Chapter 668: Vanguard and Grudges

At once, Xu Jin sealed away the chaotic starlight cluster.

Whether or not it was the core of the Towning Artifact, Star-Plucking Tower, under current circumstances, the tenth-rank towning artifact Star-Plucking Tower had turned to ash—but this chaotic starlight cluster still existed, and it was undoubtedly a treasure.

Though Star-Plucking Tower had crumbled to ash, the mysterious starlight surrounding it continued to carry Xu Jin at high speed.

Outside, the starlight shifted; after a few breaths, the ground beneath him trembled slightly, and the surrounding mysterious starlight vanished instantly—he felt solid ground beneath his feet, and ash rained down like a mountain collapsing onto his head.

It was the ash from the total collapse of Star-Plucking Tower, now freed from its final thread of starforce restraint, cascading like a landslide.

Starforce surged outward, blocking all ash outside his body, and Xu Jin exhaled in relief.

Starforce could now be used normally.

But where had he landed?

As he swiftly scanned his surroundings, Xu Jin's Mingji Star Pattern spread like water in all directions.

At the same time, Xu Jin attempted to activate the Thousand-Star Token, hoping to contact his Master, Master Fenghua Emperor.

But as he activated it, his heart sank.

Could the Thousand-Star Token not function here?

Or was he outside its service range?

"Six thousand li?"

Upon determining the sensing range of his Mingji Star Pattern, Xu Jin relaxed slightly.

When he possessed Kunling Domain, his Mingji Star Pattern could sense up to thirteen thousand li away—but that was with the aid of celestial authority; without such aid, it could reach about eight to nine thousand li.

In this current star domain, the Mingji Star Pattern could reach six thousand li—not too far off—indicating that the world rank of this star domain was higher than Kunling Domain, but not by much.

Judging from this, the star domain beneath his feet was at least a Middle World, possibly even a Great World.

His Master, Master Fenghua Emperor, had long ago explained to him that the same star art manifested differently in different star domains.

This depended on the strength of the star domain's primordial source.

The stronger the star domain's primordial source, the stronger its invisible force field, and the greater the cultivation base required to cast the same star art, with diminished power.

But this influence was indiscriminate.

Anyone within the same star domain, under identical conditions and not wielding celestial authority, would experience identical star art power.

Within an instant of probing with the Mingji Star Pattern, Xu Jin acquired countless pieces of information.

The star domain before him was a living planet teeming with life; starforce of all kinds was highly active throughout heaven and earth.

Starlight continuously fell from all directions, each beam containing a human figure.

"It seems a major event is underway here—but what is it?"

"Eighth rank? So many ninth ranks?"

As he continued sensing, Xu Jin was slightly startled.

The figures arriving via falling starlight had cultivation bases no lower than late eighth rank, nearly half were ninth-rank experts.

This left Xu Jin utterly astonished.

What kind of realm was this?

So many ninth ranks?

Though Kunling Domain was fractured and sealed, over countless years, counting enemies and alien races, only a dozen or so ninth-rank cultivators had ever emerged.

A thought struck him—he locked his spiritual sense onto a late eighth-rank human figure five hundred li away, intending to approach and gather intelligence.

At the very least, he needed new clothes.

His current attire was far too conspicuous.

In Kunling Domain, Xu Jin held a noble status; his garments were made of the finest fabrics, lavishly embroidered.

But in his perception, the cultivators here wore simple attire, mostly martial training outfits.

And these training outfits differed entirely from Kunling Domain's style.

His current outfit was like walking into a morning exercise group of elderly women wearing a black suit.

In an instant, he entered stealth mode.

Almost simultaneously, the Thousand-Star Token on his person flickered with starlight.

The moment he noticed, Xu Jin was overjoyed.

It felt like finding a distress signal in a deserted wasteland—he was saved.

【Jin'er, how are you? What environment are you in? Answer quickly—I can maintain contact for only a hundred breaths.】

Just a few breaths earlier, upon learning Xu Jin had been rescued, Master Fenghua Emperor had sent another message to Du Han Yue Emperor.

【Du Han Yue, can you help me contact my disciple? I need to confirm his condition.】

Du Han Yue Emperor, on the Star River Islet, glanced at her dimmed silver moon above her head: 【I can, but add one month.】

In the Emperor's Palace, Master Fenghua Emperor stared at the message, gritted his teeth, and immediately agreed.

Three months had already passed; one more month wouldn't matter.

Besides, Du Han Yue was injured—asking her to raise the price was only fair.

【Agreed.】

【Then hurry. I can only project my power through the Thousand-Star Token's aura for a hundred breaths—otherwise, I'll be detected and retaliated against. Someone in this star domain wields celestial authority and oversees the entire situation.】

【Understood.】

Thus came the moment when Master Fenghua Emperor contacted Xu Jin.

Xu Jin quickly summarized his current situation, then said: 【Master, give me a dozen breaths—I'll capture a prisoner to learn about this star domain.】

【Good. Be careful.】

In the next instant, Xu Jin appeared silently beside a late eighth-rank human cultivator, who, upon seeing him, widened his eyes, summoned starforce, and blasted it toward Xu Jin.

Verdant energy exploded like a waterfall, instantly annihilating the opponent's starforce, then pierced through his body, stuffing his mouth full so he could not utter a sound.

As terror flooded his eyes, Xu Jin's hand covered the back of his skull.

Wenmeng activated.

But Xu Jin was surprised—the late eighth-rank cultivator resisted for half a breath when captured.

His strength far exceeded that of late eighth-rank cultivators in Kunling Domain.

After interrogation, Xu Jin frowned.

Language barrier was a major issue.

Even in dreams, neither understood the other's speech—but fortunately, at this cultivation level, direct soul communication was possible—akin to consciousness exchange—a powerful tool for learning languages.

With his formidable soul cultivation, within mere dozens of breaths, Xu Jin grasped the essentials and could barely understand their language.

He immediately sent a reply to Master Fenghua Emperor.

【Master, I am currently in a Middle World under Emperor Dongxuan Star Domain, called Hongze Domain, also known as the Breeding Arena. Right now, Emperor Dongxuan Star Domain is selecting its Vanguard here—I happened to fall into this place.】

【Good, I understand. Act according to circumstances—blend into the selection process and see if you can pass unnoticed.】

【Currently, I've arranged for someone to intercept your teleportation, but you've still been cast into this Emperor Dongxuan Star Domain. This star domain belongs to the Dala Ancestral Court and has a poor relationship with our Thousand-Star Alliance.】

【My identity is too sensitive—even approaching would mark me as a major enemy.】

【But I will find a way.】

【If you face an emergency, activate your Uncle Youyu Master Granduncle's Uncle Youyu Sword—your granduncle will notify me, and I'll arrange for someone to use the Thousand-Star Token to establish brief contact.】

【Master, I understand. Could we agree to communicate every seven days? Wouldn't that be safer?】

【No. Only contact me if you or I face an emergency—otherwise, avoid contact entirely. This world is overseen by a True Person wielding celestial authority; frequent contact will be detected and endanger you.】

In the Emperor's Palace, a bead of cold sweat appeared on Master Fenghua Emperor's chiseled jade face.

One connection costs one month—if Xu Jin proposed contact every seven days, he'd spend his entire life paying Du Han Yue Emperor.

That would be too terrible.

【The Thousand-Star Token's communication lasts at most thirty breaths—notify your family immediately and ask any urgent questions.】

At Master Fenghua Emperor's reminder, Xu Jin instantly sent messages via the Thousand-Star Token to Grand Secretary Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, Xiao Yu'er, Ning Ning Yuchan, Zuiyue Immortal, Qi Qi Shanye, and others.

The gist: he had traveled to another star domain to cultivate, and they should not worry—he would return after some time.

Of course, he did not specify how long that would take.

He could not reveal he was trapped.

One must not casually test human nature.

Human nature is fine until tested—then chaos erupts.

Simultaneously, Xu Jin asked Master Fenghua Emperor two questions.

First, about the chaotic starlight cluster he had obtained, suspected to be the core origin of Star-Plucking Tower.

Second, the Star River Islet!

The Star River Islet held a fixed anchor point locked by his Thousand-Star Token—could he, theoretically, use the Thousand-Star Token's teleportation to return to the Star River Islet and thus escape naturally?

【Absolutely not!】

Xu Jin's question startled Master Fenghua Emperor: 【First, your Star River Islet is now extremely distant—if you forcibly teleport, you'll be drained into a corpse before arrival.】

【Second, this star domain is overseen by a True Person, and the master of Emperor Dongxuan Star Domain is an Emperor—if you use the Thousand-Star Token for ultra-long-range teleportation, they'll detect the anomaly immediately and intercept you, exposing you on the spot.】

【Even if you barely succeed, the vast cultivation gap will directly reveal your Star River Islet—they'll pursue, seize it, and kill you.】

【Don't rush to escape—try to hide and cultivate. Let me think of another way.】

【As for the chaotic starlight cluster from Star-Plucking Tower—it's very likely the towning artifact's origin. Keep it safe—it's a precious treasure.】

【A primordial treasure nurtured for three thousand years.】

【It could easily forge an eleventh-rank True Person weapon, let alone a tenth-rank towning artifact—keep it well!】

【Time is running out—remember my instructions: hide and cultivate. Contact me only in emergencies.】

【Master, I remember.】

Xu Jin's expression suddenly froze as he replied to the starlight message—it had failed to send.

It seemed the communication had been severed.

But regardless, he had already reached his master, Master Fenghua Emperor, and assured his family he was safe; a heavy stone lifted instantly from his heart.

Since he was here, he might as well make peace with it.

Then he would follow his master's instructions and lie low to cultivate.

The next instant, Xu Jin's gaze fell upon the unconscious prisoner before him; he placed his palm on the man again and immediately activated Dream Warmth.

He was quite interested in this "Vanguard."

To understand this star region, he would start with this Vanguard.

On the solitary island of the Star River, the Emperor Du Han Yue Emperor silently retracted the ripple of the Thousand Stars Command he had projected; the silver moon hanging above dimmed slightly further.

Casting such a long-range projection technique while concealing its energy fluctuations consumed immense energy, even for her.

【Emperor Du Han Yue, can you find a way to extract my disciple?】

【This realm is likely guarded by the Emperor Dongxuan Emperor of the Daluo Ancestral Court. From other sources, I've learned Emperor Dongxuan Emperor oversees several great worlds, and he has more than five Emperor-level disciples under him.】

【If you can lure all these Emperors away and hold them off for more than ten breaths, I can extract your disciple.】

【Of course, the earliest possible would be half a year from now.】 said the Emperor Du Han Yue Emperor.

Why half a year? Master Fenghua Emperor did not ask—he knew Emperor Du Han Yue Emperor needed to recover from her injuries.

But the method Emperor Du Han Yue Emperor proposed for extracting Xu Jin seemed nearly impossible at present.

At least six Emperors—should he gather forces to lure or block them, he would need at least five or six, perhaps seven or eight Emperor-level experts.

Would that not be war?

Directly provoking the Thousand Stars Alliance against the Daluo Ancestral Court would cause countless lives to perish; he would become the sinner.

This method, for now, was unworkable.

【Master Fenghua, perhaps you could try sending an envoy with gifts, to see if you can trade your disciple back from Emperor Dongxuan—this might cost the least.】 suggested the Emperor Du Han Yue Emperor.

Hearing this, Master Fenghua Emperor in his imperial palace sighed, 【Emperor Du Han Yue, you don't know—I still have old grievances with Emperor Dongxuan from when we both attained True Personhood. If my disciple doesn't reveal my identity, fine; if he does, the trouble will only grow worse.】

【Then this is indeed unwise—if mishandled, it might cost your disciple his life.】

【Then let's wait. Alternatively, once I've recovered, I'll send an envoy with heavy gifts, claiming your disciple accidentally drifted into Emperor Dongxuan's star region while practicing Star Art—see if we can trade him back.】 said the Emperor Du Han Yue Emperor.

Inside the imperial palace, Master Fenghua Emperor frowned slightly—this method was feasible, with some chance of success.

But he didn't know if it might also draw him in.

(End of Chapter)