Chapter 616: Three-Eyed Divine Light

Within the Trial Star Domain.

The ninth-rank initial Silver-Scaled Bai Hong, who had just escaped Xu Jin's pursuit, filled his eyes with terror.

He immediately unleashed all his star force and spirit power to purify his body inside and out.

Being hunted down in disgrace by a sixth-rank ninth-layer human genius—this he found unsurprising.

The Thousand Stars Alliance established this trial precisely to recruit geniuses from across the starry realms.

Anything could happen.

It was said that centuries ago, a sixth-rank genius had swept through the Thousand Stars Alliance's trial, having cultivated an exceedingly rare temporal force.

But what puzzled him was the tracking.

This sixth-rank ninth-layer human kept clinging to him like a burr stuck to bone.

Wherever he fled, the man followed.

Normally, this was utterly impossible.

His spatial teleportation star art was unmatched in the world for escape.

Yet within just fifteen minutes, this human genius had caught up to him three times.

Each time, he pinpointed Bai Hong's exact location.

It made him suspect he'd been marked with a tracking spell.

He began purifying himself once more, from within to without.

But neither his Dao embryo nor his flesh revealed any tracking mark.

This left him utterly baffled.

In the very moment he was purifying himself, his hypersensitive perception of spatial fluctuations suddenly detected a disturbance a hundred meters away.

"Again!"

Almost simultaneously, as Xu Jin materialized, a towering pagoda shot forth like lightning—its emergence rippled the void, already beginning to vibrate and seal the space.

Before Bai Hong could activate his spatial star art, he unhesitatingly hurled out two prepared silver scales.

As before, one slammed toward Xu Jin's Heaven-and-Earth Cloud Tower.

The other transformed into a streak of silver light, flung far into the distance.

This was his unique survival technique.

Theoretically, even if sealed by a tenth-rank Tianyang Xingjun, he could escape using this method.

The only drawback: he'd used it too frequently today.

Including this time, this was the fifth time he'd been hunted by this human.

This was the third time he'd used the silver-scale escape technique.

Xu Jin, who had just arrived under Uncle Youyu Tianyang Zhenjun's guidance, saw Bai Hong use this survival trick again—his eyes suddenly brightened.

Perfect.

He had been waiting for this moment.

Only now could he achieve his goal.

The instant the silver light from the scales shot away, Bai Hong vanished from his spot.

At the same moment, the Heaven-and-Earth Cloud Tower retracted, the spatial vibrations ceased, and Xu Jin vanished too.

Before Xu Jin disappeared, the Heaven-and-Earth Cloud Tower shot toward the direction where the silver scales had vanished.

The next instant, the silver scales exploded in radiant light—and Bai Hong appeared within the burst.

Bai Hong's spirit sense swept all around, confirming he'd escaped the sealed space, and he moved to activate spatial teleportation again—but at that very moment, Xu Jin stepped out of the void.

The moment he appeared, over twenty chains of Five Elements Heavenly Gang Thunder slammed into him simultaneously.

Mainly because Xu Jin's spatial teleportation landing point was too close.

Only five to six meters from Bai Hong.

Bai Hong had never expected this human would follow him through spatial teleportation.

It felt like suddenly opening a door, only to have dozens of iron fists burst out from within.

In an instant, Bai Hong was stunned.

The Five Elements Heavenly Gang Thunder Chains were a star art capable of sustained, frenzied output.

Theoretically, as long as Xu Jin's star force didn't deplete, he could unleash relentless, violent output.

In an instant, caught off-guard, Bai Hong's protective starlight shattered—his flesh, especially his neck and above, was nearly reduced to charcoal.

His Dao embryo was about to emerge.

In the life-or-death moment, Bai Hong instinctively tried to use his spiritual sense to activate the Thousand Stars Token for teleportation.

But at that very instant, Xu Jin's Heavenly Gang Thunder Chains paused slightly.

A profoundly strange spirit fluctuation, the moment it arose, directly pierced into his Dao embryo.

Suddenly, Bai Hong's eyes filled with utter terror.

His spirit sense had become completely unusable.

He realized his Dao embryo was bound by some mysterious force.

Not only could he not activate the Thousand Stars Token to escape—he couldn't even stir a single thread of star art.

Star Art: Erosion of Will, Locking the Spirit!

Seeing Bai Hong's Dao embryo suddenly go still, Xu Jin was overjoyed.

Though it took much effort, the plan had succeeded.

Without hesitation, Xu Jin layered countless seals upon Bai Hong's Dao embryo, locking it completely.

Then he tossed both Bai Hong's flesh and Dao embryo into his Numinous Space.

Now was not the time for interrogation.

As long as he captured Bai Hong, Xu Jin had countless ways to make him speak.

Thus, the long-sought Void Image Star Pattern and Spatial Law Star were no longer far away.

After completing all this, Xu Jin exhaled, gestured, and drew the Heaven-and-Earth Cloud Tower—now a speck of starlight—into his body, murmuring, "Thank you, Tianyang Zhenjun."

"No trouble at all!"

The voice of the Enforcer Uncle Youyu Tianyang Zhenjun surfaced in Xu Jin's mind.

Naturally, this was the small favor Xu Jin had asked him for.

Xu Jin had originally only been trying his luck.

Because based on his prior tracking results, he'd believed tracking Bai Hong, who mastered spatial star art, was impossible.

The difficulty Xu Jin faced hunting Bai Hong was exactly the same as when Ju Zhang hunted him.

He'd merely hoped to see if he could persuade the Enforcer to help.

Unexpectedly, the Enforcer had agreed immediately.

And helped more than once.

Every time Bai Hong escaped Xu Jin's grasp, Uncle Youyu Tianyang Zhenjun instantly informed Xu Jin of Bai Hong's latest direction and location.

For Uncle Youyu Tianyang Zhenjun, who wielded celestial authority, locating Bai Hong was trivial.

All he needed was to remember Bai Hong's aura, then, with celestial authority, he could mark Bai Hong endlessly in red.

As for violations?

None whatsoever!

The Enforcer had the authority to monitor and observe trial participants' progress.

And who could detect whispered communication?

Altogether, this was the ultimate tracking technique—unless Bai Hong possessed the ability to suppress the will of this world's stars and heavens, like Xu Jin, he had nowhere to hide.

"Tianyang Zhenjun, such great righteousness—what must this humble one do in return?" Xu Jin asked immediately.

Receiving a favor always demands a price.

Better to repay it now, so the karmic debt is settled.

Otherwise, such favors were too dangerous to accept.

Watching Xu Jin's battles without intervening was one thing; observing them closely opened Uncle Youyu Tianyang Zhenjun's eyes wide.

The abilities Xu Jin had demonstrated so far were even stronger than he'd imagined.

Honestly, had he not been burdened with urgent matters, he'd have tried to trick Xu Jin into becoming his disciple.

Such a disciple, given even minimal resources—even if left to fend for himself—would achieve considerable heights.

Too bad.

Though he couldn't take him as a disciple, Xu Jin would eventually become his nephew's disciple—still close enough.

But now, he felt he must add an extra safeguard for his nephew.

He had a premonition: Xu Jin's performance in this trial might be extraordinarily brilliant.

For at this very moment, after capturing Bai Hong's ninth-rank initial Dao embryo, Xu Jin's score surged again, his ranking skyrocketed—he now stood within the top forty.

As for payment?

He wasn't worried at all.

Even when he'd deceived him before, his nephew had still paid up.

Now that he'd genuinely helped his nephew, the rewards would surely be substantial.

He would definitely be paid more.

"No need," Uncle Youyu Tianyang Zhenjun transmitted. "Just remember this favor I've done you."

Xu Jin paused at the news, slightly exasperated.

Under such circumstances, it usually meant the Old Fox True Person had grand designs.

This favor was not something easily repaid.

But it didn't matter.

Xu Jin was only sixth-rank; the True Person was an eleventh-rank terrifying existence.

I'll repay it slowly when the chance comes.

The more debts you have, the less you worry!

Besides, the other party is a True Person—what could Xu Jin possibly do to resist right now?

"Three hundred li east, there's another Trial Spirit—but hurry, others are racing toward that direction," the Fish True Person advised.

Helping once was helping; since he'd already helped, the Fish True Person didn't mind helping a few more times.

Xu Jin was helpless—could he refuse when the voice whispered directly into his ear?

He could only hurry there.

For a time, under the Fish True Person's guidance, Xu Jin's points surged rapidly, and his ranking climbed just as fast.

Before long, his ranking had risen to ninth place.

At this moment, there was still a full hour and a half left until the Trial Ranking Contest ended.

"Watch out—someone's coming your way."

A few breaths later, a silver light suddenly shot toward Xu Jin from afar.

One glance, and Xu Jin recognized it.

Silver Sparrow Dan Dan Taiqi.

Dan Dan Taiqi also recognized Xu Jin, yet launched an attack without hesitation.

Another Space Star Art!

Xu Jin vanished instantly from where he stood.

Dan Dan Taiqi, taken aback, unleashed a tidal wave of Space Star Art toward Xu Jin.

One attack followed another without pause; in terms of continuity, her Space Star Art surpassed even Bai Hong's at early ninth-rank—Dan Dan Taiqi's mastery of Space Star Art was unquestionably superior to Bai Hong's.

After enduring for several breaths, Xu Jin finally found his opening.

He unleashed the Five Elements Thunder Slash, creating a fleeting gap, then slammed the Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower down upon Dan Dan Taiqi.

Dan Dan Taiqi's expression changed.

From within her silver mask, twin eyes suddenly shot out threads of golden light.

The world before him abruptly shifted—Xu Jin now stood in a wasteland, with a blazing sun hanging overhead.

The moment Xu Jin appeared, countless flames erupted from the sun, crashing toward his Nascent Soul like the end of the world.

Not an illusion—but worse than one.

And it came with its own killing array.

This technique, Xu Jin knew well.

His Killing Dream excelled at precisely this.

The next instant, as Xu Jin's mind flashed, dark clouds rolled across the heavens, blotting out the blazing sun.

Simultaneously, the wasteland transformed into an ocean, and a continuous dragon of water surged upward, aiming to drown the great sun.

The impact gradually weakened the sun's flames.

Within the towering sun, Dan Dan Taiqi's Dao Embryo faintly emerged, her eyes filled with shock.

This sixth-rank novice was using his Nascent Soul peak cultivation to resist her Dao Embryo Killing Realm.

Normally, this was utterly impossible.

But now, it seemed continuing this Dao Embryo Killing Realm would only harm her.

This little novice was far stronger than she'd imagined.

The next instant, the great sun exploded into countless light orbs, blasting toward Xu Jin's Nascent Soul.

Dozens of water dragons erupted, instantly extinguishing the solar orbs—the killing realm shattered, and Xu Jin's Nascent Soul consciousness returned to the Trial Star Domain.

The moment he returned, two spatial fluctuations arose.

One surged toward Xu Jin; the other was the spatial ripple where Dan Dan Taiqi had vanished.

The Silver Sparrow, realizing Xu Jin was troublesome, withdrew immediately.

In the Trial Secret Realm, ranking mattered—not defeating every opponent.

"One thousand six hundred li to your left front," the Fish True Person's voice echoed in Xu Jin's mind.

Just as he moved to pursue, the voice spoke again: "She's fled again—three thousand li directly ahead."

"Watch out—a ninth-rank late-stage is coming," the Fish True Person warned instantly.

Almost the instant the Fish True Person spoke, the nine-rank late-stage three-eyed alien Tuo Song appeared before Xu Jin.

The moment he saw Xu Jin, Tuo Song's third eye snapped open, firing streams of five-colored starlight.

The three-eyed five-colored starlight flashed toward Xu Jin like lightning.

Lei Yi, Fish Curtain Golden Bell, Space Barrier, Star Art Flower Transfer, Heavenly Gang Thunder Chain Shield—Xu Jin deployed every defensive technique at once.

Why? Zou Jia had warned Xu Jin: this nine-rank late-stage three-eyed Tuo Song was extremely powerful, his combat strength nearly approaching a tenth-rank Small Tianyang Xingjun, with rumors claiming he surpassed even that.

If you meet him, be extremely careful!

Under the assault of the five-colored starlight, Xu Jin's layered defenses shattered one after another.

But they bought him the time needed to activate his Space Star Art.

With a flick of his gaze, Xu Jin reappeared ten li behind Tuo Song.

The next instant, Tuo Song's third eye blazed like lightning.

The five-colored starlight converged and fused, then flashed toward Xu Jin again—where it passed, space rippled outward, and the attack sealed off the very void.

Layered defense again.

But in an instant, as Xu Jin's protective starlight barely formed, all defenses collapsed like rotten straw.

Without hesitation, Xu Jin unleashed the Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower at full power—it instantly materialized outside his body, shielding his flesh!

BOOM!

The Heaven-Earth Cloud Tower shuddered violently, its starlight flickering incessantly.

In a single instant, fine cracks spread across its surface.

PUFF!

The moment Xu Jin spat blood, he used the force of the five-colored beam to instantly retreat.

SHHH!

Fivefold Flow Refinement!

Xu Jin retreated swiftly.

But Tuo Song chased after him like a shadow, determined to kill him.

Yet his speed was noticeably slower than Xu Jin's, who had burst forward with borrowed momentum.

In an instant, Xu Jin withdrew five li away, creating a three-li gap between them, gaining a brief respite.

At that very moment, a spatial fluctuation rose—and Xu Jin vanished from his spot.

Simultaneously, the three-eyed starlight surged again, sweeping across the space where Xu Jin had been.

"Hmph, lucky you," Tuo Song sneered.

Far away, Xu Jin, having repeatedly teleported away from Tuo Song, complained: "My lord True Person, are you trying to kill me?"

"How could I?" The Fish True Person wouldn't dare—his massive points were still tied to Xu Jin.

"Then why didn't you warn me sooner?"

"Next time, next time," the Fish True Person chuckled.

"My lord True Person, warn me early if there's a ninth-rank mid-to-late-stage." Ordinary ninth-rank mid-stage, Xu Jin might handle—but these genius-level ones? Too hard.

"Alright, alright. Five hundred li to your right rear, there's an eighth-rank peak—want to take him down and climb the rankings?" the Fish True Person said.

"Do it!"

(End of Chapter)