Chapter 660: Kill the Tianyang Xingjun (Requesting Moon Tickets)

In the instant Xu Jin appeared, Zhen E, Cang Ming, and Tian Yang all changed expression, each reacting differently.

Among them, Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun reacted the fastest!

He directly threw a jade token to Zhen E Tianyang Zhenjun and shouted, "Zhen E, control the main tower—I and Cang Ming will fight to the death!"

At nearly the same instant, the three inherited spiritual treasures of Tian Yang Star Palace—Tian Xing Xiaolou, Huo Ling Fan, and Han Bing Hulü—appeared simultaneously.

His dao embryo surfaced, merging with his inherited spiritual treasure, Tian Xing Xiaolou; in the heavens, starlight swayed downward, flowing into Huo Ling Fan and Han Bing Hulü, and instantly fire dragons and ice dragons roared toward Xu Jin.

In but an instant, Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun pushed his power to its peak, proving his earlier words: he would fight Xu Jin to the death, never retreat!

Because of Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's action, Cang Ming Tianyang Zhenjun immediately followed without hesitation, his body blazing with starlight; two inherited spiritual treasures flew out, the star tower emerged, starlight swayed down from the heavens, and he launched a full assault on Xu Jin.

Earlier, Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun had laid out his reasoning perfectly—on paper, Cang Ming had no choice but to gamble with Tian Yang for a chance!

Although Zhen E Tianyang Zhenjun hesitated, in the instant before Xu Jin appeared, he had already made his decision.

But his decision was based on the assumption that they were fully prepared and the probability of killing Xu Jin had risen to at least sixty or seventy percent.

Yet now, with Xu Jin launching a surprise attack, the theoretical probability of killing him had dropped to only thirty percent.

So he hesitated, wavering.

But the moment Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun, right before Xu Jin's eyes, handed him control of the main tower of Zhai Xing Lou, he knew his escape routes were few.

Hesitation invites disaster.

In an instant, his divine sense flooded into the control token Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun had given him; instantly, the main tower of Tian Yang Star Palace's Zhai Xing Lou stirred to life, and his two inherited spiritual treasures also rose and floated.

BOOM!

Amid thunderous explosions, a point of starlight shot down like lightning.

The Five Elements Thunder Slash from the Nine Heavens Thunder God Seal flashed once, completely annihilating the fire dragon Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun had launched.

The ice dragon roared and slammed into Xu Jin's body, but its ice was instantly reversed and obliterated by the lightning of Xu Jin's Han Bing Mu Lei Jia; yet the attacks of Cang Ming Tianyang Zhenjun and Zhen E Tianyang Zhenjun, along with the main tower of Zhai Xing Lou, struck immediately after.

This amounted to four Gao Jie cultivators assaulting Xu Jin at once.

Xu Jin's thunder wings snapped back violently, using the Han Bing Mu Lei Jia to absorb the blow.

As the thunder wings dissipated and the Han Bing Mu Lei Jia shattered piece by piece, Xu Jin's form vanished instantly.

Spatial displacement.

"Save me!"

Cang Ming Tianyang Zhenjun screamed in terror.

Only after unleashing his full attack did he realize that the point of starlight hurtling toward him was none other than Xu Jin's strange little tower—the very one that had nearly crushed him to death that day!

At this moment, Tian Di Yun Lou had already descended upon Cang Ming Tianyang Zhenjun's head, slamming him to the ground and pinning him under the starlight field beneath the tower, trapping him utterly.

Starlight erupted like a volcano, yet could not shake Tian Di Yun Lou; in panic, he cried out for help.

Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun and Zhen E Tianyang Zhenjun both turned their heads instantly, focusing all their power to strike Xu Jin's Tian Di Yun Lou.

Xu Jin's form had already reappeared a thousand meters away; the moment he appeared, thunderlight from the Nine Heavens Thunder God Seal rained down in rapid succession upon Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun—he had already realized something, and a sliver of swordlight was beginning to form.

Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's attack was completely nullified by Xu Jin's thunderlight; Zhen E Tianyang Zhenjun's assault and the main tower's strike landed on Tian Di Yun Lou, causing only two faint ripples in its starlight.

"Zhen E, you—"

In an instant, Cang Ming Tianyang Zhenjun's desperate roar cut off abruptly.

No one knew whether he was cursing Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun or trying to say something else.

In an instant, Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun and Zhen E Tianyang Zhenjun's expressions turned utterly terrified.

In just one exchange, Cang Ming had already fallen.

The thirty percent chance of victory they had hoped for together vanished in an instant.

What of the two of them alone?

Zhen E Tianyang Zhenjun instantly recalled the outcome of his previous joint assault on Xu Jin with Cang Ming Tianyang Zhenjun.

Zhen E Tianyang Zhenjun thought quickly—but Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun reacted even faster, more promptly.

The instant he saw Cang Ming Tianyang Zhenjun crushed in one blow, Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's pupils shrank sharply; Huo Ling Fan surged violently, its body transforming into a colossal fire dragon that engulfed the sky as it roared toward Xu Jin—while at the same time, immense spatial fluctuations erupted from Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's body.

No chance left!

So Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun chose to retreat at once!

As for Zhen E Tianyang Zhenjun—let fate decide.

Seeing this, Xu Jin sneered coldly.

He had anticipated Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's reaction long ago.

The Nine Heavens Thunder God Seal at the center of Lei Yun unleashed a torrent of thunderlight; in a flash, it shattered Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's low-grade eight-star Huo Ling Fan, scattering its starlight and dimming its radiance.

As Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun was mid-space displacement, his chest heaved, blood already seeping from his lips.

Yet his eyes held neither sorrow nor joy.

This battle proved that under direct confrontation, he had no possibility whatsoever of defeating Xu Jin.

Next, he would return to the Tian Yang Small World, then defend it to the death, waiting for the right moment.

As for escape?

He had not the slightest doubt.

He had already mastered the Spatial Displacement Star Art—its power was formidable, far faster and stronger than the Spatial Displacement Seal.

This was precisely the confidence and escape route behind his alliance with Zhen E and Cang Ming.

Unfortunately, Xu Jin had uncovered it.

If only he had another half day to let all three prepare properly…

A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind as Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun prepared to activate Spatial Displacement Star Art again.

But a silver swordlight suddenly slashed across the void like a silver river.

In that instant, the space within ten li trembled violently; simultaneously, Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's Spatial Displacement Star Art severed its connection to the outside world.

Cut off!

Spatial Displacement Star Art failed.

Seven Kill Sword—Kong Kong Zi Jian!

Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun was violently ejected from the void, wracked by spatial starlight backlash.

The moment shock and horror flashed in his eyes, starlight swayed down from the heavens—the swordlight was already descending upon him.

Seven Kill Sword—Sha Xing Zi Jian!

Before the blade reached him, its aura made Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun feel as if he were suffocating.

Without hesitation, his inherited spiritual treasure, Han Bing Hulü, instantly transformed into a stream of ice-starlight and rushed forward to meet it.

"Zhen E!" Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun roared as the swordlight struck his face; his eyes widened in shock.

Beneath the swordlight, his low-grade eight-star spiritual treasure, Han Bing Hulü, shattered instantly, its starlight collapsing; its body cracked all over before dissolving back into starlight—but the backlash shook his dao embryo violently, spewing blood from his mouth; only the residual force of the swordlight was barely blocked by his protective starlight.

BOOM!

Before the sword's residual force faded, the Nine Heavens Thunder God Seal's thunderlight rained down upon Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's head.

It directly extinguished his protective starlight; only his high-grade seven-star spiritual armor flashed brightly, its radiance dimming, barely absorbing the blow.

Even so, it left him trembling all over.

Especially the torrential divine soul force within the thunderlight, which shook his dao embryo repeatedly, rendering him unable to launch any effective counterattack.

The next instant, the Sha Xing Zi Jian swordlight came in relentless succession!

One strike shattered his high-grade seven-star spiritual armor and split his physical body into four pieces.

His dao embryo flew out in terror and confusion—thunderlight rained down continuously.

"Xu Jin, wait—"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Under the heavenly thunder, Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's dao embryo dissolved into wisps of green smoke; on the ground appeared more than ten clusters of multicolored starlight—the low-grade eight-star spiritual treasures Huo Ling Fan and Han Bing Hulü floated up. Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun was dead!

Thus fell a mighty warlord of Kun Ling Domain.

As for Zhen E Tianyang Zhenjun, while Xu Jin focused on Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun and Tian Yang cried for help, he transformed into a dark green streak of starlight and vanished instantly.

"Escape? Do you think you can get away?"

Xu Jin sneered, not rushing to pursue; instead, he carefully gathered and sealed every cluster of starlight that had fallen from Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's dao embryo.

The rest were unremarkable—mostly celestial authority over minor worlds controlled by Tian Yang Star Palace.

But three items were extraordinary, critical.

One, naturally, was the celestial authority of Kun Ling Domain.

Less than one percent—about nine percent.

It must be that after the celestial fusion, Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's control over the celestial authority had shrunk drastically.

Another was a full ten percent—a complete celestial authority over a small world; it must be the celestial authority of the Tian Yang Small World.

The final one was a peculiar kind of starlight.

At a glance, Xu Jin recognized it: the authority of Zhai Xing Lou.

This authority resembled celestial authority, yet was different.

But it was far more powerful than Xu Jin's own silver-grade authority.

One breath later, Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun's miniature space was pulled forth by Xu Jin; one glance at its contents left him dazzled by the treasures within.

Too many celestial herbs.

The very herbs Xu Jin had long sought—those capable of reviving the dead and regenerating flesh and bone—Tian Yang Tianyang Zhenjun had three: one eighth-rank, two seventh-rank.

This accumulation was natural—he had led Tian Yang Star Palace for over a hundred years.

One glance, and Xu Jin found a spot to toss them into his own miniature space.

Including two eight-star spiritual treasures severely damaged.

After nurturing and repairing them, they're fine treasures—convenient ones—I tossed them into the Star Lanterns of the Can Dou Platform for nurturing and repair.

In the next instant, he gestured and recalled the Heaven-Cloud Tower, revealing the battered corpse and nascent soul of the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming.

"General Xu, I surrender."

BOOM!

Beneath the Nine Heavens Thunder Duke Seal, lightning flashed—just for an instant, the nascent soul of the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming turned to ash.

This fellow, the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming, cannot be spared.

Regardless of anything else, the fact that he killed Director Ji Bang means he cannot be left alive.

There's no need to listen to his nonsense.

Probably some kind of compromise or secret—better to tread carefully with an old fox like him.

Soon after, Xu Jin received roughly the same gains.

Nearly one-tenth of the Heavenly Authority of Kunling Domain—that was the largest share.

Plus, the full ten-tenths of Heavenly Authority of the Cangming Small World, and the authority of the Plucking Star Tower.

Of course, the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming's Nirmāṇakāya space wouldn't be overlooked—once drawn out, it was directly tossed into the Nirmāṇakāya space, to be inventoried later after the battle.

Compared to the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang, the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming's side yielded only one eight-star spiritual treasure.

In the next instant, Xu Jin directly tossed the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming's still-intact head into the Nirmāṇakāya space—when time permits, he must pay respects to Grandpa Director Ji Bang.

Then, Xu Jin activated the Heavenly Authority and the Mingji Star Pattern.

In an instant, the aura of the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e appeared within Xu Jin's perception range.

A spatial ripple rose—and as Xu Jin took one step forward, he already stood twenty li before the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e.

A green starlight streaked forward like lightning, then abruptly halted—the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e's figure staggered to a sudden stop.

"Tianyang Xingjun, your escape speed is terrible. In ten breaths, you've only fled two thousand li—what good is that distance?" Xu Jin sneered, as the Nine Heavens Thunder Duke Seal floated above his head and swordlight began coalescing before his chest.

Seeing Xu Jin appear out of nowhere, the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e sighed bitterly, "I've already used three Spatial Teleportation Seals—what else could I do?"

"Where are they?"

As he spoke, the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e glanced back behind him.

Xu Jin didn't answer—instead, he briefly displayed the damaged head of the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming. The Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e's expression instantly turned ghastly, yet he still asked, "What of Lord Tianyang?"

"Even worse than him, so I won't show it."

"Ah…"

The Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e let out a helpless, long sigh. "It seems I'm doomed today."

"If you hadn't come here today, I wouldn't have moved against you," Xu Jin nodded.

"Wouldn't have?"

"About that. I've always been grateful for kindness—several times before, whether intentional or not, you've aided me and Chen Guo," Xu Jin said.

"Then now—can you spare me a path to life?" The Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e's eyes flickered with new hope.

Xu Jin shook his head firmly.

The hope in the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e's eyes vanished instantly. "The barbarians have always resisted civilization—if I die, they will surely rebel. Though you'll eventually crush them, countless lives will still be sacrificed!"

"General Xu, for the good deeds I've done in the past, I surrender everything, abandon my physical body, and return only my nascent soul—is that acceptable?"

"Then you'll be at ease, won't you?"

"With only my nascent soul returning, I couldn't possibly stir up trouble."

"Besides, I'll add one extra piece of intelligence."

"This intelligence was known only to the three of us—now, I'm the only one who still knows it."

"What is it?" Xu Jin asked.

"The Imperial Edict! The Ancestor's Imperial Edict?"

"What does it say?"

Hearing Xu Jin was interested, the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e initially wanted to use it as leverage to force Xu Jin to swear a Great Dao Oath—but he reconsidered, abandoned the idea, and spoke the content without any conditions.

"After the Great Transformation of Heaven and Earth, the Ancestor issued an edict instructing us to gather the Heavenly Authority of Kunling Domain. Whoever first obtains more than three-tenths of Kunling Domain's Heavenly Authority will gain the great opportunity to attain True Personhood—or even eternal life," the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e said.

"Attain True Personhood? Or even the great opportunity for eternal life? What exactly is it?" Xu Jin asked.

"It doesn't say."

"Didn't you ask?" Xu Jin asked.

In the next instant, the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e's eyes widened slightly. "You don't know? The Ancestor can only issue edicts downward—we cannot actively contact the Ancestor."

"If the Ancestor issues another edict in the future, I'll inform you immediately."

"I see."

Legends say the Ancestors of the major Star Palaces were the ancient Ultimate Dao Emperors—but those Ultimate Dao Emperors left Kunling Domain over three thousand years ago. Countless generations of disciples have passed; not being able to contact them is normal.

"Alright, you've succeeded!" Xu Jin suddenly said.

Hearing this, the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e first froze, then beamed with joy.

In the next instant, his physical body shattered into four pieces, his head exploding into a mist of blood.

A rare opportunity—yet the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e chose to kill himself!

The moment his nascent soul emerged, he voluntarily released a cluster of starlight—including the Heavenly Authority of Kunling Domain, the Heavenly Authority of the Plucking Star Tower, and the Heavenly Authority of the Zhen'e Small World.

At the same time, on the ground, all manner of items piled into a mountain.

The Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e had emptied his Nirmāṇakāya space entirely, then opened it fully, leaving everything to Xu Jin's inspection and selection!

(End of Chapter)