Chapter 613: Cheating?

Beneath the Trial Black Tower, starlight fell upon Zou Jia's face, making his smile appear slightly stiff.

It was a smile he forced.

Deep in his eyes, Zou Jia had already begun to regret it.

He had spoken too confidently, declaring Xu Jin incapable of passing the reselection, calling him a novice.

His only consolation was that he always liked to leave a little room, to cultivate good relations.

Though he had judged Xu Jin a novice, he had not dismissed his questions; instead, he answered every one he could.

This way, he wouldn't seem overly opportunistic now.

He thought this way because his view aligned with most people's.

In the initial selection, low-cultivation trialists actually held an advantage.

Because the higher the realm, the harder it becomes to kill enemies.

But the reselection primarily tests spiritual soul cultivation, and the minimum requirement for participants is Fifth Stage initial realm—yet he sensed that this Xu Jin's spiritual soul cultivation was Fifth Stage Yuan Ling peak.

He was only slightly weaker than him by one minor realm.

Thus, the difficulty he faced in the reselection was also slightly lower.

Yet he could emerge far faster than him.

That was alarming.

If Xu Jin's spiritual soul cultivation broke through and gave birth to a Dao Embryo, he would only grow stronger than Zou Jia.

Cultivating ties with the strong was one of Zou Jia's ways to grow stronger.

At once, Zou Jia's smile brightened again as he warmly struck up conversation with Xu Jin.

Beside him, Tan Dan Taiqi, masked by the Silver Sparrow Veil, watched Zou Jia's enthusiasm with disdain.

An opportunistic fool.

Her gaze toward Xu Jin carried a hint of contempt as well.

Though gifted and powerful, he was blind.

"Brother, be honest with me—how long did it take you to kill that Dao Embryo mid-stage trial spirit? If you held out for a hundred breaths to clear the stage, you couldn't possibly have been the first out." After some small talk, Zou Jia finally asked the question he was most curious about.

Killing a Dao Embryo mid-stage trial spirit with Fifth Stage Yuan Ling peak spiritual soul cultivation was extremely difficult.

Hearing this, Xu Jin frowned. "A Dao Embryo mid-stage?"

"Yes. According to the pattern of previous trials, your Yuan Ling peak spiritual soul should have faced a Dao Embryo mid-stage trial spirit in the third reselection stage."

"It certainly couldn't have been Dao Embryo late-stage." Zou Jia was stunned.

Surprise flashed in Xu Jin's eyes.

Wrong!

According to the pattern of the first two stages, the third reselection stage should indeed be as Zou Jia said—but his own third stage had difficulty increased three to fivefold.

Three late-stage Sixth Stage Dao Embryo trial spirits, their star force cultivation also surged dramatically.

Something was definitely wrong here.

To confirm, Xu Jin asked again, "So, Zou Brother, your third reselection stage faced a Sixth Stage Dao Embryo late-stage trial spirit?"

"Exactly! I spent over ten breaths breaking free from the illusion, then another ten to kill it—how hard it was." Zou Jia said.

"I broke free faster."

Xu Jin's heart stirred.

He could now confirm: his third reselection stage was truly different.

If it were the same, Zou Jia, who took ten breaths to break free, would have been reduced to ash by the other two trial spirits long ago.

Then where was the problem?

Xu Jin's peripheral vision swept over the enforcer above the Black Tower.

Was this enforcer deliberately targeting him?

Or did he hold a grudge?

Or had he discerned some hidden origin of his?

At this thought, Xu Jin's heart turned icy, his vigilance heightened tenfold.

As more trialists returned after passing the reselection, their surprise at seeing Xu Jin, the "novice," grew.

Gaze upon Xu Jin multiplied.

Observation of him increased.

Some even openly used spiritual sense to probe Xu Jin.

As Xu Jin frowned, Zou Jia exploded first: "Who dares probe again? After the battle begins, I'll lock onto your aura and hunt you down—I'll even forfeit this month's reward!"

Instantly, all spiritual senses watching from every direction withdrew.

Though Zou Jia was opportunistic, his speed in passing the initial and reselection marked him as one of this year's top trialists.

"Thank you, Zou Brother." Xu Jin said.

"Brother, you don't understand—these guys see your low cultivation and want to prey on you, trying to lock onto your trail early. Since the third stage involves real combat, they're looking for a soft target." Zou Jia said.

Hearing this, Xu Jin began discussing the third stage's details with Zou Jia.

Around them, many who passed the reselection had learned from the eliminated that Xu Jin was the first to clear the reselection.

Each had placed Xu Jin on their list of special caution.

Especially during the third stage encounter, they must be extremely wary of Xu Jin's spiritual soul attacks.

Starlight flashed like shuttles.

More and more trialists passed the reselection, but many were clearly eliminated.

The number beneath the Black Tower had dropped by more than half since the reselection began.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the second round of the May Trial has ended. Twenty-two thousand three hundred seventy-one have passed the reselection. In fifteen minutes, the third round ranking match will begin."

The enforcer You Yu Dao Ren's voice rang out, his gaze deliberately sweeping over Xu Jin.

The number made Xu Jin's heart tighten.

The elimination rate was still extremely high.

The registration cap was two hundred thousand—likely full—and only twenty thousand or so passed the first two rounds.

A ten percent pass rate.

Crucially, based on the content of the initial and reselection trials, those who passed were all geniuses capable of killing enemies across realms.

Especially the Eighth and Ninth Stage entrants—their power was terrifying.

How many geniuses capable of killing across realms exist in the Kun Ling Region?

According to Xu Jin's knowledge, there were barely two handfuls—perhaps twenty at most, even counting unknowns.

Yet here, there were over twenty thousand.

And this was only the pass rate for a single month's trial.

This Thousand Star Alliance truly did seem to be gathering starry geniuses from across the heavens.

"Many newcomers—I'll reiterate the rules for the third round ranking match."

"Our Thousand Star Alliance trials test talent, perseverance, opportunity, and fortune." You Yu Dao Ren recited his nephew's words, instantly sensing something strange.

The trialists' gazes toward him had changed.

"This third round ranking test is tied to fortune."

Below the Black Tower, Zou Jia stared at the enforcer You Yu Dao Ren, eyes wide. "This enforcer has something to him."

"The ranking match still forbids the use of external items; ranking is determined by final points."

"There are three ways to earn points."

"First: survival time. One point per ten breaths. The third round lasts four hours—each hour is three thousand six hundred breaths."

"Second: killing trial spirits. This round will deploy ten thousand Seventh Stage trial spirits, forty thousand Eighth Stage trial spirits, and five thousand Ninth Stage trial spirits. Killing grants points."

"Killing a trial spirit of your own cultivation grants one point; killing one a minor realm higher grants two points; similarly for others. Killing a trial spirit below your cultivation grants no points."

"Third: killing other trialists grants you one-tenth of their accumulated points."

"Besides the ban on external items, there are no other rules!"

"Beyond the rules, I must warn you: the third round ranking match concerns life and death! If you feel outmatched, use your spiritual sense to trigger the Thousand Star Token to teleport out immediately—do not be foolish."

"Otherwise, if you die on the field, the Thousand Star Alliance bears no responsibility."

"Per the Alliance's requirements for enforcers, I must publicly announce the worst record in our third round to serve as a warning."

"The worst record was two thousand years ago: twenty-seven thousand participants in the third round ranking match; only three thousand survived—a ninety percent death rate."

"The average death rate in the third round is also ten percent."

"All this is to warn you."

"If you fear death, you may still withdraw now—it's not too late." The enforcer You Yu Dao Ren finished, his gaze burning as he scanned the crowd for those who might leave.

Xu Jin assumed no one would withdraw.

Yet during the wait, six people gradually stepped out.

"If you're scared of death, why even come here?" Zou Jia sneered. "If you're afraid of dying, just stay in your own star domain and eat your fill until you die."

At the same moment, Zou Jia whispered to Xu Jin: "Brother, be careful later—this ranking match's lowest death rate was still half a percent."

"Thank you for the warning, Zou Brother." "Brother, after hearing these rules, don't you think they're unusually favorable for someone with your low cultivation?" Zou Jia asked. "Don't you think you can more easily earn higher points, especially compared to Ninth Stage experts?"

Xu Jin had already thought of this while listening to the rules.

According to the rules, especially regarding trial spirits, it truly favored him.

Seeing Xu Jin nod, Zou Jia added, "Brother, if you think that, you're being careless."

"Please, Brother Zou, give me your guidance."

"There are two points. First, do you think those eighth- and ninth-rankers, who gain no points from killing seventh-rank trial spirits, won't kill them?"

No, they eliminate low-rank trial spirits the moment they spot them.

Others having no points becomes their advantage.

So, merely hiding won't work. Once it begins, you must plan early for points, aim for a better ranking, and strive to enter the top one thousand to claim rewards."

"Thank you, Brother Zou, for your advice."

"Second, someone like you will become a fat lamb by the end of the ranking match. So the closer it gets to the end, the more careful you must be," said Zou Jia.

Xu Jin thought about it—he was right—and thanked Zou Jia again.

Sincerely.

Xu Jin had undergone so many trials; he wasn't foolish. He had long seen that Zou Jia was highly self-interested.

But Zou Jia had genuinely helped him. Regardless of motive, this favor must be remembered.

The next instant, the enforcer Uncle Youyu Dao Ren's voice rang out: "The ranking trial gate is open. Enter the trial realm within ten breaths. Those who do not enter will be eliminated immediately."

Beneath the trial black tower, a star-glowing star gate had appeared.

Figures shot forward in streaks of starlight, zipping into the gate.

Zou Jia bowed slightly to Xu Jin, then transformed into starlight and surged into the star gate. The next instant, Xu Jin also shot into the star gate.

The moment he entered, starlight flickered continuously.

【Master 765586: The May Ranking Trial has begun. Current points: zero. Rank: 20223. Strive to raise your rank. At trial's end, the top ten trial participants' data will be sent to all Grand Masters of the Thousand Star Alliance—opportunity for direct admission into their sects.】

Note: The lowest cultivation base among all Thousand Star Alliance Grand Masters is Star River Emperor.

Those in the top one hundred may be selected for the Grand Alliance's hidden cultivation, assigned to serve the Star River Heavens. The better your performance, the greater your chance.】

【Master 765586: Higher rank means better rewards. Points rankings of top one thousand, top one hundred, and top ten each carry distinct rewards. First-time participants receive additional bonuses.

Rewards are issued immediately upon reaching the rank.】

Two consecutive streaks of starlight stirred Xu Jin's heart.

The first message must be what Zou Jia meant by the great opportunity.

Yin Que Dan Dan Taiqi, who had participated in this trial for several cycles, was likely vying for this very opportunity.

Zou Jia might be too.

But most people were probably fighting for the top one hundred opportunity.

To serve the Star River Heavens.

Just those six characters revealed countless mysteries.

Though nothing more was said, it sparked Xu Jin's speculation.

It suddenly gave Xu Jin the feeling of taking the civil service exam.

But even after passing the civil service exam in his past life, one still had to climb slowly upward.

Here, "serve the Star River Heavens" filled Xu Jin with boundless imagination.

How vast was the territory—or the controlled region—of the Thousand Star Alliance?

In a flash of thought, Xu Jin landed.

Before him, green grass swayed; distant mountains loomed majestically—likely a certain star domain.

The moment he landed, the primordial starlight on his Can Dou Platform flared, and a strange, familiar fluctuation echoed from the sky.

Xu Jin instantly understood: this trial ground was a small-world star domain.

Moreover, the celestial and terrestrial star will of this small-world star domain had already been suppressed by his Can Dou Platform's primordial star.

Xu Jin pondered: none of the trial participants controlled celestial authority, so this suppression offered him no advantage.

The moment he landed, his Ming Ji Star Pattern exploded outward, bringing everything within ten thousand meters under his perception.

The familiar sense of control returned.

The next instant, his gaze shifted—he spotted a trial spirit.

Zou Jia was right: at the start, he must kill as many trial spirits as possible to gain points.

If he were a ninth-rank powerhouse, even if killing a low-rank trial spirit yielded no points, he'd still kill it.

Others gaining fewer points meant he gained more.

Five Element Thunder Slash flashed repeatedly.

Within mere breaths, Xu Jin slew six trial spirits—seventh- and eighth-rankers—all instantly.

His eyes brimmed with delight.

This was truly favorable to him.

Killing a seventh-rank peak trial spirit granted him four points.

Killing an eighth-rank peak trial spirit granted him eight points.

His points instantly rose to 36.

The next instant, his points jumped to 37—survival time added one point.

His rank simultaneously rose to 985th.

But this rank lasted only five breaths before dropping below 2000th.

Five breaths later, Xu Jin suddenly sensed a ninth-rank mid-stage trial spirit.

His heart stirred. As Lei Yi flashed, he closed in and unleashed Five Element Thunder Slash—the Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower surged forth, then instantly slammed down!

The next instant, the trial spirit, stunned by the soul-attacking Five Element Thunder Slash, was obliterated by the Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower.

His points surged by ten, and his rank shot back into the top one thousand.

Suddenly, streaks of light appeared on the horizon—two of them.

Xu Jin immediately activated his invisibility, suppressing all aura and retracting his Ming Ji Star Pattern's perception.

Hundreds of ninth-rankers were participating in the third trial. He'd better be cautious.

"Huh? We clearly sensed massive star force fluctuations here—why is no one around?" said an eighth-rank late-stage alien trialist.

Another third-eye alien, at eighth-rank peak, suddenly shot a torrent of golden light from his eyes, sweeping it across all directions.

As the golden light swept over Xu Jin's position, his hidden star force rippled violently, revealing his form.

"There he is!" cried the third-eye alien.

The other alien first rejoiced, but upon seeing Xu Jin was only sixth-rank ninth-layer peak, muttered, "Ah, this fat lamb was spotted too early."

"Even mosquito meat is meat," laughed the third-eye alien, already launching his attack on Xu Jin!

At the same instant, Xu Jin moved—exposed and no longer hidden.

As Five Element Thunder Slash blasted toward the third-eye alien, the Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower shot out and slammed toward the other eighth-rank late-stage alien.

Simultaneously, immense spatial fluctuations erupted.

BOOM!

The thunder, laden with overwhelming soul force, shattered the third-eye alien's protective starlight and made his Dao Core tremble.

But he held on.

The space-star technique Void, arriving simultaneously, filled the third-eye alien with terror—his head's starlight flared violently, yet he still held on.

He hadn't been taken down by Xu Jin's combo.

Xu Jin was surprised, yet found it normal.

After all, in the Thousand Star Alliance trials, those who passed the preliminary and secondary rounds were all geniuses among geniuses, each capable of challenging opponents across realms.

According to preliminary rules, this eighth-rank peak third-eye alien had faced ninth-rank late-stage trial spirits in the third stage of the preliminaries—at least three of them.

At the same instant, beneath the Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower, the other eighth-rank late-stage alien met no such fortune.

He'd initially thought it a star technique, but only realized it was a tower-shaped object as it descended.

Terrifying.

His physical body was crushed to dust; his Dao Core suffered heavy damage.

As the Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower rose, the alien's Dao Core screamed, "External artifact—you—"

But only half the cry escaped—before Five Element Thunder Slash's lightning obliterated his Dao Core into nothingness.

The Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower flashed toward the eighth-rank peak third-eye alien.

He, however, was distracted by his companion's cry.

In an instant, the Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower slammed down hard—massive earth-star techniques exploded beneath the tower's base: a new application Xu Jin had invented.

Instantly, the third-eye alien's physical body was crushed into fragments.

"You're cheating!"

As the third-eye alien was slammed into the ground, already severely wounded, he managed only these three words before falling silent.

Within the majestic Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower, lightning shot straight down, utterly annihilating the third-eye alien's Dao Core, crushed beneath the tower's base.

Second kill!

"Cheating?" Xu Jin sneered.

(End of Chapter)