Chapter 475: Enormous Appetite

Chen Guo, Xihai Province.

Zhu Zhu Shoulun, the Fifth Elder of the Lord Tianyang Star Temple, had just arrived and was leading two Seventh-Rank cultivators in a furious assault on the Zhaixing Tower branch in Xihai Province.

Their sole objective!

First, slaughter all the elite of the Chen Guo Dao Academy's Xihai branch, then exterminate every Dao Academy under Xihai Province.

An eye for an eye!

Let Chen Guo know that the Lord Tianyang Star Temple cannot be insulted!

This was the direct order given to them by the Lord Tianyang Star Lord himself when they set out.

Otherwise, why would they have come to Xihai Province in Chen Guo?

There are no more Lord Tianyang Star Temple elites left in Xihai Province worth rescuing.

But because Xihai Province is somewhat remote, and the branch temple was breached with astonishing speed, by the time they arrived, all the elite of the Chen Guo Dao Academy's branch had already retreated into the Zhaixing Tower branch.

They were using the Zhaixing Tower branch as a stronghold to resist them.

But it was only a Zhaixing Tower branch.

With manpower and vast quantities of Star Jade Tablets to power it, the Zhaixing Tower branch could easily resist Seventh-Rank cultivators—but not Eighth-Rank.

Its fall was merely a matter of time.

After only a few breaths of bombardment, the starlight of the Chen Guo Dao Academy's Xihai Zhaixing Tower branch began to dim; it was barely holding, and faint cracks had already appeared on its outer surface.

Another heavy strike sent blood trickling from the corner of Lou Zhi's mouth—the director of the Xihai branch.

Even this was only because vast quantities of Star Jade Tablets had been fed into it to replenish its energy.

Otherwise, a Sixth-Rank like him would have been mortally wounded long ago.

But under the relentless assault of one Eighth-Rank and two Seventh-Rank cultivators, the tower could not hold much longer.

Lou Zhi had already begun making contingency plans.

As director, he could not flee.

He could only perish alongside the tower.

But the elite of Xihai Province—especially the Third- and Fourth-Rank cultivators—could still teleport away before the tower was breached.

Lou Zhi had not yet issued the retreat order because he still clung to a sliver of hope.

Earlier, he had received a warning from the Grand State Advisor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, which prompted him to withdraw all personnel into the Zhaixing Tower branch.

The Grand State Advisor had also told him to hold fast and await reinforcements!

So where were the reinforcements?

BOOM!

Three more terrifying attacks slammed into the Zhaixing Tower branch.

Inside the tower, Lou Zhi and all the Fourth- and Fifth-Rank elites who had been channeling their Star Power into the tower were violently thrown back, spitting blood.

A few Fourth-Rank cultivators fainted outright from the backlash.

Many disciples now wore expressions of utter despair.

If this continued, they would all die soon.

Ying Ge wiped blood from his lips, gazing through the dim starlight of the Zhaixing Tower branch at the three Lord Tianyang Star Temple experts, his eyes blazing with killing intent.

He cursed his own low cultivation.

He cursed himself even more for wasting so much precious time in the past.

If he had trained harder, started sooner, and reached a higher realm—like Senior Brother Xu Jin—he might not be in this situation now.

BOOM!

Another crushing blow sent blood gushing from Ying Ge's mouth as he continued to channel Star Power.

Suddenly, a flicker of light appeared before his eyes—he saw Senior Brother Xu Jin walking toward him.

"Is this an illusion?"

The next instant, a cool, vibrant emerald-green Star Healing Star Power surged into Ying Ge's body, instantly healing his injuries.

"Use your Star Healing to treat the others first. The enemies—I'll handle."

Xu Jin merely slightly healed Ying Ge's injuries, gave him that instruction, then vanished in a flash, reappearing before the branch director, Lou Zhi.

"Vice Director Xu, where are the reinforcements?" Lou Zhi, blood on his lips, trembled as he asked.

"I am." Xu Jin, who had just teleported in, replied.

For the first time, Lou Zhi's expression shifted slightly—not in doubt, but in faintly diminished confidence.

He had seen Xu Jin fight before; he knew Xu Jin was powerful enough to defeat Seventh-Rank cultivators.

But an Eighth-Rank!

"I'll handle it." Xu Jin's body shimmered with starlight as his Lei Yi manifested, ready to burst out of the tower and slay the Lord Tianyang Star Temple experts.

Though the opponent was Eighth-Rank Mid-Level, he was merely an ordinary one; for Xu Jin, who possessed unique power, it was not difficult.

Just as he was about to move, Lou Zhi, the director of the Xihai branch, suddenly stopped him, eyes darting, "Wait—there's movement."

"Huh?"

As Xu Jin was startled, he unleashed his Mingji Star Pattern to its full extent, sensing outward.

The sudden situation he detected instantly changed his expression.

Four Eighth-Ranks!

Four Eighth-Rank cultivators had suddenly appeared outside the Zhaixing Tower branch.

Two Eighth-Rank Late-Level, two Eighth-Rank Mid-Level.

This lineup!

Where did they come from?

They could not possibly be from the Lord Tianyang Star Temple!

The next instant, both Xu Jin and Lou Zhi exhaled in relief.

Allies, not enemies!

Because the four sudden Eighth-Ranks had already begun encircling and attacking Zhu Zhu Shoulun, the Fifth Elder of the Lord Tianyang Star Temple.

The moment Zhu Zhu Shoulun spotted these four powerful Eighth-Ranks, his face turned ashen; without hesitation, he pulled out a Spatial Teleportation Rune Tablet, intending to flee—even forgetting to warn his two Seventh-Rank subordinates.

But the Grand Elder of the Cangming Star Temple, Sun Sun Xianzu, had personally led the operation and had planned everything in advance; the instant the Fourth Elder of the Cangming Star Temple, Fei Zheng, appeared, his bow was fully drawn, starlight condensing into an arrow that shot like a meteor chasing the moon, striking Zhu Zhu Shoulun!

The terrifying starlight shattered Zhu Zhu Shoulun's protective aura, leaving him no time to activate the Spatial Teleportation Rune Tablet, while the surrounding Star Power surged chaotically, rendering it unusable.

Even the two Seventh-Ranks who had just reacted could no longer use the Spatial Teleportation Rune Tablet.

They could only turn and flee.

At the same moment, the Grand Elder of the Cangming Star Temple, Sun Sun Xianzu, the Third Elder, Lu Lu Zhenyuan, and the Sixth Elder, Fu Di, had already closed in on Zhu Zhu Shoulun, unleashing their deadliest techniques as starlight surged.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Elder, Fei Zheng, kept his bow fully drawn, pursuing the two fleeing Seventh-Ranks.

His bow stretched wide as a full moon, arrows flying like meteors in rapid succession.

After two arrows, both Seventh-Ranks were grievously wounded; after two more, the two Lord Tianyang Star Temple Seventh-Ranks were dead.

Lou Zhi, the director of the Xihai Zhaixing Tower branch, was overjoyed.

He had never imagined the reinforcements the Grand State Advisor promised would be this powerful.

If they were this strong, why didn't you say so earlier?

But as he turned, he saw Xu Jin's grim, solemn expression.

In an instant, he understood—and his face turned pale.

"Vice Director Xu, are those… not our reinforcements?" Lou Zhi asked.

"No."

Xu Jin shook his head.

Lou Zhi's heart sank, yet he forced a smile: "Enemies of our enemies are our friends. After all, they're killing the Lord Tianyang Star Temple's Eighth-Ranks."

"True—but I'm more afraid that after they kill the Lord Tianyang Star Temple's Eighth-Ranks, they'll turn and slaughter us all." Xu Jin said.

"That's unlikely," Lou Zhi's face had turned ghastly—he now understood.

"Then why would the Cangming Star Temple's experts help us for no reason?" Xu Jin added.

"Then—then shouldn't we use emergency teleportation to retreat?" Lou Zhi's voice trembled with urgency. "The battle's almost over—how many can we save?"

In the time it took for this exchange, the two Seventh-Ranks outside had already been slain.

Zhu Zhu Shoulun's physical body was shattered; his Nascent Soul was about to be extinguished.

In an instant, Lou Zhi's expression turned bitter.

Teleportation takes time.

How many could be saved in that time?

"Vice Director Xu, you go first—take as many as you can! My grandson, Lou Young Lady, is taking the Autumn Examination; if he has the chance to join your academy, please train him." Lou Zhi's voice was hollow.

Xu Jin said nothing.

Because Xu Jin was communicating with the Grand State Advisor via the Zhaixing Token.

In the skies above Leizhou City, Grand State Advisor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, having received Xu Jin's starlight message, wore an expression of grave seriousness; across from him, the Lord Tianyang Star Lord was smiling.

"So, Grand State Advisor, have you received the battle report?"

"Now you're grieving your losses?"

"Want to send reinforcements?"

"Too late!"

Seeing Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's expression, the Lord Tianyang Star Lord laughed freely: "If you want to leave, I won't stop you! But if I level Leizhou, don't blame me!"

"Master Cheng, it's too late to regret starting this war!"

Cheng Cheng Yuexiao looked up at the utterly confident Lord Tianyang Star Jun, his brows tightly furrowed.

The Cangming Star Palace's appetite was larger than he had imagined.

Just moments ago, he received an urgent report that Ji Bang of Jingzhou had fallen in battle!

The patriarch of the Ji family had died!

Ji Bang was one of the eighth-rank experts he had planned for the future!

He was also one of the foundational pillars for Xu Jin's future control of the Chen Guo Dao Academy!

He never expected he would die in battle!

The one who struck was none other than Cangming Star Jun!

Before the war, they had all discussed whether Cangming Star Palace would join the fight.

Their answer had been unanimous!

Yes!

Cangming Star Palace would surely take advantage of the chaos.

But the target should have been Lord Tianyang Star Palace, and the force deployed should have been limited.

After all, theoretically, Cangming Star Palace shouldn't let this war escalate too severely!

But he never expected Cangming Star Jun would personally intervene.

Not only did he slay one eight-grade and two seven-grade experts from Lord Tianyang Star Palace, he then turned and crushed the elite forces of Chen Guo in Jingzhou.

Ji Bang, Meng Meng Yanhui, and Song Song Shoujie—all three were future eight-grade seeds of Chen Guo.

In the end, Ji Bang, severely wounded, ignited his Nascent Soul to buy time for Meng Meng Yanhui and Song Song Shoujie to escape.

This was the battle report he had just received.

At the same moment, he also received an urgent message from Xu Jin, who was en route to reinforce Xihaizhou.

Xu Jin had discovered four Cangming Star Palace eight-grade experts attacking Lord Tianyang Star Palace's eight-grade.

This urgent report made Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's heart leap!

Instinctively, he wanted to leave here and rush to Xihaizhou!

Anyone could fall—but Xu Jin absolutely could not!

Four eight-grade experts!

Xu Jin could never hold out against them!

One could only say Cangming Star Jun was ruthless.

【Xu Jin, withdraw immediately! Abandon Xihaizhou! Just now, Cangming Star Jun personally intervened, slaying the Lord Tianyang Star Palace elder who attacked Jingzhou, then turned and shattered the Jingzhou Dao Academy branch—Chen Guo has suffered catastrophic losses!】

Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao issued an urgent warning but did not inform Xu Jin of Ji Bang's death.

He feared it would affect Xu Jin—he knew the relationship between Ji Bang and Xu Jin.

After sending the starlight message, Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao waited for Xu Jin's reply, but none came.

For a moment, Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao felt as if each moment stretched into years.

At the same moment, inside the Xihaizhou Star-Picking Tower branch, Xu Jin, having just received a starlight message, froze in place.

【My dear grandson-in-law, I am leaving. Ji Hongli must now be fully entrusted to you—take good care of her.】

This sudden, unexpected starlight message left Xu Jin utterly stunned.

Without hesitation, Xu Jin immediately sent multiple starlight messages to Ji Bang.

But no matter how many he sent, all failed.

Transmission failed!

Transmission only failed when the Star-Picking Token was stored in a Numinous Space—or when everyone had perished.

Xu Jin understood: Ji Bang was dead.

Grandpa Ji was gone.

Little Fish's grandfather was gone.

He felt no deep sorrow—only rage.

His relationship with Ji Bang had come entirely through Little Fish.

But this man had helped Xu Jin immensely.

When Xu Jin had been forced to flee the Star River battlefield under a new identity, it was Ji Bang who personally arranged the safety of Xu Jin's father, Xu Dajiang, and his sister Jiang Er.

He arranged everything perfectly.

Utterly meticulous!

Xu Jin was deeply satisfied.

And profoundly grateful.

He had always intended to repay the Ji family's kindness.

But he never expected Grandpa Ji would leave first.

Little Fish would be heartbroken.

So who had killed Grandpa Ji?

Xu Jin glanced outside the Star-Picking Tower branch—and understood.

Cangming Star Palace.

Only Cangming Star Palace could have done it.

At this moment, Zhen'e Star Palace had not joined the battle; Lord Tianyang Star Palace's forces were all engaged here—only Cangming Star Palace's forces could be responsible.

【Ning Yuchan, Grandpa Ji has fallen. Spend these days with Little Fish—don't tell her yet, take care of her.】 Xu Jin sent a starlight message to Ning Ning Yuchan. At the same moment, he saw the urgent message from Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

Grand Master had not said Ji Bang had died, only that Cangming Star Jun had intervened, causing catastrophic losses in Jingzhou.

So Ji Bang must have been killed by Cangming Star Jun!

"Cangming Star Jun Wu Shou!"

Xu Jin etched this name deeply into his heart.

One could only say Cangming Star Jun was an old fox—none of the Star Jun of the Star Palaces were easy to deal with; each had their own schemes.

Cangming Star Jun's appetite was even larger than they had imagined.

They had anticipated Cangming Star Palace would take advantage of the chaos.

But they never expected it to be this brutal.

They intended to devour both sides!

Then, the four Cangming Star Palace eight-grade experts outside the branch, after slaying Lord Tianyang Star Palace's eight-grade, would surely turn and attack the Xihaizhou Star-Picking Tower branch.

They would annihilate it completely!

【Master, rest assured—I can handle this!】 Xu Jin sent a starlight message back to Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

【Xu Jin, four eight-grade experts, two of them late-stage eight-grade—don't be reckless. You only need time to grow.】 Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao urgently advised.

【Master, don't worry—even if I'm outmatched, I have the Seven Kill Star Domain—I can still escape.】

At the same moment, Lou Zhi panicked. "Vice Academic Director Xu, hurry and flee!"

Outside the Star-Picking Tower branch, the four Cangming Star Palace eight-grade experts, having finished off Lord Tianyang Star Palace's elite, turned back with murderous intent!

"Dean Lou, command everyone to hold the position." Xu Jin suddenly turned and said.

The next instant, Xu Jin's Lei Yi flared open, and he shot out of the Star-Picking Tower branch.

Dean Lou Zhi, who had just nodded, froze in shock.

He thought Xu Jin would teleport away.

But he had not expected him to charge out!

What on earth could be done?

(End of Chapter)