Chapter 576: Enthronement and Extermination of Traitors

You've arrived just in time; since you're here, take this reward yourself—I was worried it might disrupt your cultivation, so I planned to deliver it personally in a day or two.

Inside the headquarters of City 13, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, Commander Mao Han Yue of Great Chen, and Deputy Commander Tang Tao were in council; upon seeing Xu Jin arrive, all three—including State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao—rose to greet him.

This left Xu Jin slightly flustered; these were not only his seniors but also his elders.

After a moment, everyone resumed their seats, and State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao pushed a royal edict before Xu Jin.

"On the front lines, we dispense with formalities—accept the reward first; the coronation ceremony will be held after the war ends and we return to the mortal realm."

"Enfeoffed as a king?"

"Just take a look and you'll see."

In the next instant, Xu Jin unrolled the edict, and his gaze swept across it—the most striking words were "King of the Territorial Domain."

They had directly enfeoffed him as a king.

This was Great Chen's reward for his military achievements.

To be honest, the moment he saw the royal edict conferring kingship, Xu Jin felt only a brief surge of warmth in his gaze and a faint stir in his heart—as if it were an ordinary matter.

Recalling his early days at the Star Pointing ceremony, even the county magistrate's mansion of the Lu family's martial house had seemed impossibly lofty.

Now, being enfeoffed as a king had become commonplace.

"This enfeoffment as king combines your past and present military merits, though some matters are still not ready for formal decree."

"Also, take a look at the tangible rewards—you may choose two items; if any are unappealing or you'd like to swap them, speak now, and I'll replace them," said State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

"State Tutor, can I actually choose the rewards? And swap them?" Xu Jin asked with a smile.

"Of course you can! With your combat power, you're unquestionably the strongest eighth-rank in the world; such immense strength rests upon you, and you've amassed countless merits for Great Chen—it's only natural you should have your way."

"When we discussed the rewards, His Majesty even wanted to assign two beautiful princesses to serve you, but I declined on your behalf," Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said.

Xu Jin was stunned upon hearing this.

Princesses?

Indeed, in this world, once you reach sufficient power, everything comes to you.

The reward was extensive: the entire territory of Hu Jinsan County in the mortal realm was directly granted to Xu Jin as his fiefdom as King of the Territorial Domain.

A complete set of Seven-Star Mid-Grade Spirit Armor.

Five fifth-rank ordinary spirit herbs, three fifth-rank soul-type spirit herbs.

Previously, Xu Jin's conquests of four-star regions were directly granted as two star domains for sustenance, which Xu Jin could either take direct control of or receive annual revenues from the Da Chen.

Simultaneously, Xu Jin's father was enfeoffed as Marquis of Hu Jinsan, and his mother was posthumously honored as a First-Rank Lady.

These were the substantive rewards.

The rest—five sixth-rank star artifacts, twenty fifth-rank star artifacts—held little use for Xu Jin.

Among them, Xu Jin was particularly surprised by the Seven-Star Mid-Grade Spirit Armor.

When he had taken over Qian'an Emperor's Nirmāṇakāya space, he had assumed he had looted every treasure in the imperial palace.

Yet now, here was a Seven-Star Mid-Grade Spirit Armor.

Clearly, the imperial family's reserves far surpassed his imagination.

"Whenever you decide what you truly want, just let me know," said State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

"State Tutor, do you have star cores?" Xu Jin asked.

"We have many, but most are useless—only a few are used to power star arrays. What rank do you need?" Cheng Cheng Yuexiao replied.

"The more seventh- and eighth-rank star cores, the better," Xu Jin said.

"No problem. Eighth-rank ones are scarce—I recall only a couple hundred remain in the national treasury and imperial vaults, but seventh-rank ones should be plentiful. I'll communicate with the mortal realm and have them sent immediately."

"That's one thing. What's the other thing you want?" Cheng Cheng Yuexiao asked.

"Do you have seventh- or eighth-rank star jade tablets? Or celestial treasures from seventh- or eighth-rank alien beings?" Xu Jin asked.

Cheng Cheng Yuexiao shook his head. "There's very little left. Celestial treasures from sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-rank aliens have long been forged into simple yet immensely powerful star artifacts and distributed."

"For seventh-rank star jade tablets, we have about a hundred; more than that, none remain—they were mostly distributed to accelerate cultivation. For eighth-rank, there should still be fewer than ten," Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Then I'll hold onto this reward for now," Xu Jin said.

"Very well. I'll also instruct the mortal realm to begin accumulating the materials you need," Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Thank you, State Tutor."

"King of the Territorial Domain"

Beside him, Commander Mao Han Yue spoke, startling Xu Jin, who quickly chuckled awkwardly: "Commander Mao, just call me Xu Jin—this title of king feels too unnatural."

Unexpectedly, Mao Han Yue's expression turned solemn: "You must get used to it!"

"We address you by your royal title not merely out of respect, but to proclaim your achievements and establish you as a benchmark and role model for our soldiers and all of humanity."

"As long as you earn merit, you will be rewarded."

"With sufficient merit, you may be enfeoffed as a king!"

"Our people never fail to honor heroes!"

"I've learned my lesson," Xu Jin said, bowing respectfully.

"King of the Territorial Domain, please be seated. King of the Territorial Domain, you've seen the edict—it doesn't merely enfeoff you as king, but also permits you to establish your own court and administrative office, and allows you to rebuild an army of fifty thousand troops on the Star River Battlefield, supplied at the level of the Five Tiger Army."

"This matter can be scheduled immediately; whether in the mortal realm or the Star River Battlefield, we will fully support you," Mao Han Yue said.

Xu Jin paused thoughtfully and declined for now, citing a recent cultivation bottleneck.

If he truly established a new army, he wouldn't be able to cultivate for half a year.

But as long as Xu Jin holds the title of Town Domain King, whenever he wishes to establish a new army, he can immediately propose it to Mao Han Yue and proceed at any time.

The reward matter was settled; afterward, Xu Jin met privately with Cheng Cheng Yuexiao to discuss the traitor.

Soon, after listening to Xu Jin's account, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao nodded: "Your method is viable. But since you've clashed repeatedly with the Blood God Cult and understand their secret techniques best, you should attend tomorrow's meeting personally when we capture this traitor."

"State Tutor, isn't it inappropriate for me to attend a meeting of your rank?"

"You are the King of the Territorial Domain! The most celebrated hero of Great Chen today—what's inappropriate?

If you wish, I could create the position of Deputy State Tutor right now and appoint you!

Who would dare say it's inappropriate?" Cheng Cheng Yuexiao laughed.

"Very well—I leave it entirely to your arrangements."

On March 13, within the Star Dome Secret Realm of the Star-Picking Tower's branch in City 13, Xu Jin slowly retracted his Can Dou Light Domain as he concluded his cultivation.

Those immersed in cultivation immediately sensed the disturbance and halted their practice, turning to look at Xu Jin.

"This round of intensive cultivation ends here for now."

"I'll notify you when I'm free next time," Xu Jin said.

To deduce ninth-rank and below Cheng Po Star Patterns, he still lacked the True Meaning of the Divine Path; he paused cultivation to prepare for this.

Once he secured ninth-rank soul-type star patterns, his speed in forging Yunlou would skyrocket.

Hearing this, Kou Jing, still reluctant to end the conversation, stood up first with a smile and said, "Go attend to your matters—I've made more progress in these half-months of seclusion than in the past five or six years of my own hard training. My teacher status is entirely due to your influence."

"Becoming your disciple is the greatest fortune of my life."

"Honoring you as my master is the greatest blessing of my life," Xu Jin quickly rose in response.

As everyone chatted and dispersed, each face glowed with satisfaction.

For instance, Old Peng, who previously could effortlessly defeat eighth-rank late-stage cultivators with only eighth-rank mid-stage cultivation, now had no trouble overpowering eighth-rank peak cultivators.

From today onward, Great Chen now has another powerful figure capable of standing alone, besides State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

Song Song Shoujie, who had just broken through to eighth rank, saw his combat power surge dramatically.

Dong Zhao, Liuzhou Qingzhu, Ning Ning Yuchan, and others maintained their cultivation levels, but their combat power increased by over fifty percent.

Aside from Liuzhou Qingzhu, Dong Zhao and Ning Ning Yuchan can now easily handle eighth-rank mid-stage opponents, theoretically approaching eighth-rank late-stage combat strength.

And after today, their cultivation levels will rapidly rise.

Especially Ning Ning Yuchan—Xu Jin privately gifted her four Yingxing Xi.

Enough to swiftly elevate her cultivation to seventh-rank eighth stage.

The only drawback was that their private conversations over these days relied entirely on soul transmission.

On the afternoon of March 13, State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, Commander Mao Han Yue, and Xu Jin arrived in person at No. 1 Frontier City on the Bahu Front.

Because in three days, the star field force on the Bahu Front would stabilize completely, and the highest-level military conference would be convened.

Yet Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, the newly elevated ninth-rank, insisted all attendees must appear in person, citing the need to announce a top-secret military intelligence.

The meeting location was set at No. 1 Frontier City under Da Hong's jurisdiction—the domain of the Lord Tianyang Star Palace—without objection.

At Shen Hour, the group arrived punctually at the headquarters hall of No. 1 Frontier City, and senior leaders gradually gathered.

Most were Star Lords and theater commanders; Great Chen added Xu Jin, along with the Grand Marshal of the Star River Battlefield, the Deputy Master of the Nirmāṇakāya Palace, and the Deputy Master of the Wood Spirit Palace.

At the meeting's outset, Grand Marshal Wei Xu, who presided over the gathering, turned his gaze toward Xu Jin.

"Esteemed Star Lords, Commanders, State Tutor Cheng—this is the highest-level meeting of the Star River Battlefield. Although Xu Jin has just been enfeoffed as King of the Territorial Domain, earned extraordinary merit, and provided critical intelligence, his prior notification to attend is acceptable,

but bringing him in directly seems to violate protocol, doesn't it?" said Wei Xu.

This was not Wei Xu deliberately challenging him—it was simply his duty.

Upon hearing this, Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang immediately supported him: "Indeed! Merit is merit, protocol is protocol, military law is military law! State Tutor Cheng, even though you've ascended to ninth rank, you cannot violate the Star River Battlefield's military code."

Facing the skeptical gazes of the senior leaders, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao suddenly smiled: "Please hear me out before you judge this matter."

"State Tutor Cheng, please speak."

"I'd very much like to hear your reasoning, State Tutor," Wei Xu also smiled.

"Well, the matter is simple: regarding the traitor we discussed at Fortress 17, I now have leads."

At these words, every gaze instantly fixed on Cheng Cheng Yuexiao; Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang pressed: "What leads? State Tutor, speak quickly! Every second we delay in exposing this traitor within our ranks is another second of danger!"

He then turned his gaze toward Xu Jin: "Could it be that King of the Territorial Domain Xu Jin has uncovered something?"

Cheng Cheng Yuexiao didn't take the bait, but smiled: "Before I produce the evidence, I ask Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang to raise the Grand Marshal's protective array."

"Naturally!"

As he spoke, Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang waved his hand, and the entire council hall of the Grand Marshal's headquarters was enveloped in layers of radiant light.

"Now, I ask Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang to surround the entire Grand Marshal's council hall with your divine will and star force."

"Agreed!"

In the next instant, vast waves of divine will and star force enveloped everyone present.

The others noticed nothing, but Xu Jin, who had been continuously activating the Mingji Star Pattern, noticed that Wei Xu's expression had suddenly become slightly unnatural.

"Lastly, I ask Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang and Tianyang Xingjun Cangming to lock your qi upon our Grand Marshal Wei Xu!"

At Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's words, Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang and Tianyang Xingjun Cangming exchanged startled glances, while Grand Marshal Wei Xu of the Star River Battlefield erupted in fury, slamming his fist on the table and rising to his feet.

"What do you mean, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao?"

"Don't you dare slander me!"

"Do you really think I, Wei Xu, am easy to bully?"

"If you cannot produce proof today, even if you are Ninth Rank, I, Wei Xu, will fight you to the death!" Wei Xu roared.

Cheng Cheng Yuexiao calmly glanced at Wei Xu and said, "Grand Marshal, why the rush? I only asked the two Star Lords to lock onto your qi."

"I didn't ask them to kill you!"

"Besides, even if I truly told them to kill you, they wouldn't!" Cheng Cheng Yuexiao smiled.

"That's true," said Tianyang Xingjun Zhen'e.

"You—!"

"Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang, Tianyang Xingjun Cangming, please lock your qi upon him. I have my reasons!" Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said.

Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang and Tianyang Xingjun Cangming exchanged a glance, then unleashed another surge of qi, instantly locking onto Wei Xu.

Under the combined star force of two Ninth Rank masters of the age, though not deliberately suppressing him, Wei Xu was forced back into his chair.

"Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, if you don't produce proof today, I won't let you off!" Wei Xu roared.

"Take your time."

In the next instant, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao waved his hand, and over a dozen Star Jade Tablets flew toward the senior officers of the Star River Battlefield.

They were the many clues and suspicious points previously uncovered pointing to the Star River Grand Marshal's Office.

Everyone scanned them with divine will in an instant and understood at once. Then Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang frowned and said, "Grand Master Cheng, your evidence is hardly clever!"

"Hardly qualifies as proof, does it?"

"Anybody could fabricate such clues and suspicions."

"Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, if you're going to frame me, at least use a better method! This is so crude—how many here would believe you?" Wei Xu roared.

On the side, several commanders, including Tianyang Xingjun Zhen'e, cast skeptical glances toward Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

Clearly, this so-called evidence was no evidence at all!

"Gentlemen, if Cheng Cheng Yuexiao can frame me today, he can frame you tomorrow!"

"I believe Cheng Cheng Yuexiao is the greatest traitor among our human race today!"

"Unless he used forbidden arts, how could he possibly break through to Ninth Rank in such a short time?"

"What do you say?" Wei Xu roared.

With these words, the doubts in the eyes of several Star Lords—especially Tianyang Xingjun Lord Tianyang—deepened.

Wei Xu had indeed swayed them slightly.

Especially when he mentioned Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's rapid breakthrough to Ninth Rank!

That was the lingering doubt in all their hearts.

"What a clever tongue, turning black into white!"

As Cheng Cheng Yuexiao spoke with a smile, his gaze turned to Xu Jin: "Lord Zhenyu, it's your turn!"

In the next instant, every eye turned to Xu Jin!

(End of Chapter)