Chapter 709: The Emperor Behind Him?

Beneath the Lawful Path, Yuan Yuan Chengfa and Su Chu Xuan sat cross-legged at its base, waiting in silence.

Seeing Xu Jin arrive, both opened their eyes; Su Chu Xuan rose and bowed to Xu Jin, saying slowly, "Thank you."

Though no one had told him outright, all the post-event analyses and rumors he'd heard made him realize that during the Dao Heir Ranking Battle, Xu Jin had truly held back.

Otherwise, how could he have received First-Rank Dao Heir status?

Naturally, he felt a bit uneasy.

But he was not the type to harbor grudges; he fully understood his ancestral elder's intentions.

The elder had lowered his dignity to secure this opportunity for him, meaning the resources tied to First-Rank Dao Heir status were beyond even the elder's reach.

So what if he obtained them this way?

Hence, this expression of gratitude.

"No need," Xu Jin replied directly. "The True Person has already given me his due."

One radish cannot be cut from both ends.

If Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang knew Xu Jin was taking benefits from him while also collecting favors from Su Chu Xuan, it would be too greedy.

Whether it brought fortune or disaster would be hard to say.

Hearing this, Su Chu Xuan bowed again to Xu Jin. "Once I reach the peak of the Ninth Stage, I'll challenge you to a duel—to settle who's truly superior!"

This was the true point Su Chu Xuan wished to convey today.

Geniuses are always proud.

"I look forward to it!" Xu Jin smiled.

"Our application to join Yuan's group has been approved by the True Person's Central Council. We'll begin our early meditation on the True Person's Dao-Proof Blood Crystal soon—so be careful."

"Don't worry. My cultivation is advancing rapidly too," Xu Jin replied.

"You've reached Late Eighth Stage, Xu Brother. Your progress has been astonishing. I look forward to your breakthrough to the Ninth Stage, then I'll challenge you again," Yuan Yuan Chengfa added, bowing with a smile.

Xu Jin returned the bow, then spoke toward the void: "True Person, we are ready."

Suddenly, a great seal materialized in the sky. "Pour your Star Force into this seal, and you may begin."

Xu Jin understood—it was a seal of consent.

The instant their Star Force surged into the seal, the starlight enveloping the Lawful Path vanished. The three exchanged glances, then stepped onto separate Lawful Paths.

Yuan Yuan Chengfa entered the Earth Lawful Path; Su Chu Xuan entered the Wood Lawful Path.

"Both are filling their weaknesses?"

Glancing at the two, Xu Jin instantly stepped onto the Space Lawful Path.

It was necessary!

Whether for the Great Chaos Body or primary combat Star Arts, Space Star Arts had become foundational.

Yet on the Star-Contest Platform, Space Star's rank was the lowest.

This time, the duration for meditating on the Lawful Path was the same as during the previous Grand Selection.

Three days.

But unlike before, there were no further restrictions—once you climbed onto it, you could ascend however you wished.

Last time, Xu Jin had climbed step by step; whenever he encountered an unfamiliar Space Dao Principle, he devoted all his focus to comprehending it fully before ascending to the next step.

Thus, when he first stepped onto the Lawful Path, he ascended steadily, reaching the Forty-Sixth Step of the Space Lawful Path in just twenty breaths.

Instantly, he sensed the new Space Dao Principle he had discovered but lacked time to comprehend last time.

He sat cross-legged; as the Space Lawful Star on the Star-Contest Platform blazed with light, the other seven Origin Stars each projected rays of energy into the Space Lawful Star, aiding his comprehension.

An hour later, Xu Jin ascended another step.

A mysterious starlight appeared in midair on the Star-Contest Platform; the Space Lawful Star on Xu Jin's platform grew slightly stronger.

In the void, a fragment of Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang's divine consciousness remained behind.

He occasionally glanced at the three, scanning them now and then, but did not watch them continuously.

He had observed everything last time; this time, there was little to see—just keeping an eye on them was enough.

One day later, Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang's divine sense swept across the many Lawful Paths as if performing routine duty.

Yuan Yuan Chengfa's condition was normal; previously he had reached the Fifty-Fourth Step of the Earth Lawful Path, and now he had just reached the Fifty-Eighth Step—a significant improvement.

Su Chu Xuan, previously, had only reached the Forty-Sixth Step of the Wood Lawful Path.

Now he had climbed to the Fiftieth Step—five steps higher, ten percent more than Yuan Yuan Chengfa's, yet the difficulty between the Forties and Fifties was vastly different.

"That Yuan boy truly has slightly greater talent than our Su Chu Xuan—even slightly more than Xiao Su Lingluo. But Xiao Su Lingluo specializes in Thunder, so his combat power differs."

Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang's gaze finally settled on the Space Lawful Path where Xu Jin was.

The moment it landed, his eyes widened in shock.

"Fifty-Five Steps? This—"

The moment he saw clearly, his spirit trembled; he unconsciously confirmed it again, recalling Xu Jin's past achievements and his current starting point.

After recalling everything and confirming fully, his gaze toward Xu Jin had changed completely.

"If the Forty-Sixth Step he reached yesterday was truly his former limit, then Xu Jin's talent in Space cultivation isn't merely top-tier—it's monstrous!"

"If so, then our Su Chu Xuan isn't even worthy to carry Xu Jin's shoes!"

Even Yuan Yuan Chengfa could barely carry them!"

This—"

In an instant, Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang recognized Xu Jin's terrifying talent.

Remember, this was the Space Lawful Path—the difficulty of comprehending Space Dao Principles was already more than double that of the Five Elements.

Under such a gap in difficulty, Xu Jin's newly climbed steps were double those of Yuan Yuan Chengfa and Su Chu Xuan combined!

"Such a monster could never have been cultivated within the small star realms under Tianyang Zhenjun Yutang's jurisdiction!"

Watching Xu Jin climb yet another step of the Space Lawful Path, Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang fell into deep thought.

Before, he had already suspected Xu Jin's origins.

Now, he suspected even more.

Previously, it had merely been speculation.

Now, combined with Tianyang Zhenjun Yutang's actions, the judgment became far clearer.

"Damn, this Zhu Zhu Shizhen has quietly pulled off something huge—just which Emperor's sect has he joined?"

Their sovereign, of course, was the strongest Emperor Dongxuan Emperor, who ruled the Tongxuan Realm, which contained not only the great world of Tongxuan but five other great worlds.

Yet beneath Sovereign Emperor Dongxuan Emperor, five other Emperors served.

"Has Tianyang Zhenjun Yutang's Zhu family pledged allegiance to the newly ascended Emperor Haiyue Emperor—or another?"

"If Zhu Yutang has truly joined an Emperor's sect, then Xu Jin is almost certainly that Emperor's hidden true disciple."

"Does this mean the Sovereign has completely abandoned our Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm? Or is he utterly disappointed in it?"

"Then again, our Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm hasn't produced a new Emperor in ages—since Zhu Yutang, not even a single Ninth-Catastrophe True Person has emerged. The Sovereign's disappointment is understandable…"

As he murmured, Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang suddenly felt a stir in his heart. "No—Sovereign hasn't fully abandoned our Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm; otherwise, Emperor Haiyue Emperor or whoever Zhu's faction joined would have come directly to take control."

Not through such indirect means.

But if that Emperor arranged this, he must have received the Sovereign's approval.

If so, I must prepare in advance. Whoever eventually takes over Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm, Zhu Yutang and Xu Jin will be his representatives and wielders of authority.

If I establish ties early, our Commander Tian Zhang Su family will surely produce another True Person and remain prosperous for another thousand years.

But this alliance must not appear too obvious or forced.

Only at the critical moment, when I turn the tide, can I earn Xu Jin and Zhu Yutang's favor."

As he murmured, Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang's gaze suddenly turned toward the Biyan True Person's mansion.

"Old Lu, don't let me down."

Red flowers need green leaves.

Without you, how could my value be revealed?"

Xu Jin, who had just reached the Fifty-Fifth Step of the Space Lawful Path, had no idea that merely comprehending a few more Space Dao Principles and climbing a few more steps had triggered boundless speculation from Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang.

He had even deduced that Xu Jin had an Emperor behind him!

But then again, Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang's deduction was remarkably accurate.

Xu Jin did indeed have an Emperor behind him!

Only it was Master Fenghua Emperor!

As Xu Jin continuously climbed the Space Lawful Path, he continued to reap benefits.

Though his pace slowed after reaching the Sixtieth Step, the gains never ceased.

Roughly every hour, he gained one new Space Dao Principle.

In less than three days, the Space Lawful Star on Xu Jin's Star-Contest Platform nearly doubled in power.

Half an hour before the end, Xu Jin had climbed to the Sixty-Sixth Step of the Space Lawful Path.

His Space Lawful Star surged directly from 【Space Law: Fifth Stage (49)】 to 【Space Law: Eighth Stage (78)】.

Though still far from an Lei Yuanxing, the Space Lawful Star had now reached a barely usable level.

In the future, when Xu Jin comprehends the Space Phenomenon Star Pattern and other Space Star Patterns, the Star-Contest Platform's aid and enhancement will be even greater.

In the void, Tianyang Zhenjun Zhang stared at the three, especially Xu Jin, his expression one of utter disbelief.

This talent was downright supernatural.

He started with the lowest baseline, climbed the hardest Space Lawful Path, yet achieved the highest ascent.

Yuan Yuan Chengfa, on the Earth Lawful Path, had begun at the Fifty-Fourth Step and now stood at the Sixty-Second Step.

His grandson Su Chu Xuan started at level forty-six of the Wood Dao path and has now climbed only to level fifty-eight.

But Xu Jin began at level forty-six of the Spatial Law Path, and now he has reached level sixty-six.

Under conditions where difficulty multiplies, the number of levels climbed far surpasses both of them.

"Forget it—I won't tell my boy. It might shake his Dao heart."

"Time's up. Prepare to leave."

The moment Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun's voice sounded, the imperial seal appeared; starlight rippled down from the peak of the Law Path, and Xu Jin, Yuan Yuan Chengfa, and Su Chu Xuan were all gently lifted off the Law Path, reappearing simultaneously at its base.

Though their climbing progress differed, all three wore expressions of lingering satisfaction.

Such undisturbed contemplation was incredibly satisfying—it offered tremendous advancement for geniuses like them.

Aside from Xu Jin, both Su Chu Xuan and Yuan Yuan Chengfa made significant progress in their Earth and Wood Dao practices.

"Only three days? Too short! What a waste! If I had three more days, I could use the Earth Dao stone I obtained last time to attempt evolving the Earth Law." Yuan Yuan Chengfa spoke first.

"Can your Earth Law already be evolved?" Xu Jin asked.

"Not quite—it's not fully systematized yet. If I could experience the Law Path once more, combined with my previous Dao stone, I could attempt evolution." Yuan Yuan Chengfa said.

"It really is too short!"

"I feel the same way!"

"If only we could have three consecutive sessions of contemplation." Xu Jin sighed.

Beside him, Su Chu Xuan nodded, about to voice his agreement, when suddenly his ancestral grandfather Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun's soul-voice echoed in his mind.

"You foolish child—don't know how to use such a golden opportunity."

"Grandfather, I don't understand. Please enlighten me?"

"You foolish child—Yuan Yuan Chengfa is the greatest genius of our Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm in nearly a century."

And Xu Jin? His talent for Spatial Law is monstrous, and his background is immense."

"You can't even seize this chance to do them a favor? I've taught you nothing." Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun was displeased.

Su Chu Xuan looked utterly confused, not understanding at all what Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun meant. "Grandfather, I truly don't get it. Please explain."

"You foolish child—they're both thinking right now about reopening the Law Path. Can't you offer them a favor?"

"How do I offer such a favor...?" Su Chu Xuan's words trailed off—he suddenly understood. "Grandfather, can we reopen it?"

"Using it twice in a row isn't cheating, and it doesn't increase the number of contemplation sessions—why not?"

"Besides, geniuses naturally have privileges."

"Your grandfather, as the ruler of the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm, still has this much autonomy!"

Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun was furious—he was practically spoon-feeding him!

At this moment, he truly began to appreciate Zhu Yutang.

That fat boy, without a word, quietly secured a powerful connection and a future for the Yutang Tianyang Zhenjun Mansion.

And my Su Chu Xuan? I've put the food right in his mouth...

So exhausting!

At the base of the Law Path, Su Chu Xuan suddenly turned to Xu Jin and Yuan Yuan Chengfa. "Brothers, I also wish to continue contemplating. Could I ask my grandfather for a favor and reopen it?"

"Is that allowed? Won't it put Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun in an awkward position?" Xu Jin was surprised, then delighted. "If it's possible, I'd be deeply grateful, Su Chu Xuan!"

Yuan Yuan Chengfa's earlier words had just triggered a thought in Xu Jin.

The Dao stone he'd been awarded was a rare treasure—steel must be used where it cuts best.

If he first reached a near-limit understanding of Spatial Law on the Law Path, then used the Dao stone, wouldn't its value be maximized?

Could it even let him touch the threshold of evolution?

"Then hurry up! Only your grandfather would do this—if mine were here, I'd have begged already." Yuan Yuan Chengfa laughed.

"Alright, I'll do it right away!"

Now came the moment for the grandfather and grandson to perform.

Right before Xu Jin and Yuan Yuan Chengfa, Su Chu Xuan directly pleaded with Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun.

"Grandfather, my two closest friends both wish to continue contemplating on the Law Path—I do too. Could you possibly make an exception?"

As expected, Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun granted Su Chu Xuan's request—though his acceptance came with visible reluctance.

Xu Jin, Yuan Yuan Chengfa, and Su Chu Xuan's relationship had suddenly been upgraded to that of closest friends.

Seeing Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun agree, Xu Jin and Yuan Yuan Chengfa were overjoyed—first thanking Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun, then thanking Su Chu Xuan again.

As the three grew even closer, the Law Path, just moments ago sealed by starlight, reopened.

The three were astonished—especially Xu Jin and Yuan Yuan Chengfa, whose delight was even greater.

This turn of events would let them maximize the effect of their Dao stones.

Otherwise, they'd have to wait at least four more months.

In the void, Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun smiled broadly. "Doing good deeds that cost nothing—these are the ones to do more of."

Yet within that smile lay a trace of bitterness.

For the unambitious descendants of the Commander Tian Zhang Su clan, this grandfather had exhausted every ounce of effort.

(End of Chapter)