Section 91: Joining the Xingzhou Faction
By Gu Zhenren
“Even a talent like the Night Emperor cannot escape the Star Saint’s grasp. Perhaps he is currently congratulating himself, having truly reborn and defied the heavens. Little does he know, this is all part of the Star Saint’s plan. What about me? Am I not also a pawn of the Star Saint?” As he thought this, Chu Yun’s expression shifted continuously, his mind thoroughly shaken.
Seeing his expression, the Star Saint knew Chu Yun’s current state of mind and quickly comforted him, “Chu Yun, you need not belittle yourself. Your growth to this point is not solely due to subjective factors. Even a Saint cannot completely control the fate of all beings. I merely provided an opportunity, and you seized it through your talent and effort. This is your own achievement. Those who cannot seize it are like Ning Fanchen. Or like the Dragon Emperor; I merely provided a platform like Lishan to filter out the true seeds of emperorship. The Mad Dragon King, reborn from near death, naturally has his exceptional qualities; he earned this opportunity through his own efforts.”
These words from the Star Saint were like a clear spring washing over Chu Yun’s heart, causing him to tremble.
Indeed, without his own efforts and struggles, how could he have achieved what he had today? His accomplishments were not gifts from others but were earned through his sweat and blood. He had walked step by step, steadily, to where he was now. Why should he doubt himself?
With this realization, a smile graced Chu Yun’s lips.
“That’s more like it, worthy of the name Chu Yun,” the young Star Saint nodded, admiration shining in his eyes. Then, his delicate, fair face suddenly turned serious. “Very well, let us discuss business. Are you willing to sign a faction alliance pact with me?”
“What is a faction alliance pact?”
“You already know. The world is divided into Nine Provinces, naturally, there are nine Saints, thus nine major factions. Most Beast Tamers who reach the Emperor or Emperor level must face this choice. You can only sign one faction alliance pact, and it is sworn upon your spirit and the Net of Law within your Ultimate Immortal Pouch. Therefore, once signed, it cannot be revoked,” the young Star Saint explained.
Chu Yun frowned. He possessed a strong independent spirit, and this faction alliance pact instinctively felt like a shackle. “Can I not sign it?”
“Do you intend to sign with someone else?” the young Star Saint’s eyes widened, his tone somewhat displeased, his small lips seemingly pouting. “You are certainly not obligated to sign, and I will not force you; nor can I force you. There are free agents who do not sign, but they are fewer in number. Most choose to sign with a faction because they gain abundant cultivation resources. The greatest benefit is the ability to proselytize within a Continent, migrating its populace and demonic creatures into one’s Immortal Pouch. You could sign an alliance pact with me, specifying a duration. After this period, the pact will automatically dissolve. During this time, you can observe other factions; their benefits are not as good as ours in Xingzhou.”
The Star Saint’s words opened Chu Yun’s eyes once more. He seemed to understand the relationship between Saints and powerful figures of the Emperor and Emperor levels.
Due to the unique nature of Saint-level Beast Tamers and the competition among the nine Saints, it led to Saints recruiting powerful figures at the Emperor level.
This relationship was very much like that of employment. Saints provided resources and platforms, while powerful figures at the Emperor level acted on their behalf, completing tasks for the Saints in return.
Although Chu Yun did not possess Emperor-level cultivation, with his Ultimate Immortal Pouch, he had quasi-Emperor strength. This level of power was barely enough to meet the minimum standard for a Saint.
“Perhaps signing a faction alliance pact would be a good choice. I am currently only at the King level. Although I know the Secret of Becoming an Emperor, I am completely clueless about how to continue my cultivation, progressing from the Emperor level to the Emperor level, and from the Emperor level to the Saint level. I need the experience and guidance of others. Also, the forging of the Ultimate Immortal Pouch has many aspects I need to understand to avoid taking detours. Furthermore, by signing a faction alliance pact, I can migrate populations on a large scale within Xingzhou and expand my Immortal Pouch World. This is also something I desperately need…”
After careful consideration, Chu Yun looked up, his resolve firm. “Alright, then I will sign this faction alliance pact with Senior Star Saint. However, let the time be set at five years. I hope Senior Star Saint can understand.”
“Five years?” The Star Saint frowned imperceptibly; it was truly too short a time. For someone like him, who considered a hundred million years equivalent to one year for ordinary people, an immortal existence, what was five years? It wasn’t even a fraction, just the blink of an eye.
“Very well, let us start with five years. I am confident you will continue to sign with me. Our Xingzhou is so young, flourishing and rapidly developing. You will find it to be the best choice for joining a faction,” the young Star Saint seized the opportunity to advertise.
The signing of the faction alliance pact goes without saying. After it was signed, the young Star Saint tossed Chu Yun a Star Token.
This Star Token was actually an Innate Demonic Creature, with a cultivation of thirty million years. It was forged from Innate Primordial Essence, shaped like a square mirror, dotted with starlight, making it exceedingly magnificent.
“This Star Token is not only an Innate Demonic Creature but also a complementary demonic weapon for contacting the Star Saint Palace. You can accept missions from it to earn Contribution points for our Star Saint Palace. You can also use it to contact Beast Tamers within our faction. Moreover, you can use it to open the Starry Road. From now on, no matter which province you are in, you can return to the Star Saint Palace through the Starry Road,” the Star Saint explained to Chu Yun in detail.
“Alright, that’s all there is to it. If you have any questions, you can find out through this Star Token,” the Star Saint waved his small hand at Chu Yun.
“Then, this junior will take his leave,” Chu Yun bowed respectfully. When he looked up again, he found himself back on Sky City.
The Star Saint Palace, however, had vanished.
If not for the Wine King’s inquiry beside him and the Star Token in his hand, Chu Yun would have almost believed it was all a dream.
“This matter is a long story. Let’s return to the Archipel first, and then we can discuss it in detail,” Chu Yun said to the Wine King.
Now that the Outer Heavenly Demon was gone, the Wine King’s Gem Secret Passage could naturally be used.
As they prepared to leave, Chu Yun intended to take the partially destroyed Sky City into his Immortal Pouch World. However, as his hand touched the Ultimate Immortal Pouch, he suddenly froze and slapped his forehead, “Right, there’s still an Outer Heavenly Demon in my Immortal Pouch World!”
The encounter at the Star Saint Palace was so miraculous and beyond imagination that Chu Yun had completely forgotten about this Outer Heavenly Demon.
Immediately, he sent his divine sense into it, but the Wine King’s Outer Heavenly Demon was nowhere to be found. Had it already been killed?
However, through information from the Innate Demonic Creature, Chu Yun learned that during the battle between the demonic creatures, a beam of starlight suddenly shone in, drawing the Outer Heavenly Demon away.
“The Outer Heavenly Demon was a final resort cultivated by the Star Saint to control the situation. It seems he was the one who acted.” With this thought, Chu Yun no longer dwelled on it. He absorbed the ruined Sky City and the unconscious Oracle Immortal into his Immortal Pouch World, and then, with the Wine King, they returned to the Archipel through the Gem Secret Passage.
Three days later, at a banquet.
“I never expected the Star Saint was not dead but resided in the Star Saint Palace above the heavens. My son’s journey this time can be considered a celestial encounter,” Shu Tianhao said emotionally, setting down his wine cup.
“So, this is the truth of the world. It’s truly eye-opening,” Bai Mian exclaimed loudly.
“Only now do I realize my own insignificance. What I have achieved is but a drop in the ocean…” Hua Ying sighed towards the sky.
“Heh heh heh, in the Nine Provinces, Xingzhou is like this. I wonder what the situation is like in the other eight provinces?” The Oracle Immortal chuckled, stroking his beard, a shrewd glint in his eyes.
He had lost an arm and his cultivation had dropped to the mid-Marquis level. He had awakened on his first day back and met his close friend, the Sleeping Old Man. Although disheartened, he had someone to comfort him, and coupled with his own experiences, he had become more philosophical about hardships. Therefore, he was in good spirits at this banquet.
“Oh? If I understand you correctly, Oracle Immortal, you wish to venture into the other eight provinces for exploration?” Chu Yun asked, catching the implication in his words.
To this, the Oracle Immortal frankly admitted, “Indeed. The failure of the Sky City operation this time has made me realize that Outer Heavenly Demons are not easily killed. Therefore, I have abandoned that idea. It would be better to explore the other eight provinces to find opportunities for recovery and even breakthroughs.”
“Which province does my old friend wish to visit?” the Sleeping Old Man asked with concern.
“Certainly Danzhou. I once read in an ancient text that there is a type of Pill in Danzhou that can regenerate severed limbs for Beast Tamers after consumption. I need to regain my peak Marquis level, and I require this Pill,” the Oracle Immortal stated.
Hearing this, Chu Yun couldn’t help but look at his foster father, Shu Tianhao. Although he had Innate Primordial Essence Qi, his mortal body could only bear a trace, and it could not regenerate severed limbs. Shu Tianhao had always been hampered by his severed arm, and his cultivation improvement was unsatisfactory.
At the same time, Shu Tianhao looked at Chu Yun. His intention was clear – my son, given the current situation, you should go to Danzhou to find your relatives.
Shu Tianhao was unaware that the Old Dan King had already died, his soul wandering in Ghost Continent. Chu Yun had kept this from him all along, not wanting him to worry.
The situation in Xingzhou had now stabilized.
Not long ago, the Dragon Emperor had also been replaced by the Star Saint and signed a faction alliance pact. Therefore, he could be considered Chu Yun’s ally.
As for the Night Emperor, Chu Yun had personally explored Night Emperor City the day before. The Night Emperor’s coffin was indeed empty, and the Ink Qilin and Dark Shadow were nowhere to be seen.
Chu Yun knew the Night Emperor had gone to find a place to recuperate. After all, he only had one-fifth of his soul upon rebirth; his other clones had died.
However, even if he were to reappear, Chu Yun would not be afraid.
Firstly, he now had the Dragon Emperor to counterbalance him. Secondly, Chu Yun possessed the Star Token. Even if the Night Emperor attacked Shu Family Island, he could return to the Star Saint Palace through the Star Token and then, via the Gem Secret Passage, return to the Archipel. This way, he could provide timely reinforcements. Therefore, it made no difference where Chu Yun went; it was as if he were personally stationed at the Archipel.
Thirdly, the Night Emperor might not necessarily come to deal with the Archipel. He now understood Chu Yun’s formidable combat power, and since Chu Yun had killed his Outer Heavenly Demon, Rainbow Island had lost its value to him.
“In that case, Oracle Immortal, why don’t you accompany me? I also have important matters to attend to in Danzhou. I know a path leading to Danzhou. At that time, you can enter my Immortal Pouch World, and I will carry you there.”
Chu Yun’s words delighted the Oracle Immortal, who clasped his hands in a salute, “Nothing could be better, thank you immensely!”
Chu Yun waved his hand, smiling, “Heh heh heh, you are family, no need for such politeness.”
(To be continued)
