Chapter 619: Fated but Not Destined

Xu Jin, with a cultivation base of only Sixth Realm Ninth Layer peak, ranked first in trial points.

The news spread in an instant, leaving the entire arena silent.

Every trial participant looked at Xu Jin with completely different eyes.

In their gazes, there was nothing but shock—each one studied Xu Jin with incomparably complex expressions.

This ranking could not be explained by luck alone.

In the Thousand Star Alliance's trial rankings, many had entered the top thousand through luck.

Those who reached the top hundred by luck were few and far between.

To secure a top-ten spot—or worse, first place—purely by luck was absolutely impossible.

Do you really think the other trial participants are cabbage?

In other words, Xu Jin, at Sixth Realm Ninth Layer peak, must possess extraordinary abilities.

Even Tuo Song, at Ninth Realm late stage, regarded Xu Jin with added caution.

Though he believed he had merely been less lucky than Xu Jin this time, failing to claim first place.

But he understood that among the ninety-nine percent of participants present, no amount of luck could secure first place.

Next time he encountered Xu Jin, he must be more cautious.

Within moments, some bold trial participants began whispering to Xu Jin, requesting mutual imprinting of the Thousand Star Tokens as friends.

But all were human.

From this alone, even within the Thousand Star Alliance, species distinctions existed.

Xu Jin accepted them all, cultivating goodwill in the process.

Some went further, probing his background under the guise of casual exchange.

Xu Jin had weathered storms—he could chat, but he would not reveal his true nature.

Zou Jia occasionally scolded the overbearing ones, using it as a way to draw closer to Xu Jin.

Just as they chatted, a beam of starlight erupted from the Trial Black Tower, shooting straight into the celestial star-river.

Simultaneously, in the celestial star-river, a star ignited, its starlight blazing as the Trial Black Tower swiftly drew it down.

In an instant, Zou Jia, Dan Dan Taiqi, Tuo Song, Yan Lüe, and other veteran trial participants widened their eyes, filled with surprise and anticipation, staring fixedly at the starlight being drawn down.

"The Alliance Master has sent a starlight avatar!"

"One of us has been chosen by the Alliance Master!"

"Someone has been chosen by the Alliance Master!"

In an instant, someone cried out in shock.

The moment the cheers erupted, every gaze instantly fixed on Xu Jin.

As for the others—especially the other top ten, like Zou Jia, Dan Dan Taiqi, Tuo Song, Yan Lüe—their expressions turned profoundly complex in an instant.

If someone had been chosen and an Alliance Master's starlight avatar had arrived, the one likely chosen was almost certainly the top-ranked Xu Jin.

As for them, it was still possible.

But the probability was exceedingly small.

Many, like Tuo Song, had participated in seven trials, placed in the top ten five times, yet never once caught the Alliance Master's favor.

This time, it would likely be the same.

Xu Jin narrowed his eyes, gazing at the starlight rapidly descending from the sky.

This one was almost certainly the Master Fenghua Emperor, as described by You Yu True Person.

Suddenly, another brilliant starlight fell from the celestial star-river; the Trial Black Tower flashed once and swiftly drew it down.

You Yu True Person's long eyebrows twitched instantly, yet his eyes held a hint of self-satisfaction.

Fortunately, he had planned ahead.

Now, his nephew could demand points with full justification.

This scene sent the other trial participants into ecstatic frenzy.

A second Alliance Master's starlight avatar descending meant a second person had been chosen.

Thus, they all still had a chance.

Tuo Song, as the second-ranked, became even more excited.

With a second Alliance Master appearing, his odds of being selected increased.

Suddenly, a third starlight ignited in the sky and was simultaneously drawn down.

"Three! This trial has drawn three Alliance Masters!"

The trial participants were overwhelmed with excitement.

Each began tidying their appearance, adjusting their aura—first impressions mattered greatly.

The next instant, a starlight exploded above the Trial Black Tower: a middle-aged man with a Daoist topknot, wielding a long sword, clad in a pure emerald Daoist robe with no ornamentation, no pattern, no embellishment, a green jade pendant hanging at his waist, his topknot secured by a single green jade hairpin—his entire being was startlingly plain.

Yet simultaneously, refreshingly elegant.

Black hair, jade-like face, short beard, features carved like chiseled stone—a middle-aged man radiating youthful vigor.

At a single glance, Xu Jin felt an indescribable sense of kinship toward this man.

He immediately began mentally mocking him.

No need to ask—he already knew who it was.

The Master Fenghua Emperor, the Master Fenghua Alliance Master, as described by You Yu True Person.

This entire aura was surely his namesake.

If this man had lived in Xu Jin's past life, a single video of him would have made him a walking traffic magnet, a screaming idol!

"Uncle."

The Master Fenghua Alliance Master bowed slightly to You Yu True Person, who straightened his back and returned the bow with a slight gesture.

This scene stirred something in Xu Jin's heart.

Nephew?

Yet his cultivation was Emperor-level.

The next instant, the jade-faced Master Fenghua Alliance Master's gaze fell upon the crowd below.

Instantly, all trial participants below the Trial Black Tower held their breath, awaiting the Master Fenghua Alliance Master's olive branch to be extended toward them.

The next instant, two more starlights exploded above the Black Tower; simultaneously, You Yu True Person's voice rang out: "Greetings, two Alliance Masters."

The two Emperor Alliance Masters nodded in unison, their forms fully revealed.

One of the two Emperors was female.

The moment this female Alliance Master appeared, the trial participants below could not look away.

Not just the men—even the women were transfixed.

Even Xu Jin glanced at her a few extra times.

In terms of beauty, she wasn't among the absolute top tier—slightly less stunning than Ning Ning Yuchan and Ji Ji Hongli.

But every part of her, from head to toe, was perfectly harmonious—even her fingers forming a spell looked utterly natural. She wore a simple robe of white tinged with faint silver, a faint, serene smile on her face: warm yet distant, her aura like a lone moon in the starry void.

Visually pleasing!

Extremely visually pleasing!

"Too bad I promised You Yu True Person—if not, becoming her disciple would've been fine; just looking at her lifts one's spirits." The thought flashed through Xu Jin's mind, making him smile.

As for the other Alliance Master, his attire was lavish, dominated by gold and silver, his facial lines sharp and cold, radiating inherent dominance, wearing a battle helmet; as he swept his gaze across the crowd, killing intent surged everywhere!

The arrival of three Alliance Masters sent every trial participant's heart pounding wildly.

Though they knew the odds were slim, what if?

The first to arrive, the Master Fenghua Alliance Master, spoke: "I wonder which of you two have chosen? I have chosen this Xu Jin."

As Master Fenghua Emperor spoke, he gestured, and a gentle starlight enveloped Xu Jin, lifting him gently into the low sky.

"Master Fenghua Brother, you're too hasty. I came for this very youth—the outcome is not yet decided; your words are premature." The Emperor Du Han Yue Alliance Master flicked her slender hand, and a silver starlight also enveloped Xu Jin.

This made Xu Jin's eyes gleam with brilliance.

The starlight enveloping him from Master Fenghua Emperor was profoundly mysterious—he could not sense its nature at all.

But the starlight from Emperor Du Han Yue Emperor was vast, spatial starlight.

Merely this one fact proved Emperor Du Han Yue Alliance Master specialized in spatial star arts—on this basis alone, Emperor Du Han Yue Alliance Master seemed more suited to Xu Jin.

"To have two of you both choose the same person—my taste remains as impeccable as ever." The Feijin Alliance Master's voice rang like clashing metal; with a wave of his hand, a piercing, icy-white starlight enveloped Xu Jin. Yet miraculously, though the starlight appeared ferocious and dominant,

it caused Xu Jin not the slightest harm.

Below, the trial participants stared, dumbfounded.

Especially the top ten—astonished, yet deeply disappointed.

This trial had drawn three Emperor Alliance Masters—a tremendous opportunity, filling them with boundless anticipation.

But no one had expected all three Emperor Alliance Masters had come for the same person—the top-ranked Xu Jin!

Watching them now scramble for him,

while they themselves were utterly ignored.

This vast disparity left them each with a bitter, aching heart.

Yet with three Emperor Alliance Masters before them, they dared not act out.

Truly, comparing oneself to others was enough to drive one mad!

Every gaze fixed on Xu Jin was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred!

Desperate to take his place.

Boy, your ranking points are astonishing—you're the first in a hundred years of our Thousand Stars Alliance's trial to achieve this, and three Emperor Lords have come rushing to claim you. You've become a highly sought-after asset.

With several Emperor Lords and Alliance Masters before me, I cannot say more.

I hope you remember our prior agreement.

Fate in life—every sip and bite—is ordained by heaven, yet also shaped by man!

The voice of True Person Uncle Youyu echoed in Xu Jin's mind, instantly clearing his thoughts and calming him.

True Person Uncle Youyu's words were delivered with extreme gentleness, yet Xu Jin heard the warning within.

True Person Uncle Youyu had already told him before: within the Trial Star Domain, he, as the Enforcer, was to guide Xu Jin, the trial participant.

This was Xu Jin's fate!

Now, bringing up fate—that's intriguing.

Helping him is fate.

Punishing him is fate.

In an instant, many of Xu Jin's thoughts were extinguished.

To be honest, Xu Jin, though not arrogant, felt a flicker of pride seeing the three Emperor Lords vie for him.

He also entertained a tiny idea.

How could he maximize his gains?

Should he leverage his talent to pressure the Emperor Lords into giving up more?

More cultivation resources?

But True Person Uncle Youyu's reminder jolted Xu Jin fully awake—he realized his mistake.

Such tactics of leveraging power for gain usually occur only when both sides are evenly matched—or nearly so.

For instance, when State Advisor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao used Xu Jin's exploration of the Great Wilderness to secure him minor benefits from several Star Lords, that was a similar situation.

But now, with three Emperor Lords standing before him, if Xu Jin tried such a move, he'd be destroying his own future.

No matter which Emperor Lord he chose, if any felt manipulated by him, could he expect a good outcome?

Moreover, from the moment True Person Uncle Youyu helped Xu Jin gain advantages in the Trial Star Domain, Xu Jin could only choose Emperor Lord Master Fenghua.

Refuse?

The cost of breaking the agreement was beyond what Xu Jin could bear.

Even if Xu Jin was intrigued by Emperor Lord Emperor Du Han Yue's displayed spatial star force.

Besides, True Person Uncle Youyu's earlier aid was a genuine exchange of sincerity.

In an instant, Xu Jin's resolve hardened utterly.

At the same moment, the three Emperor Lords above the Trial Black Tower began to argue.

But not like commoners brawling—they cut straight to the point.

"Emperor Du Han Yue, Master Fenghua, since all three of us have set our sights on this boy, let's follow the Alliance's rules. Each of us will send him a message; whichever one he chooses becomes his fate," said Emperor Lord Feijin.

"Exactly right."

"Agreed. Then, Brother Feijin, you go first."

"Very well."

Watching the three Emperor Lords vie for Xu Jin by directly offering him terms, the other trial participants stared, eyes nearly bloodshot.

If this were happening to them, how wonderful it would be.

Almost simultaneously, three messages entered Xu Jin's mind, leaving him slightly startled.

Emperor Lord Feijin's message was the longest and most direct.

"Boy, join my sect, and I'll personally help you ascend to the Thousand Stars Golden Token. With it, you'll receive one thousand points monthly for ten years, and I'll personally grant you two thousand points each month to aid your cultivation.

All cultivation lineages and teachings will be yours. Within ten years, I'll guide you to achieve Great Tianyang Xingjun status and set you on the path to becoming a Garrison Tianyang Xingjun—but whether you succeed depends on your own fate."

A generous offer.

Simple and direct.

To be honest, the terms made Xu Jin quite tempted.

But Emperor Lord Emperor Du Han Yue's message was even more alluring.

"Xu Jin, from the Enforcer's reports, I see you excel in spatial star arts and thunder star arts. I too specialize in spatial star arts—I can teach you. Train with me in spatial star arts, and I guarantee you'll always have the power to challenge opponents of higher rank.

As for the rest, you won't be neglected."

Just the spatial star art lineage struck Xu Jin's core.

Moreover, Emperor Lord Emperor Du Han Yue showed clear intent to tailor his teaching—this deeply intrigued Xu Jin.

In contrast, Emperor Lord Master Fenghua's message was rather brief.

"Xu Jin, all beings in the world are bound by fate. I have taken this step; now you must take yours. Only then will our fates align. Otherwise, we are destined to meet but never unite."

And from Emperor Lord Master Fenghua's tone, there was no urgency at all.

It was as if he didn't care whether Xu Jin came or not.

Nothing like True Person Uncle Youyu's eagerness.

It felt… pretentious.

To be honest, based on these three messages alone, Xu Jin would choose either Emperor Lord Emperor Du Han Yue or Emperor Lord Feijin—but he'd almost certainly not choose Emperor Lord Master Fenghua.

Yet from his realm, Emperor Lord Master Fenghua towered over the other two by several levels.

Emperor Lord Feijin's gaze toward Xu Jin was the most forceful and urgent.

In comparison, Emperor Lord Master Fenghua's gaze was gentle.

Too bad—Xu Jin had no choice.

True Person Uncle Youyu and Emperor Lord Master Fenghua were uncle and nephew in the same sect; surely, life within the sect wouldn't be dull.

The next instant, under the gaze of the three Emperor Lords and the witness of tens of thousands of trial participants, Xu Jin bowed to the three Alliance Masters bathed in starlight: "Three Alliance Masters, I choose Emperor Lord Master Fenghua."

At these words, Emperor Lord Feijin's face darkened. "Fool!"

Emperor Lord Emperor Du Han Yue sighed softly. "It seems fate has denied us."

"Brother Master Fenghua, congratulations," Emperor Lord Emperor Du Han Yue said, then bowed to True Person Uncle Youyu before his starlight form began to dissolve—but suddenly, his gaze fell upon Tan Dan Taiqi, whose face was veiled by a Silver Sparrow Mask.

"I came all this way—I can't leave empty-handed! Tan Dan Taiqi, you also cultivate spatial star arts. Would you like to join my sect?" Emperor Lord Emperor Du Han Yue shot a beam of starlight toward Tan Dan Taiqi.

She beamed with joy and immediately knelt in deep reverence. "My Lord, your disciple accepts!"

"Good. Then come with me."

With a gesture, Emperor Lord Emperor Du Han Yue drew Tan Dan Taiqi into the Black Tower.

This sight sent the other trial participants into a frenzy—they all turned to Emperor Lord Feijin.

Emperor Lord Feijin, having failed to claim the coveted Xu Jin, had been about to leave—but Emperor Lord Emperor Du Han Yue's words stirred his thoughts.

Since I came, I might as well take one.

Worst case, I can just let him fend for himself—it won't hurt.

The next instant, a beam of starlight struck San Yan Tu Song, who instantly erupted in ecstatic joy and accepted on the spot, then was pulled into the Black Tower.

At the same moment, Emperor Lord Master Fenghua's voice echoed in Xu Jin's mind: "Xu Jin, follow me into the Black Tower."

As the starlight carried Xu Jin into the Black Tower, True Person Uncle Youyu's laughter rang in his mind: "Boy, remember to activate the Thousand Stars Token imprint. We've got plenty of fun ahead, you and me."

(End of Chapter)