Chapter 715: Strike first to gain the advantage

Xiazhu Star Domain, Eastern Tianzhu Mountain Range.

A vortex star gate hung high in the void.

Below the star gate, two Ninth Tier powerhouses sat cross-legged on a platform leveled out on the mountain peak, eyes closed in quiet meditation.

At the edge of the platform were over a dozen quiet rooms, fully equipped with all necessary living facilities.

Another twenty Eighth Tier cultivators, in the middle to late stages, also sat cross-legged on a peak on the other side.

Some were meditating, while others used their divine sense to keep watch over the star gate in the void.

This was their duty.

Suddenly, the void star gate, which had been silent for a long time, began to fluctuate violently. As starlight flickered, all the Ninth and Eighth Tier guards present opened their eyes simultaneously and looked toward the void star gate.

"Report to the Army Lord, the star gate is active; someone should be coming through." As the leader here, the Ninth Tier late-stage powerhouse Wei Han reported immediately to the Army Lord and clan leader, Wei Song.

"No matter who it is, hold your ground. I am on my way."

Inside the Army Lord's mansion in the Xiazhu Star Domain, Wei Song rose instantly upon receiving the news and immediately sent a starlight transmission to another person.

"Lord He, there is activity at the star gate I am guarding. It should be someone from the Yutang Zhenjun's mansion. What should I do?" Wei Song asked via a starlight transmission using the Dongxuan Token.

"Go over first, see who it is and how many there are. Feign ignorance and probe them; ask if there will be more reinforcements coming. We will follow a thousand miles behind you. Once you have clarified the situation, we will immediately launch a joint attack to kill them," instructed the Tenth Tier Small Tianyang Xingjun, He Jian.

"Understood, Lord He. I am heading over now."

"Do not bring your subordinates, lest you scare them off. See if you can lure more reinforcements over to thoroughly weaken the Yutang Zhenjun's mansion's strength," He Jian instructed.

"Understood."

The next instant, Army Lord Wei Song of the Xiazhu Star Domain soared into the sky from the mansion, flying toward the direction of the star gate.

In another inconspicuous civilian residence, three Tenth Tier Guan Xiaoxing Lords gathered together.

However, the leader of these three was not He Jian, but Liu Hongzhi, a Small Tianyang Xingjun from the Xiji Tianyang Xingjun's mansion.

After giving instructions to Army Lord Wei Song of the Xiazhu Star Domain, He Jian had immediately reported the intelligence to their leader, Liu Hongzhi.

After listening, Small Tianyang Rank Rank Xiao Xingjun Liu Hongzhi, whose thick black eyebrows grew straight into his hairline, stretched lazily and said, "Since someone has come, let's make our move.

I hope the Yutang Zhenjun's mansion sends a few more experts for us to kill.

For killing one Tenth Tier Tianyang Xingjun, the Lu family rewards each of us three with a drop of Zhou Tian Star Dew.

While we're at it, we can also refine an Evolution Pearl."

Liu Hongzhi's words made hope flicker in the eyes of the two Guan Xiaoxing Lords, He Jian and Ji An. If that were truly the case, this trip would be incredibly profitable.

"My Lord, after we kill this wave of reinforcements from the Yutang Prince's mansion, can we open the sealed mineral vein?" Ji An asked, licking his lips with the tip of his tongue.

"Naturally! The Tianyang Xingjun said to prioritize the Lu family's request, using this as bait to lure the Yutang Zhu family's experts over.

But as long as we kill one or two of the Yutang Zhu family's experts, we will have fulfilled our obligation.

At that time, we can open the sealed mineral vein," Liu Hongzhi laughed.

In his early years of campaigning, the Xiji Tianyang Xingjun had been a capable general under the Yutang Zhenjun. But following the Yutang Zhenjun's early death and under the pressure of the Bixuan Zhenjun, the Xiji Tianyang Xingjun had defected to the Bixuan Zhenjun's side early on to seek self-preservation.

Yet, after joining the Bixuan Zhenjun's mansion, the Xiji Tianyang Xingjun became the most aggressive person in dealing with the Yutang Zhenjun's mansion.

Naturally, he had also reaped massive benefits from it.

"My Lord, it is said that the Zhu family's mineral vein has been sealed for a hundred years; there should be quite a few Star Crystals. When the time comes, could you... you know, my natal spirit treasure needs to ascend to a natal suppression vessel, and I am still missing one or two precious materials, which I am currently accumulating..."

Before Small Tianyang Xingjun Ji An could finish, he was interrupted by Small Tianyang Xingjun He Jian. "You fool, following the Lord, could you possibly be short of benefits?

The number of Star Crystals produced after the mineral vein has been sealed for a hundred years is not fixed. When the time comes, how much is produced is entirely up to the Lord," He Jian laughed.

Hearing this, Ji An looked at Liu Hongzhi with joy in his eyes.

The latter smiled without a word, but nodded slightly.

Ji An began to offer endless thanks.

Among the three of them, Liu Hongzhi, who hailed from the Xiji Tianyang Xingjun's mansion, not only held the highest status but also possessed the strongest cultivation and combat power, having evolved three Law Great Daos. He was only one step away from breaking through to a Tenth Tier Great Tianyang Xingjun, yet he already possessed the combat power of a Great Tianyang Xingjun.

As for He Jian, he was a Small Tianyang Xingjun who had evolved two Law Great Daos, and his combat power was considered outstanding among Guan Xiaoxing Lords.

As for himself, he belonged to the weakest of the Guan Xiaoxing Lords, having only evolved one Law Great Dao. In front of others, he was like a god, but in front of these two, he still had to humble himself.

"Let's go. We should be slow and not expose our tracks, lest we scare away the Yutang Zhu family's reinforcements, which would be bad." Following the order of Tianyang Rank Rank Xiao Xingjun Liu Hongzhi, the three also soared into the sky, restraining their aura, and flew unhurriedly toward the star gate guarded by Army Lord Wei Song.

As starlight flickered and a slight sense of weightlessness arrived, Xu Jin tumbled out of the star gate.

At the moment of teleportation, Xu Jin had long since activated his Dao Embryo, preparing the Space Shift Star Art.

Once the worst-case scenario occurred—such as being surrounded and attacked immediately upon exiting the star gate—he would use Space Shift to escape instantly.

Within a thousand meters of any place where a star gate existed, space could not be shaken or sealed.

Because the star gate itself was an extremely intense spatial fluctuation; to seal the space where a star gate existed, one would first have to destroy the star gate.

Therefore, Xu Jin was very confident in this point: as long as the star gate teleported him here, he could use Space Shift to save his life and leave at the first opportunity.

The moment he fell from the star gate, Xu Jin rapidly activated his Mingji Star Pattern, understanding the situation in all directions clearly.

Two Ninth Tier, twenty Eighth Tier.

Within a radius of five thousand miles, there were no Ninth Tier peaks, let alone Tenth Tier Small Tianyang Xingjun-level powerhouses.

"Is this my good luck, or is it Army Lord Wei's good luck?"

As Xu Jin pondered, looking at the two Ninth Tier and twenty Eighth Tier guards approaching, his brow furrowed slightly.

Looking at the situation, perhaps Army Lord Wei's luck wasn't very good.

Arranging guards at the star gate was a tradition in every small world of the Dongxuan Star Realm.

It counted as guarding, but also as welcoming envoys—a set of protocols for receiving and sending off.

But the problem was, the elite forces arranged here were a bit too numerous.

This star gate was basically used once a year; arranging so many elites was a pure waste of manpower.

Moreover, in terms of strength, two Ninth Tier and twenty Eighth Tier middle-to-late stage cultivators—if they formed a military formation, killing an ordinary Tenth Tier Small Tianyang Xingjun would be difficult, but trapping or stalling one would be no problem at all.

Of course, Xu Jin was only feeling vigilant in his heart.

The exaggeration in the welcoming and sending-off protocols was still understandable.

"We subordinates respectfully welcome the envoy; please show your token." While Ninth Tier late-stage Wei Han led the group to respectfully welcome Xu Jin, he also reported the situation to Army Lord Wei Song at the first opportunity.

Upon receiving the transmission, Wei Song was stunned. Only one Eighth Tier peak?

Is the Yutang Zhenjun's mansion playing games?

"I will be there immediately. You all probe them first and ask if there are any more reinforcements coming."

While instructing, Army Lord Wei Song immediately reported this intelligence to Liu Hongzhi of the Xiji Tianyang Xingjun's mansion, whom he had defected to.

The latter was also stunned upon hearing this.

Eighth Tier peak reinforcements?

Is the Yutang Zhenjun's mansion sending them to scout the path?

Or?

Currently, while instructing Wei Song to probe for information, the three slowed their flight speed again, lest they startle the snake.

Killing an Eighth Tier had no rewards at all.

They must continue to fish.

Xu Jin looked at the Ninth Tier late-stage Wei Han and expressionlessly displayed the Yutang Zhenjun Token. Wei Han and the others' expressions changed, and they immediately bowed deeply.

This confirmed his identity.

But after bowing, before Xu Jin could speak, Wei Han took the initiative to ask, "May I ask the envoy, I wonder if there are any more envoys coming later?

If there are, I will make preparations early."

Xu Jin stared coldly at Wei Han, staring until Wei Han felt his heart go numb, before Xu Jin asked, "Did you notify Army Lord Wei? When is he coming?"

"Replying to the envoy, I have already notified the Army Lord. The Army Lord is on his way; please wait a moment, envoy," Wei Han said.

Xu Jin nodded slightly, standing suspended in the air, sensing all directions.

Seeing this, Wei Han asked again, "Envoy, my Army Lord has prepared a grand welcoming banquet. If there are other envoys coming, please inform us, envoy, so the Army Lord can prepare early, lest we neglect the envoy."

When saying this, Wei Han's posture was humble to the extreme.

But even so, the killing intent in Xu Jin's heart began to sprout.

Just a moment ago, he still felt that this Army Lord Wei Song had good luck.

But now it seemed that this fellow's luck was bad to the extreme; today he was destined for a bloody disaster.

For a guarding general to ask about the number of envoys—the first time could be considered normal.

But the second time, it was highly suspicious.

Xu Jin swept a cold glance at Wei Han, and the moment the latter lowered his head, Xu Jin looked at the Eighth Tier cultivators and said softly, "Raise your heads."

The moment the Eighth Tier group obeyed and raised their heads, they met Xu Jin's gaze, and the Warm Dream Star Pattern activated instantly.

Among these Eighth Tier cultivators, one-third had a Divine Soul cultivation at the Fourth Tier peak and had not forged a Primordial Spirit; the others, even if they had forged a Primordial Spirit, were all at the early or middle stage of the Primordial Spirit.

In just an instant, one Eighth Tier cultivator whose Primordial Spirit cultivation had not reached the Fifth Tier was pulled into a dream by Xu Jin from a distance.

This was one of the effects of the Warm Dream Star Pattern after Xu Jin had deduced it to the Ninth Tier.

Previously, eye contact could only pull one into a killing dream to carry out slaughter. After deducing it to the Ninth Tier, eye contact could pull one directly into a dream for interrogation. Theoretically, below the Dao Embryo, Xu Jin could pull anyone into a dream during eye contact.

But at this very moment, Xu Jin very cautiously chose a few Eighth Tier cultivators who had not forged a Primordial Spirit.

In the dream, Xu Jin only quickly asked two questions.

When did he come here to guard?

Who used to guard this star gate before, and how many people were there?

What was their identity before they came?

The response in the dream was extremely fast; the Eighth Tier cultivator who was pulled into the Warm Dream only felt a trance before returning to normal.

But he broke out in a cold sweat.

With the envoy in front, how could his spirit be so weak?

In just two breaths, Xu Jin used the Ninth Tier Warm Dream Star Pattern to interrogate three Eighth Tier cultivators with the same questions.

He already understood in his heart.

It was basically confirmed.

The answers given by the three were not much different.

They were all elites in the army, middle-ranking generals in the army, and the kind of generals with strong combat power who could kill enemies across small realms.

In other words, these twenty Eighth Tier cultivators basically all had Ninth Tier combat power.

They were all transferred here for rotation half a month ago.

And before they came, the guards here were only one Ninth Tier early-stage and four Eighth Tier, plus a team of elites ranging from Fifth to Seventh Tier, as well as hundreds of civilians handling logistics and miscellaneous chores.

Of all this, Wei Han on the side was completely unaware.

"Where is your Army Lord? When will he arrive? I have important matters to entrust," Xu Jin urged.

"Replying to the envoy, the Army Lord is already on the way," Wei Han lowered his head and said.

As for whether there were any more reinforcements, he dared not ask again.

If he asked again, he feared this envoy would become suspicious.

He was not afraid of an Eighth Tier peak envoy, but he feared the envoy had reinforcements; it was better to wait for the Army Lord to come and deal with it. He dared not act rashly.

If he ruined the Army Lord's big plans, he would not be able to redeem himself even with ten thousand deaths.

Just as Wei Han answered, Xu Jin's gaze moved slightly. Five thousand miles away, a figure flying rapidly had already entered the sensing range of his Mingji Star Pattern.

Ninth Tier peak.

But the speed far exceeded any Ninth Tier peak Xu Jin had ever seen.

It could be confirmed that this should be Army Lord Wei Song of the Xiazhu Star Domain. This speed should be the speed under the blessing of 30% of the Heaven and Earth Authority.

In all directions, no blind spots that Xu Jin could not sense were found.

In other words, there were no Tenth Tier Guan Xiaoxing Lords.

"Could it be that I judged wrong and wronged this Army Lord Wei Song?" Xu Jin wondered, continuing to sense.

But after more than fifty breaths, Xu Jin sighed to himself.

In the end, this fellow Wei Song was destined for a bloody disaster.

Just when Wei Song was three thousand miles away from Xu Jin, at the edge of Xu Jin's Mingji Star Pattern sensing range, three sensing blind spots suddenly appeared.

Those three areas were like they had been shielded from signals; nothing could be sensed, but they were constantly moving toward Xu Jin's direction.

"Three Guan Xiaoxing Lords; they really were hiding something.

This is dark enough; three Guan Xiaoxing Lords plus an Army Lord holding the Heaven and Earth Authority—at least four Small Tianyang Xingjun combat powers; they could easily trap and kill even a Great Tianyang Xingjun.

However, why are they keeping such a large distance between them?" On this point, Xu Jin was a bit puzzled, but he was not in a hurry, just waiting and observing quietly.

After a hundred breaths, a streak of starlight suddenly appeared in the distance. In a few breaths, the starlight landed in front of Xu Jin, revealing the figure of Army Lord Wei Song.

A burly man clad in battle armor, the moment he saw Xu Jin, he laughed loudly, "I've been waiting for the stars and the moon, and finally, I've waited for the envoy.

May I ask how to address the envoy?

Eh, is it just the envoy alone?" Army Lord Wei Song sized Xu Jin up, his gaze sweeping toward Wei Han. As the latter shook his head calmly, Wei Song stepped forward and said, "Wei Song of the Xiazhu Star Domain greets the envoy. May I ask the envoy, are there any other envoys coming?"

"Naturally, there are."

Xu Jin replied lightly and immediately displayed the Yutang Zhenjun Token. He had to act; those three Guan Xiaoxing Lords were already less than two thousand miles away—not too far.

"May I ask when they..."

"Army Lord of Xiazhu Star Domain, take the order." Xu Jin, activating the Yutang Zhenjun Token, shouted suddenly.

Army Lord Wei Song was startled, a look of struggle appearing in his eyes, but he still bowed his head and said, "Wei Song is here; please issue the order, envoy."

"Army Lord Wei Song, from this moment on, hand over 30% of the Heaven and Earth Authority of the Xiazhu Star Domain, centralize power to deal with the strong enemy," Xu Jin ordered straightforwardly.

Wei Song was stunned, frozen on the spot.

Other orders were easy to fool, but this one was not.

Saying he didn't bring it wouldn't work.

Not handing it over wouldn't work either.

Frowning, Army Lord Wei Song urged anxiously, "This matter is of great importance; please show the Yutang Prince's written order, envoy."

"The Yutang Zhenjun Token is here. Wei Song, do you dare to disobey the order?

Hand over the Heaven and Earth Authority immediately," Xu Jin shouted.

Army Lord Wei Song's face turned ugly to the extreme, but not knowing if there were reinforcements, he dared not decide on his own. "Please wait a moment, envoy." While lowering his head and stalling Xu Jin, he immediately sent a starlight transmission to Small Tianyang Rank Rank Xiao Xingjun Liu Hongzhi using the Dongxuan Token.

The Tenth Tier Small Tianyang Xingjun wasn't lured; an Eighth Tier peak came instead.

Should he continue fishing or kill him on the spot and rebel thoroughly?

Almost simultaneously, Xu Jin also sensed Army Lord Wei Song's small action of activating the Dongxuan Token and laughed in extreme anger, "How bold!"

Amidst the angry laughter, the aura of the Heaven and Earth Cloud Tower, which had long been ready, exploded, and the silver Space Law Heavenly Road surged out instantly.

Although Xu Jin was Eighth Tier peak, Army Lord Wei Song had also been on guard. Almost the moment Xu Jin exploded, Wei Song's aura also exploded.

Only a split second difference.

But Wei Song had never expected that Xu Jin's means would be the Law Heavenly Road after evolution.

This was a Tenth Tier means.

The person in front of him was only Eighth Tier peak; the contrast was too great.

Almost in an instant, he was swept into Xu Jin's Space Law Heavenly Road, and the semi-chaotic Heaven and Earth Cloud Tower flickered at the top of the Space Law Heavenly Road, silver light exploding.

Countless spatial principles swept toward Army Lord Wei Song like a flood.

Wei Song was terrified.

Starlight erupted from his whole body like a volcano to resist, while simultaneously mobilizing the Heaven and Earth Authority, and his natal spirit treasure also floated out instantly.

But at that same instant, Xu Jin pointed out lightly, and the Space Law stars on the Arena platform shone even more brilliantly.

In the firmament, a large amount of silver starlight swayed down.

Star Art: Star Shatter.

Mid-tier Star Shatter!

The moment the Star Shatter finger was pointed, the large amount of spatial principles on Xu Jin's Space Law Heavenly Road echoed with Xu Jin's Star Shatter Star Art as if cheering.

In an instant, it pushed Xu Jin's Star Shatter Star Art up another level.

Almost at the same instant, Wei Song suddenly felt his heart empty.

While he was frantically activating various means, he suddenly discovered that his chest, his flesh, his clothes, and that Eighth Tier peak protective spirit armor he had bought at a heavy price, all began to disintegrate silently.

Originally, only a part of his flesh had disintegrated.

But the subsequent flood of spatial principles directly crushed and tore apart everything that remained!

Instant kill!

The Dao Embryo appeared instantly. Xu Jin, who had been prepared, unleashed a thunderbolt, and the moment Wei Song's Dao Embryo trembled in the smoke, the means to seal the Dao Embryo wrapped around it.

Wei Song's newly escaped Dao Embryo was full of terror.

It was also at this time that Wei Han of the Wei clan reacted, shouting angrily, "Protect the Army Lord, kill!"

In fact, their reaction wasn't slow.

Only half a breath slower than when Xu Jin made his move.

However, it was already too late.

The moment he sealed Wei Song's Dao Embryo, the terrifying Heavenly Gang Thunder Chain probed out like a tentacle. With just one swing, thunder rolled, and green smoke billowed!

(End of chapter) **Chapter 716: Life-Buying Money**