Jin Gong Slips Away

"Going to a Key Planet? To find something?"

Bai Xiaowen's heart tightened. He felt that he had grasped a crucial point.

"Hehe, with your intelligence, you can surely guess it. Remember, don't delay." Bai Yuantang said.

"Don't delay... Does that mean I should leave the Prophecy Temple right now?" Bai Xiaowen hesitated. "But I just received information from the Turtle God Chosen One. There's a very important Eye of Prophecy in the Prophecy Temple. Once I obtain it, I can collect Divine Artifact Fragments more efficiently."

Bai Yuantang shook his head and asked, "What is your purpose in collecting Divine Artifact Fragments?"

"This... To increase my combat strength."

"And why increase your combat strength?"

"To... find the Central Hub and seize the treasures of the Land of Origin."

"Exactly. The Central Hub is what matters most." Bai Yuantang spoke calmly. "Therefore, you must head to that Key Planet at once and find that item. It will make your combat strength soar to the level of rivaling a Deity. With such strength, would you still need the Eye of Prophecy to gather Artifacts?"

Bai Xiaowen let out a breath and nodded. "I understand. I'll immediately follow the Star Chart Route and find that Key Planet."

Bai Yuantang smiled and nodded. "Do your best, Xiaowen. Complete what Xiao Hua was unable to accomplish."

After saying that, Bai Yuantang's figure slowly faded away.

Bai Xiaowen looked down. On the Altar below, there was indeed a Titan Star Chart identical to the one on his left wrist.

Bai Xiaowen raised his hand, and a force of suction drew the Star Chart into his palm.

He now had two Star Charts. One was Spoils of War obtained after killing the Divine Descendant Creature Okandis, while the other had been given to him by his father, Bai Yuantang.

Which Star Chart should he use?

Bai Xiaowen thought for a moment.

He extended his Spirit Sense into the Star Chart his father had given him and memorized the star path within.

Then, Bai Xiaowen recorded the corresponding star path into the original Star Chart obtained as Spoils of War. This way, both Star Charts contained the Best Star Path calculated by his father.

After finishing, Bai Xiaowen handed one of the Star Charts to Sigdrifa.

"I'm leaving immediately. I'll leave this place to you... Remember, don't act on your own." Bai Xiaowen's lips moved as he gave Sigdrifa a few instructions.

Sigdrifa nodded solemnly. "This subordinate will certainly complete the task entrusted by Master."

Bai Xiaowen immediately turned around and followed his connection to the Starting Grid, swiftly returning to the square outside the Prophecy Temple's entrance.

He had originally wanted to find Goblin Jin Gong and learn some additional information, but while the stalls in the square remained, Jin Gong himself had vanished.

Only a few scattered Chosen Ones remained in the square, engaged in heated discussion.

Bai Xiaowen inwardly sensed that something was wrong. He casually stopped one of the Chosen Ones in the square and asked where Goblin Jin Gong had gone.

The Chosen One said indignantly, "That damned goblin tricked us!"

"He's already run away! All our Divinity Cores have gone down the drain..."

Bai Xiaowen was startled, then immediately understood.

It seemed that when Goblin Jin Gong had first claimed that his Deity was the God of Wealth, he had not been telling the truth. Later, when he swore by the God of Wealth's name, he had simply been spouting nonsense. The oath had carried no binding force whatsoever.

The scam was not particularly sophisticated, yet it had fooled nearly every Chosen One, including Bai Xiaowen.

The reason was simple.

Chosen Ones were generally not allowed to lie when speaking of their Deities. For example, if Xia Feng became a Chosen One of the God of Truth, then when speaking of the Deity he worshiped, he could not name another god. He could not fabricate one either.

It seemed that Goblin Jin Gong was either not a Chosen One, just like Bai Xiaowen, or the Deity behind him was one of the rare few who did not care about reputation.

The key was that when Goblin Jin Gong had sworn by that god's name, Bai Xiaowen had sensed faint fluctuations of oath-binding power, exactly like when other Chosen Ones swore by their own Deities.

Now that he thought about it, could those subtle fluctuations of binding power have been some special effect concocted by Goblin Jin Gong as well?

Having been deceived and lost over twenty Divinity Cores, Bai Xiaowen was not overly distressed. After all, he had not revealed everything to Jin Gong. During the transaction, he had kept several Divinity Cores in reserve.

What he was more concerned about was why Goblin Jin Gong had left at this particular time.

Had he scammed enough to make it worthwhile, or had some special emergency occurred?

Bai Xiaowen felt it should be the latter, because no one had exposed Goblin Jin Gong's deception. Jin Gong could actually have continued doing business here.

A thought suddenly flashed through Bai Xiaowen's mind.

Could the Deity behind Goblin Jin Gong have given him an oracle as well? Perhaps even a route map to the Central Hub?

"Interesting. Father said that in my future journey, I would encounter elite Chosen Ones in whom the Deities had placed great hopes... Could Jin Gong be one of them?"

Perhaps he would have another chance to meet Goblin Jin Gong in the future.

Seeing the deceived Chosen Ones in the square boiling with rage, Bai Xiaowen also put on an indignant expression and said, "Where did that damned goblin slip away from? Why didn't anyone chase after him?"

A Minotaur Chosen One said in a muffled voice, "Chase him? That stinking goblin has already left the Prophecy Temple and taken a Planet Teleportation Gate to the Third Star Region."

"I'm going too. Where is the Planet Teleportation Gate?" Bai Xiaowen asked.

The Minotaur Chosen One was rather kind-hearted and even tried to persuade him. "Human, forget it. That stinking goblin made enough and gave up the chance to explore the Prophecy Temple. There are many treasures in the Prophecy Temple. Are you going to give them up too?"

Bai Xiaowen waved a hand. "I can't swallow this anger. I have to seek justice for everyone."

"You're a righteous man, little brother." A Centaur Chosen One gave him a thumbs-up. "There, the Planet Teleportation Gate Jin Gong used is the one on the north side of the square. I'm rooting for you."

"Thanks." Bai Xiaowen did not care what the Centaur was plotting. He headed directly for the Planet Teleportation Gate on the north side of the square, sensed the planet on the other end, and checked its coordinates.

Comparing them with the route marked on the Star Chart, Bai Xiaowen discovered that the next planet Jin Gong had chosen was one of the stops marked by Bai Yuantang's Best Star Path.

Just as I thought! Jin Gong is also an elite Chosen One favored by some Deity. He has the same kind of cheat.

Bai Xiaowen placed a Divinity Core into the Teleportation Gate and activated it. He stepped inside, and his figure quickly faded and vanished.

The Chosen Ones in the square, full of resentment, did not complain for long. Most Chosen Ones who had won the favor of Deities were outstanding Evolutionists, and naturally knew when to let go. Complaining now was useless. After cursing a few times, they gradually dispersed and returned to the Cube Area of the Prophecy Temple to search for other Divine Artifact Fragments.