Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

Chapter 1654: Chapter 678: True Monarch’s Regret

Watching Yutang King Zhu Shizhen being taken away by the black-armored enforcer, Xu Jin’s heart also hung in suspense.

Although they had already agreed upon the related plan.

But whether this plan can deceive the True Monarch is still not guaranteed a hundred percent.

If True Monarch Tianzhang has doubts, it will depend on the final step.

Let’s see how far Zhu Shizhen’s sister can arrange his position.

”Please!”

The moment True Monarch Tianzhang announces the conclusion also signifies that Xu Jin is officially a candidate for Daotzu.

Soon, guards come running to guide Xu Jin.

In this Dongxuan Dao Palace, even a guard has the cultivation level of the Eighth Tier, indeed remarkable in foundations.

During the march, Xu Jin’s Mingji Star Pattern dispersed like water waves to spread in all directions, but before it could scatter across the plaza, it was obstructed by one invisible force after another.

Immediately, Xu Jin withdrew the power fluctuations of the Mingji Star Pattern.

And quickly realized.

This is the core section of the Great World Dongxuan Star Realm, Dongxuan Dao Palace. Although there is no Emperor stationed, just True Monarch is enough, and there are dozens of Top-Rank Star Lords.

Before his Mingji Star Pattern evolves into Dao, it cannot silently spy on these experts.

Of course, wartime is different.

”Sir, this is Courtyard No. 673. In these three days, you can meditate quietly here. Meals will naturally be delivered by others, and any requests can be directly told to the guards. According to Dao Palace regulations, the candidate for Daotzu cannot leave Dao Palace in these three days. The area within the front palace of Dao Palace is free to roam.

Additionally, personal dueling is forbidden during these three days.”

The leading guard explained a few sentences and then left.

Xu Jin felt somewhat worried about Zhu Shizhen, who was taken away by True Monarch Tianzhang, but on second thought, worrying was futile.

He simply started tallying the Sumeru Space of Lu Huang, the great-grandson from Bixuan Royal Mansion.

*****

Dongxuan Dao Palace Tianshang Hall.

Yutang King Zhu Shizhen was taken to True Monarch Tianzhang.

On the legal seat, True Monarch Tianzhang sat cross-legged there, surrounded by starlight, majestic and mysterious.

Brought to the front, Yutang King Zhu Shizhen immediately paid his respects with a grand courtesy and then quietly waited.

”Shizhen, do you know why I called you here?” True Monarch Tianzhang asked.

”I know.”

”Then speak for yourself.”

As the sole heir of the Yutang King mansion and naturally acquainted with True Monarch Tianzhang, Zhu Shizhen did not feel stage fright and immediately recounted all the premeditated explanations carefully.

While speaking, even Zhu Shizhen himself felt a vague sense of illusion.

He felt that everything he said was like a personal experience.

Completely genuine.

It was as if he was talking about a real experience, with not a hint of deceit, full of confidence.

After finishing in one breath, even he himself was somewhat astonished.

This fabricated experience was more real than the actual truth.

Even he firmly believed it.

Xu Jin, in his mind, became even more mysterious and unpredictable.

The fabricated but reasonable experience was ultimately invented, but his convenient brother-in-law used means to let him experience a truly vivid dream.

So after the dream ended, the recounted experience turned into reality.

This is the effect of Xu Jin performing Warm Dream.

Fabricated things don’t have as convincing a scene as actual experienced scenarios.

Looking at Zhu Shizhen, enveloped in his divine thought, True Monarch Tianzhang felt slightly surprised.

This process seemed flawless, ”Shizhen, your cap-touching ceremony at the full moon banquet was performed by me personally. Are you sure there’s no omission in what you just said?

If you confess now, considering the bond between our two mansions, everything is negotiable.

But if later I find out, then I can only handle it officially, so don’t blame me for being unkind!”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Shizhen immediately cried out for justice.

”True Monarch Grandpa, I dare not deceive even you! Indeed, this Xu Jin is a genius emerging from our Yutang Sect, his combat power is indeed astounding. My capability, you know it, this time it was his idea.

But his strength alone couldn’t deal with the Gu Mother.

After we accidentally killed that Pei Qiu and obtained the Gu Mother Dragon Bone Flute, the idea was born.

Later we went to the Ten Thousand Gu Peak, suffering heavy losses.

In our mansion, three family guards died on the spot, and both Xu Jin and Chang Lin’s Life Replacement Tokens were consumed. After repeated battles, we achieved this result.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been possible to slay the Gu Mother.

Finally, I naturally took the major advantages of the Daotzu benefits.

But the Innate Treasure Material, the Innate Crystal Egg, was given to Xu Jin.” Zhu Shizhen said.

What a joke, believing True Monarch Tianzhang’s words would be disastrous.

Confessing lightly increases punishment, that’s common knowledge.

As long as he firmly denies, True Monarch Tianzhang doesn’t have any evidence!

Soul Search, given his status, is even more impossible!

Upon hearing this, True Monarch Tianzhang immediately caught the flaw, his starlight slightly flickering as he coldly laughed, ”The Innate Crystal Egg is an unparalleled treasure for refining Lifebound Spiritual Treasure. Once refined, its growth potential is limitless; even a True Monarch’s killing device can be forged.

Such a treasure, would your Yutang Royal Mansion willingly give it to an unworthy Eighth-Tier genius?”

”Naturally not!” Yutang King Zhu Shizhen responded confidently.

”Oh, then why was it given?”

”Because he is my brother-in-law!”

”What?”

”When did that girl Linxiao get engaged, why don’t I know? Why wasn’t I informed?” True Monarch Tianzhang exclaimed with surprise.

”True Monarch Grandpa, you actually know! Previously it wasn’t publicized, one reason is to examine his growth potential, and to see if he can become Daotzu, to see if he can assist our Yutang Royal Mansion.

You know the situation of our Yutang Royal Mansion.” Saying this, Zhu Shizhen’s expression turned melancholy.

True Monarch Tianzhang understood.

Or rather, he filled in the gaps.

Advance investment, recruiting a son-in-law, or even a husband!

”What a pity...”

True Monarch Tianzhang sighed quietly to himself; he originally planned to recruit a son-in-law too.

A hundred years ago, Jian Yi was able to single-handedly slay the Gu Mother with his early Ninth-Tier cultivation.

But as Zhu Shizhen mentioned, Xu Jin’s combat power, especially his explosive power, has already reached the peak of the Ninth Tier, particularly strong in Thunder Star Skills, but still far from being able to slay the Gu Mother alone.

It was with the desperate attacks of six other Ninth-Tier individuals, aided by the Life Replacement Token and the Gu Mother Dragon Bone Flute, that they managed to jointly slay the Gu Mother.

From this, it’s clear that his strength and potential are significantly lower than the unmatched genius Jian Yi from a hundred years ago.

However, even if he is inferior to Jian Yi, he is still an extraordinary genius, far surpassing ordinary talents.

There is value in him as a son-in-law.

But the Yutang Royal Mansion has already seized the opportunity!

Now, there’s nothing else that can be done.

However, there remains some regret.

If he indeed had the power to slay the Gu Mother alone, even someone like the True Monarch Tianzhang would have had to lower his face to compete for such a son-in-law.

After all, currently, Xu Jin is in the early Eighth Tier. If he cultivates to the mid to late Ninth Tier, he may indeed have the potential to slay the Gu Mother on his own.

As for the Yutang Royal Mansion sacrificing so many family guards, it can be understood.

This identity as a Taoist master is extremely crucial for Zhu Shizhen or the Yutang Royal Mansion.

With this Taoist master identity, the Yutang Royal Mansion’s legacy and territory can remain stable for another hundred years. Even without a True Monarch level being, it just means suffering a bit more loss.

But at least they can continue to exist.

Otherwise, within a few years, they would be devoured by other families, leaving nothing but scraps.

”Shizhen, this time, your Yutang Royal Mansion’s private transfer of the Taoist master quota, considering past relations and the merit earned, I, as the True Monarch, will overlook it.

But... this shall not happen again!”

As he spoke, True Monarch Tianzhang, right in front of Zhu Shizhen, smashed the Gu Mother Dragon Bone Flute he had submitted into pieces.

This item was considered a cheat in the selection process.

He knew about it but couldn’t find it.

Now that Zhu Shizhen handed it in, it counts as a merit earned.

”Thank you, True Monarch grandfather.”

”Go now, cultivate well, and prepare. Even though you have obtained the Taoist master identity, do not be lax.

If you are willing, it’s best to participate in the Taoist master elections, as a form of training!” True Monarch Tianzhang advised.

”Thank you for your guidance, True Monarch grandfather.”

True Monarch Tianzhang waved his hand, and Zhu Shizhen respectfully bowed again before leaving, his heart filled with joy.

It’s secure!

Everything is in place!

As for the Taoist master elections?

He would be foolish to seek that kind of training.

He knew his own weight and worth very well.

Going there would only expose him!

He would rather watch others struggle; it’s more entertaining!

Once he exited Tianshang Hall and left the central palace area, Zhu Shizhen finally breathed a full sigh of relief.

Initially, Xu Jin’s identity was a glaring flaw, so they decided on a strategy to prevent Xu Jin from standing out too much, to avoid any potential issues, which led to various arrangements.

As for the brother-in-law identity, it was something Zhu Shizhen came up with on a whim.

Now it seems, it worked!

The basic investigation by the Dao Palace was more of a formality, and since they passed True Monarch Tianzhang’s scrutiny, it effectively endorsed Xu Jin’s identity.

Of course, what needs to be done must still be done.

Once this spreads, various factions will surely investigate Xu Jin in secret.

But that will only be a few days later.

”No way, since I told True Monarch grandfather he’s a brother-in-law, this brother-in-law identity must be solidified!”

Leaving the central palace, a smile broke across Zhu Shizhen’s face. He immediately sent Xu Jin a Starlight Transmission, [Brother-in-law, I’m out, everything is fine! Which courtyard are you in? I’ll come find you.]

Inside the room, Xu Jin, who was sorting his gains, finally breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving Zhu Shizhen’s Starlight Transmission.

The burden on his heart eased.

The identity issue was finally resolved.

Xu Jin immediately wanted to report this good news to his teacher, Emperor Fenghua.

But considering he was still inside the Dongxuan Dao Palace, with True Monarch Tianzhang, the ruler of the Dongxuan Star Realm, just a few thousand meters away, along with several Star Lords and True Monarchs around, it was better to remain calm and contact his teacher a few days later.

It wouldn’t do to have everything succeed but end up exposed over this minor issue.

After reporting a small courtyard number to Zhu Shizhen, Xu Jin continued to take stock of the contents from Lu Huang’s Sumeru Space.

Most of it had been accounted for.

As the eldest grandson of the Bi Xuan True Monarch Mansion, he did have some holdings.

There were more than three bottles of pills, which Xu Jin didn’t recognize and needed further understanding.

As for the harvest of Star Jade Gui, it wasn’t much.

Over a hundred Eighth-Tier Star Jade Gui pieces were there.

But what surprised Xu Jin was that there were three Nine-Tiered Star Crystals in Lu Huang’s Sumeru Space.

These Nine-Tiered Star Crystals that took hundreds of years to form in the Jade Gui Mine Vein.

Not only are their star power contents immense, but centuries of accumulation have rendered their star power even purer, precious items that can directly enhance cultivation level.

Ninth-Tier and Tenth-Tier experts typically use them for cultivation.

However, the most precious item in Lu Huang’s Sumeru Space was the Treasure Material—Ice Soul Heavenly Pearl—used for refining a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure, of which there were five.

Though not Innate Treasure Materials, they are Top-Grade ones, and each can at least bear one Tao Rule.

If Xu Jin refines a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure in the Ice Water Series, once he refines the treasure embryo and integrates it, it could directly add five Tao Rules to his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure, forming a Five-Turn Spiritual Treasure.

If Xu Jin doesn’t use them and chooses to sell, they would fetch a good price.

The materials for refining a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure are usually bartered for.

Of course, they cannot be sold off in the short term.

Besides these, there were three other spiritual materials, but their value was similar to that of Ten Thousand Crystal Sand.

Xu Jin had already acquired over a thousand catties of Ten Thousand Crystal Sand, which now seemed insignificant.

In the next instant, Xu Jin’s attention was drawn; there were footsteps outside the courtyard, more than one person.

As Xu Jin stored all these harvests back into the Sumeru Space, there came a knock on the door from outside the courtyard.