Chapter 507: The Secret of Ground-to-Heaven Connection

Your identity has been arranged; at Shen hour on the fifth day, arrive punctually at Star River Battlefield's Bahuang City, No. 3 Outpost, then contact me—you'll be met and assigned accordingly.

The message from Emperor Hong of Da Hong was extremely brief, containing only the date and location.

No further details—specific identity, passage methods, or anything else—were provided.

"Your Majesty, what exactly is this identity? Could you reveal it in advance? I need to confirm whether it suits me." Xu Jin sent back a starlight message.

"It meets your requirements: some freedom, some authority, and perfectly aligned with your cultivation base—you'll know once you arrive. But if you insist on haggling, this matter is off the table; or wait until you break through to Gao Jie, then come to me—perhaps I can arrange a freer identity then."

"Understood. I will arrive punctually in five days."

After brief consideration, Xu Jin gave his affirmative reply.

On the matter of his specific identity, Xu Jin had little initiative.

Moreover, cultivation base was an extremely critical factor.

Whether in the mortal world, the Star River Battlefield, or among the alien races, authority levels were directly tied to cultivation base.

If one's cultivation base was insufficient, forcing oneself into a high-ranking post usually brought great risk, and authority would be severely diminished.

Although Xu Jin currently possessed the combat power of Gao Jie Ninefold Peak, his actual cultivation base remained only at Sixth tier Ninefold Peak.

He could only agree for now and adapt as needed upon arrival.

He must arrive in five days, and reaching Star River Battlefield's Bahuang City required at least three days.

That meant Xu Jin had to act immediately.

With a thought, Xu Jin headed straight for Danxia Palace—some matters still required deeper consultation with the State Master.

Inside the Da Hong Imperial Palace, after contacting Xu Jin, Emperor Hong of Da Hong put away the Mandarin Duck Seal, still lost in thought.

With no word from the Emperor, Grand Supervisor Wei Zhong stood quietly beside him.

After a long silence, Emperor Hong finally spoke: "Grand Companion, what identity should we assign this Xu Jin? The Criminal Hall or the Household Hall?"

"I can only assign him one of these two posts, yet both are key to my control over the Blood God Sect—neither can afford any mishap."

"It's truly difficult to decide."

Upon hearing the title "Grand Companion," Grand Supervisor Wei changed his expression.

Having long served Emperor Hong, he knew that when addressed as "Grand Companion," the Emperor genuinely sought his counsel.

"Your Majesty, you already made your decision yesterday."

"How so?"

"Your Majesty, when you planned this yesterday, you said the Household Hall is under the watch of the Left and Right Protectors—no room for error; if they catch even a single flaw, you risk losing partial control."

"But the Criminal Hall is our tool for watching others."

"Even if mistakes or accidents occur, they'll most likely happen outside, on others' side, with minimal impact on us—and easy to rectify."

Here, Wei Zhong paused, then added, "Your Majesty, this Xu Jin can also be utilized."

"Go on."

"Your Majesty, just as you use one faction to counter another in court, this Xu Jin has Sixth tier Late Stage cultivation base but combat power matching Gao Jie Late Stage—something only we know."

"The protectors and elders of Xueyue City do not."

"If used well, this could bring benefits to Your Majesty."

Hearing this, Emperor Hong nodded. "I've considered this. But I fear it might cause chaos—Xueyue City is too far from me."

"Indeed! Though multiple Gao Jie reside there, compared to Your Majesty, they're vastly inferior and still require your constant direction," Wei Zhong said.

"Then it must be done this way."

After this exchange, Emperor Hong of Da Hong finally made up his mind.

Choosing between the two positions he had been wavering over, he made his final decision.

"Grand Companion, how is that matter progressing?"

"Your Majesty, preparations are still underway. Control over certain court ministers cannot be rushed."

"The successors for key positions must also be secretly secured one by one, each through different methods, so that Your Majesty may maintain control over the court later."

"More time is needed," Wei Zhong said.

"Then hurry."

"Once Xu Jin enters Xueyue City, our window of safety will be short."

"It's a pity we still don't know Xu Jin's true purpose in going to Xueyue City," said Emperor Hong.

"Current intelligence cannot yet be analyzed."

"But Your Majesty once said: to discern a man's true intent, don't listen to what he says—watch what he does."

"Old servant believes that once Xu Jin enters Xueyue City, he will act."

"Given time, we can deduce his true intent."

"Then we can estimate Your Majesty's safety window and the final deadline for action," Grand Supervisor Wei Zhong said.

"Exactly! When the time comes, you personally oversee it."

"Old servant obeys!"

Da Chen State Academy, Danxia Palace.

"Bahuang City and No. 3 Outpost are newly built cities behind the Bahuang Frontline of the Star River Battlefield, prepared for the great war—but the builder and owner of No. 3 Outpost belong to Da Chu, with no connection to Da Hong."

"I personally advise you to remain observant on the journey."

"But if you hope to find evidence of Da Hong Emperor's collusion, or his hidden agents, it's virtually impossible."

"Da Hong Emperor has controlled Da Hong's court for over sixty years under the heavy pressure of Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun, and still raised Da Hong's national strength— he is no ordinary man."

"He won't leave you such glaring vulnerabilities."

This was State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's analysis after Xu Jin told him of the message from Da Hong Emperor.

"Moreover, No. 3 Outpost's link to Da Chu complicates matters—Da Chu and Cangming Shang Xinggong may have ties to the Blood God Sect, or this arrangement may merely be Da Hong Emperor's deception."

"Thus, the most critical point remains: once you reach Xueyue City, rescue the person quickly and return safely."

"At that point, no matter how many schemes Da Hong Emperor has, they'll be useless."

"Before then, it's best you conceal your true strength." State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said.

"State Master, rest assured."

What Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said aligned exactly with Xu Jin's own thoughts.

Before finding his teacher Qi Qi Shanye and his uncle Mo Ji, Xu Jin would restrain himself to avoid alerting Da Hong Emperor too much.

Just as during his previous mission to Da Hong, he never used Thunder Star Arts—for the same reason.

Now, his visit to the State Master to discuss this matter was secondary; the main purpose was to seek guidance on cultivation.

"After a cultivator reaches Sixth tier Ninefold Peak, there are generally two paths: one is to begin studying the Seven or Eight Stage Star Patterns obtainable, then attune to the Heavenly Stars to find one's Destiny Star and refine the Star Tower Projection."

Also known as the Seven Stage Tower Projection Realm.

Breaking through to Seven Stage is extremely difficult; many cultivators spend decades without entering, yet still strive in vain, seeking only breakthrough.

But some cultivators, sensing no hope of breakthrough, began pushing their limits instead.

Gradually, they discovered another path.

One star, one tower.

The star core formed at Fourth Stage is the lifelong foundation.

This becomes evident at Sixth Stage.

Those who condensed ten stars in a single Shang Xinggong can build at most ten Cloud Towers.

Those who condensed ten stars in both Middle and Lower Star Palaces can build at most twenty Cloud Towers.

Many began walking this extreme path, continuously enhancing their combat power.

After forging twenty Cloud Towers, many cultivators' combat power doubled or even tripled compared to ordinary Sixth tier Ninefold Peak.

But it offered no help in breaking through to Seven Stage.

Once an ordinary cultivator breaks through to Seven Stage, this power gap can be closed within four or five minor realms.

But if such an extreme cultivator breaks through to Seven Stage, their combat power becomes astonishing.

At Seven Stage Early, they possess the combat power of Seven Stage Peak; at Seven Stage Mid, they possess Eight Stage Early combat power.

And this is only based on the difference of Sixth Stage—ignoring all else.

Thus, top geniuses of every major faction pursue the Extreme Cultivation Method.

Like Sun Fu you previously met—he forged twenty-two Cloud Towers, just like this.

Once he breaks through to Seven Stage, he immediately gains Eight Stage Early combat power.

As for you, I personally believe you have no problem breaking through to Seven Stage.

Therefore, you must also pursue the Extreme Cultivation Method.

Forge your Cloud Towers to their limit."

Here, State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao suddenly asked, "I recall you told me once that when you formed your star cores at Fourth Stage, you condensed several extra ones—how many star cores do you have in your Shang Xinggong altogether?"

"Seventy-two," Xu Jin answered.

"What?"

State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's expression froze in shock. "Seventy-two? Did I hear correctly?"

"State Master, I have thirty-six star cores in my Middle Shang Xinggong and thirty-six in my Lower Shang Xinggong!" Xu Jin said, as he activated his will—Cloud Towers appeared, and at their very base, seventy-two star cores spun.

In the past, Xu Jin would have concealed this—even from the State Master.

But now, there was no need to hide it from him.

State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao stared at the seventy-two spinning star cores at the base of Xu Jin's Cloud Towers, his gaze filled with awe, unable to look away.

After a long while, he said, "My master once said that the ancient Ultimate Emperor likely achieved Ground-to-Heaven Connection, then used his own Cloud Towers as foundation to forge the Star-Picking Grand Tower, suppressing this world."

But it was only speculation.

Because the theoretical data was simply impossible!

My master said that to connect earth and sky, Yun Tower must be built with at least thirty-six levels.

But when he built his Yun Tower above thirty levels, that was already his limit—and he could not fix it.

So he could not push past the limit.

He speculated that the Ultimate Dao Emperor three thousand years ago had built a Yun Tower above thirty-six levels.

I didn't believe it before, but after seeing your cultivation foundation today, I do. 」

As he spoke, behind National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, a Star Tower emerged, reaching a staggering one hundred and nine levels.

Yet at the very bottom of the Star Tower, only twenty-five stars appeared.

"National Master, how can your Star Tower be so tall?"

"This Star Tower differs from Yun Tower. When you reach the eighth realm, you'll understand."

But Yun Tower is countless times more important than Star Tower.

In fact, Yun Tower is the foundation of Star Tower.

The higher the number of Yun Tower levels, the higher your future ceiling.

This is also why I, Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun, Cangming Tianyang Xingjun, and Zhen'e Tianyang Xingjun have become top-tier eighth-realm cultivators.

Even before I reached the peak of the eighth realm, with just late eighth-realm cultivation, I could still stand atop the eighth realm," said National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

"National Master, I understand—you want me to build Yun Tower to its absolute limit, right?

Then I'll build seventy-two levels of Yun Tower," Xu Jin smiled.

Hearing this, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao spun around like a whirlwind, excitedly saying, "No!

For you, seventy-two levels of Yun Tower might truly be just the foundation.

You must not only build seventy-two levels of Yun Tower.

Not only must all of them be octagonal Yun Tower,

but you must also master at least one ninth-realm star pattern before breaking into the seventh realm.

Only then can you build several more nonagonal Yun Tower levels."

"Alright, I'll do my best!" Xu Jin smiled.

"Not 'do your best'—it's mandatory!" Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said gravely.

This left Xu Jin puzzled.

Seeing this, National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao casually summoned a veil of starlight, sealing off the inside from the outside. "Xu Jin, my master once told me certain things—only orally passed down. Back then I was young, and given my own condition, I thought it impossible.

But now, seeing your condition, I recall those secrets my master shared—and they may be possible.

Unfortunately, my teacher died in battle. If he were alive and saw you now, he'd be overjoyed."

"This… cultivation secret?"

"Yes!

Back then, my master Mao Yan and Sima Qu, the head of Lord Lingji Shang Xinggong, were close friends. They regularly exchanged cultivation insights, and Sima Qu, head of Lord Lingji Shang Xinggong, took out the cultivation journals of past Lord Lingji Shang Xinggong heads for study.

Several of those heads had been researching one thing: connecting earth and sky," said Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

"Connecting earth and sky? What does that mean?" Xu Jin asked.

"'Sky' refers to the Upper Shang Xinggong; 'earth' refers to the Middle and Lower Star Palaces."

With this explanation, Xu Jin immediately understood.

"They kept trying—including the head of Lord Lingji Shang Xinggong—and never succeeded, yet they never stopped striving!

They believed that if they could succeed in connecting earth and sky, they could at least replicate the path of the Ultimate Dao Emperor.

Whether the Ultimate Dao Emperor himself had connected earth and sky, they didn't know.

But historical records say he once raised a Yun Tower of thirty-six levels," said Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

"National Master, what's the use of connecting earth and sky?" Xu Jin asked.

"We don't know."

National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao shook his head. "Because no one has ever achieved it, we don't know!

But my teacher and Sima Qu of Lord Lingji Shang Xinggong speculated that if successful, one's body would naturally form its own universe.

The only known things in the world with self-contained, ever-renewing universes inside are the Nine-Star Inherited Treasures.

The Nine-Star Inherited Treasures, in a sense, represent the ninth realm.

They must have countless wondrous functions.

But exactly how? It's like viewing the peak's scenery—you can only truly see it if you reach the summit.

Others, gazing up from halfway, can only guess."

Xu Jin had never heard this before.

Now, hearing it, a whole new world opened before him.

"National Master, rest assured—I will do my utmost," Xu Jin said.

"Don't rush. Your current strength is already good; building Yun Tower further will enhance your combat power even more.

So, for the sixth realm, you must push to the absolute limit.

See if you can touch the Bridge of Heaven and Earth!" said National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

"What is the Bridge of Heaven and Earth?" Xu Jin asked.

Inside Danxia Palace, Xu Jin and National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao exchanged insights for over an hour. Cheng Cheng Yuexiao revealed all the hidden secrets of the sixth realm to Xu Jin.

The Bridge of Heaven and Earth is one key to connecting earth and sky. When Yun Tower is refined to its utmost, you will naturally sense it.

According to National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, his teacher Mao Yan and Sima Qu of Lord Lingji Shang Xinggong both faintly sensed the existence of the Bridge of Heaven and Earth when they refined their Yun Towers to their limits.

But they only sensed it.

They never truly touched it.

It felt as if they were just one step away.

But their foundation from fourth-realm star formation was fixed—they could never advance further.

They had to give up!

Now, with Xu Jin, there is real hope!

Even without National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's instructions, Xu Jin would inevitably pursue the path of building Yun Tower to its absolute limit.

Sun Fuji built twenty-two levels of Yun Tower; Xu Jin will build more.

Moreover, Xu Jin's speed in building Yun Tower is not slow.

Especially as his Yuan Ling cultivation grows stronger, his cultivation speed continues to rise.

Currently, the direct radiation range of Xu Jin's Yuan Ling Yuanling Taiguang has reached forty-seven meters.

That's two meters beyond the secular limit of forty-five meters for Yuan Ling peak.

The next cultivation technique for Yuan Ling is said to exist only in Lord Lingji Shang Xinggong.

But Xu Jin isn't in a hurry.

According to National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun's cultivation is still at the fifth-realm Yuan Ling stage.

Yet Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun's Yuan Ling Yuanling Taiguang has a direct radiation range of a full hundred meters.

This is precisely why Cheng Cheng Yuexiao has never dared to fight Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun directly.

The accumulated power Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun has gained through time is too profound.

Cheng Cheng Yuexiao judged that only because his Nine Sheng Bell is a treasure artifact of Chen Guo, internally self-contained and possessing immense divine soul defense, could it withstand Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun's divine soul attacks.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have lasted this long.

The time entered the 1764th year of Dou Calendar, January.

On January 1st, the moment the Dao-seeding time in the Star Dome Secret Realm of Zhaixing Tower refreshed, Xu Jin appeared inside the Star Dome Secret Realm of the main tower of Chen Guo's Zhaixing Tower.

The instant he entered, he activated the Candou Light Domain and the Star Dome Secret Realm's Dao-seeding time, beginning to deduce star patterns.

He was about to depart for Xueyue City.

Before leaving, Xu Jin had to raise his strength as much as possible.

It was mandatory.

Only with strength could he have the courage to save others.

First, he deduced the Wood Source and Water Source star patterns.

Xu Jin's most powerful star technique right now is the Five Elements Divine Thunder.

Besides the Thunder Source star pattern, it requires the Five Elements Source star patterns: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.

Its power is determined by the lowest-tier Source star pattern among them.

Currently, among the Five Elements Source star patterns, Metal, Fire, and Earth are all eighth-realm upper, while Wood and Water remain eighth-realm lower.

Thus, the power of the Five Elements Divine Thunder is limited by the eighth-realm lower Source star patterns.

At this moment, Xu Jin wanted to raise Wood and Water to eighth-realm upper.

Then, the power of the Five Elements Divine Thunder could increase dramatically.

Moreover, after long consideration, Xu Jin used Canxing this time to deduce the star patterns!

Previously, Xu Jin hadn't noticed—he had always hesitated to use Canxing, fearing waste.

But after his last attempt to deduce a ninth-realm star pattern, he suddenly realized something.

Canxing's greatest value is directly elevating any star pattern below ninth realm by one minor realm.

If all the star patterns you need to deduce are already at eighth-realm upper, wouldn't Canxing's function become useless?

In that case, Canxing is as valuable as Jinxing.

So it must still be put to use.

If you don't use it now, you'll waste it later.

Thus, when contemplating the eighth-rank lower Wood Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern, Xu Jin directly activated one Canxing.

He directly elevated the Wood Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern's rank to eighth-rank middle, then began the high-rank derivation of Canxing's inherent properties.

This was very easy for Xu Jin at present.

He used only half the time of one high-rank derivation to advance the Wood Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern to eighth-rank upper.

Afterwards, Xu Jin attempted to derive ninth-rank using the remaining high-rank derivation time, but made extremely limited progress.

This once again confirmed that high-rank derivation was useless for deriving ninth-rank Star Patterns.

The eighth-rank middle and eighth-rank upper Wood Source Patterns each gained a unique Star Art, enriching Xu Jin's collection of Star Arts.

Not long after, Xu Jin also used one Canxing to derive the Water Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern to eighth-rank upper.

The next instant, Xu Jin subtly shifted his intent.

He began challenging the Sixth-Rank Ninth-Stage Star-Picking Realm again.

Although Xu Jin had cleared the Star-Picking Realm, the Sixth-Rank Ninth-Stage guardian and heart demon could still be challenged at any time, to hone himself.

It also allowed him to test his own power gains.

Xu Jin's Sixth-Rank Ninth-Stage guardian and heart demon both possessed Seventh-Rank Ninth-Stage peak cultivation.

Moreover, they were based on Xu Jin's own template—extremely powerful.

Ten days ago, when Xu Jin challenged them, he used two Five-Element Divine Thunderbolts to obliterate the guardian, and three to completely destroy the heart demon.

Now, Xu Jin began challenging the Seventh-Rank Ninth-Stage heart demon again.

At the moment combat began, Xu Jin unleashed full power to activate the Five-Element Divine Thunderbolts!

BOOM!

Five-colored lightning flashed like streaking bolts, striking in rapid succession.

After just two Five-Element Divine Thunderbolts, the Seventh-Rank Ninth-Stage heart demon dissolved into starlight.

As for the guardian, he still needed only two Five-Element Divine Thunderbolts!

Simple and brutal.

But the test results were equally simple and direct!

Based on the efficiency gain when destroying the heart demon, after the Water Source and Wood Lei Lei Yuanxing Patterns were raised to eighth-rank upper, Xu Jin's Five-Element Divine Thunderbolts had increased by at least one-third.

Xu Jin estimated that, accounting for his cultivation advancement, the enhancement of the Water Source and Wood Lei Lei Yuanxing Patterns, his Divine Soul cultivation gains, and all other strengthening effects on the Star Patterns, the power of his Five-Element Divine Thunderbolts had more than doubled since the time he had painstakingly slain Ju Chu Xuan.

If he faced Ju Chu Xuan now, even without using special powers, he could directly obliterate Ju Chu Xuan at eighth-rank early stage.

In other words, Xu Jin could now stand his ground against any eighth-rank early-stage expert.

With this enhanced Five-Element Divine Thunderbolt as his foundation, Xu Jin still had ample confidence for his upcoming journey to Xueyue City.

Afterwards, Xu Jin began deriving the Fifth-Rank Lower Water Lei Xiangxing Pattern.

Ten Silver Stars immediately propelled the Water Lei Xiangxing Pattern to fifth-rank middle; after one Gold Star, it surpassed seventh-rank upper; after one Canxing, it smoothly advanced to eighth-rank upper.

Thus, among Lei Xiangxing Patterns, all Five-Element Lei Xiangxing Patterns were now complete.

Only Wind Image and Void Lei Xiangxing Patterns remained missing.

Yet after this round of derivation, Xu Jin still had eight Gold Stars and five Canxing left.

But Xu Jin's derivation was not yet finished.

Previously, Xu Jin had derived the Cheng Po Star Pattern to eighth-rank lower, gaining the unique Star Art Lingtai.

But the derivation difficulty of Cheng Po Star Pattern was too great; back then, Xu Jin estimated that advancing it from eighth-rank lower to eighth-rank upper would require two Canxing, or one Canxing and two Gold Stars.

The cost was too high, so he had never pursued it.

But today, Xu Jin's accumulation had advanced by a great leap.

The Cheng Po Star Pattern could now be derived.

In an instant, Xu Jin activated one Canxing and began contemplating and deriving the Cheng Po Star Pattern.

With the aid of the Cendou Lamp Domain and Star Dome Realm's Dao-comprehension time, the efficiency was extremely high.

Under high-rank derivation, he quickly advanced the Cheng Po Star Pattern to eighth-rank middle, then used the Canxing to directly elevate it by one minor rank.

Eighth-rank upper Cheng Po Star Pattern was now obtained.

Thus, this month's Star Dome Realm Dao-comprehension time was fully consumed.

Xu Jin simply remained inside the Star Dome Realm and upgraded all one hundred eight Cheng Po Star Patterns on his thirty-six Star Cores within the Shang Xinggong to eighth-rank upper.

The instant all upgrades were complete, Xu Jin clearly sensed his Divine Soul cultivation advancement rate had accelerated further!

But the exact magnitude of the increase still required several days of observation and comparison to determine.

It was certain, however, that the improvement was still substantial.

Star Pattern derivation concluded.

The moment Xu Jin left the main building of Da Chen Star-Picking Tower, he subtly altered his intent and immediately activated the Spatial Orientation Nayi Star Art.

A spatial ripple passed, and Xu Jin appeared five hundred li beyond Dachen Wan Yi City.

He activated his Qisha Palace with his intent, and instantly the Qisha Star Gate appeared before him.

Xu Jin stepped directly through.

The Qisha Star Domain was the final preparation Xu Jin needed before departure!

The moment Xu Jin appeared within the Qisha Star Domain, he activated his Authority over Heaven and Earth and instantly materialized above the Qisha Star Domain's statue in midair.

As his intent sank into his own statue, surprise flashed across his eyes.

The moment his mind sank into his own statue, surprise flashed in his eyes.

(End of chapter)