Chapter 568: This Is How I Killed Them (10,000 Words, Requesting Monthly Votes)

Seventeen headless corpses of eighth-rank alien beings, plus over forty corpses of various seventh-rank aliens, hung suspended in midair by Xu Jin's star force, a spectacular sight.

The Da Chu soldiers stationed at Fortress 17 stared with wide eyes, their throats hoarse from shouting.

Seeing so many alien elites' corpses before him felt far more satisfying than killing a few ordinary aliens himself.

Thrilling!

In the distance, a streak of starlight shot toward them, its overwhelming eighth-rank peak aura rushing forth—it was Lü Xiang, the Da Chu commander, arriving at speed after hearing the roars.

From afar, the first thing Lü Xiang saw were the alien forms floating in the sky.

Without hesitation, he assumed at a glance that the Bahuang aliens had already broken through.

Instinctively, starlight erupted around him, his Star Tower materialized above his head, and starlight rippled across the heavens—he prepared to unleash his full power the moment he drew near.

Save as many of these Da Chu heroes as possible!

But in the next instant, Lü Xiang's peripheral vision caught sight of the Da Chu soldiers—and his expression froze.

The Da Chu heroes guarding Fortress 17 stood in neat formation, their faces flushed with excitement, turning to look at him.

Mostly because Lü Xiang's eighth-rank peak aura was too conspicuous.

Only then did Lü Xiang truly see—the corpses!

Damn it, all of them were corpses!

But in the next instant, Lü Xiang sucked in a sharp breath, his face filled with disbelief.

Seventeen eighth-rank alien corpses, over forty seventh-rank alien corpses—had some ninth-rank Tianyang Xingjun come out and fought this?

Nearby, State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao suppressed his shock and stepped forward cautiously, ready to intervene if Lü Xiang suddenly attacked Xu Jin.

Though such a thing was unlikely…

Yet after advancing only a few dozen meters, State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao suddenly laughed.

Was it necessary?

Probably not anymore!

Xu Jin had personally slain so many eighth-rank aliens, including some late-stage ones.

Even if Lü Xiang, an eighth-rank peak, unleashed his full power and launched a surprise strike, he couldn't kill Xu Jin.

"What is this?"

Lü Xiang glanced at Sun Zhanglao of the Star Hall and his subordinate Ba Ba Tongjian, asking in surprise.

A few breaths later, Lü Xiang looked at Xu Jin and sucked in another sharp breath.

After scanning Xu Jin up and down, his expression turned solemn, reverent.

This battlefield record—so many corpses—could only be Xu Jin's own achievement from deep behind enemy lines.

There was no other possibility!

Why was he so certain?

Simple.

As frontline commander, Lü Xiang knew better than anyone the combat strength and condition of eighth-rank aliens.

The corpses of high-rank aliens were full of treasures—no one could just pick them up.

Even if aliens slaughtered each other, they wouldn't leave them behind.

The only other possibility was that some legendary expert had slain these aliens, and Xu Jin, the deputy academy head, was here to pose as a hero.

But was that possible?

Only if the three Star Lords who had broken into the ninth rank had cheated for Xu Jin—or if the Bahuang King himself had delivered these corpses—could this scene be fake!

The moment he grasped this, Lü Xiang's heart held nothing but reverence.

In the next instant, Lü Xiang stepped forward solemnly before Xu Jin and bowed deeply.

No words.

But deep respect.

Xu Jin, seeing this, nodded slightly and returned the bow.

All was understood without speech.

Then Lü Xiang turned aside, frowning at the source of it all—Enforcement Elder Sun Ling.

"Elder Sun, you owe Deputy Academy Head Xu Jin an apology," Lü Xiang said suddenly in a low tone.

Enforcement Elder Sun Ling wore a grim face, his earlier arrogance long gone.

In truth, he hadn't started out looking for trouble.

He'd merely risen to high rank and wanted to serve Tianyang Xingjun Cangming loyally, prove his worth—so he was strict within, let alone outside.

But now, he was utterly convinced.

Even more cowed.

"Deputy Academy Head Xu, I misunderstood! A hero like you could never be an alien spy—I apologize!" Sun Ling bowed his head.

Much of this came from genuine feeling.

No need to antagonize a strong one.

"Such a battlefield record—you truly deserve to be called a hero of our race!" Lü Xiang, the Da Chu commander, sighed. "If someone like you, who penetrates deep behind enemy lines to slay alien elites, isn't a hero, then who is?"

"Commander Lü, this is the best welcome gift I've received since returning today!" Xu Jin smiled.

Sun Ling's words meant nothing to Xu Jin.

But to earn the affirmation of a frontline commander—his heart warmed upon returning!

In the distance, streaks of starlight raced toward them like meteors, each aura at least eighth-rank.

Xu Jin knew his plan today had unintentionally succeeded in large part.

Suddenly, Xu Jin noticed Commander Lü Xiang's expression shift.

He had spotted the eighth-rank mid-stage Qingyi scout on the other side of the passage, constantly flashing to spy on them.

The Qingyi scout moved faster than even an eighth-rank peak, and Lü Xiang's subordinates had clashed with him multiple times, suffering heavy losses.

Xu Jin's gaze flickered—he was also growing tired of this Qingyi scout's spying.

So damn annoying!

Watching the mass of eighth-rank starlights rapidly approaching, he had an idea.

"Commander Lü, please help me hold these corpses."

"Understood."

Lü Xiang was puzzled but stepped forward; starlight spread like a spiderweb, instantly securing the alien corpses still suspended in the sky.

To Elder Sun, this looked like Xu Jin was showing off.

For a frontline commander, tolerance was extremely high.

As long as you killed enemies, what did showing off matter?

If any of his officers brought back the head of an eighth-rank alien, he'd hold them aloft and praise them for three days straight!

Don't fear your showiness!

Only fear you can't kill enemies!

"Commander Lü, wait a moment—I'll be right back."

As he spoke, Xu Jin turned instantly and stepped back toward Fortress 17.

Lü Xiang's face instantly changed—he wanted to stop him, but then thought to himself: let's see Xu Jin's true strength—and so he changed his words: "Be careful, don't go too deep."

At the same moment, Lü Xiang prepared to provide support.

On the other side, State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, seeing Xu Jin return, also prepared to assist.

Xu Jin wasn't reckless.

If an eighth-rank mid-stage scout had come to this passage, the main force must be close behind.

If the main force arrived, Xu Jin certainly wouldn't charge in blindly.

So Xu Jin stepped slowly into Fortress 17.

The eighth-rank mid-stage Qingyi scout, seeing Xu Jin turn and step onto Bahuang Continent, immediately retreated five li away—and as Xu Jin advanced, he kept retreating.

He was a scout, not a vanguard!

As long as he kept a safe distance, his speed ensured escape even if a ninth-rank emerged.

As for this sixth-rank human as bait—he wasn't afraid.

So when he saw Xu Jin cross the passage and set foot on Bahuang Continent, and saw the eighth-rank peak behind Xu Jin also advancing, he retreated again—now the distance between them was ten li.

He'd approached earlier because he'd seen so many Bahuang corpses—it had stunned him.

When had the Bahuang ever lost so many of their own?

The instant Xu Jin stepped onto Bahuang Continent, he felt the warm sense of the continent's heavenly authority.

Instantly, he activated the Mingji Star Pattern and summoned the heavenly authority he controlled over Bahuang Continent.

Centered on Xu Jin, every situation within six thousand li of Bahuang Continent fell under his overhead gaze.

Not many aliens.

Only this one eighth-rank, plus six seventh-ranks, just arriving five thousand li away.

Likely vanguard scouts.

And no ninth-ranks at all!

Then there was no threat.

A smile appeared on Xu Jin's face—he could strike again.

Ten li away, the eighth-rank mid-stage Qingyi scout, with his superior vision, clearly saw Xu Jin's smile.

He was slightly puzzled.

What is this human bait smiling about?

He's going mad.

Suddenly, the eighth-rank Qingyi scout's expression changed—he realized this sixth-rank human had vanished!

He sensed a massive spatial fluctuation!

His face changed instantly.

He flared his wings and instinctively retreated!

As he retreated, terror flooded his eyes.

He saw the human who had just disappeared.

He saw Lei Guang.

In the same instant, he remembered the bounty notice issued by the King of Bahuang.

Boom!

In the instant the five-colored lightning arc slashed out, a vast spiritual surge exploded first—before the eighth-rank mid-stage Qingyi scout's seven orifices began oozing blood, Lei Guang had already shattered his protective starlight armor and obliterated his low-grade Seven-Star Spirit Armor.

The next instant, spatial fluctuations surged again.

His head vanished outright.

Only his soul essence remained.

Boom!

Another strike of Lei Guang descended, and the soul essence dispersed.

The corpse was simultaneously absorbed by Xu Jin into his Numinous Space.

But Xu Jin's war was not over. In the next instant, spatial teleportation flared—four times in succession—and Xu Jin appeared four thousand li away, where a seventh-rank late-stage Qingyi scout, mid-march, suddenly froze in terror.

A flash of Lei Guang, and Xu Jin's Numinous Space gained another corpse.

Then, Xu Jin activated the Heavenly Authority, summoning the Overlooking Eye once more, confirming safety and pinpointing the next seventh-rank alien's location.

Spatial fluctuations rose—and Xu Jin vanished again!

Ten breaths later, Xu Jin's Numinous Space held five corpses of seventh-rank late-stage Qingyi scouts.

But the moment Xu Jin reached the final seventh-rank peak Qingyi scout, a thought struck him.

He still hadn't obtained the Wind Lei Xiangxing Pattern.

The Qingyi are masters of wind; a seventh-rank peak Qingyi almost certainly carries the Wind Lei Xiangxing Pattern.

In an instant, his original Thunder Slash became Empty Flash, Ice Trace.

In the same breath, the seventh-rank peak Qingyi was frozen into a block of ice—and Xu Jin seized him. As frost spread again from Xu Jin's hands, he captured the alien alive on the spot.

Xu Jin wasted no words—he laid the corpses of the slain Qingyi, including the eighth-rank one, before him.

Instantly, the alien trembled like a sieve.

"Give me ten drops of the Wind Lei Xiangxing Pattern's inherited blood. I'll spare your life."

While waiting for the alien to condense the ten drops of Wind Lei Xiangxing Pattern inherited blood, Xu Jin continuously activated the Overlooking Eye, scanning six thousand li in every direction.

If any large group of eighth- or ninth-rank beings appeared, Xu Jin would leave without hesitation.

The Wind Lei Xiangxing Pattern? There'll be other chances. Not worth the risk.

Fifty breaths later, the Overlooking Eye suddenly detected a ninth-rank aura.

That aura was too familiar.

Ju Zhang, the King of Bahuang.

Six thousand li from Xu Jin.

Xu Jin's gaze sharpened—he was about to kill the Qingyi and leave.

But at that exact moment, the Qingyi scout condensed his tenth drop of Wind Lei Xiangxing Pattern inherited blood, his aura visibly plummeting to seventh-rank sixth layer.

Xu Jin took the Wind Lei Xiangxing Pattern and vanished instantly. His voice lingered in the air.

"You'd better think of a good excuse—your main force is already here."

At Fortress No. 17.

Commander Lü Xiang of Great Chu wore a look of helplessness.

This was already his fifth time explaining to someone.

After Xu Jin turned back and stormed into Bahuang Continent, one eighth-rank after another arrived.

First came the eighth-ranks from Great Chen.

The Great Chen eighth-ranks were reasonable; but the ones who arrived next—the Cangming Tianyang Xingjun and his Cangming Star Palace eighth-ranks—each looked like curious children, asking Lü Xiang where he'd gotten so many eighth-rank corpses.

Lü Xiang explained!

But every single one wore faces and eyes full of disbelief.

Within moments, the Lord Tianyang Star Palace's eighth-ranks arrived—another round of questions.

The Zhen'e Star Palace's eighth-ranks arrived—same questions.

The Numinous Palace and the Wood Spirit Palace arrived—he explained again.

Yet none of them believed him.

Many even glanced toward the Cangming Tianyang Xingjun; most eighth-ranks assumed these were his achievements.

In the void, the arriving Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun and Zhen'e Tianyang Xingjun hid, observing everything, brows furrowed.

After consolidating all intelligence, they could confirm: Lü Xiang was telling the truth!

But the problem—if it was true—

How strong was this Xu Jin?

With these kills, he was unquestionably the strongest eighth-rank alive!

And where was he?

"If you don't believe me, ask Ba Ba Tongjian, ask Elder Sun, ask these soldiers—they all saw it with their own eyes. These alien corpses were truly slain by Xu Jin," Lü Xiang explained again.

"Commander Lü, you've been talking about Xu Jin for ages—where is he?" asked a Lord Tianyang Star Palace eighth-rank.

"I'm here!"

Suddenly, Xu Jin's form appeared at the entrance of Fortress No. 17, amid a spatial fluctuation.

"Here he is! Here he comes!

Our hero has arrived!" The moment Lü Xiang saw Xu Jin, he felt as if freed from prison—he rushed forward, welcomed Xu Jin in, and immediately transferred control of all the alien corpses to him.

Not his own glory—he couldn't carry it!

The eyes of over fifty eighth-ranks instantly locked onto Xu Jin.

"Sixth-rank ninth layer?"

"A sixth-rank ninth-layer achieved this?" Instantly, disbelief erupted.

Yet the doubting eighth-ranks were few.

Most had already realized: such achievements could not be faked.

But these doubts ignited fury among the Great Chu soldiers and officers who had witnessed everything firsthand!

If not for Commander Lü, they would have stepped forward to defend Xu Jin!

At that very moment, the long-silent Cangming Tianyang Xingjun's gaze and aura settled on Xu Jin: "Xu Jin? Did you kill all these aliens?"

The Cangming Tianyang Xingjun's question drew all eyes.

Every person present fixed their gaze on Xu Jin.

"Of course!"

Under the gaze of all, Xu Jin acknowledged it openly.

But the Cangming Tianyang Xingjun's doubts deepened: "How did you do it? Alone? Or did you have allies? Did someone help you?" He pressed with rapid-fire questions.

Hearing this, Xu Jin smiled.

"Tianyang Xingjun, you don't believe me?" Xu Jin countered.

The Cangming Tianyang Xingjun said nothing—neither confirmed nor denied.

His intent was clear.

Mostly because he simply couldn't understand it!

"It's actually simple!" Xu Jin suddenly smiled.

"Simple?" The Cangming Tianyang Xingjun frowned.

"Yes! Tianyang Xingjun, watch—this is how I killed them!"

As he spoke, Xu Jin waved his hand—out flew one eighth-rank mid-stage Qingyi corpse and five headless seventh-rank late-stage Qingyi corpses from his Numinous Space.

The air instantly filled with thick, cloying bloodstink.

These corpses still dripped blood.

Some were still spurting blood as they were pulled from the Numinous Space!

"What is this?" The Cangming Tianyang Xingjun was puzzled.

"I just killed them!"

As the Cangming Tianyang Xingjun stared in shock, Commander Lü Xiang of Great Chu gasped aloud: "Xu Jin, in such a short time, you didn't just kill the eighth-rank mid-stage scout we just saw—you went deep and slew all these seventh-rank Qingyi scouts?"

Xu Jin nodded lightly.

Commander Lü Xiang's eyes bulged—he was speechless.

This combat power!

This courage!

This ferocity!

Why isn't this from our Da Chu!

At that very same instant, the State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, who had been hidden far beyond the fortress, suddenly felt a stir in his heart; a faint spiritual essence ripple surged forth, instantly affecting several fourth- and fifth-rank soldiers.

In the next instant, those Da Chu soldiers seemed to have been injected with adrenaline, enthusiastically pounding their breastplates and roaring!

"Mighty!"

"Mighty!"

Armies are inherently herd-minded, especially after having just done this very thing.

In an instant, the Da Chu troops stationed here, as if by unspoken agreement, all began pounding their massive shields and breastplates, roaring in unison, channeling the fury stirred by the earlier doubts cast upon Xu Jin.

"Boom! Mighty!"

"Boom! Mighty!"

The synchronized roars were stirring, electrifying—even the eighth-rank officers here could not resist!

The group of eighth-ranks listened, their blood boiling even more fiercely!

Xu Jin was stunned.

Again!

Are Da Chu soldiers really this passionate and this bold?

Right before their commander's face? Right before their Tianyang Xingjun's face? Cheering for him?

The Cangming Tianyang Xingjun's expression darkened instantly.

He could not easily stop it.

In the army, blood and valor are paramount; military merit is sacrosanct. If he forbade praise of military achievement, the blow to morale would be too great!

Meanwhile, at the front row, Ba Ba Tongjian and the elite soldiers, stirred by the blood aura of the eighth-rank corpse Xu Jin had just slain, roared like wild beasts.

The chant slowly changed.

"Xu Jin, Mighty!"

"Xu Jin, Mighty!"

Gradually, even the Da Chu commander Lü Xiang and the entire group of eighth-ranks from Da Chen joined the chorus of acclaim and roaring praise.

In an instant, the winds and clouds shifted.

Hidden within the clouds, the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun and the Zhen'e Tianyang Xingjun—especially the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun—turned pale with rage, barely holding back curses!

Curse the Cangming Tianyang Xingjun!

What the hell is the Cangming even good for?

Is this not forging Xu Jin a Golden Body of a human hero?

How will we ever deal with him after this?

(End of Chapter)