Chapter 476: Failed Killing Move and Total Annihilation (Requesting Monthly Votes)

"Remember, after breaching the Star-Picking Tower branch in Xihai State, don't spare Star Power—use wide-area lethal Star Arts. We must annihilate Xihai State's elite forces of Chen Guo in the shortest time possible, including the elite reinforcements sent by Chen Guo's Dao Academy to Xihai State."

Although Cheng Cheng Yuexiao is unlikely to arrive, it's not entirely impossible.

So we must move fast!

Besides Xihai State's elite, we must also annihilate as many elite forces as possible from all subordinate prefectures of Xihai State in Chen Guo." After slaying the eighth-rank Elder Zhu Zhu Shoulun of the Sunlight Star Temple, the Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu of the Azure Star Temple led the others back and reiterated these orders.

"With this, Chen Guo's elite will likely suffer a generational gap!" chuckled the Third Elder Lu Lu Zhenyuan.

"A generational gap? Unlikely—but they'll certainly be crippled."

Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu laughed, "Cheng Cheng Yuexiao thinks his schemes are unparalleled, that he can make Chen Guo rise, that he's handled the Sunlight Star Lord's internal and external crises perfectly—but how could they see as far as our Lord does?"

"The ultimate winner of this round will be our Azure Star Temple."

"Hahaha!" The other three Azure Star Temple elders laughed in unison.

"Hey, someone's coming out!" suddenly cried Third Elder Lu Lu Zhenyuan.

As the four Azure Star Temple elders turned, they saw a streak of starlight suddenly burst from the Star-Picking Tower branch.

"Stop him!"

In an instant, all four surrounded him.

Xu Jin's Thunder Wings flashed rapidly; seeing the four chasing him, he instantly veered off in another direction—but his speed remained moderate, and he revealed his true identity before the Azure Star Temple elders.

In an instant, Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu's expression hardened.

"Xu Jin!"

"Aren't you dead?"

"How are you alive again? And your cultivation base is already sixth-rank third layer?"

As Chen Guo's prodigy, Xu Jin had been one of the top suspects in the Six-Star Streak incident; Sun Sun Xianzu had studied his dossier countless times and knew him intimately.

Now, seeing him, he recognized him at once!

His expression instantly grew grave, his thoughts swirling rapidly.

In an instant, many possibilities flashed through his mind.

Xu Jin had once been Chen Guo's peerless prodigy!

He died in battle a year ago.

At the time of his death, his cultivation base had been barely at the peak of sixth-rank ninth layer.

Yet now, only a year later, he had broken through to sixth-rank third layer!

This pace!

Coupled with his earlier prodigious feats.

Suddenly, Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu understood why Cheng Cheng Yuexiao had arranged for Xu Jin to fake his death!

Such a prodigy must be hidden, allowed to grow in secrecy.

As these thoughts raced through him, Sun Sun Xianzu suddenly recalled that the Sunlight Star Temple's Xihai State branch had been the fastest and most swiftly destroyed.

When they received the news, they strongly suspected that Chen Guo had deployed a seventh-rank mid-to-late stage warrior from the Star River Battlefield—someone exceptionally talented.

Only such a force could have annihilated the Sunlight Star Temple's Xihai branch so rapidly.

But now, the truth was revealed!

It was Xu Jin, Chen Guo's once-dead peerless prodigy, who had led the assault on Xihai State—and achieved such astonishing results.

In other words, at sixth-rank third layer, Xu Jin already possessed the combat power of a seventh-rank mid-to-late stage warrior.

This potential, this strength—was astonishing!

Originally, Xu Jin was meant to be Chen Guo's hidden strategic asset; after this battle, no one knew how long he'd remain concealed.

But now, he was exposed!

And by sheer accident, he'd run straight into the hands of our four Azure Star Temple elders!

Suddenly, Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu's face broke into a wide smile.

The heavens favor the Azure Star!

This is truly destiny on our side!

Killing Xu Jin is worth more than slaughtering a hundred, even a thousand, of Chen Guo's elites!

Just think: if Chen Guo's current ruler, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, had died unexpectedly over a decade ago, what would the consequence have been for Chen Guo?

Now, killing Xu Jin would produce the same result.

Killing Xu Jin is equivalent to killing Chen Guo's future hope!

"Pursue! We split—"

As Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu issued the order and prepared to divide forces, his heart suddenly stirred.

Originally, he had planned to send two eighth-rank late-stage elders to kill Xu Jin, and two eighth-rank mid-stage elders to massacre the Xihai Star-Picking Tower branch.

But he suddenly wondered: why did Xu Jin come out now? What was he trying to do?

Flee?

Then why didn't he just teleport out of the Star-Picking Tower branch?

Was there someone more important still inside?

Or was he being rescued?

Or perhaps Xu Jin wanted to play the hero?

Even Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu couldn't decide.

But to abandon chasing Xu Jin now? Absolutely impossible!

This opportunity was once in a millennium.

In a flash of thought, Sun Sun Xianzu concluded: the latter two scenarios were both true.

Under these circumstances, splitting up would be unwise.

Whoever could rescue Xu Jin must be an eighth-rank—or even Cheng Cheng Yuexiao himself.

If our two eighth-rank late-stage elders faced Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, they'd struggle.

But if all four eighth-rank elders stood together, even facing Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, we'd still have a fighting chance.

At the very least, we could retreat safely.

Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu often reflected on his life: those who entered the Azure Star Temple with him, many of similar age, wealthier, more talented, faster-growing—most had perished along the way.

Over the past century, those weaker than him, those less capable, even those who surged ahead—many had died mid-journey.

Only he, through caution, had ultimately risen to become Grand Elder of the Azure Star Temple.

Thus, for the sake of caution, Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu swallowed his order to split.

Glory means nothing compared to survival!

The next instant, the four eighth-rank Azure Star Temple elders pursued Xu Jin together.

The other three elders had doubts about not splitting.

But they were all shrewd.

Being cautious? That's good.

At the same moment, seeing the four eighth-rank Sunlight Star Temple elders chasing him, Xu Jin was also surprised.

He'd assumed they'd split up.

If they had, Xu Jin would've been in trouble.

He'd have been forced to reveal all his techniques.

Then his many hidden cards and killing moves would inevitably be exposed.

Thousands of his comrades inside the Xihai Star-Picking Tower branch were watching.

Now, with all four chasing him, it was simpler.

Of course, no need to worry about exposing his secrets.

Still, dealing with these four remained extremely difficult—he'd need to plan carefully.

Xu Jin had already prepared a contingency plan.

As his Thunder Wings beat rapidly, Xu Jin maintained a steady pace.

Slower than the four eighth-ranks, but just barely—enough to keep them from closing in quickly.

The four moved at incredible speed.

Thus, Xu Jin fled, they chased—this continued for roughly thirty breaths, until Xu Jin reached the desolate edge of Xihai Sea, over two hundred miles from Xihai State City in Chen Guo.

"This should be close enough."

As his mind activated, the Star Gate of the Seven Kill Star Domain suddenly appeared several li ahead.

This was Xu Jin's first plan—the easiest one.

Because the distance between them was about ten li, the four Azure Star Temple elders didn't notice the Seven Kill Star Domain's Star Gate at first.

By the time they saw it, the Star Gate had simply been there all along.

Without hesitation, Xu Jin, as if reborn from despair, plunged straight into the Seven Kill Star Domain's Star Gate.

Inside the Seven Kill Star Domain, Xu Jin deliberately chose a remote landing point.

Then he waited silently as the four Azure Star Temple elders entered, while using the Star Gate to sense conditions outside.

This was Xu Jin's first killing move.

If these four Azure Star Temple elders followed him in, it would be perfect.

Inside the Seven Kill Star Domain, Xu Jin was a god!

A true, genuine god!

Even if the Star Lord of Cangming chased in, Xu Jin was confident he could wear him down to death!

With these four chasing in, Xu Jin could slay these four eighth-rank experts with the utmost ease.

The key is whether these four dare to enter!

Outside the Star Gate, the four Elders of Cangming Star Hall stirred their spiritual essences, sensing the Star Gate through which Xu Jin had fled, their expressions grave.

"If my perception is correct, this should be a Star Gate of an eighth-rank star domain."

"It seems Xu Jin knew this Star Gate existed, which is why he dared to flee inside."

"The tier of an eighth-rank star domain is nearly equal to the mortal world—we've only heard of such places, never seen one."

"Grand Elder, do we pursue or not?" asked the Third Elder, Lu Lu Zhenyuan.

Hearing this, Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu fell into thought.

Indeed, pursue or not?

After merely half a breath of contemplation, Sun Sun Xianzu had his answer!

Do not pursue inside!

He'd be a fool to chase in!

The contribution belongs to Cangming Star Hall as a whole; the benefits go to Cangming Star Hall.

If he dies here, only he himself dies.

His entire family suffers the loss!

At that point, others in Cangming Star Hall might well find ways to swallow up his family!

Only a fool would rush in blindly! He hadn't spoken immediately because he was thinking of a reason.

To voice his true thoughts would be impossible.

He needed a respectable excuse.

"I've never seen an eighth-rank star domain. Theoretically, it's far more dangerous than a seventh-rank one. Xu Jin, this little scoundrel, dared charge in—he must have some advantage or familiarity. We must proceed with caution!"

But we cannot leave it unattended.

Send someone to explore later, leave a star domain marker, report to the Star Lord, then decide.

For now, let's return and slaughter the West Sea Branch Academy—first fulfill the Star Lord's command," said Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu.

"Precisely."

"That's only right."

The three eighth-rank Elders chorused their approval.

Few who rise to Elder status are reckless.

Moreover, this is an eighth-rank star domain—in theory, it may harbor ninth-rank experts!

Do they want to run in and die?

Inside the Seven Kill Star Domain, Xu Jin listened to their exchange and sighed inwardly—his first ploy had failed.

Of course, Xu Jin knew the odds of success were slim when he enacted it.

Still, he wanted to try—even if just one followed, he could easily slay one.

Unexpectedly, not a single one followed.

Sensing the four eighth-rank experts had departed, now over five or six li away, Xu Jin instantly shifted his intent and stepped out of the Seven Kill Star Domain.

Execute Plan Two.

The instant he emerged from the Seven Kill Star Domain, Xu Jin planted a Seven Kill Dragon Stake here!

It was for survival.

If real danger arose, he could retreat into the Seven Kill Star Domain immediately.

The next instant, Xu Jin's Thunder Wings flared, instantly darting over a thousand meters to plant a second Seven Kill Dragon Stake.

Almost the moment he vanished, the four eighth-rank Elders of Cangming Star Hall, who had just retreated, spun back—and saw Xu Jin.

Each pair of eyes instantly filled with shock.

Deep within their pupils, even waves of terror surged!

Something's wrong!

Something's terribly wrong!

This Xu Jin boy can freely shuttle in and out of an eighth-rank star domain at such speed—this is no ordinary matter.

"Everyone, be cautious!"

"If possible, take him alive!" said Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu, his expression grim.

The next instant, the four eighth-rank Elders of Cangming Star Hall surrounded Xu Jin from four directions and charged.

The distance between each of them was roughly a hundred meters.

This spacing was cunning.

Most area-effect Star Arts could cover this range, but except for one point, the power at the other three would be slightly diminished.

These four had extremely rich combat experience!

But Xu Jin had prepared a perfect trap for them.

The next instant, Xu Jin's body vanished on the spot.

Spatial teleportation.

Almost the moment the four unleashed their spiritual essences to frantically search for Xu Jin's location, his form appeared right at the center of their formation!

And he landed on the ground.

The instant he appeared, Xu Jin stomped the earth.

Earth Root and Earth Magnetic Field activated simultaneously.

As he drew upon the Earth Magnetic Field, fifty Earth Core Earth Resonances within the Earth Element Star Pattern surged forth, channeling into the Earth Magnetic Field.

BOOM!

The invisible, intangible Earth Magnetic Field exploded, yet rippled across heaven and earth like a torrent of star force.

At the same instant, Xu Jin hurled a wooden sword toward Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu!

Beneath the feet of the four Cangming Star Hall Elders, the ground instantly felt as if a mountain had crashed down upon them.

In an instant, all four pushed their Star Pavilions to their limits—their Star Pavilions materialized behind them, stars in the sky trembled, countless starlight streams poured into their bodies, yet still could not resist the crushing weight!

As the four reeled in horror, Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu instantly grasped the key.

Xu Jin!

The entire crisis centered on Xu Jin.

Just eliminate Xu Jin from afar.

Just as he opened his mouth to shout, the plain wooden sword suddenly erupted with starlight, instantly transforming into a middle-aged man wearing a Daoist cap and green Daoist robes.

He was unrecognizable!

But his aura sent Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu into utter shock!

Eighth-rank peak!

Eighth-rank peak!

How could there be another eighth-rank peak in this world?

Where did he come from?

No wonder Xu Jin acted so boldly—he was waiting for them here!

This is a trap!

In a flash of thought, Sun Sun Xianzu was startled, but not panicked.

He had already considered the possibility of encountering Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

Even if Cheng Cheng Yuexiao appeared, their four combined strengths were not afraid!

"Everyone, regroup and fight!"

Sun Sun Xianzu tried to move closer to the others, but his body felt crushed under a mountain—he could barely move, let alone flee.

Almost simultaneously, swordlight flickered into being.

Hundreds of stars in the heavens trembled, pouring starlight downward, countless beams converging instantly into this single swordlight, descending from heaven and earth to cleave down upon Sun Sun Xianzu's head.

Seven Kill First Sword: Killing Star Sword!

The swordlight fell like a star crashing from the sky!

Like a silver river severed from heaven!

Merely seeing this sword draw down starlight from hundreds of stars, Grand Elder Sun Sun Xianzu felt utter despair.

Even the Cangming Star Lord lacked such power!

Yet survival instinct drove Sun Sun Xianzu to unleash every ounce of his strength!

One sword descended!

Sun Sun Xianzu's two Seven-Star Spirit Treasures, including his high-grade Seven-Star Spirit Armor, shattered completely!

He also hurled out a life-saving treasure he had forged in secret.

Barely blocking the swordlight, he was slammed deeper into the ground, spewing blood from his mouth!

The next instant, the Seven Kill True Person's illusion stepped forward, shadow-like, and swung the second sword.

Another Killing Star Sword!

The swordlight flashed like a startled swan falling from the heavens, instantly cleaving down.

Sun Sun Xianzu, still spewing blood, barely managed to reform his protective starlight—when the swordlight struck.

In an instant, the sword light slashed Sun Sun Xianzu's physical body into fragments!

His Nascent Soul emerged.

The Seven Kill True Person's illusionary sword light flared again.

The third sword descended once more.

"My lord, spare me—"

As Sun Sun Xianzu begged for mercy, the sword light and starlight fell, utterly shredding his Nascent Soul into nothingness.

Boom!

On the other side, thunder rolled.

The physical body of Fei Zheng, the Fourth Elder of the Cangming Star Palace at Gao Jie mid-stage, was reduced to charred ash by Lei Guang.

This Five Elements Divine Thunder had been infused by Xu Jin with seventy layers of Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm.

Because he was facing a Gao Jie mid-stage powerhouse.

So Xu Jin had poured in more Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm than when he'd fought Ju Chu Xuan at Gao Jie stage, and he didn't care about wasting it.

He aimed for one decisive strike!

Fei Zheng's physical body was reduced to dust.

At the same moment, Fei Zheng's Nascent Soul emerged, his face filled with terror!

Boom!

The second Five Elements Divine Thunder struck instantly.

Without any additional enhancement, it obliterated Fei Zheng's Nascent Soul into nothingness.

In less than a breath, both the First Elder Sun Sun Xianzu and the Fourth Elder Fei Zheng perished.

This terrified the Third Elder Yuan Yuan Luzhen and the Sixth Elder Fu Di!

Both of them were stronger in cultivation and power—and yet they were dead.

If they continued fighting here, wouldn't they be fools?

Especially that Gao Jie peak existence—too terrifying!

Without hesitation, both drew out Spatial Teleportation Seals, intending to use them to escape.

But at that very moment, the Seven Kill True Person's illusionary sword light flared again.

This time, the sword light carried a different aura—strange, obscure, and flickering unpredictably!

The Seven Kill Third Sword: Kill the Void!

Shhh!

One slash sent Yuan Yuan Luzhen, who had just shattered his Spatial Teleportation Seal, tumbling out of the illusory space; the sword light descended, shattering his protective spiritual armor, and blood gushed from his mouth!

The sword light flared again—his physical body shattered.

His Nascent Soul emerged.

The Seven Kill True Person's illusionary sword light rose once more; Yuan Yuan Luzhen, certain of his death, braced himself.

But this sword light, immensely powerful, was about to shred his Nascent Soul—when suddenly, it vanished.

The Seven Kill True Person's illusion transformed into a wooden sword, then fell straight toward the ground.

Beside him, Xu Jin activated the Soul-Shattering Hammer he had already forged with thirty percent of his Nascent Soul energy, smashing it onto Fu Di's head; blood spurted from Fu Di's seven orifices, his Nascent Soul wounded, and the blow shattered his chance to activate his Spatial Teleportation Seal.

At the same moment, a Five Elements Divine Thunder infused with thirty layers of Nine Heaven Thunder Rhythm struck, utterly annihilating Fu Di's physical body.

A Nascent Soul, cracked and filled with terror, emerged.

At the same time, Xu Jin realized the Seven Kill True Person's illusion had dissipated—it was because he had faced a Gao Jie late-stage powerhouse, unleashed his full power at once, and the energy he had poured into it was now completely spent!

Fortunately, the greatest challenges had already been resolved by Xu Jin.

The Third Elder Yuan Yuan Luzhen now had only his Nascent Soul left!

But seeing the terrifying Gao Jie peak warrior vanish, Yuan Yuan Luzhen believed his chance to escape had arrived.

He pulled out another Spatial Teleportation Seal!

Boom!

Five-colored lightning rained down.

It was Xu Jin's two Five Elements Divine Thunders striking in succession!

Boom!

Amid the torrent of lightning, the Nascent Souls of the Third Elder Yuan Yuan Luzhen and the Sixth Elder Fu Di of the Cangming Star Palace were both obliterated into nothingness!

All four Gao Jie Elders of the Cangming Star Palace were annihilated!

At the same moment, Xu Jin caught the wooden sword before it hit the ground, drawing it back to his chest with starlight.

This was a treasure.

(End of Chapter)