"Zhao Xing, you finally came out!" The moment Zhao Xing emerged from his cultivation space, Jing Yan appeared before him immediately. "I've got something important to discuss with you."
"Perfect timing, I was just about to look for you too," Zhao Xing said. "You go first."
"I got some news from Sparks," Jing Yan said mysteriously. "Sparks is planning an operation called the Shifting Stars Project. They intend to bypass the ancient kingdoms and the spatial formations around Moonfall Mausoleum to conduct a covert exploration."
"Shifting Stars Project?" Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned. "You mean they want to use formations to move landmasses from within Moonfall Mausoleum? That shouldn't be possible, right?"
Moonfall Mausoleum was protected by powerful spatial formations. The realm stars, landmasses, and small worlds within it were all locked in place, making them impossible to move.
The Shifting Stars Project, also called Star Theft Project or Tomb Relocation Plan, was not a new idea. Some ancient kingdoms had tried before, attempting to transport Moonfall Mausoleum back to their own territories for slow and thorough research, but every attempt had ended in failure.
"No, it's not about moving things out of Moonfall Mausoleum. It's about moving external landmasses inside," Jing Yan clarified. "Look here."
Jing Yan waved his hand, and countless specks of starlight formed a dazzling star river, its trajectory as mysterious as a grand formation.
A yellow dot appeared outside the star river. The dot grew larger and started to spin, forming a miniature star continent model.
"See? This landmass is originally outside of Moonfall Mausoleum," Jing Yan explained. "Once it's anchored by the formation, this continent will bypass the barrier and the ancient kingdoms' surveillance, appearing directly inside."
Zhao Xing narrowed his eyes in interest. "Even the Red Star Empire couldn't resist getting involved, huh?"
Jing Yan waved his hand again, and the starmap projection disappeared. "Empire? What empire? I have no idea what you're talking about. But before we continue, you should swear an oath. It's not that I don't trust you—it's just standard procedure from the other side."
Zhao Xing nodded. "I swear on my Life Soul that I will not leak any information I have just heard."
Only then did Jing Yan continue, "The importance of Moonfall Mausoleum is becoming more and more evident. Everyone wants a piece of it. So, do you want in?"
Instead of answering immediately, Zhao Xing asked, "Hold on, since this is such a major operation, why doesn't Sparks handle it themselves? Why would they bring me in? In fact, why even bring you in?"
"You're a royal clan member, but Sparks doesn't serve the royal family. They have their own people and their own funding—there's no reason for them to rely on us," Zhao Xing pointed out.
Jing Yan looked at him in surprise. "Bro, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about Sparks?"
Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow. "Please enlighten me."
"Sparks isn't short on money, but tell me—do you have access to Sparks's encrypted communication network?"
"They aren't lacking in operational funds, but they need official task authorizations before they can act," Jing Yan explained.
Zhao Xing immediately caught his meaning. "So you're saying that Sparks's branch in Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom hasn't received authorization from the empire yet, so they don't have much funding available?"
Jing Yan gave him a thumbs-up. "Exactly! The empire's bureaucracy is ridiculously complicated. Right now, with the chaotic situation among the eighteen ancient kingdoms, the empire is too far away to intervene directly. By the time all the paperwork gets approved, the opportunity will be long gone!"
"The empire can't just march in openly. If they did, they'd need to send a massive force to establish control, which would immediately provoke hostility from the Barren Domain Ancient Kingdom Alliance."
"So the empire won't directly intervene in the Phantom God Star System. Instead, Sparks is acting on its own."
"Then how many people is Sparks sending in?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Sparks is sending three Divine Ability Realm experts. Everyone else involved is either contractors or longtime allies of Sparks," Jing Yan said. "I'll be accompanying one of the Divine Ability experts."
"And how much of the profits will actually go to you?"
"Guaranteed ten percent, but I need to recruit at least one or two more experts to secure that share. Otherwise, they won't let me participate. If we perform well, there's room for additional bonuses."
"You were planning to send the people of Grand Zhou to the Red Star Empire, right? This is a perfect opportunity," Jing Yan added with a grin.
Zhao Xing laughed. "Clever move."
Sparks was only sending three of their own, while everyone else was external. No salaries, no benefits—just a "contractor" label.
They were basically running the operation without spending a single Red Star Coin.
Zhao Xing figured that if this expedition yielded any real treasures, Sparks would definitely increase their involvement. But unless there was clear evidence of profit, there was no way they'd risk sending their elite members.
And yet, there would still be plenty of people willing to join the operation.
Sparks could provide access to imperial identity registration and facilitate migration into the Red Star Empire—things that Zhao Xing himself needed.
Other small royal dynasties had similar needs. Without Jing Yan's connections, ordinary people wouldn't even be able to get in touch with Sparks, let alone secure a deal with them.
"You can think it over first, but don't keep me waiting too long. Oh, right—you were going to tell me something, weren't you?" Jing Yan asked.
Zhao Xing thought for a moment before projecting a starmap. "Take a look. This is Southfall-21, a high-grade star continent. Coordinates: Taiyin-21, Cang'er-3, Tiangou-15. Metal-7, Wood-1."
"It's a barren, lifeless landmass—completely desolate. Even the eighteen ancient kingdoms, despite their ongoing war, don't want to touch it."
Jing Yan studied the starmap without much reaction. "And?"
"I received a report that King Tianji has wrapped up his exploration of Boka Star Continent and is shifting his focus elsewhere," Zhao Xing said.
"He's marked several territories, and I plan to join under his banner as a marquis of Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, securing his protection while I conduct my own exploration."
In Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, only a few powerhouses had the qualifications to claim land within Moonfall Mausoleum.
Du Yun lacked the backing to do so. Zhao Xing himself was strong, but he didn't have a massive faction under his command.
So, Du Yun was only stationed at the logistics base—he wouldn't be leading any expeditions or fighting for territory himself.
Among the few eligible powerhouses, King Tianji was one of them. As a high-ranking military commander, he held considerable influence.
Initially, Zhao Xing hadn't considered working under King Tianji, because the territories he controlled were already overcrowded.
Boka Star Continent was already heavily occupied by King Tianji's subordinates, leaving no room for outsiders. Even if there were an opening, the potential benefits would be negligible.
But things were different now. Lu Yuehan had informed Zhao Xing that King Tianji was shifting his focus elsewhere.
After discovering a Thousand Star Vine, King Tianji had tasted success and was now preparing a surprise attack to seize territory from one of the elite factions of the Flame Moon Ancient Kingdom.
As a result, King Tianji was recruiting more people. Zhao Xing, being a Shennong and a marquis, with Purple Light Eight Epochs, would have no problem securing a position under King Tianji as a grain officer. This way, he wouldn't have to face the battlefield directly but could still explore the area. It was an ideal opportunity.
And Southfall-21 was his target.
At first glance, it seemed worthless. But adjacent to Southfall-21 was an asteroid belt, within which lay an entrance to a small world.
Inside that small world, there was a scholar emperor's tomb at the Dao Domain Realm!
Jing Yan clicked his tongue. "Brother, I'm actually kind of jealous. Why did Lu Yuehan tell you this but not me?"
"She thinks you and I are together on this. This is sensitive information—of course, she wouldn't tell just anyone," Zhao Xing reassured him.
"Fine, I won't join King Tianji's side," Jing Yan shook his head. "That guy already has plenty of talented people. Even if I went, I wouldn't be able to reap much."
Originally, Jing Yan had wanted to pull Zhao Xing into his own plans, but seeing that Zhao Xing had his own, he decided to drop the idea.
"If you're going to King Tianji, then forget about Sparks," Jing Yan said.
"Forget about it? No way." Zhao Xing grabbed his arm. "I'm going to King Tianji, and I'm going to your side too."
"Bro, how are you going to do that?"
"I have a clone."
Jing Yan shook his head. "Sparks doesn't want freeloaders. Your clone is only at the Void Law Stage—its combat power is mediocre."
A Void Law Stage Juyang Clone was still stronger than a typical Second Realm cultivator.
But the missions Jing Yan was involved in required elite warriors. If Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone was only at the Void Law level, it wouldn't meet the requirements.
Even if Jing Yan wanted to help Zhao Xing get rich, he couldn't afford to joke around with something this serious.
"What about a Divine Ability Realm Juyang Clone?" Zhao Xing said casually.
"Divine Ability Realm?" Jing Yan froze. "You've mastered the Straw Puppet Divine Ability?"
"Yep." Zhao Xing nodded. "I've successfully created my first Juyang Clone."
"Let me see," Jing Yan said, suddenly intrigued.
The cultivation space was readily available, so Zhao Xing immediately invited Jing Yan inside.
Then, he released his Juyang Clone.
"Grow! Grow! Grow!"
Under Zhao Xing's control, the clone kept expanding.
Finally, a colossal being loomed before Jing Yan, towering over the land.
"So, Brother Jing, does my clone meet the requirements?" Zhao Xing asked with a grin.
Jing Yan stared at the massive figure—like a burning sun in human form. Just looking at it felt blinding. Even he felt a sense of oppression from its sheer presence.
"Let me test its strength!" Jing Yan challenged.
"Go ahead," the Juyang Clone curled a finger, beckoning him.
"Whoosh~" A myriad of Dao Soldiers appeared in Jing Yan's hands, accompanied by twelve mechanical battle constructs.
Breaking Dao Needles wouldn't work—those were designed to target spellcasters. The Juyang Clone had no defensive domain—it relied solely on its physical body for defense.
"Void Armament Formation!"
Jing Yan's Twelve Wandering Gods—each an intricately crafted machine soldier—emitted streams of light, integrating Taiyin and Sun essence, forming a complex assembly in midair.
In an instant, twelve mechanical giants appeared around the Juyang Clone.
The Juyang Clone remained at ten thousand meters tall, while the Twelve Wandering Gods were slightly smaller.
Each Wandering God transformed into a unique mechanical Dao Soldier, each specializing in a different aspect of combat. However, they all had one thing in common—they were at the peak of the Second Realm.
Their presence exuded deadly sharpness, crafted from top-tier Realm Star Dao Soldier materials. Meanwhile, the Juyang Clone stood tall, exuding raw power—indestructible and unwavering.
Jing Yan commanded the Twelve Wandering Gods to launch a "Wandering God Assault".
But Zhao Xing didn't even move.
He simply stood still, allowing the Twelve Mechanical Dao Soldiers to attack his body.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Twelve simultaneous strikes hit different points of the Juyang Clone, causing spiritual energy to ripple and sparks of essence to burst forth like scattered dust.
Zhao Xing casually blew out a breath, and the dust vanished.
Jing Yan looked closely—his attacks had only left a faint white mark on the Juyang Clone's body.
Not even a scratch.
Zhao Xing smirked. "Well? What do you think?"
"Holy sh*t!" Jing Yan blurted out. "This is insane, man!"
"My Twelve Wandering Gods' Void Armament Formation, when executing Wandering God Assault, should at least reach the power of an early Third Realm attack."
"You didn't even get a scratch?"
"Does fairness even exist anymore?!"
"Hahahaha!" Zhao Xing laughed heartily. Jing Yan's reaction only made him even more satisfied.
The Juyang Clone was indeed powerful and durable!
After all, he had invested half his wealth into buying rare materials from the Void Ancestor Star System. In terms of defense, the Juyang Clone was comparable to a low-tier Taiyin Dao Soldier.
This was because the materials composing it were of the same level as Taiyin Dao Soldiers.
The Straw Puppet Divine Ability had unified these precious materials, and Zhao Xing had cultivated it to the Sixth Stage—the absolute limit for small-scale Divine Abilities.
Among Third Realm Divine Ability practitioners, those who cultivated the Juyang Gold Body would still have weaker defenses than his Juyang Clone.
The only advantage martial artists had was their ability to develop unique body-based divine abilities. However, the Juyang Clone itself was already a manifestation of the Straw Puppet Divine Ability—it wouldn't gain additional flesh-based divine abilities.
"My Juyang Clone isn't just tough—it can fight too." Zhao Xing controlled it and, with a single thought, moved five million miles away in an instant.
"More than sixteen times the speed of light?" Jing Yan's eyes widened. "It's that big, yet it's that fast? This is unreal!"
"No wonder you insisted on staying behind that time."
Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone was like a massive, yet agile beast.
For those at the Essence Stage, reaching twenty times the speed of light was already an extreme limit. Only monsters like Du Yun could push beyond that, and even a single increment in speed demanded an astronomical price.
At such a speed and power, all those fancy tricks and techniques were meaningless—it could simply bulldoze through everything.
"Do you need me to keep demonstrating?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Enough, enough! Put away your divine ability," Jing Yan said, his envy clear in his tone.
This divine ability of Zhao Xing's was more than enough.
Since he was a Mechanist, teaming up with Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone would greatly improve his own safety.
With a quick movement, Zhao Xing shrunk the Juyang Clone back to its normal size. Adjusting its size at will was a basic function.
"When are we leaving?" Zhao Xing asked.
"At most one year from now," Jing Yan replied.
"You're still recruiting one more person, right?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Yeah," Jing Yan nodded. "But I only plan on taking two people. Too many people make it hard to split the rewards."
"Got anyone in mind?" Zhao Xing asked.
"You have someone in mind?" Jing Yan looked at Zhao Xing with curiosity. "Let me make this clear—I don't want anyone from Great Zhou. This is a serious job."
Currently, Great Zhou had a few Second Realm cultivators—Liu Tianning and Xia Jing had already reached the Second Realm.
But their combat ability was still a bit lacking. Jing Yan didn't think they were fit for this kind of dangerous operation.
"No, not from Great Zhou," Zhao Xing said, thinking of Yu Tianqing. This job was dangerous, and it wasn't the kind where someone could simply buy their way in. He wouldn't joke about something this serious, especially when Jing Yan and half of his own assets were at stake.
"It's a Third Realm Mechanist Martial Artist."
"How strong is he? And how do you know him?" Jing Yan immediately asked the two most crucial questions.
"It's a long story. I'll just bring him over so you can see for yourself," Zhao Xing said.
"How long will that take?"
"He can come right now."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The entire Target Star trembled as Yu Tianqing returned to where Jing Yan and Zhao Xing were standing.
His final combat power evaluation displayed 38,125—this was a multiplier based on the First Realm's standard combat power.
Generally speaking, the Second Realm's standard was 100 times the First Realm's combat power, and the Third Realm's standard was another 100 times that.
The upper limit was "85,425", which was when he unleashed burst-type techniques, since Yu Tianqing had also mastered a small divine ability.
"His combat style is decent, but his equipment is lacking," Jing Yan commented.
Yu Tianqing's normal combat power had already reached 3.8 times the Third Realm's standard.
That was quite impressive.
People who could defeat ten or even a hundred opponents of the same realm weren't exactly common—such geniuses weren't found just anywhere.
For burst-type attacks, nearly 85,000 was an outstanding number.
However, Yu Tianqing's equipment wasn't top-tier. Over the past few centuries, he had earned quite a lot of money, but he hadn't been willing to spend much.
Zhao Xing was confused. "Brother, Hua Zi and Fairy Leyao have made plenty of money. Why are you still using this kind of gear?"
Jing Yan also looked over. Yu Tianqing didn't even have a single Taiyin Dao Weapon. The exoskeleton he wore was only at the Superior Realm Star level. To be honest, for a Third Realm expert, this was borderline embarrassing.
"I didn't think I'd get another chance to enter Moonfall Mausoleum, so I never bothered to buy expensive equipment," Yu Tianqing explained.
"What about your 108 Mechanist Bones? What level are they?" Jing Yan asked.
"Superior Realm Star Dao Weapons."
"Are they a complete set?"
"No. My leg bones are from the Yulong Set, my spinal column is from Tianbo, and my torso and arm bones are from the Yuanli Set."
Jing Yan gave Zhao Xing a confused look. "Tianbo? Yuanli? Yulong? What brands are these? Have you ever heard of them?"
Both he and Zhao Xing were the type to spend money without hesitation, so off-brand gear was something they never even considered.
He had never even heard of the things Yu Tianqing was using.
Zhao Xing shot Jing Yan a look, signaling him to drop the subject.
There was no need to ask any further—it wasn't just his exoskeleton, even his core mechanical body hadn't been upgraded to a full set of top-grade Realm Star Dao Weapons.
Jing Yan's questioning was already making Yu Tianqing self-conscious.
Zhao Xing now understood—Yu Tianqing could afford better equipment.
He simply didn't upgrade because he was afraid of being poor again.
His past experience—being imprisoned and left to rot because he had no money—had left him with psychological scars.
Zhao Xing suspected that Yu Tianqing was still setting aside money to support the Pangze Kingdom.
He was a lot like Liu Tianning—whatever money he made, he probably saved a portion for his family.
If they kept asking questions, it would just be embarrassing.
"Old Yu," Zhao Xing pulled Yu Tianqing aside for a private talk. "This job isn't easy. If you want to do it, you need to upgrade your gear."
Yu Tianqing hesitated before saying in a low voice, "I still have 2.9 billion Yuanhai Coins. Is that enough?"
As expected, this guy was down to his last 2.9 billion.
Zhao Xing didn't even need to ask where the rest went.
What else could he have done with it?
He definitely sent it home.
"Zhao Xing… am I embarrassing you?" Yu Tianqing asked awkwardly.
"Don't talk like that," Zhao Xing waved his hand. "I'll lend you some money. You don't need to worry about paying me back, and I won't charge interest."
He didn't want to keep talking about money, because after cultivating Willpower Divine Abilities, he could sense the fluctuations in Yu Tianqing's Dao Heart.
If they kept discussing it, Yu Tianqing might literally crack under the pressure.
Yu Tianqing nodded. This mission might not make much money, but he was determined to take it, because it would greatly benefit his home kingdom.
The Pangze Kingdom was still hiding in a remote, spiritually barren star system, struggling to survive. There was no way he could give up this opportunity from Sparks.
"Alright. Don't overthink it," Zhao Xing patted Yu Tianqing on the shoulder. "Go with Jing Yan to buy your gear. Don't worry about the cost—he's someone I trust, and you can trust him too."
Yu Tianqing took a deep breath. "Understood."
In Era of Renewal, Year 1146, Zhao Xing took action on two fronts.
His Juyang Clone, along with Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing, arrived at a hidden corner of the Phantom God Star System, where Sparks had arranged the meeting.
Very soon, the lead Divine Ability expert of their squad appeared.
"My name is Bai Yang, a sword sect martial artist."
Zhao Xing's heart sank.
Because from his very first sentence, he was already lying.
[Name: Yang Baihe]
[Occupation: Starry Sky Historian, Martial Artist]
[Realm: Divine Ability Realm]
[Martial Skills (Minor Divine Abilities): Pagoda Sword Technique, Three Marks Sword]
[Spells: Time Retrospection (Major Divine Ability), Chronicles Summoning (Major Divine Ability)]
Since the difference in combat power was marginal and there was no vast gap in realm levels, Zhao Xing could nearly see through Bai Yang's true foundation.
The information he obtained, however, left him shocked.
This so-called martial artist identity was just a cover. The truly terrifying aspect was that Bai Yang was actually a Starry Sky Historian.
"Two Major Divine Abilities, both related to history, yet he calls himself a martial artist?"
"Time Retrospection allows one to view past events at a certain location—this isn't uncommon. But this guy's core Chronicle actually lets him summon historical figures from Annals?"
Zhao Xing was genuinely surprised.
The core of a Historian's profession was a mystical volume of Chronicles that existed within their bodies.
Combat-oriented historians typically had five types of professional spells: Annals, Noble Families, Biographies, Ten Tables, and Eight Books.
Among them, those who cultivated Eight Books had mixed abilities—covering rituals, music, sound, astrology, astronomy, and seal formations. Some of these abilities were similar to Qi-based ritual cultivation, though not entirely the same.
The abilities within Eight Books had almost no direct combat power, and their support functions were weak, making Historians one of the least competitive professions.
Unless someone specialized in grave excavation, a historian was usually considered a low-tier auxiliary class.
Ten Tables recorded major historical events, ranging from the Xuanling Star Domain to the history of ancient nations.
Many well-known spells from Ten Tables focused on time manipulation, such as Time Retrospection, Historical Correction (Memory Alteration), and Historical Deletion (Erasing Public Knowledge of Secret History).
The core function of Ten Tables revolved around confusing the past, correcting the past, and reconstructing historical events.
This was mainly a support path—unless someone had extraordinary talent, they would be better off cultivating Eight Books and coasting along as a side character.
The combat-focused paths were Biographies, Noble Families, and Annals.
These pathways allowed Historians to summon legendary figures from history to fight on their behalf!
Among them, Annals summoned emperors and rulers. The most powerful Major Divine Abilities related to Annals could even summon ancient kings of fallen nations, whose strength was at the Reincarnation Realm!
"This guy definitely has Dao Domain-level combat power—and possibly even Yin-Yang Dao Domain-level. Inside the Moonfall Mausoleum, his abilities will have countless enhancements."
"What exactly is Sparks planning? This mission isn't as simple as it seems..." Zhao Xing thought to himself.
"...Alright, that's all I have to say." Bai Yang smiled. "You are all seasoned warriors who have traversed the universe, and you've worked with Sparks multiple times. You know the rules."
"I'll emphasize one last thing: all actions must follow command. We will be teleporting directly into the ancient tomb, so if anyone disobeys orders, not only will you jeopardize your own life, but you'll also put everyone else in danger!"
Bai Yang's smile faded, his voice turning icy. "If anyone acts foolishly or tries to play smart, don't blame me for being ruthless. Believe me, I have more than enough capability to eliminate idiots. Do you understand?"
"Understood," the entire group nodded in agreement.
Bai Yang had gathered a total of five teams, including Jing Yan's squad, bringing the total headcount to thirty.
Sparks had recruited independent cultivators to avoid restrictions from major sects or powerful factions' oaths and contracts. Some individuals even had horns, resembling a hybrid of human and demon clans.
Once Bai Yang finished speaking, he had everyone stand atop cylindrical platforms, positioning themselves around him.
Zhao Xing and Jing Yan stood on adjacent platforms.
Above them, the starry sky began its first transformation.
"This is the Primal Hill's Star Relocation and Geomantic Alignment Formation, pinpointing locations down to the leyline level. No wonder they say we'll appear directly inside the ancient tomb… Such a miniature yet intricate formation—only an organization from Red Star Empire could get their hands on something like this." Zhao Xing speculated.
This Star Relocation Project was only a small-scale operation, expected to take seven years to fully complete.
Zhao Xing would have to witness the starry sky transform seven times before the final teleportation was complete.
While his Juyang Clone remained with Sparks, Zhao Xing's true body—after informing Du Yun—arrived at Tianji Star Land.
Since King Tianji was at the Life-and-Death Dao Domain level, he obviously wouldn't personally summon a minor Divine Ability Realm cultivator.
However, being the Marquis of Wuling had its perks. Instead of meeting a mere officer, Zhao Xing was received by a Dao Domain-level Marquis named Lei Yunde.
"Marquis of Wuling, Zhao Xing, Divine Ability Realm, Shennong," Lei Yunde read his credentials.
"Hmm, your strength is a bit lacking, not much combat power," Lei Yunde remarked, glancing at Zhao Xing's record.
The documents only listed one Minor Divine Ability—Purple Light Eight Epochs, while the rest were Void Law techniques.
Zhao Xing's overall combat power assessment was 1.5, using the Third Realm standard as a baseline.
Only Purple Light Eight Epochs stood out.
Three Divinities Destiny Palace and Origin Extraction Divine Ability were deliberately hidden—he had not reported them.
"Lord Lei, I admit my combat ability is weak, but I only want to serve as a logistics officer. I don't mind if the pay is lower," Zhao Xing cupped his hands.
"Hmm." Lei Yunde nodded. The Shennong position wasn't meant for combat, anyway.
Although King Tianji's forces already had many powerful Shennong, their expansion efforts meant they were short on personnel.
"Do you have a specific deployment location in mind?" Lei Yunde waved his hand, summoning several star maps into the air. "You may choose a destination—the maps indicate both chaos levels and danger ratings."
Since Zhao Xing was recommended by Marquis Yuetan's mansion, he couldn't just be assigned randomly.
Zhao Xing pretended to analyze the maps carefully before deliberately selecting his planned target: Southfall 21.
"My lord, I would like to be stationed here," he declared.
Lei Yunde glanced at the request. Southfall 21 was a collective term for a cluster of starlands, with multiple floating landmasses gathered in the same region. The danger level wasn't considered high, but the chaos index was extremely high, which meant few people dared to go there.
"Approved," Lei Yunde agreed. "But I must remind you of one thing."
"As a Divine Ability Realm Shennong, your death gratuity is set at 150 billion Yuanhai Coins."
"If you die, your compensation and belongings will be transferred to Lu Yuehan," Lei Yunde added.
"Understood," Zhao Xing cupped his hands.
The beneficiary had to be a citizen of the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, but after the fallout between Great Zhou and the Purple Divine Mansion, all Great Zhou citizens had lost their registered status. Even Liu Tianning and Xia Jing were no longer recognized as Yuanhai citizens.
Du Yun was not an option—he wouldn't accept this type of karmic tie. Hua Zi and Leyao weren't suitable either. After considering all possibilities, Lu Yuehan was the only reasonable choice.
After discussing with Lu Yuehan, she arranged the paperwork smoothly. This ensured that when King Tianji's administration assigned positions, they would consider the connection with the Marquis of Yuetan Mansion.
"Here are your token and robes." Lei Yunde retrieved a storage ring and tossed it to Zhao Xing. "Proceed to Cloud Sky Hall No. 18 and await further orders."
"Thank you, my lord." Zhao Xing accepted the Qiankun Storage Ring and bowed before leaving.
Cloud Sky Hall was the military headquarters for the Tianji faction's Shennong corps. Cloud Sky Hall No. 18 housed 1,000 Shennong officers, all at the Second Realm.
These 1,000 personnel were all under Zhao Xing's command, drawn from King Tianji's nine major military corps—Cloud Sky Army.
"My superior officer is named Hu Rui, a Geographical Advantage faction Shennong. According to the records, he is at the Divine Ability Realm."
"The military operations, however, are not under his command but are overseen by another Divine Ability Realm officer, Junhou Xin Chen, who leads the Southern River Army and Wandering Void Army."
Zhao Xing didn't need to set off immediately. He had to wait until Xin Chen's forces completed their purge of Southfall 21, clearing out enemy factions, before he could move in.
"My mission is to lead Cloud Sky Hall's forces and coordinate with mechanists to establish a small supply base on Southfall 21."
"The contract duration is 200 years, with payment issued every 200 years. Upon successful completion, the compensation is 20 billion Yuanhai Coins."
A 200-year contract for 20 billion Yuanhai Coins meant an average of 1 billion every decade. Considering the low risk level, this was already an excellent deal for Second Realm Shennong officers.
However, for Zhao Xing, it was pocket change. His first tomb excavation mission had already netted him nearly 20 billion in just 200 years.
Xuanchu Year 1148.
Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone remained stationed with Sparks, awaiting further developments. Meanwhile, his true body had already departed with King Tianji's forces.
Xin Chen personally escorted a Realm Vessel, transporting a large group through a stable Void Corridor. The journey took one full year before they finally reached Southfall 21.
Even before setting foot on the starland, discussions had already begun.
"So many Realm Vessel wreckages… How many people must have died here?"
"Judging by this scale, at least one million Origin Realm cultivators perished. I see remnants from the Flame Moon Ancient Kingdom and even some from the Demon Clans."
"This place is a mess. The chaos index is over 200, with Void Currents, Nihility Winds, and raging Taiyin Thunder everywhere. It's going to be extremely difficult to stabilize."
"That Taiyin Star… it looks damaged. Was part of it blown off?"
"Hiss… You're right! I've been watching it for a while, and it no longer cycles back to its full moon state."
"Can we even complete the mission in 200 years? This looks much worse than expected."
"What, did you think earning this much money would be easy? If we fail to reduce the chaos index within the allocated time, we only get a base hardship allowance."
"What about this new Marquis of Wuling? Can he be trusted? I've never heard of him before. He didn't even say a word after arriving at Cloud Sky Hall No. 18."
"I think he's reliable. Cold and detached—that's the mark of an elite Heavenly Timing Shennong. People like that usually have real skill."
"Not necessarily. Rumor has it he only got this position through connections."
"Shh, quiet—he's coming out."
Zhao Xing stepped forward, facing the 1,000 Shennong officers gathered on the square.
He didn't waste words. His voice was calm and direct.
"The first order from Lord Hu Rui is to reduce the chaos index of the surrounding region."
"All of you are at the Second Realm, so handling Void Currents, Nihility Winds, and Taiyin Thunder will be challenging. Therefore, teams will consist of 10 people each, operating as a unit."
He raised a hand, and 1,000 jade tokens flew out from his storage ring. "I've assigned teams based on your reported abilities. Whoever receives a No.1 token is the team leader and will receive extra bonuses."
"The team leader position will rotate every 30 years. The strong will rise, the weak will fall."
"There are 100 teams total, operating on a last-place elimination system."
As Zhao Xing outlined the structure, murmurs spread among the assembled Shennong officers.
They hadn't expected things to be so competitive under his leadership.
Eliminations every 30 years? That was extremely harsh—almost inhuman.
Their impression of Zhao Xing immediately changed—from mysterious to ruthless.
"Now—disembark!"
Zhao Xing knew they had no option to resist. The military wasn't a place where freedom of action was up for discussion—especially not for Second Realm Shennong officers.
His command was law. Their only choice was to comply.
Anyone who disobeyed?
Xin Chen's law enforcement division wouldn't hesitate to crush them.
After disembarking, Zhao Xing ordered all 1,000 Cloud Sky Shennong officers to remain in position while he reported to Hu Rui.
"You all listen up!" Hu Rui's voice thundered. "There are 18 Shennong commanders, each responsible for a designated region."
"Every 50 years, I will evaluate your progress."
"If any of you rank in the bottom three, you will be demoted to team leader—and your bonus will be cut in half."
"I don't lack anything here, except for Shennong officers. There are plenty of Third Realm cultivators outside, all waiting for an opportunity to take your positions."
"If you don't work hard, then be prepared to be replaced!"
Zhao Xing was speechless. He had just established a strict rule for his subordinates, only to have Hu Rui turn around and impose a similar one on him.
Big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp. Everyone was being pushed to the limit.
After giving out assignments, Zhao Xing was ready to begin his task immediately, but before he could leave, Hu Rui called him back.
"Zhao Xing."
"I am here," Zhao Xing responded as he flew forward.
"Miss Lu asked me to take care of you," Hu Rui said with a smile. "You should go to East Continent. There's been less warfare there, and the chaos index is relatively lower."
"Thank you, Lord Hu," Zhao Xing cupped his hands in gratitude. A bag of Seven Star Ancient Coins turned into a streak of light and slipped into Hu Rui's sleeve.
Hu Rui shook his sleeve slightly, his smile growing even more amiable. "You're welcome. If you need anything in the future, just let me know."
"Much appreciated, my lord." Zhao Xing bowed once more before finally setting out.
For a Shennong officer under the Heavenly Timing faction, governing a starland was the hardest job. Unlike minor worlds or realm stars, which had natural barriers, starlands lacked such protection.
The starland Zhao Xing had landed on was named Hu Rui Starland.
Upon arriving at East Continent, he checked the panel coordinates and found that his target was 0.3 star sectors off from his current location.
"0.3 star sectors? That means my destination isn't on this starland," Zhao Xing examined the star map. "I'll have to fly past two more starlands in the Tian Hook Position to reach it."
"Using the Taiyin Star as the reference point, my target starland is 12,943 units away."
"My current location is at 12,940."
"I need to speed up the process, complete my mission ahead of schedule, and create an opportunity to sneak away," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
Zhao Xing's determination meant his subordinates were in for suffering.
From the very first day of arriving on Hu Rui Starland, Zhao Xing and his 1,000 Shennong officers never rested.
While other Shennong commanders calculated progress by the year, Zhao Xing measured it by the month.
His subordinates couldn't even complain.
Because Zhao Xing wasn't slacking off either—if he wasn't casting spells, he was on his way to casting spells.
One by one, Void Currents were smoothed out. One by one, Nihility Winds were crushed.
In just three years, the Taiyin Thunder and Chaos Clouds that had been densely covering East Continent had mostly dissipated.
The previously damaged Taiyin Star now shone down upon Hu Rui Starland, piercing through the darkness.
Zhao Xing's unit was the first to bring light to East Hu Rui Starland, no longer leaving it in total darkness.
"My lord, you should rest for a bit," a Shennong officer finally dared to suggest after seeing their efforts pay off.
"Alright, everyone is tired. We'll rest for two days," Zhao Xing said.
"Thank you, my lord!" The Shennong officer nearly cried on the spot.
Three years of work, two days of rest. Was this even humanly possible?
And yet, he felt grateful for Zhao Xing's mercy.
"Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!"
Most of the Shennong officers collapsed where they stood, instantly falling asleep.
It was clear how exhausted they had become.
"Sigh, these Shennong officers are still too weak," Zhao Xing shook his head. "If they were Shennong officers from Primordial Hill or the Red Star Empire, they could endure at least 100 years of continuous high-intensity spellcasting without breaking a sweat."
"The difference between those who have undergone extreme spellcasting training and those who haven't is just too great," Zhao Xing thought.
The ability to continuously cast high-intensity spells was a key standard for distinguishing elite units from regular troops.
Yet here, three years in, and these Second Realm Shennong officers were already completely exhausted.
"Oh well, I can't expect too much," Zhao Xing sighed.
Even as his subordinates collapsed from exhaustion, Zhao Xing didn't stop.
He continued casting spells, dispersing the Chaos Clouds above them.
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"
Above the starland, the chaos clouds kept condensing, forming meteors, heavy water spheres, and thunderbolts, crashing onto the ground below.
But as Zhao Xing's spellcasting progressed, the rate at which the Chaos Clouds formed slowed down, and their range continued to shrink.
Seven years passed in the blink of an eye—Xuanchu Year 1153.
Zhao Xing's true body was still working tirelessly on Hu Rui Starland, while his Juyang Clone was experiencing the final phase of the Star-Shifting Formation.
"Buzz—"
Zhao Xing watched as the stars above twisted into beams of light, and then his vision blurred.
The sky full of stars was gone, replaced by a vast sea of terrifying Chaos Thunderclouds.
A crushing pressure surged toward him.
Zhao Xing's instincts kicked in immediately—he knew that his clone had just been transported inside an ancient tomb.
Without hesitation, he raised a protective barrier, shielding Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing.
This was a reflex honed through experience—whenever entering an unknown location, the first priority was protecting the spellcasters in the team.
Bai Yang glanced at Zhao Xing and nodded slightly. "You're good."
The Star-Shifting Formation had minor side effects, disrupting one's soul, golden body, or Dao body, making it difficult to operate smoothly for a short time.
Zhao Xing was one of the three fastest to react.
The other two stood on separate beams of light—one was a woman in red robes, the other was a man in a blue cloak.
Among the three of them, only Zhao Xing had taken the initiative to raise a defensive barrier to protect his teammates.
Bai Yang gave a brief word of praise, then waved his hand.
A wave of pure white spiritual energy washed over everyone, clearing the lingering discomfort caused by the teleportation.
"Everyone, we've arrived inside the ancient tomb."
"This place is a Realm Transfer Structure."
"The three Grand Divine Ability Realm experts of Sparks have already entered the Realm Transfer."
"A Dao Domain Realm Realm Transfer?"
The red-robed woman's pupils shrank.
What Bai Yang had just said was shocking.
So far, the Phantom God Star System had only discovered seven Dao Domain Realm tombs.
And now, they had entered one of them.
And they had done so without making a sound.
"Fairy Hongtao, do you have any questions?" Bai Yang asked.
"No," Fairy Hongtao shook her head.
"I do," the man in a blue cloak, Lan Hai, spoke up with a serious expression. "My lord, you mentioned that this place is a Realm Transfer. Are you saying that this tomb belongs to a Dao Domain Realm star historian?"
Bai Yang nodded slightly. "Yes. The 'transfer' in Realm Transfer refers to Biographical Transfer."
"The tombs of star historians are different from others. Their burial sites are, in essence, a transmission of knowledge. Many historical secrets that they could not or would not disclose during their lifetime are only passed down after their death."
"That's why you don't need to worry too much about danger. Either we wouldn't be able to enter, or if we have entered, the risk factor would significantly decrease. Because, more often than not, the tomb's owner wants their recorded history to be uncovered."
Hearing Bai Yang's words, the team members relaxed a little.
Before their arrival, they hadn't been informed about the mission location or content. They had speculated it might be a Dao Domain Realm tomb, but they assumed it belonged to a more conventional profession.
They never expected it to be an obscure type of burial.
To those unfamiliar with the field, it seemed even more dangerous, simply because they did not understand it.
Now that Bai Yang explained the risk was actually lower, their fear subsided.
However, Zhao Xing felt even more uneasy.
Bai Yang was not wrong, but he was also not entirely right.
"A Realm Transfer means the tomb owner cultivated the 'Biographical Records', documenting the deeds of ministers and officials."
"The righteous deeds of officials can be recorded in Biographical Records, meaning most of their contributions were already publicly known."
"But the fact that this place is shrouded in Chaos Thunderclouds, filled with ominous Yin energy…"
"The ones buried here are probably not orthodox biographies, but rather 'Forbidden Biographies' or 'Shadow Biographies'."
"Sparks must have come here with a clear purpose in mind," Zhao Xing thought. "But what are they after?"
"Could they be trying to use the Biographical Records to supplement the Emperor's Phenomena in the Annals?"
The Biographical Records often included conversations between ministers and emperors. For historians cultivating the Annals, even glimpsing the ancient emperors' appearances would greatly enhance their abilities.
The more historically accurate the figures they recorded, the stronger their spells, and the Battle Spirits they summoned from the river of history would also be far more powerful.
"Or… are they searching for forbidden techniques or forbidden artifacts hidden within Shadow Biographies?"
Forbidden techniques were spells or martial arts even stronger than Grand Divine Abilities, but they were banned due to their overwhelming power.
The Reincarnation Divine Palace, for instance, had a complete resurrection ritual, which was classified as a forbidden technique.
Since they were forbidden, such techniques were obviously not widely spread.
According to legend, resurrection techniques were not always prohibited in ancient times.
Back then, since no one feared death, wars between powerful factions never truly ended.
The War of the Grand Dao was so bloody and dark that even recording it warped the minds of cultivators, leading to much of that history being erased.
Furthermore, due to the environmental collapse in the Xuanling Star Domain caused by endless battles, resurrection techniques were eventually sealed away.
Zhao Xing glanced at his panel coordinates.
[Taiyang 4, Jueyin 32, South Heaven Gate 21, Celestial Kitchen 7; Dark Realm Wutu 42.]
"Taiyang 4? A naturally formed solar star in the Phantom God Star System? The presence of Jueyin, and the fact that the number is so high, means the power of the Sun's origin is exceptionally strong. Could this be in an imperial mausoleum region?"
"Hiss… Dark Realm 42? Sparks actually ventured all the way here?!"
Zhao Xing's heart shook.
As soon as he saw the Dark Realm coordinates, he immediately felt a chill run down his spine.
Because he knew that this place contained a page from the Xuanling History Book's Fragmented Chapter, and not just any page—it was one of the highest-ranked ones.
"The Xuanling History Book's Fragmented Chapter theoretically has countless pages, as it generates one page per ten epochs."
"It records the entire history of all Ancient Kingdom-level factions and above within the Xuanling Star Domain."
"It also tracks changes in the major regions of the star domain, including the Barren Domain, the evolution of Dead Stars, and the rise and fall of top-tier Origin Stars."
"I remember that in my past life, the Moonfall Mausoleum was said to contain one such fragment, but in the end, it was taken by the Origin Heaven Palace."
"But… what if that wasn't true? What if it was actually taken by the Red Star Empire?"
"But I've personally seen that page in Origin Heaven Palace before…" Zhao Xing's brows furrowed in deep thought.
Bai Yang noticed the change in Zhao Xing's expression and asked, "Zhao Xing, Jing Yan, do you two have any questions?"
"I don't have any questions," Jing Yan was excited. "I've never raided a historian's tomb before! Hahaha, this is ironic—archaeologists being excavated for once. This is going to be fun."
"I have a question," Zhao Xing glanced around at the dark surroundings. "How do we get out?"
The moment Zhao Xing said this, everyone's expressions shifted. They had just realized that the light pillars beneath their feet had disappeared entirely—there was no trace of the formation left.
"As far as I know, the Primordial Hill's Star-Shifting Geomantic Formation can only be used once. We can't rearrange the earth veins in the same location again," Zhao Xing said.
In his past life, he had studied earthly advantages techniques in Primordial Hill, so he was very familiar with this.
"Good question," Bai Yang nodded. "We won't be leaving the same way we came in. Instead, we will use the exit mechanism left by the tomb owner."
"Remember what I said earlier? The tomb owner wants their legacy to be uncovered."
"Zhao Xing, do you have any other questions?"
"No," Zhao Xing shook his head. He had never been to this place before—he had only heard about it in his past life.
Dark Realm 42—this location was off-limits even in later years, heavily guarded by the Origin Heaven Palace to prevent the 'Ten Tables' from leaking and disrupting the memory of history.
"Let's move," Bai Yang pulled out a Star Dragon Compass, seemingly pinpointing a location. The crown on his head emitted waves of starlight, enveloping the entire team.
The oppressive Chaos Thunderclouds above instantly lost their weight.
Clearly, Bai Yang's crown was a Taiyin Dao Weapon.
"Jing Yan," Zhao Xing transmitted his voice, "you need to be careful. A star historian's Shadow Tomb is not as safe as Bai Yang claims."
Zhao Xing explained to Jing Yan the difference between Shadow Biographies and Forbidden Biographies.
"How dangerous are we talking?" Jing Yan asked.
"You might walk out of here no longer as yourself."
"You could end up believing you're some minister from Moonfall Ancient Kingdom, or even think you're its ruler… because your soul's memory will be distorted and confused."
"Sh*t! That bad?!" Jing Yan cursed. "That bastard Bai Yang totally scammed me!"
Bai Yang had invited him, making it seem like some easy opportunity to get rich.
"No, he didn't really lie to you," Zhao Xing looked at Bai Yang's back. "No matter what happens next, no matter what treasures you see, do not leave the vicinity of Bai Yang's ancient crown. That Taiyin Dao Weapon is the Tai Shi Crown—as long as you stay close and follow instructions, the Tai Shi Crown will ensure you retain your real memories."
Jing Yan blinked, signaling he understood.
The Tai Shi Crown, also called the Grand Historian's Crown, was something only grand historians could wear.
Artifacts like these could no longer be crafted because long ago, those renegade ancient historians had also been destructive war figures.
Without the Tai Shi Crown to protect them, historians found it extremely difficult to alter history or overthrow an ancient kingdom.
In the past, what kind of things had those ancient historians done?
One grand historian would travel to another country, rewrite history, and suddenly… the kingdom changed dynasties. Vassals turned traitors. The monarch was dethroned!
Because according to the rewritten records, the true ruler was the enemy nation's king, while the current king was just a rebel.
"Zoren's Willpower Divine Ability is going to be extremely useful here," Zhao Xing thought. "Only Willpower Divine Abilities can resist such distortions."
Due to the intensity of his Juyang Avatar, Zhao Xing's true self finally took a rare break, though his subordinates were still hard at work.
Since Zhao Xing's main body wasn't consuming mental energy, his Juyang Avatar could now focus its willpower even more.
Bai Yang led a group of thirty through the Shadow Tomb, flying in a specific direction.
After about two months, they finally saw signs of human activity in this small world.
A city wall appeared before them—its structure dim and gray, seemingly infinitely tall, reaching the very sky barrier above.
It stretched endlessly in both directions. Even at a hundred million kilometers away, it was still a wall, with no visible end in sight.
Bai Yang led the group down to the fortress gate.
"Splash!"
A murky river in front of the city churned, carrying a faint trace of Origin Energy, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
But what shocked them was their reflections in the water.
The river did not reflect their true faces.
Instead, it showed the faces of complete strangers.
"Slaughter Mind Blade! Slash, slash, slash!"
Sensing something wrong, Zhao Xing immediately severed the illusion, snapping himself back to reality.
"Don't look at the water!" Zhao Xing roared through voice transmission, stopping Jing Yan.
Jing Yan's expression changed. He abruptly lifted his head.
For a brief moment, his eyes reflected the silhouette of a powerful general, clad in silver armor, muscular and imposing—but then, the image vanished.
Others were also affected to varying degrees.
Two minor divine ability realm warriors even subconsciously changed into armor, their facial expressions shifting, their muscles adjusting—as if trying to match the reflections in the river.
"Buzz!"
Bai Yang's Tai Shi Crown trembled.
Everyone instantly snapped back to clarity.
"Do not look down." Bai Yang warned. "Or you will die."
"What… what was that?" Fairy Hongtao's face was pale—she had instinctively been touching her stomach, which was completely unnatural.
"'With history as a mirror, one can see the rise and fall of dynasties. With bronze as a mirror, one can correct one's attire.'"
"This is one of the Ten Table Techniques—a major branch of Copper History Magic, a time-reversal divine ability."
"Time flows like a river, and the echoes of powerful figures remain imprinted here. You were influenced by the Dao bodies of those who once stood in this place."
"Just seeing it is enough to have this effect?" Lan Hai murmured in awe. "I've heard that a Dao Domain Realm practitioner's Dao body is flawless. Just one glance at them can infuse their Dao comprehension into you, making you unconsciously imitate them."
"If one does not break free in time, they will be compelled to alter their own Dao body, eventually leading to Qi deviation and self-destruction."
"That's why I said don't look down." Bai Yang chuckled. "Just follow instructions, and you'll be fine."
After that, everyone became extremely cautious.
Some stared only at Bai Yang's ancient crown.
Others simply closed their eyes, navigating by sensing air currents.
Crossing the river of illusions took ten entire days.
"Landing now. Do not look down."
Bai Yang's voice echoed in their minds.
Zhao Xing followed instructions and landed, but the ground beneath his feet did not feel like solid earth.
It felt like he was standing on a thick stack of paper.
He then saw Bai Yang approach the colossal city gate.
He wasn't sure what Bai Yang did, but suddenly, Bai Yang's figure expanded.
A ceremonial canopy appeared above his head.
Beneath him, a beast engulfed in flames, a creature resembling both a horse and a tiger, emerged.
"The city gates are about to open. You must resist the voices you hear."
"If you can't withstand it, do not let your eyes leave my crown's radiance. Do not move beyond a ten-thousand-meter radius."
As soon as Bai Yang finished speaking, a deep rumbling echoed.
A mechanism activated.
The colossal wall cracked apart, layer by layer.
A grand avenue appeared before them.
At the same time, a voice spoke.
"Grand Chancellor Ruan Chang, triumphant from the Guihai Campaign, returns to court in glory—"
Zhao Xing felt his consciousness ripple.
Suddenly, he saw a vivid scene unfold before him.
In front of him, Bai Yang transformed—becoming a mighty general returning from war.
Zhao Xing himself became one of Bai Yang's personal guards.
But the other guards around him were strange, their bodies unusually large.
If he did not transform like them, it would be seen as disrespectful.
A subconscious force compelled him to alter his form—as if it was simply the right thing to do.
Crackle, crackle, crackle…
The passage leading into the city was lined with rows of sharp spikes, their tips glistening with what seemed to be venomous toxins.
Zhao Xing fought the discomfort, forcing himself to remain calm, but then he noticed something strange—Jing Yan appeared completely unaffected.
"You… how are you fine?"
"What do you mean?" Jing Yan's gaze remained straight ahead.
"You didn't hear that voice?"
"Of course, I heard it."
"Then why are you—"
"I don't understand it," Jing Yan replied simply. "No clue what it's saying. Just sounds like some weird, soft-spoken nonsense. Annoying, though."
"…"
Zhao Xing glanced at the others. A few martial artists also seemed largely unaffected—it was clear they, too, did not understand the ancient language of Moonfall Ancient Kingdom.
For the first time in his life, Zhao Xing realized that knowing too much wasn't always a good thing.
He had actually been disadvantaged because he was too educated!
"If you don't understand its meaning, it can't affect your mind. The literary Dao aura of the Ten Tables Techniques is powerless against illiterates." Zhao Xing grumbled internally as he followed the group.
Bai Yang moved swiftly, completely ignoring the bizarre sights and hidden traps within the city.
Zhao Xing was now certain—Sparks had been calculating this for over seven thousand years.
Either they had discovered a key clue long ago or they had spent millennia refining and expanding their deductions.
Once they exited the passage, the narrow road suddenly opened up into a wide avenue.
The eerie silence was shattered by a wave of bustling noise.
Pedestrians filled the streets like rain. Celestial maidens flew overhead, carrying baskets.
"Neighhh—"
Strange beasts pulled carriages across the sky, while the air buzzed with shouting vendors and lively music.
"Newly forged Taiyin Dao Weapons from Moonfall Ancient Kingdom! Only two hundred thousand Seven-Star Ancient Coins!"
"Jade Long Fairy from Tianyin Tower is opening her chambers today! She's born with a Myriad Law Dao Body—a year of companionship with her can increase your cultivation by a whole epoch! Highest bidder wins~"
"Get out of the way! Are you blind?! Don't block the Grand Chancellor's path!"
"…"
Too real. This was way too real.
Zhao Xing, Jing Yan, Lan Hai, and Fairy Hongtao could all sense that these people were genuine. Their auras were real, and even the Dao weapons on display were authentic.
It was impossible not to want to take a closer look.
For Zhao Xing, this was a nightmare.
Because he could understand everything, the impact was even greater.
Meanwhile, his uncultured hometown buddy, Jing Yan, obediently kept his eyes on Bai Yang's ancient crown the entire time.
"Blade severs the flesh, mind severs the soul, will remains singular—slaughter all beings!" Zhao Xing silently chanted his technique.
At this moment, he indiscriminately treated everything around him as an enemy, suppressing all distractions with pure killing intent.
Gradually, the voices faded.
"We're almost there." Bai Yang's voice rang out. "If you can't hold on, rest at the Time Pavilion ahead."
"I'll leave behind a spell to keep you awake."
"You're letting us stay behind?" Lan Hai asked in confusion. "Then why bring us here in the first place, Lord Bai Yang?"
"I will have use for you later," Bai Yang replied indifferently. "Even the ones left along the road serve a purpose."
Zhao Xing immediately understood what Bai Yang was doing.
Because as they neared the grand palace, Bai Yang had been leaving behind people at intervals.
"The Tai Shi Crown probably won't be enough for where he's headed. Bai Yang is using us as memory anchors."
"Should I go with him?" Zhao Xing pondered.
By now, only four remained beside Bai Yang—himself, Jing Yan, Fairy Hongtao, and Lan Hai.
The magnificent palace loomed ahead, its architecture so grand it seemed like the imperial palace itself.
Zhao Xing hesitated—should he say he couldn't hold on anymore?
He had already guessed Bai Yang didn't need anyone to fight alongside him.
"Jing Yan, you stay here. You're about to reach your limit."
Bai Yang tossed three ancient coins onto the ground, then placed a crown on Jing Yan's head.
"Don't leave the triangular formation of the coins."
"Understood." Jing Yan sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.
A short distance later, Fairy Hongtao and Lan Hai were also left behind.
Bai Yang seemed to be marking locations with people—every time they reached a certain point, he would drop off another person.
By the time they reached the imperial palace gates, only Bai Yang and Zhao Xing remained.
"Lord Bai Yang, I… I can't hold on anymore," Zhao Xing trembled as he spoke.
Bai Yang paused for a moment, then nodded lightly and tossed an ancient crown to Zhao Xing.
He then threw three ancient coins behind him, locking them into a fixed formation.
"Put it on. Don't move."
Bai Yang's words grew shorter and shorter.
Zhao Xing obediently wore the ancient crown.
A cool sensation spread through his entire body, nourishing his soul.
"Grand Chancellor, dismount from your steed before entering the imperial hall!"
The palace guards blocked Bai Yang's path.
In an instant, Bai Yang's flaming beast mount vanished.
He stepped forward into the imperial palace.
Zhao Xing couldn't help but take one last look.
He saw Bai Yang engulfed in the darkness of the palace gates, his figure disappearing completely.
The entrance was like the gaping maw of a beast.
Or perhaps an abyss, endless and unfathomable.
Zhao Xing immediately steadied his mind, silently reciting his mantra, refusing to be distracted.
He had no idea how much time had passed.
Then, the sound of the palace gates opening echoed once more.
Footsteps approached, stopping right in front of him.
"Zhao Xing, let's go."
It was Bai Yang speaking.
He still wore the Tai Shi Crown, looking exactly the same as before.
Yet Zhao Xing's heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
Because when he used his interface detection ability, he saw Bai Yang's updated information.
[Name: Yang Baihe / Ruan Chang]
[Occupation: ???]
[Cultivation Realm: Great Divine Ability Realm / Life and Death Dao Domain Realm (Abnormal State)]
"Sht!" Zhao Xing's mind went blank.