The Da Chen National Taoist School’s autumn examination secret realm had transformed.
The National Master Cheng Yuxiao sat alone on a high platform.
Below the platform were two rows of seats occupied by many people. The senior officials of the Da Chen National Taoist School had all arrived, including the Mountain Master Dong Zhao and Ning Yuchan, whom Xu Jin had met not long ago.
"Reporting to the National Master, all relevant personnel have arrived," said the Chief Instructor Yu Da as the last Vice Academician arrived.
Sitting alone, National Master Cheng Yuxiao suddenly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the Supervisor of the National Taoist School, the Left and Right Libationers, the Four Great Academicians, the twelve Vice Academicians, Dong Zhao, Ning Yuchan, and Yu Da.
Only this many people knew about the incident involving Xu Jin being trapped in the Fire Radiant Star Domain.
However, Cheng Yuxiao was well aware that this matter had already spread.
The rebellion in the Fire Radiant Star Domain and the consequent surge in the prices of second-tier supplies, not only in Da Chen Country but also abroad, was no longer a secret.
The fact that the True Disciple Xu Jin was missing was also no secret.
However, over ninety percent of the people, including the Academicians and Vice Academicians present, believed that Xu Jin would die in the Fire Radiant Star Domain, as most had assessed.
Thus, the news of Xu Jin returning alive, if not handled, would soon become explosive news.
This matter could not be suppressed.
But regardless, Xu Jin had to be protected.
This time, Xu Jin not only quelled the rebellion in the Fire Radiant Star Domain but also sabotaged certain schemes that some people had prepared for years.
"Summoning everyone here was to inform you that the Fire Radiant Star Domain has been pacified," announced National Master Cheng Yuxiao. His statement, resonating like a thunderclap, caused a ripple of shock.
Many senior figures of the Da Chen National Taoist School looked astounded. Kou Jing, one of the Four Great Academicians, stood up and asked, "May I ask the National Master, who pacified the Fire Radiant Star Domain, how was it pacified, and when was it done?"
Others were abuzz with talk, and a few quick responders had already started sending messages out using the Star-picking Order.
"It was just pacified today."
"The chief credit for pacifying the Fire Radiant Star Domain goes to the previously trapped True Disciple Xu Jin."
"The details of the pacification will be reported to the court later, but today I can give you a brief."
"The Jinshan Taoist Institute has trained a fine disciple. Brave and strategic, Xu Jin alone, trapped in a deadly domain, acted after I had slain Chi You, the Lord of Red Scale inciting rebellion in the Fire Radiant Star Domain. With the aid of my Divine Soul Avatar, he killed more than a dozen experts in the Late Stage of Refining Star, dozens of rebellious generals in the Middle and Early Periods, established a puppet new king, and regained control of the Fire Radiant Star Domain," said National Master Cheng Yuxiao.
After finishing, he added, "Of course, I also paid a heavy price. My Divine Soul Avatar left in the Fire Radiant Star Domain was lost."
Had Xu Jin been present, he would have been greatly surprised.
This National Master, his lies knew no bounds, spinning one yarn after another.
With these words from National Master Cheng Yuxiao, the originally shocked officials of the National Taoist School showed expressions of relief.
If they were to say that Xu Jin, after being trapped in the Fire Radiant Star Domain, had single-handedly pacified it, it would be too terrifying, almost reminiscent of the National Master from over twenty years ago.
He would be seen as a once-in-a-century supreme genius in all of Da Chen, someone who, if he grew smoothly, was destined to become a top eminent figure in Da Chen.
However, with the help of the National Master in pacifying the Fire Radiant Star Domain, the National Master’s avatar must have exerted a lot of effort, otherwise, it would not have been lost.
With this situation, the value or talent of Xu Jin needed to be downgraded, not as highly sought after.
But it was only not as highly sought after.
His previous status as the top scorer of the autumn exam, particularly as the top of the Heavenly Ascending Stairs, was an actual achievement.
The status of his Star Casting was unknown at the moment, but being the top in the autumn exam, top-grade Star Casting was expected.
Adding the military achievements of pacifying the Fire Radiant Star Domain could even offset the shortcomings of his family background.
For a moment, many Academicians and Vice Academicians began calculating whether to accept this True Disciple Xu Jin, and if so, how to outcompete others.
"Daring to ask the National Master, since the Fire Radiant Star Domain has been pacified, to whom does the safety or control of the Fire Radiant Star Domain belong?
Or rather, who now controls the Fire Radiant Star Domain?" Academician Kou Jing asked again.
With these words, the entire secret realm became utterly quiet; this was the most critical and core question.
The interests involved were immensely significant.
The benefits of controlling a star domain were not merely about wealth; the benefits on other levels were what genuinely mattered and were highly valued by everyone.
"The pacification was done by Xu Jin, so naturally, the new king is controlled by Xu Jin, and the Red Scale Heart of the Fire Radiant Star Domain is refined and controlled by him," said National Master Cheng Yuxiao.
This point couldn’t be concealed.
Because many subsequent matters required cooperation from Xu Jin, the controller.
In an instant, it stirred up a massive uproar.
Various voices arose.
"Isn’t this too risky?"
"If someone killed Xu Jin, wouldn’t we lose the Fire Radiant Star Domain again?"
"I’m afraid Xu Jin can’t hold it."
"Isn’t it too wasteful to give a second-tier Star Domain to one person in the Star Casting Realm to control?"
Various skeptical voices emerged, especially from those senior figures who had previously actively organized disciples to re-subdue the Fire Radiant Star Domain, their opinions were the strongest.