Chapter 944: Seeing Through and Counterplay? (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

January 17, Changxing Star Island training ground.

Before the muster drum had finished, all participating True Persons and Star Juniors had arrived, and the island’s Dao soldiers stood in perfect formation.

With military law looming and the Emperor’s aura overhead, no one dared to be careless.

Xu Jin arrived early and took his place in the Vanguard Scout Squad’s formation.

All the True Persons and Star Juniors present gazed at the shimmering starlight of the distant Star Ruins, then at Xu Jin—each one excited and eager.

With the Great Saint here, everything is different.

The Emperor’s presence merely increases our safety.

But whether we gain anything depends on ourselves, as Emperor-level experts rarely intervene.

After counting the troops, Deputy Garrison Commander Jin Nanzhi bowed toward the Imperial Palace and said, “Your Majesty, all combat personnel are assembled.”

The moment his words echoed, the Jade Whale Emperor appeared above the training ground.

The instant he appeared, Xu Jin sharply sensed the Jade Whale Emperor’s gaze sweeping over him.

Or rather, over the entire Vanguard Scout Squad.

But in Xu Jin’s perception, this was to confirm his presence.

“This star surge, in my faint perception, is a medium-sized star-realm fragment—your chance to earn glory. I won’t waste words. Depart now, and strive to capture it.”

“I will follow, but for now, I can only oversee. By the Commander-in-Chief’s orders, I may only act if an Emperor-level enemy attacks you.”

“But I can assure you: as long as I am here, the strongest enemy you face will be a Ninth-Catastrophe True Person.”

“In this regard, your strength should hold the advantage.”

Here, the Jade Whale Emperor smiled at Xu Jin. “Especially now that the Great Saint Xu Jin has returned—our advantage on this star island is absolute!”

“Enough. Depart!”

As the True Persons and Star Juniors smiled, their morale soaring, the Jade Whale Emperor waved his hand—starships instantly shot out of the island and vanished, and so did the Jade Whale Emperor.

Inside the starship, Xu Jin was grim.

Speculating about a True Person in private is entirely different from facing one in person.

Just these few words from the Jade Whale Emperor proved he was no ordinary ruler.

He openly named Xu Jin, greatly boosting morale and combat spirit—no one could detect any issue between him and Xu Jin.

As for the Emperor’s restriction on intervening, Xu Jin had long known.

It was likely a tacit understanding between the two sides’ high commands.

Each Emperor-level expert is a strategic asset.

If they fought to the death at this level, the war zone would be ruined in no time.

The struggle within the Star Ruins is fundamentally a contest for resources among high-level experts.

Put bluntly, if an Emperor directly intervened, it would be like the dog owner jumping into the dogfight.

As for the Space Emperor Yin Zheng’s ambush on him, Xu Jin now understood.

It wasn’t that Yin Zheng wanted to break this unwritten rule.

There were two reasons.

First, he was confident he could kill Xu Jin in an instant and flee swiftly, leaving no trace.

Second, within the chaotic-space region of the star surge, all energy fluctuations—including spiritual sense—were severely suppressed; even an Emperor’s power signature barely escaped detection.

Yin Zheng’s plan was flawless—but he never imagined he’d fail against Xu Jin.

Inside the starship, the Vanguard Scout Squad members stared at Xu Jin, puzzled.

Normally, Xu Jin departed alone ahead of them—but today, he was traveling with them aboard the starship.

Seeing their surprise, Xu Jin said nothing. He rose and bowed to Shen Zhenxuan, the current squad leader and Seventh-Catastrophe True Person. “Shen True Person, my spatial teleportation is slightly faster. I wish to proceed ahead and scout. If I find anything, I’ll notify the main force immediately.”

Shen Zhenxuan, the Seventh-Catastrophe Space True Person, smiled. “I’ve heard tales of your exploits. At first, I thought you were just a bold rookie. Later, I realized you truly possess unmatched skill and courage.”

“Since the Great Saint wishes to venture ahead to secure the first advantage in capturing the star-realm fragment, I won’t stop you.”

“Thank you, Shen True Person.” Xu Jin bowed, then turned to the others to take leave—but Shen Zhenxuan added, “If the Great Saint risks himself to secure the advantage for us, then for me, a Seventh-Catastrophe Space True Person, to remain here would be shameful.”

“Very well—I’ll join you ahead. Let’s see who finds the clue first.”

Xu Jin bowed with a smile, saying nothing—but a killing intent stirred in his heart.

If Shen Zhenxuan hadn’t followed him, Xu Jin couldn’t be certain the Jade Whale Emperor intended to strike during this star surge.

But Shen Zhenxuan had casually proposed to accompany him.

In Xu Jin’s view, this was surveillance. It was a lock.

The Jade Whale Emperor intended to use Shen Zhenxuan’s spatial ability to track Xu Jin’s position, then kill him in the chaotic-space region.

Only there could the Emperor strike with minimal disturbance—so even if the Divine Law Court of the Tongxuan War Zone investigated later, they’d find nothing.

In the chaotic-space region of the star surge, fluctuations are chaotic; within a day or two, all traces vanish.

The conclusion would be: killed by alien forces!

A Star Junior—even a candidate Imperial Saint—being killed by aliens during combat? Completely normal!

If it’s normal, no one bears responsibility.

Xu Jin had already guessed most of the Jade Whale Emperor’s plan.

If he had no preparation, no power—he truly couldn’t change anything.

But now? Everything is different.

In the next instant, Xu Jin bowed to the members of the Vanguard Scout Squad inside the starship—and vanished into thin air.

Seeing Xu Jin depart, Seventh-Catastrophe Space True Person Shen Zhenxuan’s gaze flickered. He quickly said, “After I leave, Deputy Leader Old Wang takes command. Follow orders.”

Before his words had fully faded, his form vanished.

Two spatial fluctuations flickered rapidly across the sky of the Star Ruins—one ahead, one behind.

Seventh-Catastrophe Space True Person Shen Zhenxuan sensed the lingering spatial ripples and followed them precisely.

Ahead, Xu Jin continued teleporting—first sending a message to his Master and Mistress via the Book-Message Disc, then using Ming Qian Chu to sense movements in all directions.

In an instant, killing intent surfaced in his eyes.

The Jade Whale Emperor truly intended to strike.

Within Ming Qian Chu, the auras of the Jade Whale Emperor and Seventh-Catastrophe Space True Person Shen Zhenxuan blazed like lanterns in the night.

Shen Zhenxuan followed tightly—three ten-thousand li behind Xu Jin, just one spatial leap away.

The Jade Whale Emperor was five ten-thousand li back, following the same path as Shen Zhenxuan—as if tracing his route.

“You’re following close enough. So you plan to strike only when we enter the chaotic-space region.”

Moments later, Xu Jin had sensed Shen Zhenxuan’s true capabilities thoroughly.

Shen Zhenxuan’s maximum spatial teleportation distance was roughly thirty-five thousand li.