Chapter 490: Catastrophe

Inside the Pill Mist Hall, Xu Jin looked at the candidates pointed out by the Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao and revealed a look of surprise.

"Grand Master, I can understand excluding Wang Kan, the Great Elder of the Heavenly Yang Star Palace, from suspicion, and I also believe it is correct."

"But why did you directly exclude Xia Hou Shen, the commander of the Great Hong Battle Zone in the Star River Battlefield?"

"And instead, you directly concluded that the Great Hong Emperor Yang Yun is the most likely candidate?"

After a pause, Xu Jin added, "Grand Master, logically speaking, this Vice Sect Leader of the Blood God Sect controls the channel for transporting manpower and supplies from the Star River Battlefield to the Eight Desolations Continent. In this situation, shouldn't the most suspicious person be the Great Hong Battle Zone commander, Xia Hou Shen?"

Upon hearing this, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao laughed.

"Normal!"

"Of course, this also has a great deal to do with your lack of understanding of the Star River Battlefield's operational mechanism."

"Let me ask you, do you think my control as Grand Master over the Chen Guo Battle Zone in the Star River Battlefield is limited, or is it great?" Cheng Yuexiao asked.

"Grand Master, you certainly have a certain degree of control over the Chen Guo Battle Zone in the Star River Battlefield, but personally, I feel this control is very limited."

"That is correct."

"You see, this is because you do not understand the power structure mechanism of the Star River Battlefield."

While speaking, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao used projected starlight to outline a simple structure for Xu Jin.

"Many people might think that the power of a battle zone in the Star River Battlefield is concentrated in the hands of the battle zone commander."

"Actually, that is not the case. The military advisors, Sima, military supervisors, quartermasters, army lords below, the Sima and military advisors belonging to each army lord's main camp, including the officers of all levels in each army, have very complex compositions."

"There are also the most factions."

"Military mobilization and arrangements are systematic."

"For example, your master Kou Jing went to serve in the Chen Guo Battle Zone."

"He came from the Chen Guo National Dao Academy, so naturally, he prioritizes the interests of the National Dao Academy and the Empire."

"He is there to assist the Chen Guo Battle Zone commander, but also to supervise."

"There are many others with similar backgrounds."

"Moreover, in many cases, the people who actually handle things—that is, the mid-to-high-level generals—are the most important."

"The situation inside Great Hong is the same."

"If this Vice Sect Leader of the Blood God Sect were the Great Hong Battle Zone commander Xia Hou Shen, then it would be possible for him to complete one or two shipments."

"But if it were many times, it would inevitably be exposed."

"Because the generals and personnel involved are too numerous."

"Relying solely on the Great Hong Battle Zone commander alone, it would be impossible to coordinate and complete it."

"Otherwise, the Heavenly Yang Star Palace would have noticed long ago."

"Based on this, I conclude that the person planning the layout behind the scenes is nine times out of ten the Great Hong Emperor Yang Yun; he has this ability and also the time to plan."

"Because he has been on the throne for seventy years already."

"But the Great Hong Battle Zone commander Xia Hou Shen has only been in office for twelve years."

"Furthermore, during the last Luo Mei Manor incident, the high-level members of the Blood God Sect arrived extremely quickly."

"On this point, the Great Hong Battle Zone commander Xia Hou Shen could not have done it."

"As a battle zone commander, every move is under scrutiny."

"Occasionally disappearing for half a day or a day is not a big problem."

"But traveling back and forth between the Star River Battlefield and the present world, the movement is too large, and it is very difficult to hide from everyone," Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Grand Master, are you saying that the elderly Eighth-Tier peak expert who appeared at Luo Mei Manor last time is the Vice Sect Leader of the Blood God Sect?"

"And that it is likely the Great Hong Emperor?" Xu Jin asked in confusion.

"The possibility is extremely high."

"You see, there was a detail back then."

"When fleeing, there was an Eighth-Tier mid-stage expert who, in order to create a quick escape opportunity for that Eighth-Tier peak expert,"

"did not hesitate to self-combust their Nascent Soul to stop me."

"Someone who can make an Eighth-Tier mid-stage expert self-combust their Nascent Soul to protect them must have an extremely high status," Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

As Xu Jin nodded, he began to ponder bitterly.

"If that is the case, wanting to obtain a usable identity from this Vice Sect Leader will likely be quite difficult," Xu Jin said.

"Difficult, but not impossible!"

"Actually, if this Vice Sect Leader really is the Great Hong Emperor, things are not as difficult to handle as imagined," Cheng Yuexiao said.

"What does Grand Master mean?"

Upon hearing this, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao first gave a bitter smile, "Actually, you will understand if you look at how I handled the Gan An Emperor affair."

"The so-called feud of regicide with the Heavenly Yang Tianyang Xingjun must also be utilized."

"In many cases, those in high positions pay more attention to interest exchanges."

"A commoner's rage will only splash blood three feet!"

"But those of us in high positions often think of the overall situation first, thinking of gains and losses."

"Not emotions."

"This is the key breakthrough point for this time."

"Think carefully and see if you can come up with a good solution."

Xu Jin nodded gently.

Having experienced so much, he had long understood.

At the same time, he also understood Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's meaning.

As long as one finds the right overall situation and the right trend of interests, many things that seem impossible will become possible.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao did not speak, but quietly watched Xu Jin thinking.

He was cultivating Xu Jin.

Regarding Xu Jin's future management of Chen Guo, he was no longer worried about matters of strength.

According to the current situation, as long as Xu Jin's cultivation base rises to the Seventh-Tier mid-to-late stage, he could safely hand over Chen Guo to Xu Jin.

Now, he was cultivating Xu Jin's elements of being a superior.

One can choose not to use them, but one must understand them.

Just like that, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao quietly watched Xu Jin, occasionally pouring a cup of tea for Xu Jin, while he himself took a light sip.

After a long time, Xu Jin's tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and he looked at Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao and said, "Grand Master, I have it."

"Oh, tell me about it," Cheng Yuexiao said with a smile, appearing to listen.

He already had a plan in his heart.

But at this very moment, he was cultivating Xu Jin.

"Grand Master, why don't you get me an envoy's identity, and I will go see the Great Hong Emperor in person," Xu Jin said.

"This can be achieved! Although Chen Guo and Great Hong are currently at odds, the diplomatic channel is still open."

"Continue," Cheng Yuexiao said.

"There are no twists and turns; it's just negotiating terms directly with him to get an identity," Xu Jin said, spreading his hands.

"So direct?" Cheng Yuexiao laughed, "Then how will your safety be guaranteed?"

"How will interests be exchanged?"

"If the Great Hong Emperor is not the Blood God Sect Vice Sect Leader, then my safety will be no problem at all."

"If he is, then my safety will be even less of a problem."

"In Luo Mei Manor, he has already seen Grand Master."

"Then it is very normal for me to drag you, Grand Master, into this matter."

"Setting aside strength, as long as Grand Master is safe, I am safe!"

"After all, the Heavenly Yang Tianyang Xingjun is the true sharp sword hanging over the Great Hong Emperor's head. That is his true fatal point," Xu Jin said.

Upon hearing this, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao revealed a look of approval.

Although Xu Jin's method was a bit simple and looked a bit rough, it hit the key point of interests.

Not bad.

"Since that is the case, I will start working on this diplomatic mission, which may take a few days."

"But you must consider all the subsequent things well in these few days."

"After all, even if the Blood God Sect Vice Sect Leader gives you an identity, once you go, there is a possibility of being exposed at any time."

"Even if you are not exposed, he might deal with you in secret."

"There will be all kinds of problems, and you must consider and make contingency plans in advance," Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Grand Master, rest assu—"

Before the word "assured" could be spoken, the expressions of Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao and Xu Jin suddenly changed!

Boom!

In their keen perception, a terrifying fluctuation erupted from underground, grand and pure.

"The earth dragon has turned over."

"An earthquake?"

As the two looked at each other, they instantly flew out through the window, soared into the sky, and looked down at the entire Chen Guo Dachen Wan Yi.

In Dachen Wan Yi City, dust and smoke rose from all directions.

It was some old civilian houses collapsing in the earthquake.

Seeing this, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao breathed a slight sigh of relief.

It looked like the earth dragon had turned over, but the situation was not too serious.

Not many houses had collapsed.

The next instant, Xu Jin suddenly frowned and looked in all directions, looking beyond the sky.

In the perception of his Clear Record Star Pattern, the tremor just now did not seem to be just an earthquake; it seemed that the space in all directions was vibrating.

Very quickly, Xu Jin knew his perception was true.

Because he saw that a dark cloud in the sky had inexplicably dissipated.

At the same moment, the Star-Plucking Token of Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao flashed with ten-thousand-fire-urgent starlight, flashing continuously until it formed a line.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao thought it was a disaster-reporting starlight transmission, but the moment his mind sank into it, his expression changed.

It was a disaster-reporting starlight transmission, but the scope was too wide.

Jingzhou, Leizhou, Xihai Zhou, Yanzhou, Songzhou, Danzhou, and Dachen Wan Yi were all reporting disasters.

Almost at the same time, all seventy-four counties in the six states of Chen Guo were reporting disasters.

All of them were reporting the earth dragon turning over.

The next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's Star-Plucking Token flashed again, and another starlight transmission arrived.

Upon looking, his expression changed again.

Reporting a disaster in the present world's Star River Pass, the earth dragon turning over, he could understand.

However, the Chen Guo Battle Zone commander Mao Yue of the Star River Battlefield, as well as the army lords of each army, were also reporting disasters to him.

They also said it was the earth dragon turning over, with severe damage.

Especially some of the cities on the front line, such as the Yangdu Battle City of the Marquis of Yangdu and the Luoshui Battle City of the Marquis of Luoshui, where the intensity of the earth dragon turning over was extremely high.

In Yangdu Battle City, it was preliminarily estimated that more than half was destroyed in this earth dragon turning over, and Luoshui Battle City was also more than one-third destroyed.

Overall, according to the preliminary visual intelligence, the intensity of the earth dragon turning over in the Star River Battlefield was far higher than in the present world.

But now, this matter was completely different.

Since the founding of Chen Guo, the earth dragon had turned over tens of thousands of times, large and small.

But most of the time, the earth dragon turning over was limited to one county or a few counties.

Let alone crossing states, even crossing counties was relatively rare.

Crossing states had never happened before.

But now, this earth dragon turning over was no longer crossing states and counties, but the entire country, including the Star River Battlefield, was experiencing an earthquake.

"Grand Master, the space of the entire present world is vibrating."

As Xu Jin's voice fell, a sharp light flashed in Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's eyes, and he reacted instantly.

It was not the earth dragon turning over.

Extraordinary power!

This nationwide earthquake, including the Star River Battlefield, must have extraordinary power intervening.

Suddenly, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao realized something.

"Even space is vibrating, that can only be..."

Extremely abruptly, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's Star-Plucking Token flashed with blinding brilliance.

A point of starlight exploded directly, and it was the Star Spirit appearing in the image of Zuiyue Xianzi Princess Zixia from *Journey to the West*.

Originally, it was of normal size.

At this very moment, it suddenly appeared only the size of a palm.

This Zuiyue Xianzi Princess Zixia-like Star Spirit suddenly became petite and cute.

"Grand Master Cheng, a great change has occurred in the Star River Battlefield. The Star River Battlefield Grand Marshal has used his highest authority, ordering me to urgently summon you to open an emergency meeting to deal with the great change. Please proceed to the Star River Secret Realm immediately, Grand Master Cheng," the Star Spirit said.

"Could it be that other regions of the Star River Battlefield have also experienced the earth dragon turning over?" Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao gasped.

"I don't know about that," the Star Spirit replied formulaically.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao nodded, then said to Xu Jin, "I will arrange what you need to do in these few days; you prepare well first. I will go arrange disaster relief matters first, then go to the meeting."

As Xu Jin nodded, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao instantly turned and rushed toward the Pill Mist Palace.

"Star Spirit, tell me honestly, have other regions of the Star River Battlefield also experienced the earth dragon turning over?" Xu Jin asked the Star Spirit, who had not yet dissipated.

"That's right!"

"Not just the Star River Battlefield!"

"It can be said that the entire present world, the entire Star River Battlefield, and even the entire present world, have experienced a catastrophe similar to the earth dragon turning over," the Star Spirit replied obediently.

Below, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, who had just returned to the Pill Mist Palace, swayed, and the moment he landed, he almost stumbled.

Why did this Star Spirit treat them differently?

He and Xu Jin both had Silver-Tier authority!

His status was even more noble.

But for the same question, the Star Spirit would not answer him, yet answered Xu Jin.

Why was this?

A bit depressed!

However, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao quickly threw this depression to the back of his mind.

Disaster relief, meetings, checking disaster relief, and arranging Xu Jin's affairs.

It seemed that he would be busy flying these days.

"The entire present world is vibrating; what major event has happened?" Xu Jin asked the Star Spirit.

"I don't know that yet," the Star Spirit said, "but after the Star River Secret Realm meeting ends, it should be clear."

Nodding, Xu Jin headed straight for the Star-Plucking Tower.

He also had to start preparing for subsequent actions.

The first step, of course, was to improve his strength.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 491 =====