Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

Chapter 495: Chapter 212: Living or Becoming a Corpse (Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Votes)

Inside the Star Fall Hall of the Great Chen Imperial Palace.

After signing three cooperation agreements from the Tianyang Star Hall and the Da Chen National Daoist School, Cheng Yuxiao began to discuss the selection quota for outstanding talents for the next year, and Du Tingyun was adamantly unwilling to comply.

The reason was simple: the agreements signed previously were harmless.

For instance, the reduction in the number of disciples recruited by the county and state branches of Tianyang Star Hall in Dachen was just by twenty percent.

Even if the new Star Master created an uproar in the Star Hall, it wouldn’t matter.

That’s because the more disciples the Tianyang Star Hall recruited, the more cultivation resources they had to expend.

Tianyang Star Hall’s purpose of broadly recruiting disciples in Dachen territory was twofold: one was to include the children of officials and powerful local families, to gain their allegiance after cultivation so they could be utilized by Tianyang Star Hall in the future.

How many officials and nobles could a single county have to recruit from?

Some children of officials didn’t bother with Tianyang Star Hall at all.

Because they knew where their roots were.

The second purpose was to select truly talented disciples.

The more prodigies Tianyang Star Hall selected, the fewer were left for Dachen.

But such matters were like finding a needle in the ocean, only known after selection.

Moreover, those who ultimately became disciples were actually the ones with better innate talents.

Therefore, the number of quotas didn’t have too much impact.

Including the mining frequency of Tianyang Star Hall’s allotted lands, the impact was not too great either, so he signed those agreements.

But the selection quota was something Du Tingyun truly dared not sign!

It was a clause from the agreement of the Blood Star year, which came at a bloody price to acquire.

It was one of the strategies to continuously weaken Dachen and restrict the growth of its power.

If he dared to sign, the moment the new Star Master made a fuss, he would definitely be held accountable.

So, Du Tingyun was staunchly against signing; it wasn’t acceptable to reduce even by one, let alone two.

”State Preceptor Cheng, I think you underestimate Tianyang Star Hall too much! If that’s the case, I, Du, will take my leave first. I will report this matter to the Star Hall myself. Whether these contract agreements are effective or not, I leave it to the State Preceptor to discuss with the Star Hall.”

Du Tingyun was openly turning hostile, ready to leave, no longer willing to indulge Cheng Yuxiao in empty pleasantries.

Not only that, but he also implied that the three contracts he had signed just to stabilize Cheng Yuxiao might all be voided.

”Your Majesty, I take my leave now!”

Finishing his words, Du Tingyun saluted with great propriety and prepared to slip away.

He was secretly delighted in his heart.

He succeeded in restraining Cheng Yuxiao today and by turning his back this way, once he reported back to the Star Hall, he wouldn’t need to pay any price, and if he was lucky, he would receive double the credit!

Du Tingyun dared to do this for a simple reason.

He felt it was about time.

By his timing, he had delayed Cheng Yuxiao for at least 15 minutes.

The time should have surpassed 15 and a half minutes, approaching 30 minutes.

With such a lengthy delay, Zhang Zhen must have completed the assassination and disposed of the aftermath.

Thus, his task was complete, and it was natural for him to turn hostile.

This was the calculation Du Tingyun had made in his mind.

The only doubt was why Zhang Zhen hadn’t sent him a Starlight Transmission?

If it was successful, shouldn’t he inform him?

A mishap?

That couldn’t be possible!

Cheng Yuxiao had been tied up by him.

Du Tingyun inwardly applied a label to Zhang Zhen’s actions—not meticulous enough, and decided he must be cautious in future collaborations with Zhang Zhen.

”Star Master Du, it seems inappropriate for you to report to the Star Hall after an agreement has been reached,” said the Qian’an Emperor finally breaking his silence.

At this point, the interests of Emperor Qian’an of Da Chen and Cheng Yuxiao were aligned.

”Your Majesty, it is the State Preceptor who pushes me too far!

Not that I am untrustworthy!

Since it’s like this, let’s scrap it all!

Farewell!”

With a resolute salute, Du Tingyun prepared to leave directly, confident that the Qian’an Emperor wouldn’t dare stop him.

Twenty years ago, an expert from Tianyang Star Hall had directly stormed into the palace and killed the Qian’an Emperor’s Empress.

The Qian’an Emperor’s Empress was a True Disciple from Lingji Star Hall.

Back then, Qian’an Emperor didn’t dare make the slightest protest.

Now, as for stopping him from leaving, it was even less likely.

But just as Du Tingyun turned to leave the hall, State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao suddenly clapped his hands.

Du Tingyun didn’t understand Cheng Yuxiao’s intentions, but in this moment, it was better to leave first.

Turning his back meant he hadn’t paid anything to tie up Cheng Yuxiao for nearly 30 minutes.

But just as he reached the door of the hall, Du Tingyun was stopped.

To be precise, five mutilated corpses blocked his path.

Five bodies were arrayed in a line at the entrance of the Star Fall Hall, barring Du Tingyun’s way.

This gave Du Tingyun a slight surprise, causing some bewilderment.

But on the next glance, Du Tingyun’s face changed drastically!

He became exceedingly ghastly!

He recognized them!

These five bodies belonged to his subordinates.

The five Fifth Tier experts from the Gathering Battle Realm who were sent to assassinate Xu Jin!

All dead!

Their bodies had been brought here!

Du Tingyun’s temples bulged prominently with veins: the assassination had failed!

”Zhang Zhen, this useless trash! If the assassination failed, why didn’t he destroy the bodies and instead left evidence behind!”

After cursing, Du Tingyun’s heart lurched again, and in an instant, he realized another problem—if five Gathering Battle Realm late stage or even peak experts all died in battle, it meant that the Da Chen National Daoist School must have been prepared in advance!

It was a trap!

Bait for fishing!

And not just any ordinary bait!

With a total of ten Fifth Tier experts, plus a shadowy support from Zhang Zhen, the forces deployed by the Da Chen National Daoist School...