Chapter 508: Three Paths and an Old Acquaintance (Happy Spring Festival)

Inside the idol, the accumulated golden power of faith had condensed into sixty-one golden, rice-grain-sized Golden Beads of the Divine Dao.

Each Golden Bead of the Divine Dao was condensed from ten thousand strands of the power of faith.

Calculating it, it had only been a little over forty days since Xu Jin last left the Seven Kills Star Domain.

On average, he had been condensing one Golden Bead of the Divine Dao every day.

The power of faith gathered daily also far exceeded ten thousand strands.

"It seems that over ninety percent of the Seven Kills populace within the Seven Kills Star Domain are now my die-hard fans."

These sixty Golden Beads of the Divine Dao were only the first layer of surprise; the second layer of surprise was the pure power of the divine soul accumulated within the white divine bones.

Xu Jin made a rough estimate; it was roughly equivalent to the amount in forty-five Three-Essence Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Pills.

It was extremely precious.

Compared to the Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Pills, this accumulated pure power of the divine soul was even more precious.

The reason was simple: Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Pills could not be taken consecutively.

During wartime, taking more than two or three in a row would yield no effect.

It was fine for ordinary people, but with Xu Jin's current divine soul cultivation, that volume was insufficient.

However, the pure power of the divine soul gathered through the idol could be used to restore divine soul strength during major battles—it was the kind that could be injected directly to full capacity.

Because of this, Xu Jin did not use this pure divine soul power to directly raise his divine soul cultivation.

Instead, he prepared to condense them into Divine Soul Beads.

Previously, Xu Jin's cultivation was insufficient and his understanding limited; such pure divine soul power could only be sealed into blank Star Jade Tablets using secret techniques, and it could not be stored for long.

Now, Xu Jin could directly condense them into Divine Soul Beads, the kind that could be stored for a long time.

Before condensing the Divine Soul Beads, Xu Jin, as usual, manifested his holiness before the people, continuing to display divine miracles using the authority of heaven and earth.

The reappearance of the Heavenly God after more than a month of absence left the Seven Kills populace pleasantly surprised.

Some elderly people were so moved upon seeing the divine miracle again that they wept.

Xu Jin was not stingy either; he directly took out six strands of Wood-type Verdant Rhyme, then cast the Star Mist Art to disperse them, enveloping all the Seven Kills populace.

The effect this time surprised even Xu Jin.

Many elderly people actually showed signs of their faces reversing in age.

Especially the women; after being nourished by the Verdant Rhyme full of vitality, they each had faces like peach blossoms and supple, watery skin.

A few teenagers even had breakthroughs in their cultivation because of this.

Consequently, this sparked another wave of fanatical faith.

They bowed and thanked the Heavenly God one after another.

Xu Jin harvested quite a bit more golden power of faith and divine soul power.

Subsequently, he began to condense the Divine Soul Beads.

Xu Jin condensed a total of five Divine Soul Beads for his own use, possessing roughly the divine soul power of about ten Three-Essence Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Pills.

Each one could restore nearly fifty percent of Xu Jin's divine soul cultivation.

If a major battle occurred, it would be extremely useful.

It could be called a life-saving divine artifact.

Especially since the Space Displacement Star Art that Xu Jin liked to use most now consumed a relatively large amount of divine soul strength.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Xu Jin held court in the Seven Kills Hall.

According to the list submitted by Hou Hou Yunzhang, he rewarded those with merit, bestowing the incomparably precious Three-Essence Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Pills, or even helping them break through, while punishing those who had committed offenses.

The number of Seventh-Tier alien races within the Seven Kills Star Domain had currently reached seven.

It was still far from Xu Jin's goal, but it could already be considered a force not to be underestimated.

After giving instructions, Xu Jin departed.

Not long after returning to the Hei Wu Kong Hall of the Da Chen National Dao Academy in Dachen Wan Yi, Ying Ge came to report, "Senior Brother, the one thousand jars of various fine wines you ordered have already been delivered to the back hall, and the five thousand catties of various braised cooked foods have also all been moved to the back hall."

A dozen breaths later, Xu Jin arrived at the back hall.

Looking at the rows of wine jars and the packaged cooked food, he waved his hand, and a vast expanse of starlight swept out, clearing them away in one go.

These fine wines and delicacies were all stored by Xu Jin into his own Sumeru space.

Over the past year or so, Xu Jin had always maintained the habit of expanding his Sumeru space daily.

At least a quarter of an hour, and at most half an hour.

Especially after Xu Jin's primordial spirit cultivation reached its peak, the efficiency of expanding the Sumeru space became even higher.

Now, it had already been expanded to a size barely capable of accommodating a small starship.

A Sumeru space about fifteen meters long, ten meters wide, and ten meters high.

It was very small for a starship, but it was very spacious for storing supplies.

As for why he brought fine wine and delicacies, it stemmed from the Grand Master's inspiration; many times, it wasn't necessary to use force, and he suggested Xu Jin bring some hard currency.

Subsequently, Xu Jin asked about the Blood God Child Fu Ying.

People from the Blood God Sect knew best what the Blood God Sect lacked and what they needed!

According to the Blood God Child Fu Ying, within the current Blood God Sect, especially among the Blood God Sect disciples living far away in foreign lands, elixirs and emblems were the hardest currency.

But the most popular items were the fine wines and delicacies of the present world!

Xu Jin understood in an instant: the taste of home!

The middle and high-level members of the Blood God Sect were all humans of the present world.

Staying in foreign lands, they lacked neither food nor drink, but they certainly lacked the taste of home.

Anyway, since he had the space, he would bring some along; it might just bring a surprise.

"Senior Brother, when are you going to the Star River Battlefield to garrison?" Ying Ge asked.

Xu Jin's trip out to handle affairs this time was, in name, to garrison the front lines of the Star River Battlefield.

Only the Grand Master and Peng Lao knew Xu Jin's true purpose; everyone else was completely unaware.

"Tomorrow."

"So urgent? This year's Battle of Merit Selection starts the day after tomorrow. Senior Brother, why not wait until the Battle of Merit Selection ends before setting off?" Ying Ge asked.

"Why, no confidence?"

"How could that be? It's just that you are the Master of the Hall, Senior Brother."

"When I am not here, you represent me with full authority. As for these disciples, train them when they need training, and whip them when they need whipping."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother!"

While speaking, Xu Jin had already turned and left. From afar, Xu Jin's voice came again, "Once there is a result from the Battle of Merit Selection, notify me!"

"Must do."

On January 2nd, in the inner hall of the Hei Wu Kong Academy, nearly a thousand types of various flowers, grasses, and trees were placed.

These were all collected by Xu Jin using his authority and the power of the Da Chen National Dao Academy.

His condensation of the Mid-Tier Seven Kills Sword Heart had already entered the final stage of collecting quantity.

A large amount of life rhythms from different plants is needed to complete the mid-tier Seven Kill Sword Heart.

Relying on his own collection was too slow.

Over these past few days, the Star Patrol Guards and the Spring Rain Division everywhere in the Da Chen National Dao Academy had sent out scouts in all directions, all collecting various rare flowers, grasses, and trees for Xu Jin.

Then they were transported over.

The key was that they had to be alive.

This actually caused quite a few complaints from the Star Patrol Guards and the Spring Rain Division.

After entering the door, the progress of the Mid-Tier Seven Kills Sword Heart was faster than Xu Jin had imagined.

Especially under the condition of a large supply of different flowers, grasses, and trees.

After holding a pot of azaleas in his arms and sensing them for over half a quarter of an hour, Xu Jin gently wiped his fingertips across them. Without any starlight fluctuation, the flower buds of the azaleas suddenly drooped.

Their vitality vanished instantly.

He changed to a stalk of iron-thread grass. After half a quarter of an hour, the grass tips that were standing upright toward the sky suddenly went limp.

Pot after pot.

The speed at which Xu Jin found the life rhythms of these flowers, grasses, and trees became faster and faster.

"Senior Brother, the starship has arrived."

Half a day later, Ying Ge suddenly arrived at the back hall of the Hei Wu Kong Academy.

A few breaths later, a medium-sized starship landed directly in the back courtyard of the Hei Wu Kong Academy.

"Junior Brother, you move them up for me. I am going to see the Grand Master!"

Before setting off, he naturally had to go to the Grand Master's place to bid farewell.

But it was limited to bidding farewell.

Relevant countermeasures, various emergency means, and emergency plans had all been discussed by Xu Jin and Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao over these past few days, and they had even been formed into items.

"Xu Jin, I know you value affection and righteousness, and are filial to your master, but there is one thing I must say to you again," Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Please speak, Grand Master."

"As long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood!

Although you have made many preparations for this trip to save your master Qi Qi Shanye, the possibility of success is not small.

However, being in the Eight Desolations Desolate Domain, you are surrounded by enemies, and the Great Hong Emperor could expose your true identity at any time.

Therefore, I want to say this to you again!

I am incomparably hoping that you will save your master.

But everything has accidents!

If there is an accident, my opinion is: as long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood!

No matter the situation, you must return alive!

I think if your master Qi Qi Shanye knew you died to save him, he probably wouldn't be happy either.

Do you understand what I mean?" Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao looked at Xu Jin and said.

Xu Jin understood what Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao meant.

"Don't worry, Grand Master, I won't be impulsive! If I really encounter such an extreme situation, I will definitely try every possible way to survive!

Only by surviving can I avenge my master!" Xu Jin said.

"That's right, you must return alive!

This time, when you return alive, I will personally preside over your grand wedding!" Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said.

At the mention of a grand wedding, Xu Jin felt a bit helpless.

This matter wasn't very easy to handle.

Mainly because his skin wasn't thick enough.

Looking at Xu Jin's appearance, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao laughed first, knowing Xu Jin's difficulty.

"Don't worry, I have already solved your difficulty for you!

According to Da Chen law, those who are enfeoffed as princes can have two wives, one primary and one equal!

At that time, I will play the villain and let Ji Ji Hongli and Ning Ning Yuchan marry you at the same time. As children of the world, there will be no distinction between primary and equal.

You can rest assured!

Return safely, and let me preside over your grand wedding!" Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao laughed.

"In that case, thank you, Grand Master!"

Xu Jin solemnly bowed to Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

This could be considered solving one of his major difficulties.

With the Grand Master coming forward, this matter would be very easy to handle.

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Jin stepped onto his exclusive starship. Inside the starship, thousands of types of flowers, grasses, and trees were placed. Ying Ge, Mo Daniu, Ji Fei, Lou Young Lady, Ji Ji Hongli, and others waved goodbye to Xu Jin from afar.

As for Ning Ning Yuchan, she was the commander of the Da Chen Uncle Chu Xuan Hu Army.

Because of the establishment of the Eight Desolations defense line, she had already received orders to return to her post and was heading to the Da Chen side of the Eight Desolations defense line to garrison.

"Eh, Senior Brother Wu, is it you?"

When stepping onto the starship, Xu Jin was a bit surprised to see an old acquaintance.

It was Wu Dong, the guiding senior brother from the National Dao Academy whom he had known back when he was still at the Hu Jinshan Dao Academy.

He didn't expect that the person in charge of his exclusive starship today would actually be his former senior brother, Wu Dong.

Upon hearing Xu Jin's address, Wu Dong repeatedly claimed he didn't dare, "Lord Vice-Academician, you can just call me Wu Dong; I don't dare to be called Senior Brother!

Over these few days, if you have any matters, just order me directly."

In front of Xu Jin, Wu Dong was extremely cautious.

Xu Jin smiled, which could be considered as having greeted him, and then went directly into the cabin to begin cultivation.

Now, his time every day was packed full.

At least six hours of cultivation, another four hours to be used for sensing the Seven Kills Sword Heart, and one hour for miscellaneous chores.

Only one hour remained for sleeping and eating.

With Wen Meng around, as long as Xu Jin didn't have too much consumption, he could fully recover by sleeping for half an hour every day.

The starship only took half a day to reach the Star River Pass.

Wu Dong had already obtained the pass clearance, and after passing through directly, they entered the Star River Battlefield continent and then flew straight to the Eight Desolations City at the southernmost tip.

During this period, apart from delivering meals and periodically moving out the flowers, grasses, and trees that Xu Jin had cultivated to death, Wu Dong never disturbed Xu Jin again.

For three consecutive days, time passed very quickly.

"Lord Wu, we are still two hours away from reaching Eight Desolations City," a subordinate reported.

"Hmm."

Wu Dong looked at the hall where Xu Jin was resting; the lights were still on!

Or rather, for the past three and a half days, they hadn't been extinguished once.

Convinced!

He, Wu Dong, was truly convinced!

Two years ago, when he first met Xu Jin, Xu Jin was only in the Meal of Mist Realm; at that time, he was already a Third-Tier Refine Star Ninth Layer.

Later, Xu Jin joined the National Dao Academy. Xu Jin was a true disciple, and he was a core disciple of the inner academy. There was a slight difference in treatment, but it wasn't too big.

However, two years later, his cultivation was barely at the peak of the Fourth-Tier Ninth Layer, but Xu Jin, this former junior brother, had seen his cultivation skyrocket to the peak of the Sixth-Tier Ninth Layer!

When he first saw him, the bitterness in his heart was simply indescribable.

They were both human; how on earth did this Xu Jin cultivate!

In two years, his cultivation had crossed an entire major realm, which could already be considered a genius.

But Xu Jin? A full six major realms!

Was this not letting people live?

Or rather, was the difference in treatment between a true disciple and an inner academy core disciple really that big?

To be honest, he really couldn't reconcile with it in his heart!

But after accompanying him for three and a half days, Wu Dong was suddenly convinced!

Within three days, Wu Dong used half his time to cultivate and deduce star patterns, and the other half to sleep, eat, drink tea, and play chess, which could already be considered diligent!

But Xu Jin was the kind who cultivated day and night without rest.

And every day, he was still full of energy!

Convinced!

Wu Dong was truly convinced!

With this kind of drive, it was no wonder Xu Jin's cultivation improved so rapidly!

He no longer had any complaints!

"Vice-Academician Xu, we are still two hours away from reaching Eight Desolations City. Are you going to stay in Eight Desolations City, or leave early?" Wu Dong asked in a low voice outside the hall.

"When it's one hour away, call me."

"Okay."

As Wu Dong retreated, inside the hall, the speed at which the flowers, grasses, and trees were thrown out became faster and faster.

At first, it was one plant every dozen breaths, and later it became one plant every few breaths.

All the flowers, grasses, and trees thrown out had one characteristic: they looked devoid of any vitality.

Wu Dong found this very strange.

But he didn't dare to ask too much.

"Gone?"

Inside the hall, Xu Jin, who was sensing the life rhythms of the plants, suddenly found his hand empty; the thousands of types of flowers, grasses, and trees that had been moved up earlier had been completely consumed by him.

Above the Star Palace, a light cluster exuding an inexplicably awe-inspiring aura was floating in front of the primordial spirit's chest.

According to the Seven Kills inheritance, being able to find the life rhythm of any flower, grass, or tree within a single breath meant that the Mid-Tier Seven Kills Sword Heart was complete.

Xu Jin could already find the life rhythms of two plants within a single breath now.

Then he could enter the next stage.

The condensation of the High-Tier Seven Kills Sword Heart.

After the High-Tier Seven Kills Sword Heart was successfully condensed, Xu Jin could attempt to cultivate the Killing Star Art.

At that time, if he could condense the Cloud Tower to the extreme, he could attempt to break through to the Seventh Tier.

However, according to the secrets mentioned by the Grand Master, the Cloud Tower could connect heaven and earth.

Around the thirtieth layer, one could sense the heaven within the body.

It was no problem for Xu Jin's Cloud Tower to condense thirty layers.

If he could really sense the so-called heaven, then Xu Jin must achieve this connection between heaven and earth!

According to the Grand Master, once achieved, the Cloud Tower condensed by Xu Jin at the Sixth Tier would be equivalent to a Ninth-Tier National Dao Artifact.

And it would be the peak kind.

Ninth-Tier National Dao Artifacts or inheritance treasures were extremely rare, one count for one.

If he could create one himself, he must do so.

Moreover, according to the Grand Master, throughout history, there were three paths for cultivators after their cultivation broke through to the Eighth Tier.

One path was the ordinary Eighth Tier, where it was difficult to touch the Ninth Tier for a lifetime.

Another path was these top-tier Eighth Tiers, such as Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang, and Tianyang Xingjun Cangming.

They had the opportunity to break through to the Ninth Tier, but it required opportunity.

But what would happen afterward was hard to say.

There was another category, the Extreme Dao Emperors who became legends in this world, also known as Extreme Emperor Star Lords, and the Seven Kills Tianyang Zhenjun.

Counting through the history of the Kunling Realm, only these two had transcended the Kunling Realm.

This was the third path!

And Xu Jin, without a doubt, had chosen the third path!

He also wanted to transcend this world!

Xu Jin extremely wanted to know, if he could really transcend this world and roam the star sea, what would his hometown, Blue Star, look like?

Returning was impossible.

But he wanted to see it!

Because that was his hometown!

With the Mid-Tier Seven Kills Sword Heart complete, Xu Jin had to start condensing the High-Tier Seven Kills Sword Heart.

The High-Tier Seven Kills Sword Heart required constant sensing of various inanimate mountain stones, water, and clouds, sensing their life rhythms clearly, from small to large.

Then, one could kill stars!

This was the final step of cultivating the Killing Star Art.

But it was also the most difficult step!

Because whether it was animals or plants, they still had life, and it was all external.

Mountain stones, water, and clouds could also be said to have life.

But where was their life?

Very difficult!

Even the Seven Kills Tianyang Zhenjun took twenty years to succeed!

How long it would take Xu Jin, he had no bottom line.

However, when the Mid-Tier Seven Kills Sword Heart was complete, Xu Jin had already started practicing.

He held a piece of blue stone from Da Chen Dachen Wan Yi, the size of an egg and with distinct edges and corners, in his hand, and began to sense!

As soon as he started sensing, he had a feeling of a tiger swallowing the sky, with nowhere to start.

A dead object, how to sense its life rhythm?

However, with previous experience, Xu Jin was not in a hurry.

He just held this egg-sized blue stone in his hand at all times, sensing it at all times.

"Vice-Academician Xu, we are one hour away from Eight Desolations City." Outside the door, Wu Dong's voice sounded.

"Good!"

The next instant, Xu Jin got up and left the hall, seeing Wu Dong waiting outside the hall door.

"Open the starlight shield; I want to leave."

"Yes."

Wu Dong received the order directly. The next instant, the gale wind poured in, and the starship began to slow down.

Xu Jin was about to leave when he suddenly sensed Wu Dong's aura and asked, "Senior Brother Wu, how long have you been stuck at the peak of the Fourth-Tier Ninth Layer?"

"Replying to the Academician, it has been three months!"

"Hmm, take this spiritual medicine when you have time; it might help you break through!"

Xu Jin casually sent out a Fourth-Tier divine soul-type spiritual medicine that he had nourished, and in an instant, a pair of cyan wind wings appeared behind him, turning into starlight as he rushed out of the starship directly.

Inside the starship, Wu Dong, who had received the spiritual medicine, didn't pay too much attention to it while feeling moved.

He had also been bestowed Fourth-Tier divine soul-type spiritual medicines by his master before.

But when the starlight shield closed, after he sensed it carefully, his expression changed.

Top-tier!

This was a top-tier Fourth-Tier divine soul-type spiritual medicine, its efficacy infinitely close to a Fifth-Tier divine soul-type spiritual medicine.

That value...

After leaving the starship, Xu Jin used the Hundred Illusions Star Pattern to change his face.

He was a thirty-year-old middle-aged man with a slightly weathered face and a beard, though he had only slightly altered his appearance, which was also convenient to maintain.

Still quite handsome, but with a bit more steadiness.

One hour later, Xu Jin arrived outside the Third Garrison City of Eight Desolations City, and then, at the first opportunity, sent a message to the Great Hong Emperor using the Mandarin Duck Seal.

It was just that this garrison city was a military fortress, and the city ban was strict.

It wasn't that Xu Jin could enter just because he wanted to.

【What clothes are you wearing? What are your characteristics?】 The Great Hong Emperor quickly sent a message via the Mandarin Duck Seal.

Xu Jin replied, and then received a reply.

【Wait for half a quarter of an hour, someone will naturally come to meet you.】

This made Xu Jin a bit surprised.

This Eight Desolations Third Garrison City was Great Chu territory; how could the Great Hong Emperor reach his hand into Great Chu territory?

A hundred breaths later, a stream of light suddenly flew out from the city, landed beside Xu Jin, and asked, "Are you Qi Jin?"

Qi Jin was Xu Jin's alias.

"Yes."

"Then come with me."

As Xu Jin turned to follow, his brow suddenly furrowed; the aura emitted by the person in front of him was somewhat familiar. Where had he seen it before?

Xu Jin furrowed his brow and began to recall.

(End of chapter)