Chapter 899: Chapter 360: The Two Palaces’ Designs (Part 2)
[Boss Xie, if there’s anything in the future, feel free to instruct.]
This title gave Xu Jin a sense of the martial world’s underworld gang.
[Stop calling me Boss, don’t get too close upfront, my current status is somewhat sensitive, don’t be too familiar with me. Also, I’m going to support the Jichuan Star Domain, do you want to go?]
[Of course!]
Xu Jin laughed.
After mentioning a meeting point, Xu Jin’s mind fell into the Star-picking Secret Realm again.
This time, it was to observe the number of gold stars.
Back then, he had picked six gold stars in a row, causing a great stir, directly leading to his current situation.
This time, Ji Hongli and Ning Yuchan each picked a gold star, they certainly didn’t have the authority to conceal it, so that adds up to two gold stars.
Thus, he wanted to see the number of gold stars in the Star-picking Secret Realm.
At just a glance, he was quite surprised.
[Gold Stars: 534 picked, 8 this year]
Xu Jin’s scalp tingled slightly.
Eight this year.
This year had just started, and eight gold stars had already been added.
Who did it, so fiercely?
Ning Yuchan’s previous gold star was from last year, removing the two just picked by Ji Hongli and Ning Yuchan, meaning that within just one month, someone in this world picked six gold stars.
This data, regarding the past, is even more exaggerated than Xu Jin’s consecutive six gold stars.
To others, it’s like eight gold stars were added in a month!
Isn’t this too terrifying?
Who did it?
Thinking about it, Xu Jin immediately sent the State Preceptor a Starlight Transmission to inquire about this matter.
In such a situation, wouldn’t all the forces, including Dachen, be alarmed?
Eight gold stars.
But to Xu Jin’s surprise, the State Preceptor’s response was very calm.
[This should be a normal situation caused by the Sumeru Palace and Wood Spirit Palace’s complete return to the present world. The Sumeru Palace and Wood Spirit Palace were previously isolated from the world; they had branches, but many functions of the Star-picking Tower were inaccessible to them.
For instance, challenging the Star-picking Secret Realm; this was the restriction set by the Star-picking Tower!
But since yesterday, after the Sumeru Palace and Wood Spirit Palace returned to the present world, the branches were upgraded to main towers, and members of the Two Palaces gained all permissions from the Star-picking Tower, thus they could challenge the Star-picking Secret Realm.
As a result, the number of silver stars and gold stars in the Star-picking Tower has been continuously increasing since yesterday.
The increase of eight gold stars by the Two Palaces is indeed numerous, but it’s within an acceptable range.
Especially the Sumeru Palace, their Space Star Technique is not only mysterious but also has immense power.
You need not worry about this matter, it will normalize after a month.]
[State Preceptor, will the Tianyang, Doom-suppressing, and Cangming parties have any extreme reactions?] Xu Jin asked.
[They probably won’t, at least not in the short term! The Sumeru Palace and Wood Spirit Palace have been isolated from the present world for many years, though they were situated outside the world, they have amassed immense wealth through monopolistic star skills and emblems over the years, with a solid foundation.
However, after re-entering the world, these two palaces will undoubtedly be unsatisfied with their previous small territories and will certainly expand.
Quickly in a few months, slowly in half a year, the Two Palaces are bound to conflict with various parties in the present world.
Currently, the Ancestral Land Cave Heaven of the alien race has also successfully established itself on the Galaxy Battlefield, and the Holy Clan envoy has descended, with so many things happening simultaneously, I feel a great change is imminent.
After completing the mission, you should strive to enhance your cultivation.
No matter what kind of changes, cultivation and combat power are the foremost factors.]
[State Preceptor, I understand.]
*****
In the Dachen National Taoist Institute, State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao finished sending a Starlight Transmission to Xu Jin, and then looked at Left Libationer Meng Yanhui, “Yanhui, the Jichuan Star Domain should not be too dangerous, with a fair chance of successfully preventing any incidents.
Even if it doesn’t go well.
With Xu Jin’s help, the Meng Family’s people should have no problem retreating, but your brother out in the Doom-suppressing Star Domain might be….”
Left Libationer Meng Yanhui was anxious but understood clearly, “No worries, if it indeed happens like that, it is his fate! It is also the destiny of us cultivators.
For now, I am only worried about affecting Xu Jin’s safety.
Xu Jin has already become an extremely significant part of the State Preceptor’s future strategic planning, allowing no room for error!”
“Let’s just see.
But the most important thing now is the change brought by the Sumeru Palace and Wood Spirit Palace integrating into the present world.
Within just a day, envoys from the Sumeru Palace and Wood Spirit Palace have already started moving around frequently, tell me your thoughts.” Cheng Yuxiao asked.
Upon hearing this, Meng Yanhui frowned and expressed his concern, “State Preceptor, this is exactly what I am worried about.”
“Why do you say so?”
“State Preceptor, the Tianyang Star Hall governs the Dahong Empire, though nominally the state religion, the master of the Dahong Empire is the Emperor Da Hong, in practice, the Tianyang Star Hall has long completed total infiltration and control.
The current Dahong is essentially a unification of state and religion.
The Tianyang Star Lord is practically the Supreme Emperor.
For any significant matters, the Emperor Da Hong must seek approval in all aspects.
Both inside the Tianyang Star Hall and Dahong, it is tightly packed like an iron bucket, making it extremely difficult to penetrate.
Therefore, the Dahong Empire would not become the first target for the Two Palaces to compete for authority in the present world after entering it.
The Dachu Empire and Cangming Star Hall are similar, though the position of Emperor of Da Chu is slightly better than that of the Emperor Da Hong, it’s not by much.
Similarly, in major matters, Cangming Star Lord holds absolute authority.
It would be extremely difficult for the Two Palaces to gain authority in the present world from Dachu.
Of the remaining two forces, only the Doom-suppressing Star Hall and our Dachen remain, the Doom-suppressing Star Hall itself is a unification of state and religion, the Doom-suppressing Star Lord is both a Star Lord and, in name, a god to the Barbarian Clan. However, the Barbarian Clan has its own issues, living in separate tribes, the Doom-suppressing Star Lord influences them through ordering countless tribal leaders, the control is limited.
I estimate that the star skills of the Wood Spirit Palace are more fitting for the Barbarian Clan, and more suitable to be exercised there.
Hence, the first station for the Wood Spirit Palace to gain authority and influence in the present world would be the Barbarian Clan, or perhaps some remote areas on the borders.
Only after that would they aim for the Star Domain of the Galaxy Battlefield.”
“What about the Sumeru Palace?” State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao asked.
Upon this question, Meng Yanhui’s expression became somewhat unpleasant.
“State Preceptor, the latest news is that yesterday two eunuchs of a rather high rank in the palace have already gone to the Sumeru Palace and Wood Spirit Palace respectively. This is indeed the worst news.”
Hearing this, the expression of State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao also changed dramatically.
He understood Meng Yanhui’s meaning.
Because of the change in the Lingji Star Hall twenty years ago, Dachen had to allow the Tianyang Star Hall and Cangming Star Hall to establish halls and recruit disciples in the Great Chen Realm.
Now, with the Two Palaces coming into the present world.
Then surely, the first target must always be Dachen.
There is no choice, Dachen is weak!
Moreover, in the view of the Two Palaces, if Dachen could allow the Cangming Star Hall and Tianyang Star Hall to establish halls and recruit disciples within the realm, then the Two Palaces could also do so.
However, the key problem is internal issues.
In Dahong and Dachu, the highest decisions are made by the two Star Lords.
But in Dachen, the Emperor and State Preceptor are currently not only not of one mind, but they also have some mutual undermining intentions.
Originally, if the Two Palaces wanted to enter Dachen, it must be approved by State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao.
If the State Preceptor was unwilling, even if the Two Palaces wanted to come, then at worst there would be a conflict.
The National Taoist Institute’s strength has greatly increased in recent years, and the State Preceptor’s power has soared.
In a home game, State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao fears no one!
It could be said that if negotiations with the Two Palaces failed, then resorting to military strength and refusing them, the State Preceptor could do it.
But the problem now is, there are internal offers being made to them.
Once the righteousness and legitimacy are granted, things will be hard to handle.
What to do?
“State Preceptor, a decision must be made early!” Meng Yanhui said.
Hearing this, Cheng Yuxiao smiled bitterly.
He understood Meng Yanhui’s meaning.
But this matter, he cannot do it, and given the multitude of constraints, it was impossible!
As for others, even less capability!
“We can only take one step at a time!”
State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao sighed and suddenly called out, “Elder Peng.”
“Palace Master.” Elder Peng appeared silently.
“Elder Peng, please take the trouble to monitor! On the way back from the Two Palaces, cut down those two eunuchs.
From today onward, any eunuchs dispatched by the Imperial Palace must be asked clearly about their direction!
Any dispatched to the Two Palaces!
Cut them down immediately!” State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao said.
“Yes.”
Elder Peng took the order, while Left Libationer Meng Yanhui sighed.
Addressing the symptoms but not the root cause, how long can this be sustained?