Chapter 567: One Cry of

A speck of starlight suddenly froze in the air above Fortress 17, then flickered once.

"You little brat, trying to scare us like this!"

Just arriving, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao of Chen Guo gazed at the scene before him, realized something, and immediately entered stealth mode.

Before his last departure, Xu Jin had passed him many Star Pattern inscriptions from the Star Scripture Hall—truth be told, they were extremely useful.

But as he entered stealth and clearly sensed the precise situation inside Fortress 17, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's form trembled again, nearly falling out of invisibility.

"He really is scaring people!"

The scene before him was so shocking—even Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, an eighth-rank peak cultivator, was stunned, and the shock only deepened.

Just one or two eighth-rank alien corpses would cause a sensation.

That's a major achievement.

If three or five appeared, it would shake the entire world.

If five or six eighth-rank human cultivators in the mortal realm died publicly, it would be the same.

But Xu Jin has now dragged out nine eighth-rank alien corpses.

No, the tenth has already appeared!

A question suddenly surfaced in Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's mind: Why, of all days, was Xu Jin—who had always been so low-key—doing this?

Why be so conspicuous?

After one more glance at the row of eighth-rank corpses strung together by starlight and suspended in midair, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao understood Xu Jin's intent.

He's done playing it safe.

He's ready to sit at the table.

His intentions likely go even further than that.

"If that's the case, I'll lend this kid a hand—when it comes to watching a show, the audience must be large." Cheng Cheng Yuexiao made his decision instantly.

The next instant, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao of Chen Guo sent orders to the nine eighth-rank cultivators stationed in the Star River Battlefield.

Originally, Chen Guo had only five eighth-rank cultivators on the Star River Battlefield: the overall commander, deputy commander, and the commanders of the Golden Elephant Army, Crimson Falcon Army, and Bai Hu Army.

But since the Eight Wilderness Continent had emerged and the celestial restrictions had loosened, more eighth-rank breakthroughs occurred; additional army commanders and senior officers had ascended to eighth rank, including Commander Chai Ce of the Black Tiger Army.

Chen Guo's number of eighth-rank cultivators on the Star River Battlefield had risen to seven.

For this offensive against the Eight Wilderness Continent, besides Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao personally arriving, two more eighth-rank cultivators had been brought along, including Peng Lao.

Altogether nine eighth-rank cultivators, plus Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, making ten.

Though substantial, this number was still the smallest among all factions.

In the mortal realm, Grand Supervisor Pei Ze and the newly elevated seventh-rank Meng Meng Yanhui were holding the line.

At this moment, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's order to the nine eighth-rank cultivators was simple: Immediately, without delay, proceed to the front-line Fortress 17, and do not conceal your movements.

The order was dispatched instantly to all nine eighth-rank cultivators, including Commander Mao Han Yue of Chen Guo.

Yet no one questioned it, no one hesitated—all eighth-rank cultivators immediately dropped what they were doing, each leaping into the stars and soaring toward Fortress 17.

This action immediately drew the attention of countless observers.

Because these nine eighth-rank cultivators were stationed across different garrisons or frontlines, their every movement attracted notice—and was watched closely by agents of every faction.

Especially influential eighth-ranks, like Mao Han Yue.

Like Peng Peng Tiesheng, Peng Lao.

Peng Lao's influence had grown because five days ago, during a sparring match, he, at eighth-rank mid-stage, effortlessly defeated a late-stage eighth-rank army commander from the Sunlight Star Hall.

His status and attention naturally rose.

He was now called the fourth strongest in Chen Guo.

The top three were Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, Commander Mao Han Yue, and Grand Supervisor Pei Ze.

Instantly, starlight messages flooded the entire Star River Battlefield, their volume surging more than tenfold.

The Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming, just leaving Fortress 5 and heading toward Fortress 17, received the urgent report at the same moment.

His brow immediately furrowed. "All of Chen Guo's eighth-ranks have mobilized? All heading toward Fortress 17?"

What is Chen Guo planning?

What is Cheng Cheng Yuexiao up to?

The next instant, the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming issued his own order: Commander Kong Shuo, the newly appointed Grand Elder of the Cangming Star Hall, lead twelve eighth-ranks immediately to Fortress 70.

He was going only to observe—perhaps to confirm a suspicion.

Not to fight.

But since Cheng Cheng Yuexiao had summoned so many, he would summon his own.

Better safe than sorry.

He had only just broken through to ninth rank—he was not invincible.

Theoretically, he could defeat Cheng Cheng Yuexiao—but only defeat him.

The cost of killing him? Unknown.

Judging from Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's past combat record at eighth-rank peak, he seemed slightly stronger than the eighth-rank peak version of himself.

At least in terms of combat achievements.

That was why, despite exploiting their ninth-rank advantage, the Sunlight Tianyang Xingjun had only been wearing down Chen Guo, not making any decisive moves.

That was the reason.

Though Cheng Cheng Yuexiao had not yet broken through to ninth rank, if he truly fought to the death, whoever struck first would suffer grievously.

The Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming still maintained tight control over all elite cultivators under the Star Hall and the Great Chu forces.

With one command, eleven eighth-rank cultivators under the Cangming Star Hall, led by Grand Elder Kong Shuo, surged into the sky and raced toward Fortress 17.

He simultaneously ordered all Chu battlefield units to enter combat readiness, with all elites of sixth rank and above standing by.

Kong Shuo added this extra order because he had seen the alert signal rising from Fortress 17.

If the Tianyang Xingjun ordered it, they could launch immediately.

He had only recently become Grand Elder; his experience and cultivation were insufficient to command full respect, so he was eager to prove himself.

In essence, these actions were correct—caution was a plus.

But the entire Chu battlefield entering combat readiness was a massive disturbance, and with so many eighth-ranks converging on one direction, any observer from the Sunlight Star Hall or the Pacifying Star Hall who wasn't blind would notice—and act.

As expected, moments later, fifteen eighth-ranks from the Sunlight Star Hall and twelve from the Pacifying Star Hall also flew toward Fortress 17 from various directions.

For the Sunlight Star Hall, their strategic motive, beyond curiosity, was to seize an opportunity.

If Chen Guo and the Cangming Star Hall clashed violently, they could swoop in and claim the spoils.

As for the war on the Eight Wilderness Continent, with three of their own now having broken through to ninth rank and the Master of Xumi Palace and the Master of Muling Palace on the verge of breakthrough, they saw little uncertainty left.

After all, there were only two ninth-ranks on that side.

What was supposed to be a swift conquest had been delayed.

Thus, the Sunlight Tianyang Xingjun was delighted to watch the conflict between Chen Guo and the Cangming Star Hall.

The Pacifying Tianyang Xingjun thought much the same.

But he wasn't going to seize spoils—he was going to pick a side.

If the Sunlight Star Hall and the Cangming Star Hall truly joined forces to annihilate Chen Guo's elite, the next target would inevitably be his own Pacifying Star Hall.

He understood the principle: when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold.

So the Pacifying Star Hall dispatched forces—and the Pacifying Tianyang Xingjun himself quietly masked his aura and slipped toward the battlefield.

Better safe than sorry.

One wave after another, the commotion grew larger, as if nearly all of the mortal realm's cultivators on the Star River Battlefield were converging on Fortress 17.

Even the garrisons of the Xumi Palace and Muling Palace—both without their Masters—organized eighth-ranks to go.

No need for merit, only to avoid blame.

At the very least, they could find out what mysterious event had occurred.

Simultaneously, the Star River Battlefield Marshal's Office immediately issued an inquiry: What major event was happening at Fortress 17?

But with no timely reply, they also dispatched forces.

Unknown to all, within Blood Moon City, the leader of the Blood God Cult had also received an alert.

【Emergency: Large numbers of human eighth- and ninth-ranks are moving toward Fortress 17. Over fifty eighth-ranks have already gathered; ninth-rank numbers unknown. Purpose unclear, suspected offensive.】

Yu Shen, leader of the Blood God Cult, received this intelligence and froze, his brow instantly tightening.

Moments later, he immediately reported this intelligence to the King of the Eight Wilderness, Ju Zhang.

Correct—the Blood God Cult leader had ambitions, great ambitions for the Eight Wilderness Continent.

But this was predicated on the continent remaining independent, giving him time to slowly encroach and expand.

If the mortal realm seized the Eight Wilderness Continent, his ambitions would become fantasy.

He could not withstand the assault of the mortal realm's Star Hall leaders alone.

First coexistence, then growth within coexistence, then complete domination.

He had a crystal-clear understanding of this.

So he notified the King of the Eight Wilderness immediately.

Within moments, war drums thundered across the entire Eight Wilderness Court and northern cities; seventh-rank Hu Weng birds rose one after another into the sky.

Simultaneously, Blood Moon City and Blood Cloud City, upon receiving the King's orders, also rushed toward Fortress 17.

Even the Bai Hu Star City, newly integrated into the Eight Wilderness Continent, received the King's command—and the leader of the Worship of the Dipper Cult responded with exceptional enthusiasm.

The Bai Hu Star City had just been integrated and still needed massive construction—but that didn't stop him from mobilizing.

Like the Blood God Cult leader, he had a clear grasp of the larger tide.

Besides, he has waited for this day for a very, very long time.

It's time to make those old friends pay a price!

A few breaths later, several torrents of mighty starlight surged into the sky, streaking like meteors toward the assembly point.

Quality matters more than quantity.

He himself, plus a few eighth-rank late-stage cultivators, would be more than enough.

If more are needed later, we can gradually deploy them.

Near Fortress Seventeen, State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao had been stunned by Xu Jin's display.

Seventeen!

A full seventeen corpses of eighth-rank alien beings.

For a moment, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao himself felt as if he were seeing a ghost.

Is this the achievement of a sixth-rank ninth-layer cultivator?

Even an eighth-rank peak cultivator couldn't achieve this!

If we compare it, the eighth-rank corpses Xu Jin displayed could wipe out all of Great Chen's eighth-rank cultivators once over, and then wipe out half again.

These corpses could not possibly have been picked up!

They could only have been slain by Xu Jin!

And definitely by direct, brute-force slaying!

Cheating might let you kill one, maybe even two or three, if you're lucky.

But more than that?

Dream on!

Anyone who reaches eighth rank is an elite—how could you trick them into losing their lives?

In other words, Xu Jin truly possesses the combat power to directly slay eighth-rank mid- to late-stage cultivators.

At this point, State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao understood Xu Jin's intent.

With such combat power, Xu Jin can only fulfill greater purpose and gain by stepping into the spotlight.

Staying behind the scenes would only make him emulate the likes of the Blood God or the Worship-the-Dipper Master.

Astonished, yet deeply relieved.

With Xu Jin's return, he now has another powerful ally.

With the strength Xu Jin has shown, and with him as an ally, they could stand against any ninth-rank cultivator alive today.

Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of ease surged from his heart.

At the same moment, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao received starlight messages from Mao Han Yue and others, including reports of disturbances across all fronts.

Instantly, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao was stunned.

All three Star Palaces and the Two Palaces have sent eighth-rank elites?

The commotion I've stirred up seems to have gotten too big!

But judging from what Xu Jin has just shown, the bigger the commotion, the better.

People in this world fear power but never cherish virtue.

Xu Jin displaying so many eighth-rank corpses is proof of strength.

If any faction truly has designs, they must now weigh their options carefully.

I, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, though I haven't broken through to ninth rank, am no pushover.

【Xu Jin, I've arrived, but I just received intelligence: envoys from the Three Star Palaces and the Two Palaces are also on their way—they'll arrive within half a minute.】

Let your treasures be displayed a little longer.

Since you're returning openly, make it even more spectacular.】 Cheng Cheng Yuexiao sent Xu Jin a starlight message.

At Fortress Seventeen, Xu Jin had just finished displaying the eighth-rank corpses and was about to retrieve them when he received State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's message.

He read it and grinned.

Perfect.

The Three Star Palaces' noses are as sharp as ever—they've all come running. Good. Let them all see it together.

Maybe this will help me forge another Golden Body.

Across from him, Sun Ling, Enforcement Elder of the Cangming Star Palace, stood frozen in shock.

He stared at the seventeen eighth-rank corpses, then at Xu Jin.

Cold sweat poured down his forehead.

He wasn't stupid!

Picking up one eighth-rank corpse might be possible; picking up three, five, or even seventeen? Impossible.

There was only one possibility: he slew them!

No matter how he did it, it meant one thing: this Xu Jin could effortlessly obliterate him!

He could even slaughter everyone in this fortress.

Because he had already entered it.

"Elder Sun, I got lucky—I picked up seventeen eighth-rank alien corpses in the Eight Wilderness Continent, and brought them back with me.

Look at these corpses—can I now prove I'm not an alien spy?" Xu Jin asked, smiling at Enforcement Elder Sun Ling.

Beside him, Ba Ba Tongjian and the nearly ten thousand elite troops at Fortress Seventeen stood dumbfounded.

Their gazes at Xu Jin were filled with stars!

A hero!

Vice Academic Director Xu Jin is unquestionably a hero!

Only frontline troops who constantly fight aliens understand how hard it is to slay them!

Ba Ba Tongjian, at seventh-rank ninth-layer peak, had never achieved more than personally slaying two seventh-rank aliens—and both were only seventh-rank mid-stage!

He'd never even slain a seventh-rank late-stage, let alone a peak.

Even that was only possible with comrades' support.

To slay so many eighth-rank aliens? He is unquestionably a hero of the human race!

He is their hero!

If the aliens had added seventeen more eighth-ranks, how many of these frontline troops would have died?

How many families would have lost their pillars? How many children would have lost their fathers? How many women would have lost their husbands?

In that moment, Ba Ba Tongjian and the other elite troops looked at Xu Jin with nothing but reverence.

Each stood rigidly straight, offering Xu Jin their highest respect with nothing but their gaze.

This had nothing to do with national loyalty—only with the battlefield of race.

They were human!

Many soldiers, watching this scene, were so moved they could not speak, their blood surging as if ready to burst forth—they longed to roar in fury!

Enforcement Elder Sun Ling, questioned by Xu Jin, panicked!

He was truly panicked!

Lucky? What nonsense!

Even the Cangming Tianyang Xingjun couldn't pick up this many eighth-rank corpses!

And to slay so many eighth-ranks—how strong must this Xu Jin be?

How strong?

Sun Ling himself was slightly disoriented.

Mostly because the residual aura of the seventeen headless alien corpses had overwhelmed and terrified him.

It felt as if seventeen headless aliens were staring down at him—Xu Jin was the great demon.

He was thrown into confusion.

"You're not—"

"Impossible?"

Xu Jin cut him off, eyes wide, glaring at Sun Ling: "If you still don't believe I'm not a spy, I'll prove it again!"

Sun Ling, cowed by Xu Jin's aura, nearly cried—he meant to say Xu Jin wasn't a spy, how had it turned into—

But the aura and qi had paralyzed him; he was frantic, his throat choked as if blocked by a lump—he couldn't speak.

Nearby, hearing Xu Jin say that even under these circumstances, Elder Sun still doubted he wasn't a spy,

Ba Ba Tongjian's temper flared—he glared furiously at Elder Sun.

In that instant, he wanted to beat Sun Ling to a pulp.

Too much!

This couldn't even count as proof!

Then what about our soldiers who've held this line and killed so few aliens?

Overcome with righteous fury, many Da Chu soldiers glared at Elder Sun.

Only their remaining reason kept them from shouting curses at Sun Ling's mother!

But the next instant, their attention snapped to Xu Jin.

"Elder Sun, I've also picked up many seventh-rank corpses—check these too, and see if I'm still a spy!"

In the next instant, one after another, seventh-rank alien corpses of different species were pulled from Xu Jin's space ring and hung in the air.

One!

Five!

Ten!

Thud!

"Valiant!"

Thud!

"Valiant!"

Someone in the Da Chu army had started it—a soldier pounded his massive shield and roared!

Many soldiers, who had long suppressed their bloodlust, now felt as if a dam had burst, releasing it all.

In an instant, it stirred the emotions of the other soldiers!

"Valiant!"

Roars thundered like thunder, while the clashing of breastplates and massive shields rolled like distant thunder.

Xu Jin, taken aback, looked at these soldiers roaring and bellowing for him, and wiped the smirk from his face, replacing it with solemnity.

Their passion must be respected!

Each "Valiant!" echoed as one seventh-rank alien corpse was hoisted into the sky.

In the sky, surging like rolling thunder, were not only bloodlust but also battle cries.

As more and more seventh-rank alien corpses were hung aloft by Xu Jin, the thunderous roars surged like tidal waves, spreading far into the distance.

On the opposite side, an eighth-rank alien scout who had just arrived—backed by wings and skilled in speed—was utterly startled by this spectacle.

Farther away, the Da Chu commander racing toward the front, upon hearing the sound, was instantly stunned.

As for the State Preceptor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, he simply fell silent.

(End of Chapter)