Chapter 677

Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm.

As the place where the Emperor Dongxuan Emperor attained the Dao, the Dao Palaces of the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm were continuous, overlapping like fish scales, and could be called a place of ten thousand halls.

At this very moment, in front of the Dao Palace Square of the Emperor Dongxuan Dao Palace, the Commander Tian Zhang True Person, who managed the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm, sat cross-legged on the Dharma platform; in the square, spatial fluctuations appeared one after another, and one figure after another continuously emerged amidst the spatial fluctuations.

The four directions of the Dao Palace Square were filled with cultivators.

For most of those returning from the selection, there was no movement from the figures in the four directions; they were just observing carefully, and one powerful divine sense after another swept across without any scruples, probing and sizing them up.

Occasionally, when a participant returned, a burst of cheers would erupt, and a few were pleasantly surprised.

Those gathered here were all the powerful high-ranking officials of the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm.

As long as their bloodline wasn't severed and they met the conditions, almost all the powerful high-ranking officials of the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm would send their bloodline descendants to participate in the selection.

Power could be inherited, but cultivation—that thing really couldn't be inherited.

For noble families, a peerless genius was a super surprise; generally, they only asked for a talented cultivator in their descendants' bloodline, and at the very least, they had to be of average talent.

As long as they had a bit of aptitude, noble families could use resources to smash their cultivation up.

At most, it would cost two or three times the cultivation resources of a genius.

Otherwise, why would they accumulate resources?

And the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm's selection was another threshold.

There were too many people with high cultivation but low combat power.

If those with high cultivation but low combat power were allowed to hold onto the power of the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm for a long time, one could imagine how weak the future overall strength of the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm would be.

In fact, it was precisely because the overall strength of the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm was getting weaker and weaker.

The Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm was the place where the Emperor Dongxuan Emperor attained the Dao, and the Emperor Dongxuan Dao Palace was the number one holy land for cultivation under the Tongxuan Domain previously managed by the Emperor Dongxuan Emperor.

But for the past thousand years, the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm had become weaker and weaker; not only had no new Emperor appeared, but True Persons were also becoming fewer and fewer, and its status among the five star realms of the Tongxuan Domain under the Emperor Dongxuan Emperor's command was becoming increasingly awkward.

The main reason was that there were too many people in power with high cultivation but low ability.

Two hundred years ago, the Commander Tian Zhang True Person was kicked back to the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm from the Imperial Palace by the Emperor Dongxuan Emperor; after suffering all kinds of ridicule from all sides, he learned from his mistakes and began reforms.

Learning from the methods of the Yuan Shan Star Realm, another major star realm, he began the selection and established a series of identities and thresholds such as Candidate Dao Son and Dao Son.

The first decree was: those who are not Candidate Dao Sons cannot inherit titles and cannot serve as chief seal officials.

The second decree was: those who are not Dao Sons cannot manage a star domain and cannot serve as high-ranking officers in main combat legions.

Once these two decrees were issued, it was almost like cutting off the roots of the noble clans.

Back then, it was executed only after heads rolled.

Now, it had become a convention.

Zhu Zhu Shizhen, this Yutang Prince, was also participating in the selection because of this.

He, this Yutang Prince, was only a title within the Yutang Prince's Mansion, because he was the only direct descendant of the Yutang Prince's Mansion's lineage; theoretically, the Yutang Prince title belonged to him.

But only after passing the selection and becoming a Candidate Dao Son could he obtain the recognition of the Dao Palace and become the Yutang Prince.

The bloodlines of the four major True Person Mansions of the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm all had to be like this, let alone other nobles.

The gold content of Candidate Dao Sons and Dao Sons had been rising steadily in the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm over these years.

Now, it had even derived a tradition: capturing a son-in-law at the Dao Palace!

More participants who passed the selection came from small world star domains, which became the best choice for families with mediocre descendants.

After recruiting a son-in-law, the family power could be inherited, and the clan could be succeeded.

And the recruited person could also obtain different cultivation resources.

This could also be considered a compromise by the Emperor Dongxuan Dao Palace in the face of the counterattack by noble clan forces over the past two hundred years.

Including some small tricks during the selection.

For example, one could rely on some means to gather subordinates and obtain their help.

After all, the Commander Tian Zhang True Person who formulated the rules was himself sitting on the side of the noble clans.

Of course, for those noble clans, a son-in-law was not as good as a bloodline descendant.

Their own bloodline descendants, even if they were from a side branch, would have their status directly raised as long as they passed the selection and became a Candidate Dao Son.

If they became a Dao Son in the future, it was even possible for a side branch to become the direct bloodline.

Especially the four major True Person Mansions, as the most top-tier clans, attached even more importance to this.

Suddenly, the Commander Tian Zhang True Person sitting high on the Dharma platform had his gaze soften slightly, because he saw that four descendants of their Su family who participated in the selection had already come out, and each of them still had their substitute command token.

Su Chu Xuan, the male descendant of the Su family whom he valued the most, had already laid out one hundred Ninth-Tier Gu crystals according to the rules.

What surprised him even more was the Su family's genius girl, Su Su Lingluo, who participated in the selection with Eighth-Tier peak cultivation; with her substitute command token still in hand, ten Gu crystals would have been enough to become a Candidate Dao Son, but she had produced over one hundred Gu crystals.

This strength should be considered top-tier among the many participants.

The Su family could be considered to have successors.

But he knew that the breaker of limits and the slayer of the Gu Mother could absolutely not be Su Su Lingluo.

Who could it be?

The Commander Tian Zhang True Person's gaze searched continuously among the participants who came out; he also had the intention of capturing a son-in-law.

A hundred years ago, Jiang Yi was snatched by the Wei family first.

For this peerless genius who could slay the Gu Mother this time, he already had an idea; he couldn't be slow again.

Suddenly, in the crowd outside the Dao Palace Square, a woman with a tall, slender figure, a fresh and refined face, and two small dimples at the corners of her mouth pointed at Zhu Zhu Shizhen, who had just appeared in the square, and laughed, even waving her hand happily.

As she waved, she was quite curvaceous, and many men in all directions looked over subconsciously.

But almost everyone dared not look directly, only daring to take a greedy look with the corners of their eyes or when pretending to scan over inadvertently.

The True Person Prince's Mansion honor guard behind this woman was too terrifying.

Of course, there were also individual men from noble families who would look greedily a few more times.

Curvaceous, plus a slim waist, long legs, and fair skin all in one—this was a peerless beauty.

A peerless beauty among peerless beauties.

Moreover, her identity and temperament were all noble.

The Yutang Prince, Zhu Zhu Shizhen, who had just returned, naturally heard his sister's cheers, but he just turned his head and waved silently, giving a reassuring look.

Zhu Zhu Linxiao, the Grand Princess of the Yutang Prince's Mansion in the crowd, saw this and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

But almost at the same time, a starlight message was received on Zhu Zhu Linxiao's Emperor Dongxuan Token.

This made the expression on Zhu Zhu Linxiao's pretty face become nervous.

Could it be that her brother had an accident during the selection?

This selection was held in full view of everyone; if an accident happened here, even their Yutang Prince's Mansion wouldn't be able to manipulate it.

Nervous, Zhu Zhu Linxiao checked the starlight message at the first opportunity.

The content, however, made Zhu Zhu Linxiao's expression surprised.

"Xu Jin?"

It was a complete resume; Zhu Zhu Shizhen asked her to find the most reliable person to arrange it immediately, and it couldn't have any accidents. After pondering for just one breath, Zhu Zhu Linxiao personally arranged this matter at the first opportunity, and according to Zhu Zhu Shizhen's request, the number of people handling it had to be very few.

Her brother sometimes acted a bit unreliable, but when it came to major matters, he was still very reliable.

As long as her brother passed the selection and became a Candidate Dao Son, even if it was only a Candidate Dao Son, he could formally inherit the title of Yutang Prince, and there would be possibilities for operation in other aspects.

Seeing this, the black-armored criminal officer standing in the sky above the Dao Palace gave a cold shout, his blade-like gaze locking onto Zhu Zhu Shizhen.

The selection was a grand ceremony for selecting talent, and the law enforcement was strict.

Especially in front of people, it had to be absolutely fair.

Zhu Zhu Shizhen hurriedly turned his head; for nearly two hundred years, the privileges of the powerful had been gradually decreasing, especially in public.

At the first opportunity, Zhu Zhu Shizhen took out all his spoils and placed them into the starlight that covered the area in front of him.

Substitute command token, one hundred and six Ninth-Tier Gu crystals.

These were all routine operations.

After all, if the direct bloodlines of the four major True Person Mansions couldn't even pass the selection, it would become a joke.

But the next instant, when Zhu Zhu Shizhen took out a Gu crystal the size of a human head and placed it out, the black-armored criminal officer who had just coldly scolded Zhu Zhu Shizhen had his eyes widen suddenly.

Even for Ninth-Tier Gu crystals, the largest ones were only the size of a fist.

Then this Gu crystal the size of a human head?

Thinking of a certain possibility, the black-armored criminal officer trembled all over and continuously called for his superior.

His superior recognized the Gu Mother Gu Crystal at a glance and notified the Commander Tian Zhang True Person at the first opportunity.

The Commander Tian Zhang True Person cast his gaze over and happened to see Zhu Zhu Shizhen take out the Gu Mother Dragon Bone and place it in front of him.

His gaze suddenly narrowed.

In the crowd, Zhu Zhu Linxiao, who had just finished arranging the matter, also happened to see this scene; her beautiful eyes narrowed suddenly, she covered her lips with her hand, and her eyes were full of disbelief.

She knew her brother too well.

Passing the selection to become a Candidate Dao Son required a bit of luck.

Slaying a Tenth-Tier Gu Mother to directly become a Dao Son?

This was absolutely impossible!

It was possible to pick up a Gu Mother Gu Crystal on the road.

But was it possible to pick up a Gu Mother Gu Crystal?

It was impossible to pick up a Tenth-Tier Gu Mother's Gu Crystal even if you picked up a beauty and brought her home.

In an instant, Zhu Zhu Linxiao realized something.

The two words "Xu Jin" instantly aroused her suspicion.

At the same time, she also guessed that her brother's strange performance was highly likely related to this person.

Then this matter had to be treated with caution.

【Pass down the order: after this matter is finished, double the rewards for all those involved, and reward them with three years of cultivation in the Yutang Secret Realm.】

The Yutang Secret Realm belonged exclusively to the Zhu family.

As long as those involved were sent in, even if the Commander Tian Zhang True Person came to investigate personally, he wouldn't be able to find any problems.

On the Dharma platform, the Commander Tian Zhang True Person's view was the same as Zhu Zhu Linxiao's.

Who was Zhu Zhu Shizhen?

He had watched him grow up.

He wasn't a fool, but he wasn't a genius either.

He was just a bit stronger than average talent.

He believed the Yutang Prince's Mansion had the strength to pass the selection and become a Candidate Dao Son.

But slay a Tenth-Tier Gu Mother?

This was absolutely impossible!

"Then who could this peerless genius be?" The Commander Tian Zhang True Person was full of doubt.

But at this moment, he was still presiding over the formation to bring the participants out of the Gu-Raising Domain.

He could only ask in detail later.

A few breaths later, Xu Jin's figure suddenly appeared in the square.

The moment he appeared, Xu Jin felt he was bound to the spot by an inexplicable force.

But this binding force was not strong.

Fortunately, Zhu Zhu Shizhen had explained the process to Xu Jin beforehand; otherwise, Xu Jin would really have had the possibility of breaking free at this moment.

Honestly following Zhu Zhu Shizhen's instructions, he laid out over one hundred Ninth-Tier Gu crystals.

The black-armored criminal officer checking him saw an early Eighth-Tier cultivator lay out over one hundred Ninth-Tier Gu crystals, and his eyes instantly shone brightly.

He wanted to notify the noble families who had entrusted him at the first opportunity that he had discovered a good seedling.

Anyway, whether it succeeded or not, the reward wouldn't be small.

But the next instant, seeing that Xu Jin didn't take out a substitute command token, he was somewhat disappointed.

This meant he had died in battle once, and the evaluation would likely drop by at least one level.

To have died in battle once and still obtain a hundred Ninth-Tier Gu crystals—it was highly likely someone had helped him.

"What a pity, I don't know which family's descendant this is..." His gaze swept past Xu Jin.

A few breaths later, Xu Jin saw Zhu Zhu Shizhen not far away winking at him.

【Is it settled?】 Xu Jin sent a starlight message via the Emperor Dongxuan Token.

【Brother-in-law, my sister has already arranged for people to handle it; it should be done soon.】

Xu Jin was speechless.

This Yutang Prince, Zhu Zhu Shizhen, was too lazy; he was already calling him brother-in-law.

Two quarters of an hour later, the starlight continuously falling from the sky disappeared completely, representing the end of the selection.

All the participants also revealed their harvest.

Those who passed were overjoyed, while those who failed wept on the spot.

Outside the square, there was much discussion; various powerful families pointed at the candidates they liked, commented on them, collected information, and decided whether to capture them as sons-in-law.

If they captured them as sons-in-law, what price would they offer?

The next instant, the Commander Tian Zhang True Person's voice rang out, "This selection ends here; those who passed are all Candidate Dao Sons—stay in the Dao Palace, and the battle for the position of Dao Son will begin in three days."

On the other side, under the honor guard of the Zhenjun Bixuan Prince's Mansion, the Crown Prince of the Zhenjun Bixuan Prince's Mansion, who was still waiting, had a look of disbelief appear in his eyes upon hearing this sentence; he stood up abruptly and said in astonishment, "It's over? Why hasn't Huang'er come out?"

At the same time, a black-armored criminal officer had already arrived before the Yutang Prince, Zhu Zhu Shizhen, and bowed slightly, "Your Highness Yutang Prince, the True Person requests your presence."

The moment Zhu Zhu Shizhen followed him away, he conveniently sent a starlight message to Xu Jin via the Emperor Dongxuan Token.

【Don't worry, brother-in-law, it's already been arranged properly; proceed according to the plan.】

(End of chapter)