Chapter 620: Island Earth Mother (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Inside the Black Tower, Emperor Master Fenghua watched Xu Jin being led in and casually waved his hand; a starlight cushion landed before Xu Jin.

"Sit down, let's talk a while," Emperor Master Fenghua said with a smile, pointing to the starlight cushion.

Xu Jin understood propriety; since he was about to enter this man's sect, he could not neglect the rites.

After performing a clasped-hand bow, Xu Jin finally sat down.

Seeing this, Emperor Master Fenghua smiled inwardly. "Our meeting here today is fate. Before you fully enter my sect, I must make a few things clear to you."

"Please, Lord Alliance, speak."

"I don't know what your Uncle Uncle Youyu promised you, but to prevent future resentment, I must clarify this for you," said Emperor Master Fenghua.

Xu Jin's heart stirred—Emperor Master Fenghua was plainly saying his uncle was unreliable.

"Not at all. Uncle Uncle Youyu has treated me well and speaks highly of you," Xu Jin replied.

He could not reveal his cooperation with Uncle Uncle Youyu.

"Oh? Then I've overthought it. If so, no more words needed. Entering my sect is your fate; our karmic bond is already sealed. How far you go from here depends entirely on you."

Xu Jin, quick to grasp the meaning, instantly understood.

He rose at once, straightened his robes, and performed the full three kneelings and nine prostrations of the master-disciple ritual.

Emperor Master Fenghua's eyes smiled as he accepted Xu Jin's full obeisance without moving.

"The karmic bond is formed. Return to handle your affairs in your star domain. I will wait here three days. After three days, using the Black Tower's power, I will take you to the Star River Origin Realm, where you will pay homage to our Ancestral Master, receive the sect's precepts, and be granted your inheritance," Emperor Master Fenghua said with a smile.

At these words, Xu Jin's expression changed. "Master, only three days?"

"What? Are your worldly affairs in your lower star domain so numerous they can't be settled in three days?" Emperor Master Fenghua asked.

"Indeed. My home, Kunling Domain, is deeply entangled with me. If I leave now, I fear I will accumulate countless regrets."

"That would be unwise. If such regrets accumulate, they will destabilize your Dao heart and breed demonic obsessions."

"What about twenty-nine days?"

"I can wait for you no longer than twenty-nine days," Emperor Master Fenghua asked.

Hearing this, Xu Jin smiled bitterly again.

Twenty-nine days would not be enough.

For Xu Jin to resolve Kunling Domain's affairs within twenty-nine days, he would need to break through immediately, raising his cultivation base to the peak of Seventh Stage Ninth Layer—or even Eighth Stage—so his combat power would surge and he could sweep through the entire Kunling Domain and settle everything.

But that was clearly impossible.

"Master, the war against the Eight Wilderness barbarian invaders in the Star River Battlefield is raging in Kunling Domain right now."

"My strength has barely escaped the chessboard, but to resolve it swiftly, it would take at least three to five months," Xu Jin said, detailing Kunling Domain's situation carefully to avoid any misunderstanding from Emperor Master Fenghua.

Suddenly, Emperor Master Fenghua's gaze shifted. "Wait—you said the Eight Wilderness barbarian invaders? What do you mean?"

"Are these barbarians coming from beyond the heavens? What realm are they?"

Emperor Master Fenghua's rapid-fire questions left Xu Jin momentarily stunned—was there something wrong here?

But since Emperor Master Fenghua asked, Xu Jin answered each question truthfully.

It wasn't a secret.

After listening, Emperor Master Fenghua fell into thought. "Kunling Domain… Kunling Domain! I've never heard of this mid-world star domain before."

"But according to your description, this Kunling Domain is unusual."

"Master, how so?"

Emperor Master Fenghua shook his head. "From your fragmented account, I cannot be certain."

"But one point is clear."

"This mid-world is still unclaimed."

"Not only unclaimed, but this mid-world differs from ordinary mid-worlds."

As Emperor Master Fenghua explained, Xu Jin's expression grew astonished.

Every mid-world contains many small-world star domains—that's normal.

Like administrative divisions: beneath counties naturally lie numerous townships.

But in other mid-worlds, the ranks of their subordinate small-world star domains are fixed.

Just as beneath counties are townships, and beneath townships are villages and groups—nothing can exist outside that hierarchy.

In short, other mid-worlds' subordinate small-world star domains vary in size, wealth, and poverty, but one thing is constant.

A small-world star domain is a small-world star domain—every one has a fixed cultivation ceiling.

Emperor Master Fenghua had seen countless small-world star domains, all with a fixed ceiling of Tenth Stage Tianyang Xingjun.

But in Kunling Domain, Xu Jin's home, its subordinate star domains were divided into Second Stage, Third Stage, Fifth Stage, and so on.

A star domain whose cultivation ceiling was capped at Fourth or Fifth Stage was extremely rare—Emperor Master Fenghua had never seen such a thing.

Even stranger: Kunling Domain, besides its manifest realm, also contained scattered regions like the Star River Battlefield and the Eight Wilderness Continent.

Most crucially, these star domains could be linked and fused together.

"From all the traits you've described, the small-world star domains you've visited aren't true small-world star domains—they resemble fragments."

"Otherwise, how could they be linked and fused?"

"If so, then a mid-world called Kunling Domain, composed of hundreds or thousands of fragments, has an origin far from ordinary."

"Moreover, a full mid-world—let alone True Persons or Star Lords—according to you, had no Ninth Stage cultivators even half a year ago."

"This must conceal a secret unknown to all," said Emperor Master Fenghua.

"Master, could this situation be artificial?" Xu Jin asked.

Xu Jin asked because he recalled the Ultimate Emperor and the breakthroughs of the three Star Lords and two Palace Masters, who had received so-called ancestral gifts.

"Possible."

"But even if artificial, it's merely slight interference with the tide of fate."

"Even I, if I wished, could destroy a mid-world—but turning one into this state? That's immensely difficult."

"Moreover, as you said, this involves the ancestral realm of the Eight Wilderness barbarians—the Golden Jin Zhu Shengzu—I know him well."

"Logically, he shouldn't lack a mid-world."

"Unfortunately, my true body cannot descend. Had I been able to come personally to Kunling Domain, a single inspection would have revealed all truths."

Saying this, Emperor Master Fenghua's expression turned solemn.

"Jin'er, from what we've seen, Kunling Domain may conceal great fortune—but also great peril."

"If you settle your worldly affairs within twenty-nine days and come with me to the Star River Origin Realm to cultivate, I will ensure your safety."

"I can also guide you onto the path of becoming a Tianyang Xingjun."

"But if you insist on fully resolving your affairs in Kunling Domain, you may touch this fortune—and invite peril. At that point, I will be powerless to help."

"My lineage reveres the Dao of naturalness. The choice is yours."

"But once chosen, do not regret it later," said Emperor Master Fenghua.

He had placed the decision in Xu Jin's hands.

After a few breaths of thought, Xu Jin asked, "Master, if I go with you to the Star River Origin Realm, can I return to Kunling Domain often? My family and friends are all here."

"Attachment to one's homeland—I understand."

"But the Dao of Heaven and Earth limits you: until you break through to Tianyang Xingjun, you cannot return. After you become a Tianyang Xingjun, the Dao of Heaven and Earth will prevent you from entering this world again."

At these words, Xu Jin felt an unbearable sense of loss.

Temporary or partial separation—he could accept.

But if, as Emperor Master Fenghua said, they would never meet again in this lifetime—that was unbearable.

Too cruel.

If that were true, he must at least see his father, Xu Dajiang, through to old age and burial before leaving.

"You're a man of deep feeling. Your concern, I understand—but there are solutions," Emperor Master Fenghua smiled.

"Please, Master, instruct me," Xu Jin said eagerly.

"There are three solutions. First: those close to you—friends or family—who reach Tenth Stage Minor Tianyang Xingjun may gain the right to leave this world."

"Or, if you one day become a True Person, you may bring your friends or family into your own Origin Realm."

"Of course, there are many restrictions—but this is the simplest method," said Emperor Master Fenghua.

"Master, what is the second solution?"

"The second solution requires you to act on your own: use your strength to forge your Dao, attain Tianyang Xingjun status directly within this world, claim Kunling Domain as your domain, become its master, then leave."

"Then, whenever you wish to return, as long as your power is sufficient, you may come back."

"Heaven and Earth's Dao will not block a master from returning home."

"But Kunling Domain is unusual. As you said, several ancestral lineages are scheming behind it, and the Golden Jin Zhu Shengzu has already acted."

"There may be great peril."

"And I am extremely distant from this star domain—if trouble arises, I may not arrive in time," said Emperor Master Fenghua.

"Master, what is the third solution?"

"The third solution is only a temporary fix, fraught with peril, and serves as a substitute for your master-disciple ritual—if you choose to return to Kunling Domain to settle affairs and I cannot retrieve you to the Star River Origin Realm in the short term," Emperor Master Fenghua smiled.

"A substitute for the master-disciple ritual?" Xu Jin exclaimed. "I came empty-handed to pay homage—how could I dare accept a gift from my Master?"

"Hahaha!"

Emperor Master Fenghua laughed heartily. "A gift offering? I haven't heard that term in ages."

"But since you've entered my lineage and accepted its karmic bond, the master-disciple ritual is bound by karma—it cannot be without your offering."

"Then I thank you in advance, Master."

After bowing, Xu Jin asked, "May I ask, Master, what is this master-disciple ritual gift you speak of?"

"Nothing much—just an 11th-rank True Person killer forged from the energy veins of several small worlds."

"It's the kind for beginners; once your cultivation base barely reaches Minor Tianyang Xingjun, you can use it."

"11th-rank? A True Person killer?"

Xu Jin's Adam's apple bobbed as he stared, stunned.

So this Huafeng Emperor, whom he'd chosen, was the type who appeared quiet and unassuming but secretly wrought thunderclaps in the shadows.

His master's greeting gift was an 11th-rank True Person killer.

But the problem was, Xu Jin might not even be able to obtain it.

Because Xu Jin had already decided: he must first return to Kunling Domain, settle matters that would let him come home regularly, and only then follow Huafeng Emperor to cultivate.

He longed to cultivate, longed for the vistas higher up, longed for greater strength.

But if he had to abandon all his ties and become a hermit for all that, he simply couldn't do it.

He'd only just tasted the joys of marital intimacy—he wanted to keep going.

He still wanted to help his father live to a hundred, even give him a glorious funeral!

He still wanted to aid the State Preceptor in fully reviving Chen Guo.

Fundamentally, Xu Jin was still very ordinary.

"Master, what then is the substitute for this greeting gift?" Xu Jin asked eagerly.

Hearing this, Huafeng Emperor did not grow annoyed; instead he smiled, "I never intended to use this as a substitute—but seeing you are a man of deep feeling and loyalty…"

"If you can never return home often in the future, it will become a lifelong regret, damaging your Dao heart."

"And the first two solutions—even if you strive, you may still fail to achieve them."

"But this gift can resolve your problem to some extent."

"What is it?"

Huafeng Emperor pointed beyond the Black Tower, "Do you know anything about the Star River Islet where my Thousand Star Alliance's Trial Black Tower stands?"

"Disciple has only heard fragments."

"No matter—you'll learn gradually."

"The substitute I give you is the—terrestrial embryo of a Star River Islet!"

"Star River Islet's terrestrial embryo?" Xu Jin frowned.

"That would take a long explanation—perhaps days or nights to finish."

"My secluded cultivation site lies extremely far from here. Even this swift arrival, and returning you, relied on the power of the Black Tower and the Star River Islet it rests upon."

"Only then could I forcibly carry you across billions of miles of star river back to the sect."

"This Star River Islet possesses countless divine wonders!"

"If you decide to return to Kunling Domain to settle your worldly affairs, I shall give you the Star River Islet's terrestrial embryo now."

"It will not only let you reunite with family and friends in the future, but also offer myriad benefits during cultivation."

"The specific method I'll transmit to you later via the Thousand Star Token."

"So, what is your decision?" said the Thousand Star Alliance Master.

Without another moment's thought, Xu Jin blurted out his prior decision: "Master, I must return to Kunling Domain to settle my worldly affairs—otherwise, I cannot cultivate in peace."

"Moreover, as Master said, Kunling Domain seems to conceal other secrets—I wish to investigate them."

"Very well. As you wish."

In the next instant, Huafeng Emperor gestured, and the Black Tower once again blazed with starlight.

For a fleeting moment, the tower's starlight exploded violently; beneath it, the Star River Islet also blazed with brilliance, becoming as radiant as the brightest star in this star river.

The dazzling, flickering starlight lasted ten breaths—then a chaotic light orb fell into Huafeng Emperor's hand, and the moment it landed, it split cleanly in two.

One orb shot out of the Black Tower, out of the Star River Islet, and vanished instantly into the star river.

The other chaotic light orb flew straight into Xu Jin's hands; as the overwhelming radiance surged toward him, Huafeng Emperor's voice echoed in his mind.

"Refine it with your Yuan Spirit. Give it one drop of blood essence every hour until fully refined."

(End of Chapter)