciple Legacy of the Seven Kill True Person?

Suddenly, as Xu Jin drew near, the three star steles previously placed before the Seven Kill Palace blazed with radiant starlight.

Interwoven in starlight, the three steles merged into one colossal monument stretching from heaven to earth, shimmering brilliantly.

At the very top of the monument, ancient seal script characters floated into view.

【Killing Star Art】

Simple, majestic, and utterly captivating.

Just the name alone made Xu Jin deeply fond of it.

In the next instant, Xu Jin sat cross-legged before the star stele; as soon as his Yuan Spirit's divine awareness probed inward, a swordlight seized him and drew him into the vast starry river.

(End of Chapter)