"It has completely disappeared."
After a full month, the unsettling sense of dread that had been looming over Zhao Xing finally dissipated.
But he couldn't relax in the slightest.
If the observation had vanished, it only meant that the next step would be direct action.
"It's only been a little over two hundred years since the last attempt, yet they're moving this fast? This kind of urgency doesn't make sense."
Marquis He Yin was at the Dao Domain Realm—for someone of his level, two hundred years was barely the equivalent of a short nap.
To put it into perspective, for a mortal, it was as if someone had just blinked awake and immediately set out to kill him.
If Zhao Xing knew how much Marquis He Yin had paid for this operation, he'd probably consider just handing over the item in exchange for money.
Of course, that was assuming he knew what the item was and that the other party wouldn't simply kill him afterward to eliminate loose ends.
But the problem was—he had no idea what he had taken.
And there was no way the other side would sit down for a friendly transaction.
If it was something that could be openly bought and sold, Qing Yuzi wouldn't have died for it.
"This is seriously a miserable situation." Zhao Xing couldn't help but sigh.
"Brother, you call this miserable?"
Jing Yan, reclining comfortably on a couch, had a seductive songstress in his arms. The woman was feeding him wine, her delicate fingers lightly tracing his neck.
"In my opinion, it's not that life is hard—it's that you're choosing to suffer by restricting yourself with endless cultivation."
Zhao Xing glanced at Jing Yan, who was sprawled in the embrace of beauties, but he remained silent and continued drinking in frustration.
"You've been sulking for days, looking like you're carrying a massive burden on your mind." Jing Yan raised his cup in a toast from across the room.
"You don't want to talk about it, and I won't ask. But the fact that you came to drink with me means you've run out of solutions for now and just want a distraction."
Zhao Xing nodded.
He was agitated and had decided to come over to drink with Jing Yan to clear his mind.
"Hahaha!" Jing Yan clapped his hands, signaling the dancing songstresses to stop. The group of women—all of them at the First Realm—immediately ceased their movements and turned toward him.
Jing Yan reached into his storage pouch and pulled out a bag of ancient coins. "No more dancing. Whoever can cheer my brother up the most, this bag of Seven-Star Ancient Coins will be hers."
At once, the songstresses' eyes gleamed with excitement.
That was a whole bag of Seven-Star Ancient Coins!
"Jing Yan, you…" Zhao Xing was a little surprised.
Jing Yan rose to his feet, still holding onto two enchanting women, and grinned.
"Don't be so uptight all the time. We're out there risking our lives every day. Who knows if we'll even be around tomorrow? You need to learn how to relax and vent some steam—enjoy life while you can."
"The songstresses in Lu Manor are experts at serving their guests. They can fulfill your every need."
"I won't say anything more. I'll leave this place to you."
Jing Yan shot Zhao Xing a knowing look before wrapping his arms around his two beauties and heading out into the wilderness.
Zhao Xing turned to face the group of songstresses, their eager gazes filled with expectation.
With a faint smile, he raised his cup and said, "Alright then, come and play with me for a bit."
…
A few days later, when Jing Yan returned to the palace, he was met with a bizarre sight—a group of exhausted, soulless-looking songstresses walked past him with lifeless expressions.
They seemed so drained that they even forgot to greet him.
A strange sense of unease rose in Jing Yan's heart.
"Wait… My brother was this intense? He actually exhausted over a hundred women to this degree?!"
"Could it be that… he's secretly a pervert?"
As he stepped into the hall, he saw Zhao Xing calmly gathering up a deck of playing cards, while his waist was covered in colorful embroidered pouches—and there were piles more on the table.
Jing Yan froze in place.
"What the hell… are you doing?"
"Qingyu Cards. Want to play a round?" Zhao Xing asked casually. "If you don't know how, I'll teach you."
"I left you an entire team of songstresses, and you used them to play cards?"
Jing Yan thought back to the soulless stares of those women and then looked at the piles of embroidered pouches Zhao Xing had accumulated.
"Brother… You're beyond saving."
Zhao Xing nonchalantly shuffled the deck.
"Releasing tension doesn't have to come from drinking or women. For me, winning is the best way to unwind."
"A competitive streak, huh?" Jing Yan studied Zhao Xing with amusement.
"So, did you have fun?"
"Not really." Zhao Xing shook his head. "They were too weak—couldn't even keep up with my calculations."
"I'll play." Jing Yan sat down, eager to test himself.
"Qingyu Cards? Never tried it before."
"Give it a shot. Just relax and have fun."
…
For an entire month, Zhao Xing stayed in Jing Yan's palace, playing cards.
At first, it was just the two of them, but later on, Jing Yan realized it wasn't much fun—after all, he kept losing money.
So, Jing Yan invited another player—Fate Master Wang Yun.
Since Jing Yan was now a Guest Official of the Marquis' Residence, Wang Yun was happy to build connections with him.
Naturally, he joined the game.
"Wang Yun, let's set some rules first—you're not allowed to use Fate Master techniques to predict the cards." Jing Yan skillfully shuffled the deck.
"If you cheat with fate techniques, it won't be fun anymore."
"Of course. I'm just glad someone invited me to play." Wang Yun nodded, then picked up a card.
"...What does this card mean?"
He quickly realized that the deck was highly unusual—each card seemed to have a unique transformation mechanism.
"Zhao Xing, explain it to him," Jing Yan nudged his chin toward Zhao Xing.
"This game is too complicated. It's been a month, and I'm still a beginner. I don't know how you came up with it."
"I didn't create it," Zhao Xing corrected.
"My teacher, Qing Yuzi, did."
"The Trump Card of Qing Yuzi—each deck contains only one such card, but it comes in two versions: Yin and Yang. When playing with three players, you need three full decks."
"It's the strongest combat card in the deck."
Zhao Xing continued explaining.
"The cards were crafted with miniature spell formations. If someone tries to cheat by divining the deck, the formations will glow red as a warning."
"The Yang version represents Qing Yuzi alive, with combat power at the Reincarnation Realm."
"The Yin version represents Qing Yuzi reincarnating, and its power is uncertain—it changes based on the supporting cards you have and the current environment cards."
"Oh?" Wang Yun's curiosity was piqued.
"Explain further."
"The environment cards are straightforward. There are two types—Stable Cards and Unstable Cards."
Zhao Xing chuckled.
"Each card has two values—one represents spiritual energy levels, and the other represents chaos levels."
Wang Yun nodded, quickly understanding the concept.
"Stable cards have fixed values, but unstable cards can be affected by external factors and change unpredictably."
Zhao Xing casually drew a Stable Card from the deck.
The intricate patterns on the card glowed faintly, releasing a soft gray mist…
"This is the Wasteland Card."
With that, Zhao Xing tossed the card into the pile of Stable Cards, where the spiritual energy index ranged from 500 to 100.
"Buzz~"
Immediately, the numbers changed. The highest value, originally 500, was reduced to 5, while the lowest, originally 100, dropped to 1.
"Interesting." Wang Yun quickly grasped the mechanics and picked up a General Card labeled Puta, throwing it into the mix.
As a result, Puta, whose combat power was originally 100,000, was now reduced to less than 1,000.
In Zhao Xing's deck, the Reincarnation Realm was not subdivided into different levels, but a 100,000 combat power figure was equivalent to a Third Realm Lesser Divine Ability practitioner.
Now, with the effect of the Wasteland Card, the power had been reduced by a factor of 100, bringing it down to approximately the pinnacle of the First Realm.
Furthermore, many divine abilities were sealed, leaving only basic source techniques available, while even Void Techniques dimmed significantly.
"Brother Wang, you catch on quickly." Jing Yan praised.
Wang Yun pondered for a moment. "Then there must also be a Death Domain Card, right?"
"Correct." Zhao Xing nodded and pulled out a pure black card. "There is only one Death Domain Card in the deck."
He threw the Death Domain Card into the pile.
"Buzz~"
A black glow swept across all the cards, covering both numeric values and General Cards with a layer of darkness.
"When the Death Domain Card is played, the game ends immediately." Zhao Xing explained. "It doesn't always appear in every game—the probability is random and relatively low."
"If someone realizes they're about to lose and happens to find a Death Domain Card, they can play it to end the game as a draw, with no winners."
Wang Yun shook the Trump Card of Qing Yuzi in his hand and asked, "This card represents Reincarnation Realm, and it even states that Qing Yuzi possesses world-shaking abilities, including the power of reincarnation itself. Even so, does it still fail to counter the Death Domain Card?"
In reality, the Death Domain, like the Extreme Star and Extreme Land, was merely a legendary existence—it had never been physically confirmed.
Wang Yun believed that since Dao Domain Realm could counteract the Wasteland, then Reincarnation Realm should logically be able to resist the Death Domain.
"This is just a card game, Brother Wang," Jing Yan chuckled. "Reincarnation Realm is something we've actually seen before, but tell me—has anyone ever truly encountered the Death Domain?"
Wang Yun clasped his hands apologetically. "Brother Zhao, please continue."
Zhao Xing shuffled the deck and said, "Let's just start playing—I'll explain as we go."
A large stack of cards was split into nine piles and shuffled together.
Each player drew ten cards to begin.
"Anyone got a Luck Card?" Zhao Xing asked after drawing his hand.
"I do." Wang Yun nodded.
Zhao Xing pointed to the support card area. "Using a Luck Card, you can either draw three support cards or one main card. You can also choose to hold onto it and play it later, once you get a better sense of the game. That way, you can avoid drawing junk cards too early."
"I'm using mine." Wang Yun tossed a Luck Card onto the table. The card was labeled "Auspicious Star Shine", allowing him to draw three support cards or one main card.
As soon as Wang Yun played his Luck Card, the game officially began.
The delicate card box emitted radiant light, and the surroundings dimmed. Suddenly, it felt as if the three of them were seated within the vast cosmos itself.
Before them, a Star Ocean Map unfolded. Wang Yun could see shadows of Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom's territory and Xuanling Star Domain, but the map wasn't a perfect match—it seemed more like an ancient historical map of the Xuanling Star Domain.
This meant that the map didn't depict modern powers, only some minor factions from history.
As the game progressed, Wang Yun confirmed that the card box had integrated various historical periods of the Xuanling Territory.
Each player needed to select a native faction and establish dominance in the dark cosmos. Only minor kingdom-level forces were available for selection.
Zhao Xing chose a realm-tier kingdom called "Great Zhou".
Jing Yan selected a small demon faction.
After some thought, Wang Yun picked the Yuanhai Dynasty, as it was a force he was familiar with.
At the start, each player's territory was small, and spiritual energy levels were unstable. They had limited footholds, forcing them to strategize and expand their power.
The final objective was to conquer the universe formed within the card box.
The environment cards introduced numerous variables, making each game highly unpredictable.
Even though Wang Yun was a Third Realm Fate Master, his divination techniques were useless here—the game's complexity rivaled an infinitely evolving chaos model.
"This game is incredibly well-designed." Wang Yun had already praised it multiple times before the game was even halfway through. "Zhao Xing, your teacher invented this?"
"Yeah." Zhao Xing nodded.
"Wait… why are some of my planets disappearing?" Wang Yun suddenly noticed that his territory was shrinking rapidly—planets were vanishing one after another, and his spiritual energy index was plummeting.
Zhao Xing glanced at Wang Yun's area. "Jing Yan used a Wasteland Card on you."
"Why are you attacking me already? We're not even close to each other on the map." Wang Yun asked, curious if there was some deeper strategy behind this.
"No reason." Jing Yan grinned. "Just for fun. Gotta take advantage while you're still figuring things out."
Wang Yun was momentarily speechless.
Due to his lack of familiarity with the rules, Wang Yun was soon eliminated from the game.
The card box emitted a beam of light, forming a line of text before him:
[Your faction, the Yuanhai Dynasty, has been annihilated by the Second Realm powerhouse of the 'Puye Demon Kingdom'. The number of survivors has dropped below ten million, which is insufficient to maintain kingdom status. You are no longer able to establish a foothold in the vast universe. You have been eliminated.]
Below this, an additional game summary appeared:
[Your faction's lifespan was less than 100,000 years. You have lost 100 times the base wager.]
Since they weren't playing for money this round, Wang Yun wasn't sure exactly how much he had lost, but being the first one eliminated definitely meant he had suffered the worst loss possible.
The card box's universe had an invisible time acceleration mechanism. Wang Yun watched as Zhao Xing and Jing Yan expanded from small factions into galactic overlords, each commanding tens of thousands of Yin-Yang Foundation Star Systems.
Their card draws and plays accelerated rapidly.
The nebulas within the star regions began to spin violently, signaling an all-out war between Zhao Xing and Jing Yan's factions.
"Boom—!"
A dazzling starlight explosion erupted across the card box's simulated universe.
At some point, the light froze in place, and the card box ceased drawing new cards.
Before Wang Yun could grasp what had happened, he suddenly heard Jing Yan's exasperated shout—
"Damn, this is ridiculous."
"How do you always manage to cultivate multiple Dao Domain Realm experts by the Third Epoch? This is way too fake!"
Wang Yun stared at the final game summary screen.
[The Emperor of Great Zhou, 'Che,' has advanced to the Life-and-Death Dao Domain Realm. Wielding the Primordial Divine Weapon 'Thousand Star Sword,' he annihilated 80% of Puye Demon Kingdom's population.]
[Through six epochs of expansion and development, the Great Zhou Dynasty has risen as a dominant force in Xuanling Star Domain, establishing an Ancient Kingdom. The game is over.]
[This round, neither the Reincarnation Card nor the Death Domain Card appeared.]
"Buzz~"
The glow of the card box faded, and cards rained down from the air, scattering all over the ground. Jing Yan, clearly frustrated, grumbled as he picked up the scattered cards.
"It's over?" Wang Yun asked.
"Yeah, it's done." Zhao Xing nodded.
"I never saw a Reincarnation Card appear," Wang Yun noted.
"The Reincarnation Card isn't guaranteed to show up," Jing Yan explained. "I've played with Brother Zhao for a whole month, and we've only seen a Reincarnation Card once."
"This game my teacher created is way more fun with more players," Zhao Xing added.
"The more Environment Cards in play, the higher the overall spiritual energy index of the territories. That's when the Reincarnation Card is more likely to appear. Generally, if there are eighteen players, then the Reincarnation Card is guaranteed to be drawn in every game."
"I see." Wang Yun couldn't help but be impressed. "Your teacher's card game subtly aligns with the principles of the Dao. It's truly remarkable."
The invention of the Qing Yu Card Game quickly became popular within the Marquis's residence.
For an entire year, Zhao Xing played Qing Yu Cards with the experts under Lu Yuehan's command.
Since there weren't any major missions at the moment, the guest experts were bored and idle.
As more and more people joined, the game's playability skyrocketed—even Lu Yuehan herself ended up getting involved.
At first, Zhao Xing would always win, but as more high-level experts joined, his win rate began to drop.
Eventually, even Hong Qi, a renowned scholar and preacher, got sucked into the game.
"Sorry, Zhao Xing—the Resurrection Ritual is complete."
Hong Qi smiled faintly, tapping his fingers together.
A Support Card flew out from his Star System, revealing a detailed engraving of an altar.
Zhao Xing, who was in the middle of mobilizing troops, immediately narrowed his eyes.
He watched as Hong Qi pulled a card from his General Deck and placed it on the altar.
The once unremarkable Third Realm General Card transformed into the likeness of Qing Yuzi.
"All forms of existence are mere ants before me—I alone reign supreme over Heaven and Earth!"
Standing atop auspicious clouds, Qing Yuzi's figure radiated brilliant purple light, his commanding presence overwhelming the battlefield.
With a wave of his sleeve, he casually wiped out the entire Great Zhou Army, which had been surrounding Hong Qi's star systems.
"YES!"
Lu Yuehan cheered like a child who had just won a long-awaited victory.
They had been crushed by Zhao Xing too many times. Finally, someone had managed to beat him.
"Mr. Hong, you're truly skilled."
Zhao Xing admitted defeat with a nod of respect.
He also had a hidden Trump Card, but he hadn't been able to meet the game's resurrection conditions in time. Meanwhile, Hong Qi had successfully executed the strategy.
"This round, I just got a little lucky." Hong Qi smiled. "You used up all your Spiritual Energy Cards to develop top-tier generals. If I had given you a little more time, you would have broken through my capital and wiped out my kingdom, ending the game."
"The fact that you managed to hide the Altar Card from me is impressive in itself," Zhao Xing responded. "If I had noticed it earlier, I would have launched a full-scale attack without hesitation."
With Hong Qi's arrival, Zhao Xing's reign as the undefeated champion finally came to an end.
The more people played, the more they realized the depth of the game's creator.
Even Hong Qi himself praised the game, saying that if Qing Yuzi were still alive, he would definitely be a close friend.
Lu Yuehan, however, felt differently.
She had once heard Jing Yan mention that Zhao Xing originally started playing this card game as a way to relax.
"He calls this relaxing?" Lu Yuehan was at a loss for words.
With so many players, Qing Yu Cards became incredibly complex. Every additional player introduced countless new variables.
Each time Lu Yuehan played, she felt like her head was about to explode—yet she could only manage a middle-ranking performance at best.
She simply couldn't understand why some people found this mentally exhausting game "relaxing."
"Seriously, people from the Self School must all have screws loose." Zeng Zhuo, a mechanist, thought to himself when he overheard the conversation. "Why am I even bothering to overthink this?"
Between the excavation of Star Wheel Labyrinth and its subsequent restoration, nearly a decade had passed.
One year of recuperation, three years of card games, three years of mundane routine, and then another three years had flown by.
By this point, Zhao Xing and Jing Yan had completely integrated with Lu Yuehan's group.
Even so, ten years was still a short time to truly build lasting bonds.
Lu Yuehan also had no intention of letting Zhao Xing and Jing Yan continue wasting time—after all, this wasn't Ancient Kingdom territory.
At the end of the day, Southfall 88 was still a mausoleum site. Even if people relaxed there, no one would linger for too long.
But it wasn't as if Zhao Xing had spent the past decade doing nothing productive.
Beyond just building relationships, Zhao Xing had another hidden motive for introducing Qing Yu Cards—he wanted the people of Lu Residence to indirectly understand him.
Even Hong Qi had praised Qing Yuzi as a well-read, brilliant man—someone he would consider a close friend if he were alive.
Whether or not Hong Qi actually meant those words was unclear, but at the very least, he had said them.
By the same logic, if Zhao Xing demonstrated knowledge in multiple fields, he wouldn't seem out of place.
After laying the groundwork for a decade, he was now prepared to use his status as a guest expert of the Lu Residence to deliver an archaeological revelation—one that would shock everyone.
His ultimate goal? To obtain the complete stages of the Juyang Straw Puppet Technique as soon as possible.
His second major task over the past decade was the Nascent Law Stage of the Juyang Straw Puppet Technique—which he had completely mastered.
Now, he had begun delving into the Void Law Stage, but progress had slowed dramatically due to two reasons:
The difficulty had skyrocketed.
He lacked the necessary materials.
All the required materials originated from the Xuanzu Star System, a treasured land of the human race.
Three of these star systems belonged to the Reincarnation Divine Palace.
Three were controlled by the Origin Heaven Palace.
The final three lay within the Primordial Hill.
Even Yuanhai Palace couldn't acquire all the materials—he could only find substitutes.
Luckily, Lu Yuehan had already dispatched people to search for them—she wasn't just all talk.
"My teacher once said—wherever the Sun Star and Moon Star shine, a precise location can always be determined."
"He was also highly knowledgeable in geomancy and tomb burials. In fact, he once served as a Shennong of the Burial Department."
"He left behind a book—The Qing Yu Burial Canon."
"The mountain remains still, and Fortune gathers. Where Fortune gathers, a burial site forms. A warm burial chamber fosters the birth of all things."
"The inner Fortune arises, and the outer Fortune takes form. When the inner and outer forces combine, the Feng Shui aligns naturally."
"The inner Fortune arises, indicating that the burial chamber nurtures all things. The outer Fortune takes form, referring to the merging of mountains and rivers into a structured shape. Vitality is generated internally, while the external form manifests—these two forces reinforce one another."
The exploration warship soared above the mountain ranges of Southfall 88, carrying Zeng Zhuo, Wang Yun, Gao You, Hong Qi, Jing Yan, and Lu Yuehan.
They listened intently as Zhao Xing spoke with ease.
After holding back for ten years, even Lu Yuehan couldn't resist personally leading an exploration mission to the tombs. Zhao Xing wouldn't let this opportunity go to waste. He immediately started leveraging Qing Yuzi's reputation to set the stage for the upcoming tomb discoveries.
"Observing momentum, examining traces, distinguishing forms, and analyzing colors."
"Momentum represents the grand Dao's flow. Traces reflect the imprint of the Five Elements. Forms denote the terrain's meridians. Colors indicate the presence of the Six Qi."
"Burial sites are often found in locations where water embraces mountains. The purpose of a burial chamber is to contain the deceased's vitality, slowing the dissipation of their Dao Body and Primordial Essence—or even preventing their loss altogether."
The reactions among the group varied.
Wang Yun nodded continuously in agreement as Zhao Xing spoke.
As a Fate Officer, he was naturally well-versed in Feng Shui theories. Wind, water, and mountains were closely linked to Shennong techniques, and both professions shared overlapping knowledge. For example, Shennong had specialized branches like the Burial Division Shennong and the Heavenly Burial Shennong, both of which handled tasks similar to Fate Officers.
He could understand everything Zhao Xing was saying—and he was even an expert in the field. Even Hong Qi couldn't compare to him on this subject.
Although Hong Qi was a scholar of Dao transmission, he couldn't possibly study everything. He could comprehend the words, but he had no way to discern their authenticity.
However, after seeing Wang Yun's reaction, he quickly realized that Zhao Xing wasn't just making things up—this knowledge was real.
Wait, no. To be precise, it wasn't Zhao Xing who had this expertise—it was Qing Yuzi.
Of course, not everyone was willing to listen to Zhao Xing ramble on.
"Zhao Xing, your teacher is indeed knowledgeable, and I assume you've inherited some of his skills. But we've been flying for days now. Have you actually found anything? If you only talk without results, that's not real skill."
The speaker was Tan Mu, a Third Rank Shennong.
There's an old saying: "Those in the same profession are rivals."
Seeing a Second Rank Shennong like Zhao Xing continuously putting on airs made Tan Mu feel like his status was being threatened.
After listening to Zhao Xing's confident speech for so long, he couldn't hold back anymore.
"We can test it," Zhao Xing said as he walked over to a Heaven-and-Earth Projection Device—a mechanical detection instrument capable of perfectly preserving the surrounding terrain data collected during the warship's flight.
For seven days, Zhao Xing carefully analyzed the recorded maps. Then, he pointed to a specific mountain range and said, "Miss Lu, please check this location."
Lu Yuehan smiled. "Alright."
The warship immediately changed course, heading straight for the location Zhao Xing had indicated.
In truth, Lu Yuehan was more than willing to let Zhao Xing take the lead. Even if he ended up being wrong, she still planned to save face for him in front of everyone.
When they reached the site, Zhao Xing flew off the ship.
Wang Yun considered following but then glanced at Tan Mu—and decided to stay put.
Unless Hong Qi or Lu Yuehan personally told him to go down, it was better to stay neutral.
Meanwhile, Jing Yan didn't hesitate. He waved a hand and followed after Zhao Xing.
"Old Zhao, what level of tomb do you think is buried here?" Jing Yan asked as he flew alongside Zhao Xing.
"I haven't even confirmed anything yet, and you're already confident?"
"Recognizing the meridians, tracing them to their origins, identifying the continuous flow of vitality—this site is brimming with overwhelming momentum. It's clearly a Dragon Vein formation."
Jing Yan covered his right eye and pointed forward with his left hand. "There's definitely a massive tomb hidden here."
Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow. "Your technique can pinpoint Dragon Veins? Brother, are you actually royalty?"
Jing Yan looked surprised. "Didn't you introduce me to Wang Yun as royalty back then? I thought you already figured it out. Wait—you seriously didn't know?"
"…"
Zhao Xing was at a loss for words.
Of course, he had made that up on the spot when introducing Jing Yan to others. Later, when Jing Yan started acting like royalty, Zhao Xing had just assumed he was showing off.
"I'm hurt."
Jing Yan clutched his chest dramatically. "You don't care about your brother at all. Sigh."
"Enough already."
"Hahahaha!"
The two chatted as they searched for the tomb's entrance.
The mountains stretched endlessly in all directions, making the search extremely difficult.
Even though Zhao Xing had already narrowed down the general area, it still took him two years to identify four potential entrances.
"Brother Jing."
Zhao Xing pointed toward a specific mountain range.
"Follow the mountain base fifty miles down and make a horizontal cut."
"Got it."
Jing Yan immediately summoned his Myriad Dao Soldiers and Breaking Dao Needles.
His Blacklight Shuttle shifted forms, burrowing into the hundred-kilometer-high mountain like a drill.
The Blacklight Shuttle split into four pieces, transforming into giant blades, slicing through the rock from different angles.
"Boom!"
A massive chunk of the mountain was carved out in an instant.
"Rumble, rumble, rumble—"
Giant boulders tumbled down, crashing into the ground like a meteor shower, leaving deep craters in their wake.
Jing Yan covered his eyes and looked down.
"Brother Zhao, there's no entrance."
"Of course, you won't see it looking down."
Zhao Xing pointed at the freshly exposed mountain bedrock. "Look up."
"Hmm?"
Jing Yan lifted his gaze—only to see fifteen translucent yellow crystals embedded deep within the mountain's base.
"What are those?"
"An Inverted Mountain Tomb, with a World Core Ring."
Zhao Xing explained, "It's also called a Moonfall Ring. To put it simply, these fifteen crystal slabs are fragments of a miniature world—but specifically, cut-up sections of a World Core."
"Wait—you're saying the tomb is inside these Moonfall Rings?"
"Exactly."
Zhao Xing pulled out two Vajra Bracelets.
Ever since Lu Yuehan's team finished excavating the Star Wheel Labyrinth, he had retrieved his Vajra Bracelets.
"What are you doing now?" Jing Yan asked.
"This is a living tomb—we need to capture it."
"Be careful—don't let your hands tremble."
"In a moment, I'll signal you to use a Tactical Lockdown Formation. You'll control the left section of the mountain with eight Moonfall Rings, while I handle the right section with seven."
"Interesting. Leave it to me." Jing Yan nodded.
"Juyang Clone—Expand, Expand, Expand!"
A dark-red figure emerged from Zhao Xing's body, rapidly growing in size.
"Boom!"
Its feet stomped down, sinking deep into the earth's meridians, suppressing the terrain.
Even the mountain veins beneath them collapsed from the force.
Juyang Clone is truly powerful, Zhao Xing thought to himself. By using the Pillar of Heaven and Star-Treading techniques from the Treasure Mountain Art, I can suppress the earth meridians across tens of thousands of miles with ease.
If I had to do this with my main body, it wouldn't be nearly as effortless.
Zhao Xing had only cultivated the Juyang Puppet Technique to the third level of the Void Method, yet the materials used to craft it were already worth three billion. And that was after finding alternative materials—if he had used true Sun-Origin materials from the Xuanzu Star System, there were only three types available.
However, once completed, the Juyang Clone's physical body was even tougher than his Dao Origin Body. In terms of defense and raw strength, even his main body was no match.
Not to mention, it was also compatible with Yang-based techniques, meaning that Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone wasn't just a spellcaster, but also a warrior—covering the main weakness of a Shennong to some extent.
"Prepare." Zhao Xing's main body held up the Boundary Compass. "Three, two, one… move!"
Buzz!
Jing Yan's Myriad Dao Soldiers raised their hands, and a vast ring of fire erupted from his shoulders and knees, sending ripples through space that expanded outward.
However, this time, he used a targeted cast, meaning it only affected the mountain base and didn't disrupt Zhao Xing, who was holding the Boundary Compass.
The fifteen Moonfall Rings seemed to sense something. Suddenly, they broke free from the mountain—four of them burrowing downward.
Bang!
The Moonfall Rings that slammed into the ground failed to dig in and instead bounced back up.
With Juyang Clone suppressing the earth meridians, the Moonfall Rings had no way of burrowing underground.
Boom!
The Juyang Clone reached out with its right hand, slipping its arm through four Moonfall Rings in one swift motion, causing them to stack onto its wrist.
Whoosh!
Meanwhile, four more shot straight toward the sky.
"Jing Yan!" Zhao Xing called out immediately.
"I got it!"
Jing Yan let out a low shout. A Sky-Fixing Pillar shot forward like an arrow, piercing through four Moonfall Rings.
Clang!
The Sky-Fixing Pillar locked the four Moonfall Rings in place, pinning them in the air. The other end bent sharply, forming a U-shaped loop, sealing the four Moonfall Rings in the sky.
However, the remaining seven Moonfall Rings suddenly vanished into thin air.
Zhao Xing quickly activated the Boundary Compass, using Purple Wind Law to forcibly drag two of them out of the void, while two more were wrapped in the Blood Cloud Domain.
Jing Yan deployed his Twelve Wandering Gods, activating the Heavenly Wandering God Spell.
This was a specialized void technique, causing twelve immense rivers to tear through space, coiling around three of the invisible Moonfall Rings like twelve swimming dragons.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Moonfall Rings thrashed like living creatures, crashing violently against the void currents.
Jing Yan was startled. "What kind of treasure is this? It's absurdly powerful."
"Ever heard of a Void-Burrowing Soul Ring?" Zhao Xing replied. "The Moonfall Ring functions similarly. Back in the day, Su Wan's soul escaped through the Void-Burrowing Soul Ring in the Barren Domain."
"So that's how it is… Wait, this is bad! Brother Zhao, I'm losing control!" Jing Yan's expression suddenly turned red as if he was straining to hold on.
"What?!" Zhao Xing was alarmed and was just about to step in, when he saw Jing Yan smirking mischievously as he tightened his Twelve Wandering Gods, securely trapping the Moonfall Rings again.
Realizing that Jing Yan was messing with him, Zhao Xing couldn't help but offer his highest form of praise:
"You really are a bastard."
"Thanks for the compliment." Jing Yan looked completely unfazed, even pleased with himself.
"…You're insufferable."
"So, what's the next step?" Jing Yan asked.
"We wait." Zhao Xing replied. "Unsealing a living-space tomb without damage is difficult. Inform the Lu Family."
A living-space tomb was exceptionally difficult to open.
One wrong move, and it would self-destruct.
"On it."
—
When Lu Yuehan and the others arrived, they were visibly shocked upon seeing the fifteen Moonfall Rings.
"Miss, this is a living-space tomb!" Wang Yun exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. "It can burrow underground, hide in the void, and compress itself into an extremely small form. It's almost impossible to detect."
"Capturing one is incredibly difficult because it can escape through anything. Even though Jing Yan and Zhao Xing have it trapped now, they can only hold it for seven days."
"Look at Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone—its arm is already starting to corrode. In seven days, it'll be completely penetrated."
"The same goes for Jing Yan's Sky-Fixing Pillar."
"And if, after seven days, the Moonfall Rings still fail to escape, they won't assume they're just trapped in some special environment. Instead, they'll recognize that they've been fully captured—and immediately trigger self-destruction."
"When that happens, the tomb raiders will get nothing."
"So it's programmed that way?" Lu Yuehan found this mechanism incredibly fascinating, having never heard of such a thing before.
Tan Mu, on the other hand, was at a complete loss for words.
He never expected Zhao Xing to be serious about this.
He actually dug up a living-space tomb!
Even though Zhao Xing was Second Rank, while he himself was Third Rank, at this moment, Tan Mu had to admit defeat.
If the tomb was successfully opened, Lu Yuehan would undoubtedly reward the guest retainers.
And since Zhao Xing, the newly recruited guest retainer, was the one leading them to treasure, what more could Tan Mu say?
"Mr. Hong, Miss, I did not fail my mission."
Zhao Xing cupped his hands toward Lu Yuehan.
"You two Dao Brothers have worked hard."
Lu Yuehan smiled, though her gaze remained firmly locked on Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing ignored Lu Yuehan's intense stare. "Miss, just as Wang Yun said, Jing Yan and I can only hold them for seven days."
"Please make arrangements to crack open the Moonfall Rings as soon as possible."
Lu Yuehan immediately turned to Hong Qi. "Mr. Hong?"
Hong Qi nodded. "Once the Moonfall Rings are first excavated, there's a seven-day countdown, which is indeed short. But I have a way to extend that time."
From there, the fifteen Moonfall Rings were handed over to the Marquis Residence's experts.
There were fifteen rings in total, each corresponding to a miniature world. However, only one of them contained the real burial goods.
Cracking all the Moonfall Rings within seven days without damaging them was an almost impossible task.
However, under Hong Qi's expertise, there was no need for guesswork.
From fifteen identical Moonfall Rings, he pinpointed the one containing the real burial chamber.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The other fourteen Moonfall Rings exploded one by one over the course of seven days, leaving behind the one true tomb world.
As it activated, a radiant glow burst forth, spewing mountains of treasures into the open air.
A pillar of divine light shot into the sky, instantly attracting the attention of every powerful being on Southfall 88.
"Treasure unearthed!"
"Such intense fluctuations… could it be a Taiyin Dao Soldier?"
"Tsk, it's the people from the Marquis Yuetan Residence."
"And the Yuan Estate Army too. Forget it, let's leave."
"Damn, they're lucky."
"..."
A massive haul of treasures was excavated, and Zhao Xing and Jing Yan both watched as the radiance of the hoard filled the air.
"Brother Zhao, we got shortchanged." Jing Yan sighed. "At most, we can only take twenty percent."
"Twenty percent is already good enough." Zhao Xing remained calm. "If it were just the two of us, we wouldn't have been able to unlock the Moonfall Rings at all. Seven days wouldn't have even been enough for us to return to the base and find someone to crack them."
"If we took them, we'd have gotten nothing. Now, we get a share of the profits and even earn some favors. What's there to be unsatisfied about?"
"That's true. Acting alongside a major faction guarantees at least some harvest. If we were doing this alone, we'd be working for nothing, and even worse, we could lose money or get injured and have to spend even more on treatment." Jing Yan nodded.
Zhao Xing said casually, "A lone wolf shoulders all risks and expenses, and safety isn't guaranteed. As a guest retainer for a major force, there's security, a baseline profit, and bonuses. The difference is like being an employee versus running your own business."
Jing Yan burst into laughter. "Only you, Brother Zhao, could compare grave robbing to running a business."
"Let's go. The young miss is calling us."
"Yeah, yeah, time to split the profits."
—
Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, one hundred and seventy years had gone by.
On Southfall 65, inside a palace residence.
Lu Yuehan's expression was filled with worry.
Hong Qi asked, "Miss, why are you sighing?"
Lu Yuehan sighed. "Sir, I fear I won't be able to keep Zhao Xing any longer."
"From the moment he joined, it's already been one hundred and eighty years. In that time, from Southfall 88 to Southfall 65, the majority of tomb discoveries were because of him."
"I can feel the karma weighing on me heavier and heavier."
Zhao Xing cultivated the Three Divinities Destiny Palace, which made him immune to karma. However, others were not immune to owing him favors.
In just one hundred and seventy years, thanks to Zhao Xing's expertise, she had unknowingly amassed an enormous fortune.
But Zhao Xing only ever had one request from her—the Juyang Puppet Technique.
Lu Yuehan had always avoided the topic, and Zhao Xing never pressed her, but the debt continued to accumulate. At this rate, she had only two choices—either let Zhao Xing go or take the Earth God Pill.
"Miss, if you give Zhao Xing the complete Juyang Puppet Technique, then this connection will end in a good cause and good effect," Hong Qi advised. "If you continue trying to keep him, you might bring about bad consequences."
"Can't I wait a little longer?" Lu Yuehan hesitated. "Maybe if he returns to the Marquis Residence with me, he'll change his mind."
"It's clear that he has no such intention," Hong Qi shook his head. "I suggest you don't wait for him to ask. Just give him the full version of the Juyang Puppet Technique yourself."
"If fate allows it, you will meet again in the future."
Hong Qi understood that Lu Yuehan didn't just want Zhao Xing as a guest retainer anymore—she had other thoughts.
But as he had just pointed out, Zhao Xing had no such intentions at all.
Forcing something would only make it worse, so he advised letting go.
"Sir, leave me alone for a moment." Lu Yuehan murmured.
Hong Qi silently withdrew.
—
In another palace residence, Zhao Xing gazed at Mooncold Palace in the distance.
"What's up? Peeping?" Jing Yan leaned in and grinned. "Zhao Xing, I have to criticize you for this. How could you do such a thing? Let me see what immoral acts you're committing..."
"..."
Zhao Xing turned back and sat down, picking up a jug of wine. "Jing Bro, I'm preparing to leave."
Jing Yan stared at Mooncold Palace for a long while but saw nothing unusual. He clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Damn, nothing to see… Wait, what? You're leaving?"
"Yeah." Zhao Xing nodded. "I don't owe her anything. On the contrary, after these one hundred and eighty years, Lu Yuehan actually owes me a technique."
"When are you leaving?" Jing Yan sat down as well.
"I'm planning to inform her the day after tomorrow. Want to come?" Zhao Xing asked.
"My five hundred-year term isn't up yet, but I could leave too," Jing Yan mused. "I've done my share of work, so I don't owe her either. Let's go together then."
Staying under Lu Yuehan's wing had been comfortable, and Lu Yuehan herself was a decent person who treated them well.
But compared to that, Jing Yan still preferred adventure.
"You sure you wanna leave?" Zhao Xing teased. "I bet the Moonshadow Songstress Troupe would hate to see you go."
"You underestimate me." Jing Yan stretched his neck. "A real man roams the world, not shackled by romantic entanglements. If I wanted an easy life, I wouldn't have come to Moonfall Mausoleum in the first place."
"Alright then, we leave together." Zhao Xing nodded. Over the years, they had earned a considerable fortune—it was about time to return to the base.
—
In the end, Lu Yuehan spoke first before Zhao Xing could inform her. That night, she arrived at Zhao Xing's residence.
"Brother Zhao, this is the complete Juyang Puppet Technique." Lu Yuehan placed a Dao Transmission Jade Slip on the table, then pulled out a spatial ring. "Inside are all the materials I've collected and purchased over the years."
"There are one hundred and eighty-eight Void-grade materials, and only three Divine Ability-grade materials."
"I'm ashamed… You've done so much for me, and this is all I've managed to gather."
Zhao Xing cupped his hands. "Miss, please don't say that. This is already a lot. If I were relying on myself, even with money, I wouldn't be able to buy them."
The Xuanzu Star System was not under the jurisdiction of any ancient kingdom. Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom didn't import such materials officially because they were too expensive, had low profit margins, and they didn't want their own people getting scammed. So, Zhao Xing couldn't buy them from Yuanhai's official channels at all.
Back then, even Nalan De, a Second Rank cultivator, couldn't afford the lower three chapters of the Xuanzu Gold Body Technique, let alone Zhao Xing, who needed the middle three chapters, specifically tailored for puppet avatars, a niche and rare demand.
For Void-grade materials, Zhao Xing could still find ways to obtain them.
But Divine Ability-grade materials—those were only accessible to noble families like the Lu Clan.
Just as Zhao Xing was about to formally take his leave, Lu Yuehan suddenly spoke.
"Brother Zhao… have you ever considered… looking for a Dao companion?"
Lu Yuehan's question caught Zhao Xing off guard.
Before he could respond, Lu Yuehan continued, "The Purple Divine Mansion is indeed powerful, but that doesn't mean they can give you much."
"My father has only three daughters. My two older sisters are already married, and none of my brothers are as favored as I am. Half of the Marquis Yuetan Residence's estate is managed by me, and my father has already made it public that I will inherit half of the family's wealth, including the title."
Lu Yuehan's eyes were sharp and resolute as she gazed at Zhao Xing.
For cultivators who had lived for thousands of years, they were always direct about such matters. After all, after millennia of existence, what hadn't they experienced?
Lu Yuehan wasn't the type to hesitate. She was straightforward as she said, "I know Brother Zhao has great ambitions. I am willing to support you wholeheartedly, to walk the path of cultivation together, through life and death."
Zhao Xing looked at Lu Yuehan. Her gaze burned like a scorching sun in the dark night.
She was a healer, and in her eyes flickered the Dao she had cultivated. Within them was her past, her experiences, and even her soul's fluctuations, revealing her heart and her journey.
Seeking a Dao companion often involved such an exchange of personal truths.
If both parties found their paths aligned and had mutual affection, they could then become Dao partners.
But from Zhao Xing's eyes, Lu Yuehan saw no response.
Zhao Xing didn't let her wait too long. He quickly closed his eyes and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss, but I have no intention of seeking a Dao companion for now."
"I swear upon my Three Divinities Destiny Palace, once you leave, I will forget this conversation."
For cultivators who had lived for so long, there was no need for meaningless comfort. Zhao Xing rejected her outright, without even offering an excuse.
Lu Yuehan was disappointed for a brief moment, but she quickly adjusted her mood. She smiled. "Since Brother Zhao says he will forget, then I must say one last thing."
"Please, go ahead."
"Hmph! You really have no taste! Refusing me is your loss!" Lu Yuehan huffed, feigning anger.
Zhao Xing chuckled.
—
The moment Lu Yuehan stepped out of the palace, Zhao Xing, as promised, erased all traces of the past memories she had shared with him.
The next day, he went to Mooncold Palace to formally take his leave.
Jing Yan also stated his intention to leave.
Lu Yuehan stood up and cupped her hands toward the two. "Since you both wish to leave, I won't stop you. This is a small token of appreciation. Please accept it."
Zhao Xing and Jing Yan exchanged a glance before taking the spatial ring Lu Yuehan handed over.
Inside were many precious materials, including those difficult to obtain even through official channels, as well as treasures that required special qualifications to purchase.
There was also a command token from Marquis Yuetan.
"Although we part ways today, you will always be my guest retainers," Lu Yuehan said. "The starry seas are vast, but if you ever encounter trouble, just crush that token. I, Lu Yuehan, will cross the stars to help you!"
—
The realm vessel roared as it lifted off, departing from Southfall 65.
By the window, Zhao Xing looked down at Mooncold Palace, momentarily lost in thought.
"Miss Lu is quite magnanimous in both conduct and decision-making," Jing Yan commented beside him. "No wonder so many people are willing to follow her."
Zhao Xing nodded. Lu Yuehan was indeed a charming woman. To be honest, in that fleeting moment when they had locked eyes that night, even he had wavered slightly.
"What a shame she didn't fancy me," Jing Yan laughed. "If Lu Yuehan had asked me to be her Dao companion, I would've agreed without hesitation."
"You eavesdropped on our conversation?" Zhao Xing glanced at him.
"Do I even need to eavesdrop?" Jing Yan snorted. "She walked into your room in the middle of the night. What else could it be for? She wasn't coming over for a friendly game of Qingyu Card, that's for sure. Her feelings for you weren't exactly subtle—I'm not blind."
"You're worried about implicating her, aren't you? That Marquis He Yin and the Dongyan Ancient Clan, are they really that terrifying?"
"What's the point of talking about this?" Zhao Xing turned away and waved his hand. "Keep an eye on the realm vessel, let me get some rest."
"Relax! My piloting skills are top-notch!"
—
BOOM!
Suddenly, the realm vessel violently shook. Zhao Xing was thrown off balance, flung into the air as the earth veins trembled and tossed him skyward. The roof of his cabin was blasted open.
"JING YAN!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Clutching his aching head, Zhao Xing burst through the ship's hatch and into the cockpit.
"Did you learn to pilot from some half-baked martial artist?! Are you serious?!"
Surprisingly, Jing Yan didn't retort. He stood at the observation deck, staring at the distant starry sky in silence.
Zhao Xing immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Ahead, an enormous star pass and a ringed starland loomed, forming a barricade across their void river route.
But the insignia on that star pass wasn't from Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom.
"Flame Moon Ancient Kingdom?" Zhao Xing's gaze sharpened as he immediately recognized the emblem.
"Brother Zhao, we might have a problem." Jing Yan activated his star field scanner, tuning into the cosmic broadcasts. "Flame Moon Ancient Kingdom just declared a 'non-friendly relationship' with Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom and has seized two of the void routes leading to Southfall."
Zhao Xing snatched the star field scanner and saw the official warning issued by Flame Moon Ancient Kingdom.
A non-friendly relationship was only one step above hostility.
Ordinarily, due to the constraints of the Ancient Kingdom Alliance of the Barren Domain, all member states would provide basic services for travelers, such as supply stations, realm vessel relay points, and stellar fortress rest stops.
Ancient kingdoms rarely had irreconcilable blood feuds, so they wouldn't outright declare war against each other. A non-friendly relationship was the lowest possible diplomatic status between two nations.
Jing Yan, still monitoring the feed, sighed, "The reason for this? King Tianji discovered a mature Thousand Star Vine on Boka Starland."
"That find skyrocketed the value of the Phantom God Star System, turning it into a major strategic hotspot."
"Now, eighteen major ancient kingdoms have swarmed into the Phantom God Star System, and they're all high-ranking powers. Even the Beast Clans have sent three great nations."
Zhao Xing read through the reports, his brows furrowing.
A Thousand Star Vine was Imperial-grade.
An Imperial-grade Thousand Star Vine was equivalent to a human cultivator at the Reincarnation Realm! Moreover, since plant-type beings had long lifespans and generally superior combat abilities compared to other races, their value was even higher.
The Thousand Star Vine was also a void-type species.
Even in its growth stage, it had already reached the Five Elements Dao Domain Realm. Upon maturity, it would be at the Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm or Life-Death Dao Domain Realm, and at its peak, it would step into the Reincarnation Realm!
With an Imperial-grade quality, it required no additional cultivation resources. As long as it had an environment rich in spiritual energy and the proper nutrients, it was guaranteed to reach the Reincarnation Realm.
"A single, highly-certain Imperial-grade Thousand Star Vine… No wonder so many forces have flocked to explore," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "King Tianji really struck gold this time."
"Now, Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom has issued warnings to its subordinate forces, stating that both the Southfall and Beiluo regions have become unsafe," Jing Yan quickly pulled up another information mirror. "Aside from the dangers of exploration itself, we might also face attacks from other non-friendly forces."
"These include Flame Moon Ancient Kingdom, Liufeng Ancient Kingdom, Canglei Ancient Kingdom, Holy Wing Ancient Kingdom, Purple Profound Ancient Kingdom, and Tianyou Ancient Kingdom…"
"The three major Beast Clans involved are Tianyao Kingdom, Wanhe Beast Kingdom, and Devouring Star Beast Kingdom."
Zhao Xing saw the list as well and knew that the situation was far more complicated than it appeared. These were just the state-level forces. In reality, many ancient clans and factions, while fewer in number, had extremely powerful individuals and had likely arrived as well.
"The power density in the Phantom God Star System is about to skyrocket…" Zhao Xing muttered. "I don't have much time left."
"Time for what?" Jing Yan asked. "Right now, we need to figure out how to get back. That's already a big problem."
It was indeed a major problem.
At this moment, the starry sky around Zhao Xing and Jing Yan was suddenly flooded with realm vessels.
The once vast and empty void had become lively in an instant.
With Flame Moon Ancient Kingdom blocking their exit, many travelers began to panic.
Some even attempted to break through by force.
BOOM!
A violent explosion rippled through space, shaking their realm vessel.
A mid-sized realm vessel ahead of them had just been obliterated by the star fortress set up by Flame Moon Ancient Kingdom.
With that, no other realm vessels dared to rush through recklessly.
"I checked their toll fees. A small realm vessel costs one billion Red Star Coins to pass. A mid-sized realm vessel costs ten billion, and a large realm vessel costs one hundred billion." Jing Yan scowled. "Damn, they might as well be robbing us outright!"
"This fee was clearly set up to target Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom specifically. Of course they're going to rob us." Zhao Xing sneered. "It's wartime. If you can buy your way to safety, many wealthy people will gladly pay."
"But we don't have that kind of money." Jing Yan quickly scoured for other information. "Our only option is to take a detour."
"We'll go this way," Zhao Xing said, pointing at a dark region on the star map.
"There's no route here," Jing Yan frowned. "That's all void turbulence."
"There is a route," Zhao Xing said. "My teacher told me about it."
"…Didn't your teacher die? How would he know?"
"Don't ask too many questions. Give me the controls."
Jing Yan hesitated for a moment before releasing control.
Swish, swish, swish!
Eight liquid orbs shot out from Jing Yan's body and adhered to Zhao Xing, instantly merging with him.
HUMMMM—
Zhao Xing felt his mind and the realm vessel fuse as one, as if he himself had become part of the ship.
Swoosh!
The realm vessel split through the void, immediately veering toward another direction.
—
When Zhao Xing had first arrived at Southfall 88, it was the year Shixin 814.
One hundred and eighty years later, while on his return journey, he encountered the conflict between eighteen ancient kingdoms and the three major Beast Kingdoms.
By the time he finally reached Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom's base, another thirty-six years had passed.
At this moment, it was already Shixin 1030.
Over a thousand years had gone by since he first entered the cosmos.
"We finally made it back… Thirty-six years of detouring… What a pain."
As the realm vessel landed on Humen Starland, Jing Yan couldn't help but sigh.
"Be glad nothing bad happened. What's thirty-six years compared to that?" Zhao Xing said.
They had traversed through multiple battlefields, but luckily, they had made it through safely.
"You have a point," Jing Yan nodded. "Fortunately, Phantom God Star System only connects to a few places. Otherwise, even more ancient kingdoms would have been involved."
"Zhao Xing, I plan to train for a while and spend some money on learning a few things. What about you?"
"Same, but I need to make a trip to Yellow Sand Mansion first," Zhao Xing replied.
"Alright, I'll send you a message once I settle down." Jing Yan waved before flying off toward the rental district.
Zhao Xing, on the other hand, flew straight toward Du Yun's mansion.
The war had already begun, marking a new exploration phase for the Phantom God Star System.
Zhao Xing had no intention of playing it safe anymore. He was going to report a massive amount of information to make a fortune.
"I've been in the Phantom God Star System for several hundred years. Reporting some information is completely reasonable."
"It's better to report through Du Yun rather than directly to Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom. At least he's one of our own, and his confidentiality is much higher."
The only real difference between reporting to Purple Divine Mansion and reporting to Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom was that he'd receive more money but less merit.
But at the end of the day, his own forces would always be safer!
"The only question is—can Du Yun handle it?"
"I'll start by revealing this new void route and see how he reacts."
—
Three days later.
Zhao Xing arrived at the entrance of Yellow Sand Mansion.
HUMMMM—
He transformed into a streak of light and landed outside the mansion.
"Who goes there!"
"Zhao Xing of Purple Divine Mansion. I have urgent business with the Lord of Yellow Sand Mansion." Zhao Xing reported his identity to the mechanized guardian puppet.
"The Lord is currently meeting guests. Follow me to the waiting hall."
After verifying his identity, the guardian puppet led Zhao Xing to a side chamber.
"Do not wander around. The Lord will summon you when he is available."
"How long will I have to wait?" Zhao Xing asked.
"The guest list is currently backed up for thirty-five years," the puppet said. "You are expected to meet the Lord of Yellow Sand Mansion in thirty-five years."
"…What? That long?" Zhao Xing was stunned.
"Wait patiently." The guardian puppet was too lazy to explain further.
After all, Du Yun was a major figure. Now that war had broken out, naturally, countless people sought an audience with him.
"What a grand display," Zhao Xing muttered. "But I can't afford to wait that long."
He pulled out his Thousand Li Yellow Sand Pass—ready to skip the line.