Zhao Xing looked down at the three ancient coins in front of him, his hands trembling slightly.
The coins that Bai Yang had placed around him were called Yin Spirit Coins, a type of ritual offering. However, unlike Seven-Star Ancient Coins, which were meant for burial rites, Yin Spirit Coins were specifically used to counter ghosts and heroic spirits.
Each of the three Yin Spirit Coins was inscribed with the symbols of Heaven, Earth, and Man, meant to protect the Life Soul, Heavenly Soul, and Earthly Soul.
As long as he remained within the formation of these coins, neither ghosts nor heroic spirits could see or harm him.
But their effectiveness had limits. If the spirit in question had once been at the Dao Domain Realm, then the coins would be completely useless.
The entity possessing Bai Yang wasn't exactly a ghost but a heroic spirit. In theory, the Yin Spirit Coins should be effective against it, but this heroic spirit was too powerful—so much so that Zhao Xing doubted the coins would have any real effect.
Even the Tai Shi Crown on Bai Yang's head wasn't working—so how could these three mere coins stop it?
They weren't Xuanling Coins or Five Emperor Coins, after all.
"What are you looking at?" Bai Yang turned back. "Why aren't you moving?"
"I can't leave," Zhao Xing pointed at the three coins on the ground. "You haven't reclaimed the Yin Spirit Coins."
Bai Yang glanced at the coins but didn't move them.
Zhao Xing's heart was instantly filled with killing intent.
Because he realized something—the heroic spirit Ruan Chang might have reached some kind of equilibrium with Bai Yang.
Bai Yang's own abilities, along with the Tai Shi Crown, weren't just for show.
With his two Great Divine Abilities, Bai Yang might not be on the same level as Du Yun, but he wouldn't be far behind.
And now, in this strange state, Ruan Chang was actively avoiding the Yin Spirit Coins.
Did that mean Zhao Xing was the final straw that could tip the balance?
That was why he had deliberately asked Bai Yang about the coins—because he knew he could walk out on his own.
And yet, Bai Yang—or rather, Ruan Chang—had chosen not to touch the coins.
"Alright."
"Zhao Xing, stay here." Bai Yang gave Zhao Xing a long, deep look before turning away.
Zhao Xing watched Bai Yang's retreating figure, his expression flickering with uncertainty, but in the end, he resisted the urge to attack with Slaughter Mind Blade.
"Bai Yang's soul definitely isn't dead. If I attack now, I might end up harming him instead. Worse, what if Ruan Chang is deliberately provoking me into attacking?"
Zhao Xing couldn't be sure which side his attack would benefit.
If it helped Bai Yang, that would be ideal.
But if it helped Ruan Chang, then everyone would be doomed.
"The status panel still displays Bai Yang's name as Yang Baihe. If he were completely controlled, it would only show Heroic Spirit Puppet instead."
Zhao Xing wasn't too worried about himself—he had his Juyang Incarnation and wouldn't be in any real danger.
But Jing Yan was still here.
"Yin Spirit Coins, rise."
Zhao Xing sat cross-legged, but within his Juyang Incarnation, three miniature figures emerged and leaped into the formation of coins.
His Three Divinities Destiny Palace, containing his Heavenly, Earthly, and Human Souls, allowed him to lift and manipulate the Yin Spirit Coins.
Without breaking their protective effects, he could now move them—something that would normally require a specialized treasure-controlling technique.
"Zhao Xing~~~"
A faint, whisper-like voice called out.
Zhao Xing felt his scalp go numb.
He didn't dare look around—he immediately activated his technique.
Buzz—
The three coins formed a moving formation, and his Juyang Incarnation quickly flew toward Jing Yan.
Bai Yang hadn't gone back the way they had come. After stepping out of the palace, he had headed toward a different location, as if searching for something.
"Zhao Xing, what are you—" Lan Hai, who was still sitting cross-legged, was stunned as he saw Zhao Xing pass by.
Zhao Xing's body was surrounded by three floating coins, and he was actually flying through the air.
"Something's wrong. Be careful of Bai Yang," Zhao Xing transmitted telepathically.
He couldn't help Lan Hai—carrying one set of Yin Spirit Coins was already a burden.
"What? How do you know—" Lan Hai wanted to ask more, but Zhao Xing had already disappeared into the 'crowd'.
Lan Hai's expression darkened, but in the end, he chose to stay where he was.
Between Zhao Xing's warning and Bai Yang's explicit command to remain still, he trusted Bai Yang more.
Whoosh—
The area covered by the Yin Spirit Coins was about a hundred meters in diameter.
There were countless figures moving above and below, but they subconsciously avoided the coins.
Even Fairy Hongtao saw Zhao Xing flying overhead.
But she didn't bother asking questions—she didn't care about anyone else's survival.
Shua—
Zhao Xing soon found Jing Yan's resting spot.
That guy was casually smoking, watching the bustling ancient city as if there were no dangers whatsoever.
"Zhao Xing?" Jing Yan jumped in surprise.
"Bro, you've really got nerves of steel." Zhao Xing looked at Jing Yan, utterly speechless.
"Prove you're actually Zhao Xing." Jing Yan's expression turned serious.
"I can't prove it," Zhao Xing shook his head. "You have to use your own intelligence to decide if it's me or not."
"Alright. Then tell me—what happened? Where's Bai Yang?" Jing Yan asked.
"Bai Yang is compromised. He's been possessed by a historical heroic spirit and disappeared. I'm here to get you out," Zhao Xing said quickly.
"Where are we going?" Jing Yan frowned. "We don't know the way—only Bai Yang does."
"We'll figure it out as we go," Zhao Xing replied. "Anything is better than sitting here waiting to die."
Jing Yan fell into deep thought.
"Take as long as you need. I'll wait for you no matter how long it takes," Zhao Xing said. "I'm getting you out of here."
Losing a Juyang Incarnation wasn't a big deal.
But Jing Yan had saved his life before.
Now that they were in this mess together, he had to make sure Jing Yan got out alive.
"Alright, I'll go with you," Jing Yan nodded.
"Wait—don't move just yet."
Zhao Xing raised a hand, and three more miniature soul fragments split off, lifting another set of Yin Spirit Coins.
Now, he had six Yin Spirit Coins protecting them.
"You actually know how to use these?" Jing Yan was curious. He had tried touching them before, but his hand passed right through.
They had been right at his feet, yet they felt completely intangible.
He couldn't even pick them up, let alone move them.
"Don't ask so many questions. Let's just go."
"Alright," Jing Yan nodded. "This whole thing is insane. Once we get back, I'm filing a complaint with the embassy!"
"Zhao Xing~~~"
"What?" Zhao Xing frowned and looked toward Jing Yan.
"?" Jing Yan also looked at Zhao Xing, confused.
"Nothing, let's hurry up and leave. This place is too eerie." Zhao Xing felt like he had forgotten something, but there was no time to dwell on it, so he quickly led Jing Yan toward the city gates.
Yu Tianqing felt absolutely terrible.
Ever since they were transported into this ancient tomb, it was as if everyone had completely forgotten about him.
Not only had Zhao Xing and Jing Yan overlooked him, but even Bai Yang, who was at the Great Divine Ability Realm, had ignored his existence.
At first, he hadn't noticed. He was naturally a quiet person, and with Bai Yang leading the way and Zhao Xing and Jing Yan flanking him, he didn't feel the need to interact much.
When battles broke out, he just had to join in at the right moment.
However, when they crossed the moat, Yu Tianqing began to sense that something was wrong.
He had looked at the river's surface, yet saw no reflection.
At the same time, he could feel a strange change happening to himself, a change he couldn't quite put into words.
It was as if he had become "special"—because the Bronze Historian's Law Bai Yang had spoken of had no effect on him.
Yu Tianqing didn't understand, so he asked Zhao Xing about it.
But Zhao Xing didn't respond.
Thinking Zhao Xing was just lost in thought, Yu Tianqing didn't push further.
He kept watching the river, staring at the water's surface throughout the long journey across the moat, yet he never saw his own reflection.
When they passed through the city gates, Bai Yang suddenly stopped and asked everyone to stare at his Tai Shi Crown.
Yu Tianqing didn't understand, but he followed along, simply because Zhao Xing and Jing Yan were doing it.
Once inside the city, Yu Tianqing's confusion deepened drastically.
The moment he stepped in, he heard Bai Yang's followers talking about things like "realistic" and "furnace cauldrons."
But to him, those words made no sense.
Because all he saw was scrolls and books floating in the air, forming buildings and roads. The entire city—from the grand halls to the towering structures—was made of moving pages and paper figures.
Even the very ground beneath his feet was nothing more than an enormous sheet of paper.
Everything looked utterly fake.
So why were they all calling it realistic?
Yu Tianqing couldn't suppress his doubts any longer. He turned to ask Zhao Xing what he was seeing.
But Zhao Xing still ignored him.
Jing Yan, too, showed no response.
That was when Yu Tianqing finally understood—they had completely forgotten about him.
Under the scorching sun, Yu Tianqing broke out in a cold sweat.
No one remembered him anymore.
Even Bai Yang, a Great Divine Ability cultivator, had forgotten him.
When Bai Yang handed out the crowns and ancient coins, he completely skipped over Yu Tianqing.
Yu Tianqing wanted to shake Zhao Xing and Jing Yan awake, but he didn't dare make a move.
Even as a mortal, he knew you should never wake someone who is sleepwalking.
And now, with no idea what was happening, how could he risk touching them?
He followed behind Zhao Xing, whispering beside his ear: "Zhao Xing~ Zhao Xing~"
But it was useless—Zhao Xing didn't hear a thing.
Yu Tianqing watched helplessly as Zhao Xing continued following Bai Yang, all the way to a towering paper palace ahead.
He could sense that the place was dangerous. If Zhao Xing kept moving forward, even if it meant harming Zhao Xing, he would have to force him to stop.
"His incarnation isn't invincible. If this place harms the soul, it could affect his real body..." Yu Tianqing thought worriedly.
Fortunately, Zhao Xing stopped.
The three ancient coins around him fell into place, and after he put on the ancient crown, he remained outside the palace gates.
Yu Tianqing let out a sigh of relief.
He didn't care what happened to Bai Yang.
As long as Zhao Xing was safe, that was enough.
He waited a long time.
Then suddenly, Zhao Xing stood up.
And Bai Yang walked out.
Yu Tianqing tensed up instantly.
Because when he looked at Bai Yang, he saw something terrifying.
Inside Bai Yang's body, there was a shadow—a second figure overlapping with him.
The shadow was covered in black text, a countless mass of squirming, worm-like characters, burrowing deep into Bai Yang's body.
Within Bai Yang, a glowing book flickered, fighting back against the black shadow's corruption.
But Bai Yang's body was no longer under his control.
"Get away! Don't come any closer!" Yu Tianqing growled, stepping between Bai Yang and Zhao Xing.
And at that moment—someone finally saw him.
Bai Yang's eyes landed on Yu Tianqing, and for the first time, acknowledged his presence.
"...Good."
"Zhao Xing stays here."
Bai Yang simply walked away.
Yu Tianqing watched his departing figure, his heart filled with unease.
Then he turned back and continued calling Zhao Xing's name.
"Zhao Xing~~~"
And this time, Zhao Xing reacted.
As if startled by something unseen, he suddenly sprinted away.
"Zhao Xing really is amazing."
"He actually knows how to use these ancient coins."
"And... did my voice just work? Did he hear me?"
Yu Tianqing's thoughts raced as he quickly chased after him.
He overheard the entire conversation between Zhao Xing and Jing Yan.
The more he listened, the more he admired Zhao Xing's intelligence.
In such an eerie, distorted environment, Zhao Xing had managed to stay calm.
And when talking to Jing Yan, he didn't waste any time trying to prove himself.
Yu Tianqing knew he was different from the others—but he still had no idea how to escape.
He needed to reconnect with Zhao Xing.
But he had no method, so all he could do was keep calling his name.
"Zhao Xing~ Zhao Xing~"
"What?" Zhao Xing turned to Jing Yan.
Jing Yan just looked at him, confused.
"...This place is too eerie. We need to get out of here."
Zhao Xing signaled for Jing Yan to come closer before flying toward the city gates.
Along the way, they passed many of their "teammates"—the other cultivators Bai Yang had gathered.
Zhao Xing warned each one of them.
Not because he was being kind.
But because he didn't want them to be used.
"If the rogue historian spirits devour their memories, they could completely erase Bai Yang."
"...They'll have to fend for themselves."
Zhao Xing sighed.
He knew most of them wouldn't make it out.
If even a proper historian cultivator like Bai Yang had fallen into danger, then the other two teams from Sparks Division likely stood no chance.
If they couldn't escape, then even if the rogue spirits didn't kill them, their fate would still be death.
Whoosh—
Zhao Xing reached the city gate and began walking outward.
The soldiers guarding the gate didn't seem to notice Zhao Xing at all, making no move to stop him.
He and Jing Yan smoothly passed through the corridor leading outside.
"Why are we leaving the city? Didn't the tomb's owner leave a way out?" Jing Yan asked.
"I want to check if we can just fly out of this small world," Zhao Xing replied. "It's safer than searching for an exit inside the city."
"Oh."
The passageway wasn't long. Zhao Xing and Jing Yan quickly made it through.
However, they soon froze in place.
They were back inside the city.
It was as if they hadn't walked out but had instead walked back in!
"What the hell?" Jing Yan's eyes widened. "Why are we back in the city?"
"This is troublesome," Zhao Xing muttered, shaking his head. "The moat outside used Bronze Historian's Law, which means the city itself might have Boundary Revision Divine Ability."
"Boundary Revision?" Jing Yan was stunned. "Are you talking about Historical Revisionism? That ridiculous ability? Can't this just be a maze formation or something?"
"The moat was already using Bronze Historian's Law. That means the city's ability must be on a higher level."
"This divine ability can alter the history of a small world. No matter what happens inside, the timeline will always fold back to match the historian's records. No matter how we struggle, we'll eventually end up following the storyline recorded by the scholar…" Zhao Xing explained. "Do you get it now?"
"Not really," Jing Yan chuckled. "But hey, look on the bright side—things can't get any worse, right?"
"You read historical records dug up from Moonfall Mausoleum all the time. I trust you can get us out of here."
Zhao Xing forced a smile. "Yeah… sure."
In truth, he had no confidence at all.
If this was all there was, he could deal with it. But the worst-case scenario was if the tomb's owner had the ability to distort history itself.
"Please, don't let this be a City of Historical Nihility…" Zhao Xing prayed silently. "If that's the case, everything I know will be useless here…"
At that moment, Zhao Xing's real body—back on Huring Star Continent—was frantically digging through historical records about the Moonfall Ancient Kingdom.
He spent one hundred million Red Star Coins to purchase every piece of information available.
Yet, even after all that, there was barely any information on 'Ruan Chang.'
Left with no choice, he reached out to Du Yun, hoping he could help purchase higher-security historical records.
Du Yun didn't hesitate. He quickly forwarded the purchased documents.
After the purchase, Du Yun turned to the nearby guard, Jiu Li, and sighed, "I heard this kid's been farming nonstop in Southfall, yet he still has time to study history?"
"He's got crazy energy," Jiu Li replied.
"Maybe that's why he finds so many treasures," Du Yun nodded.
"Good point."
Du Yun opened one of the documents.
Normally, he was either handling official affairs or training. Very few things piqued his interest anymore.
Just because someone had high cultivation didn't mean they had broad knowledge. Looking at the complex, profound records Zhao Xing had purchased, Du Yun's head started to hurt.
"Forget it, I'm not interested." Du Yun tossed the documents aside. "I've got a long lifespan anyway. I'll read them later."
For Du Yun, reading history meant reading the conclusions drawn by historians and scholars.
But Zhao Xing? He was studying clues.
Since Du Yun had high clearance, the documents he forwarded contained information Zhao Xing couldn't have purchased himself.
But since Du Yun didn't care to read them, Zhao Xing ended up benefiting greatly.
"How about it, Zhao? Where do we go now?" Jing Yan asked.
"We… huh?" Zhao Xing suddenly perked up and looked toward the ground.
For a brief moment, something flashed beneath his feet—a faint scratch mark, like an illusion.
"Zhao Xing~ Zhao Xing~"
It started again.
Zhao Xing took a deep breath, his brows furrowing.
Who was calling his name?
"My Will Divine Ability isn't strong enough… I must be missing something."
A Fifth-Tier Will Technique was normally more than enough in most situations.
But here? Zhao Xing felt like he couldn't see through anything.
"We're not moving," Zhao Xing said. "We're staying right here."
"If we rush around blindly, we'll make things worse."
"I need time to process the historical clues I just purchased and refine my Will Divine Ability."
"Wait, hold up," Jing Yan's eyes widened. "You're learning on the spot?"
"I have another plan," Zhao Xing said.
"Let's hear it."
"I can ask Du Yun for help."
Zhao Xing hadn't brought Thousand Li Yellow Sand Mansion Crossing with his Juyang Incarnation.
But he had its coordinates!
The Star Relocation Plan ensured that no one could leak information, since they had been teleported directly into the tomb.
But Sparks Division never expected Zhao Xing to have a coordinate link to the outside world.
Of course, he wasn't sure if Du Yun would come or if he could even get them out.
"No." Jing Yan shook his head. "Sparks Division has its own rules."
"The other two teams are still missing. If you call Du Yun, that's as good as snitching. If the other two Great Divine Ability cultivators are still alive, they'll immediately sense it and come to kill the informant."
"If you sell out Sparks, you won't just lose your incarnation—your real body will also be hunted down."
"If you survive, you'll be blacklisted by Sparks forever."
"I refuse to do anything that would harm the Red Star Empire's interests. I'd rather die than betray it."
Jing Yan's answer was firm.
He didn't even bother asking how Zhao Xing could call Du Yun—he outright rejected the idea.
Zhao Xing nodded. He knew Sparks wasn't the kind of place you could negotiate with.
The Empire's underground intelligence network was filled with cold-blooded, ruthless people.
When it came to national interests, no one got special treatment.
If necessary, they'd eliminate Jing Yan himself.
If Zhao Xing betrayed Sparks, he wouldn't just lose his incarnation—his real body would be hunted down too.
And Red Star's influence was far more terrifying than the Dongyan Ancient Clan.
"Then let's see if your fate is strong enough," Zhao Xing said. "If I can uncover this city's secret, you'll survive."
"You just focus on figuring things out," Jing Yan grinned. "As long as we don't betray the Empire, whether I live or die is up to fate."
Zhao Xing didn't say another word. He closed his eyes.
The moment he made his decision…
The eerie voice calling his name vanished.
As if…
He had just made the right choice.
Huring Star Continent, Eastern Continent.
"Ai He." Zhao Xing called over a Shennong squad leader.
"Sir." Ai He, a Second Rank Perfection Shennong, was among the most outstanding of the thousand men under his command.
If Zhao Xing hadn't rested for a single moment, Ai He hadn't either.
"Go to the two armies and the three continents to purchase Kuai Yan and Fire Turtles. They must be alive. Preferably Second Rank, but if the quantity is high, even First Rank will do."
"Alive Kuai Yan and Fire Turtles?" Ai He was puzzled.
The materials from these creatures were worthless, yet Zhao Xing wanted them alive?
"How much are you offering, sir?" Ai He asked.
"Kuai Yan, 100,000 Yuanhai Coins each. Fire Turtles, 200,000 each." Zhao Xing instructed. "They must be alive, with their combat capabilities intact."
He still had 15 billion Red Star Coins. Converted into Yuanhai Coins, that was over 500 billion.
With that much money, he wasn't going to waste time hunting them himself. These creatures were everywhere on Huring Star Continent 21.
"Understood. I'll take care of it." Ai He nodded.
The command was issued from Eastern Continent's Eighteenth Cloud Palace and quickly spread to the military bases in the Western Continent, Southern Continent, and Northern Continent.
Since they were already clearing out monsters to build the bases, this was free money.
Especially for the stationed troops. Since King Tianji had claimed this region, it wasn't a strategic location, meaning the soldiers had nothing to do.
Most of the actual work was being done by Shennong and Mechanists, while the soldiers sat idle.
So, when this job opportunity came up, they jumped on it.
"Did you hear? Some idiot on the Eastern Continent is paying twice the market price for Kuai Yan and Fire Turtles."
"Oh? Seriously? A Kuai Yan's poison sac sells for less than 50,000, and a Fire Turtle's shell barely goes for 100,000. Why would anyone pay for the whole creature?"
"Who knows? Someone in my squad sold a few and actually got paid. I'm heading over later. Besides, clearing out Kuai Yan and Fire Turtles is part of our patrol duty anyway."
"Good point. I'll join you."
In Xin Chen's Southern River Army and Youxu Army, over ten thousand soldiers were stationed on the star continent.
Originally, they didn't bother with this kind of grunt work.
There was no money in it—so they left it to the Mechanists and Shennong.
But now?
Now there was profit.
The news spread rapidly.
More and more people joined in, calling their friends, hunting Kuai Yan and Fire Turtles en masse.
In short: Easy money. Stupid rich guy. Get it while you can!
Zhao Xing stood before a massive pile of bound and secured Kuai Yan and Fire Turtles, his expression turning cold.
He released the restraints on the Kuai Yan—and at the same time, freed himself.
A bloodthirsty aura surged within him.
"ROAR!"
A Fire Turtle stretched out its neck, gleaming fangs bared, lunging at Zhao Xing to devour him.
"Buzz—"
In Zhao Xing's eyes, a Blood Blade flashed, reflecting deep into the Kuai Yan's mind.
"Boom!"
The Fire Turtle's soul was instantly severed by the Slaughter Mind Blade.
"Slash—"
Zhao Xing gripped his blade, using sheer brute force to cleave off its head.
Blood gushed like a waterfall, drenching him red-hot.
"Hisss—"
The remnants of the Fire Turtle's will surged like a chaotic storm, launching an attack on Zhao Xing's spiritual consciousness.
This was the trait of low-intelligence demon beasts.
Their "spirit" was too weak to form intelligence, dispersed throughout their entire bloodstream.
As the blood washed over him, Zhao Xing felt each drop striking his will like a hammer!
"10,000 Kuai Yan only gives me a 1% improvement… But 1,000 Fire Turtles do the same. Clearly, Fire Turtles work better."
"They're born in the earth's fire veins—the combination of will impact and fire essence stokes inner flames, generating an even stronger mental shock."
"Ai He, from now on, only purchase Fire Turtles." Zhao Xing ordered.
"Yes, sir."
And so, the slaughter continued.
The Southern River Army and Youxu Army had delivered over 100,000 Fire Turtles to Zhao Xing.
And Zhao Xing?
He had personally slain over 100,000 Second Rank Fire Turtles!
[Slaughter Mind Blade: Divine Ability, Sixth Tier (1%/100%)]
"Breakthrough!"
Zhao Xing revelled in the bloodshed.
Killing 100,000 Fire Turtles had cost him 200 billion Yuanhai Coins.
But the Fire Turtle shells could be resold for half the price—meaning his actual expenditure was only 100 billion Yuanhai Coins.
However, upon advancing to Divine Ability, Sixth Tier, the effectiveness drastically weakened.
Now, he needed 100,000 Fire Turtles just to gain 10%.
And as for Kuai Yan? They had become completely useless.
"Slash—"
Zhao Xing executed another Fire Turtle, and something changed within him.
His entire aura shifted—becoming terrifying.
From a distance, Ai He observed Zhao Xing's silhouette, feeling chilled to the bone.
"1,110,525 Fire Turtles… All Second Rank… Just to satisfy his bloodlust?"
"What a monster."
Ai He turned to Ding Han in disbelief.
For eleven months, the screams of Fire Turtles had never stopped across the Eastern Continent.
The area where Zhao Xing trained had even turned into a Sea of Blood, formed entirely from Fire Turtle blood!
"With a superior like this, I need to be extra careful…" Ai He shuddered.
"Fire Turtles are no longer enough. Second Rank Fire Turtles can't challenge me anymore." Zhao Xing thought to himself.
One million one hundred ten thousand Fire Turtles.
Through endless slaughter, Zhao Xing had absorbed their will impact—and after eleven months of training, he had forcefully pushed "Slaughter Mind Blade" to Divine Ability, Seventh Tier!
It had cost him 2.2 trillion Yuanhai Coins.
However, he had also gained over a million Fire Turtle shells, which he could resell for half the price.
"To advance further, I need to kill Third Rank demon beasts… But they're hard to find." Zhao Xing pondered. "The surrounding star continents don't have any Third Rank beasts."
Returning to the base, he found Ai He instinctively shrinking away.
Divine Ability, Seventh Tier—Will Divine Ability.
With just a single glance, Zhao Xing could kill Ai He on the spot.
His presence alone was suffocating.
"Withdraw!"
Zhao Xing suppressed his aura.
"Ai He, how is the construction progress on the Eastern Continent?"
"S-Sir!" Ai He stammered. "We're progressing rapidly. We've completed 60% of the expected work."
The originally planned fifty-year construction period had already reached sixty percent completion in just eight years under Zhao Xing's command.
It wasn't efficiency—it was fear.
The agonized howls of the Fire Turtles had become a constant reminder to all Shennong of Cloud Palace: slack off, and you might end up like them.
Even after Zhao Xing stopped slaughtering Fire Turtles, nobody dared to ease up.
If he wasn't venting on Fire Turtles anymore, what would he use next?
"You don't need to be so nervous." Zhao Xing grinned, baring his teeth. "I was just training. Nothing else. Ai He, spread the word—rest when it's time to rest."
"Yes, sir." Ai He and the squad leaders nodded respectfully.
But they were even more terrified.
Zhao Xing didn't bother with them any further. He entered the base's palace, sat down, and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, his Juyang Clone opened its eyes.
He turned to his left, and there—a hazy figure.
Familiar.
"Sh*t!!"
Zhao Xing almost jumped up.
The moment his soul's aura awakened in the clone, and saw Yu Tianqing's position, he immediately remembered.
It wasn't just him and Jing Yan who had entered.
Yu Tianqing was here too!
And yet—he and Old Jing had completely forgotten about him for over a year!
"I'm sorry!" Zhao Xing said seriously.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Jing Yan frowned. "Who are you apologizing to? Me? No need. We're not necessarily dead yet. Maybe the other two Spark units will find us—"
"Not you." Zhao Xing's eyes gleamed—a Blood Blade reflection flashing in Jing Yan's pupils.
A second later, Jing Yan remembered.
"Sh*t, Yu—Yu Tianqing…"
Yu Tianqing looked at them, visibly shaken. "You—can see me now?"
"Yeah." Zhao Xing nodded. "Still a bit blurry. We must've been hit by the tomb owner's spell: 'See Not, Hear Not.'"
"That's Yu Tianqing?" Jing Yan looked puzzled.
Because in his eyes, Yu Tianqing looked completely different.
"It's a Divine Ability. 'Mistaken Identity.'" Zhao Xing added. "Now, we can confirm—we've been hit by four historian Divine Abilities."
"See Not, Hear Not, Forgetfulness, and Mistaken Identity."
"When combined, they completely erased Yu Tianqing from our perception."
"Even after breaking the first three, he still appears as someone else in our eyes."
"All four of these belong to the 'Ten Tables' and 'Eight Books' categories."
"This is terrifying."
Jing Yan still couldn't believe it. To him, Yu Tianqing was a different person, yet Zhao Xing insisted otherwise.
His mind struggled to reconcile two conflicting realities.
But since only 'Mistaken Identity' was still active, his rationality gradually returned.
"Yeah, it's terrifying." Zhao Xing sighed. "The Divine Abilities of ancient historians could topple dynasties without bloodshed. That's why they were erased from history, forbidden from spreading."
Just imagine—one day, a ruler wakes up and finds that his ministers all see him as an enemy—and immediately try to kill him.
This wasn't mere illusion.
Illusions could be exposed through soul inspection.
But historian Divine Abilities? They altered or erased memories—so even a soul search would show only false memories.
"Zhao Xing, Jing Yan, I've been following you two this whole time." Yu Tianqing was emotional, as if he had finally found his comrades again. "You're finally normal."
"Tianqing, was it you calling me this past year?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Yes. I kept shouting for you and Jing Yan, but neither of you could hear me." Yu Tianqing stepped forward, gripping a carving knife in his hand. He pointed to the ground. "Even when I wrote on paper, the words vanished almost instantly."
"Paper?" Zhao Xing thought back to when he first landed—the odd feeling underfoot. "You're saying this entire ground is paper?"
"Yeah. Can't you tell?" Yu Tianqing asked.
"No way." Jing Yan stomped his foot. "This is solid ground."
Zhao Xing took a deep breath.
Even with Seventh Tier Will Divine Ability, he still couldn't see through it.
Even after being told the truth, his mind refused to accept it.
To his senses, this was real earth.
The texture, the earth veins, the wave fluctuations—everything felt like the real ground.
Of course—every now and then, a different sensation flickered in his mind.
His perception was split.
90% of his mind said this was real earth.
But 10% could vaguely sense the paper.
"Tianqing, tell me everything you've experienced this past year." Zhao Xing said.
"At first, I didn't notice anything. Until…"
Yu Tianqing began his story.
"I see."
Zhao Xing finally understood.
No wonder, when Bai Yang left, he had said:
"Alright. Zhao Xing stays here."
Instead of:
"Alright. You stay here."
Why had he used third-person?
Because Yu Tianqing was right there.
Bai Yang—or rather, Ruan Chang—hadn't been wary of Zhao Xing or Yin Spirit Coins.
He was wary of Yu Tianqing.
"Wait—why the hell is he okay?!" Jing Yan looked confused. "He doesn't have an ancient crown or Yin Spirit Coins protecting him. How can he see through all this?"
"I don't know." Yu Tianqing shook his head. "I just can."
Zhao Xing focused his thoughts, activating his detection panel on Yu Tianqing.
[Yu Tianqing]
[Occupation: Mechanist Martial Artist]
[Cultivation Realm: Third Rank (Minor)]
…
[Innate Divine Ability: Truth-Seeking Eyes]
Zhao Xing immediately understood.
Because among all the information—the words "Truth-Seeking Eyes" stood out like a golden legend, blindingly bright.
It was impossible to miss.
"Divine Abilities can be either learned or innate. Yu Tianqing is a Mechanist Martial Artist."
"He must have excavated this Divine Ability from within his own body's hidden potential."
"No wonder he's the future ruler of a nation. That kind of talent…"
Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel a little envious.
Truth-Seeking Eyes—without a doubt, one of the top-tier Divine Abilities in the universe!
"Pierce through the veil of ignorance, perceive the path of the Dao!"
This phrase was made specifically to describe the Truth-Seeking Eyes.
It was a passive-type Divine Ability.
With it, Yu Tianqing would never suffer from inner demons, and before reaching the Reincarnation Realm, he would never face any bottlenecks or obstacles.
Because he could directly perceive the essence of the Dao.
Furthermore, his talent in spellcasting would skyrocket.
No matter how complex mechanisms or formations were, he would never fall into dead ends—his mind would always be in a state of inspiration, constantly at its peak.
It was safe to say—Yu Tianqing's rise truly began with this Divine Ability.
From now on, Yu Tianqing was no longer just a hidden dragon.
He had the true bearing of a ruler—destined to soar into the heavens.
Before this, he had merely been a latent force, waiting for his time.
"What's with you?" Jing Yan frowned. "I see envy and happiness in your eyes. Damn it, what's there to be happy about in this situation?"
"You wouldn't understand even if I explained."
Zhao Xing looked at Yu Tianqing and sent a transmission directly into his mind.
"Tianqing, within this ancient tomb, you awakened your body's potential and gained a Divine Ability."
"This ability is called Truth-Seeking Eyes. Once we leave, you should search for relevant records to understand how to fully use it."
Yu Tianqing wasn't someone who overreacted easily. Even after hearing such shocking news, he merely nodded calmly.
"Also, you must never reveal this to anyone. Keep it a secret."
"Especially—stay away from Preachers."
"People with innate Divine Abilities like yours will always be envied."
"If anyone finds out, there will be powerhouses trying to steal your bloodline."
"Only when you reach the Dao Domain Realm should you consider letting a Preacher imprint this Divine Ability."
Zhao Xing's tone was solemn.
"I understand." Yu Tianqing nodded seriously.
Zhao Xing's Slaughter Mind Blade—where had it come from?
It had been extracted by Zoren from the Asura Clan. This Divine Ability was originally exclusive to the Asura.
Zoren had said he extracted Dao Rhythms from the corpses of 178 Asura warriors, but he hadn't mentioned that the actual process required digging out their bones, draining their marrow, and refining their bloodline.
Because on the surface, Preachers were respected scholars—but beneath that, there was a dark and cruel side.
Of course, when dealing with foreign races like the Asura, society was more tolerant of such cruelty.
But many dark Preachers didn't care if they were dealing with foreign races or their own kind.
"What secret is so big that even I can't hear it?" Jing Yan shoved his head over. "I'm dying soon—can't you at least satisfy my curiosity before I go?"
"Stop saying such ominous things. You might want to die, but I'd rather not lose this clone." Zhao Xing pushed his head away.
"Haha, then I guess this prince has no choice but to keep on living!" Jing Yan laughed heartily.
With him here, the mood simply couldn't stay heavy.
"Brother Yu, from now on, we'll need you to lead the way." Zhao Xing said.
The four Divine Abilities cast by the tomb's master had all been meant to stop Yu Tianqing.
Because the moment Yu Tianqing entered, his innate Divine Ability had started awakening.
Since they couldn't stop Yu Tianqing directly, the only solution was to sever his connection to his teammates.
But what the tomb master hadn't expected—was that besides Yu Tianqing, there was another exceptional individual here.
With his Asura Will Divine Ability, Zhao Xing had forcibly recovered his memories and reestablished contact with Yu Tianqing.
Of course, the main reason was that Zhao Xing was still only at the Third Rank.
If he had been as powerful as Bai Yang, the suppression would have been even stronger.
Historians knew other historians best.
And the best way to set a trap was to target people like Bai Yang.
"From now on, you lead the way. Describe everything you see to me and Jing Yan."
"Understood." Yu Tianqing nodded.
Now that he had reconnected with his team, his confidence had been restored.
Moreover, the moment Zhao Xing mentioned the Truth-Seeking Eyes, Yu Tianqing realized that his control over the Divine Ability had instantly improved.
Zhao Xing, Jing Yan, and Yu Tianqing no longer headed for the city gate.
Because Yu Tianqing had revealed the truth—the ground beneath them was a flowing sheet of paper.
Even space itself was shifting.
It was like an ant walking on a twisted loop—no matter how long it walked, it would always remain on the same surface.
If they continued toward the city gate, they would never escape.
"When we entered, we heard the announcement about Grand Preceptor Ruan Chang's triumphant return. This Biography Realm should be recording the moment Ruan Chang met the Emperor." Zhao Xing explained to Yu Tianqing.
Because Yu Tianqing hadn't heard those voices at the start, his understanding of his own Divine Ability was still shallow.
"Zhao Xing, did you hear that?" Jing Yan suddenly shuddered.
"I did." Zhao Xing shook his head. "Ignore it."
He waved his hand, storing away three Spirit Coins.
This place was originally where Fairy Hongtao had been.
But after eleven months, she was gone.
Yet from a nearby pavilion, an eerie voice called out:
"Fairy Hongtao of Tianyin Tower opens her chambers today. Born with a Water Dao Body, her companionship for a single year can increase one's lifespan by an epoch. Highest bidder wins~"
Yu Tianqing glanced at the auctioneer.
He didn't understand what it meant, but he noticed the book tower where Fairy Hongtao stood—her face flushed, delicately unfastening her robes.
Beneath her translucent skin, dark, tadpole-like script swirled.
"Zhao Xing, Jing Yan—you're still alive?!"
A voice rang out, filled with surprise and excitement.
Lan Hai had just spotted them.
"What the hell happened? Why are you back here?"
But Zhao Xing's group of three didn't even slow down.
They walked straight toward the imperial palace.
"Hey! Wait a second!" Lan Hai kept shouting, but the three acted like they couldn't hear him at all.
"Wait, if you help me, I can give you some important information!"
"Speak first." Zhao Xing continued walking. "I'll decide afterward."
"No way! You have to make an oath first!"
Zhao Xing ignored him.
Seeing that Zhao Xing and Jing Yan were about to disappear from sight, Lan Hai panicked and blurted out:
"Fine! I'll talk!"
"Bai Yang has been captured!"
"I saw it with my own eyes—he was dragged away in a prison carriage by the palace guards!"
Zhao Xing's steps finally halted.
He slightly tilted his head.
"Describe it in detail."
Lan Hai said, "Based on my knowledge of Moonfall Ancient Kingdom's artifacts, Bai Yang was bound with the Execution Edict. This means he doesn't even know why, but he's about to be executed by the heroic spirits here!"
"Which direction?"
"Southeast."
"Thanks, you're a good person. I've thought about it, and it's best we part ways here."
Without looking back, Zhao Xing walked off.
"F***! You're seriously just leaving like that?!"
"..."
Zhao Xing had already considered it—bringing Lan Hai along would just be another burden.
He didn't know this person well, so his decision was to leave him behind.
Without Bai Yang leading them, there was no way he could gather thirty people to move together.
Not harming them and simply taking away their protective Spirit Coins was already the limit of Zhao Xing's conscience.
Rescuing them? That was out of the question.
"Zhao Xing, we're almost at the imperial palace," Yu Tianqing transmitted. "I see two paper soldiers, each wielding a spear."
Zhao Xing activated his Will Divine Ability, glancing over. He could see traces of spell formations. "Second Rank perfected Book Puppets, but enhanced with heroic spirits."
"Tianqing, look for their weaknesses. You can see through their essence—once we find a weakness, it'll be easier to take them down."
"Weaknesses..." Yu Tianqing's eyes glowed faintly gold. "Their navels are the weakest points. The heroic spirits you mentioned are likely hidden there."
"Their heads have something—a sheet of gilded paper with two inscribed patterns. That part, on the other hand, radiates the strongest source fluctuations."
After thinking for a moment, Yu Tianqing waved his hand, drawing out the pattern on the paper.
For Mechanists, manifesting weapons from thin air was a basic skill—so drawing was no trouble at all.
Even though Yu Tianqing hadn't captured the divine essence of the drawing, Zhao Xing immediately understood it the moment he saw it.
"Twin Book Puppets, imbued with Han Luo heroic spirits."
"The inscription on the paper reads 'Han Luo', meaning they belong to the Han Luo Army. The two patterns indicate that they are at the Second Rank."
"However, because they are Twin Book Puppets, their combat strength should be considered at the Third Rank."
"What does 'Twin Book Puppets' mean?" Jing Yan asked, confused.
"If you kill one, the other will absorb its power, triggering a rage mode that transforms it into a Three Transmission or even Four Transmission Book Puppet, pushing its strength to the Third Rank. In some cases, it might even reach the level of a Divine Ability expert."
"Jing Yan, you handle them."
"No problem." Jing Yan pulled out a Star Fortune Coin. "If I don't kill them in thirty breaths, I, Jing Yan—"
"Cut the crap, dude. Just go. Star Fortune Coins don't affect battle against Book Puppets."
"Fine, fine." Jing Yan pouted. "Takes all the fun out of it..."
Whoosh!
Jing Yan's Manifold Dao Soldiers formed into twelve combat puppets, charging straight toward the Twin Book Puppets.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xing kept an eye on Jing Yan while also observing his surroundings.
"Tianqing, from what you see, are there more of these Book Puppets?"
"Not many. In front of the palace gates, there are only two," Yu Tianqing replied.
Zhao Xing nodded. "Seems like the news about Ruan Chang being taken for execution is credible."
"Who's Ruan Chang?" Yu Tianqing asked.
"The last Grand Preceptor of Moonfall Ancient Kingdom."
"According to the unearthed burial records, Ruan Chang died in battle, killed by the Guihai Demon Clan."
"The Emperor mourned for him and even tried to revive him with a Reincarnation Altar."
"But unfortunately, it didn't work. After his death, Moonfall Ancient Kingdom never had another commander capable of leading massive armies."
"That's the official conclusion from Star Historians."
"But judging from the situation here—history might not be what we thought."
All heroic spirits were at the Dao Domain Realm of Life and Death. That meant that in life, Ruan Chang had at least reached the Reincarnation Realm!
After all, even a historian's Divine Ability couldn't fully replicate a historical figure's peak strength.
If Lan Hai wasn't lying, then this Biography Realm's records were incredibly dark.
Instead of being rewarded for his campaign, the Grand Preceptor was executed by Moonfall's emperor?
"In order to kill Ruan Chang, the emperor must have mobilized the entire Han Luo Army to suppress him—which explains why the palace's defenses are so weak." Zhao Xing analyzed.
"This means that right now, entering the palace is our safest option."
Yu Tianqing, having been born into the Pangze Royal Clan, knew all too well how dark and dirty imperial politics could be.
No wonder records had to be buried in tombs—if anyone dared to write these things while alive, they'd be executed immediately.
Of course, Zhao Xing was only speculating.
If this was part of the City of Historical Nihility, then it was probably just a conspiracy theory.
Boom!
Just as they were talking, Jing Yan skidded backward, his feet scraping against the ground, kicking up sparks.
Cough, cough—
Jing Yan coughed twice, clearly injured.
"You got roughed up even with a preemptive attack, knowing their weaknesses, against just two minor Divine Ability Realm puppets?"
"Jing Yan, do you know why your Northern Sight Dao Soldiers couldn't see clearly?"
"What do you mean?" Jing Yan looked up, confused.
"Because of gray mist, bro."
Jing Yan: "..."
Yu Tianqing: "..."
"You know what? I'm starting to think you actually studied in the Empire." Jing Yan gritted his teeth. "Your provocation skills are just like an Imperial scholar."
Zhao Xing raised his hand. "Thanks for the compliment. Now let's go inside."
"Wait," Yu Tianqing suddenly stopped in front of the Twin Book Puppet corpses.
"Brother Zhao, these two things—can we take them? They look like treasures."
Zhao Xing's expression changed instantly. "Damn! Almost forgot! This Memory-Wiping Divine Ability is way too strong! Yes! Take them, absolutely!"
Jing Yan immediately mocked him. "Seems like even your eyes are covered in fog too, huh?"
Zhao Xing had no comeback.
Yu Tianqing, however, ignored them both.
He reached down and grabbed something—two gilded sheets of paper inscribed with intricate runes.
Neither Zhao Xing nor Jing Yan saw how he did it.
It was as if he had simply pulled them out of thin air.
"This Biography Realm has properties similar to a storage treasure. If we don't take these Divine Ability scrolls, they will quickly regenerate, reforming into another Twin Book Puppet."
"What kind of Divine Abilities are recorded on them?" Jing Yan asked curiously.
"I'm not sure," Zhao Xing shook his head. "We'll have to study it when we get back."
"But these two pages of Divine Ability scrolls definitely contain at least one combat technique."
"Given how rare they are, we could probably sell them for at least a few billion Scarlet Star Coins."
"Holy crap, we just struck gold!" Jing Yan's eyes immediately turned red with excitement.
Even Yu Tianqing's breathing quickened.
They had only taken down two small-fry guards, yet they had obtained a Divine Ability technique?
"Have some dignity, will you?" Zhao Xing laughed. "Do you even realize where we are?"
"This is the burial site of a Dao Domain Realm powerhouse, a place where death is almost certain. Isn't this kind of reward to be expected?"
"Expected? Hell yeah, it should be expected!" Jing Yan nodded vigorously.
Yu Tianqing also nodded fiercely.
Unlike Zhao Xing and Jing Yan, he had never really seen that much money before.
Now, telling him that what he was holding was worth billions—his hands were trembling.
"If we manage to make it back, you two will never have to worry about being poor again," Zhao Xing smiled. "Let's go."
After entering the imperial palace, the interior was eerily silent, with no one in sight.
Zhao Xing quickly scanned the domed ceilings of various halls, swiftly differentiating their significance.
"Apart from the Moonfall Extreme Dao Hall, we can explore the other halls freely," Zhao Xing said. "That's where the Grand Preceptor met the Emperor."
"The other palace halls weren't the main focus of historical records, so they should be less dangerous."
"Could the exit and treasures also be there?" Yu Tianqing speculated.
"Yes," Zhao Xing nodded. "But without the Tai Shi Crown, entering will be extremely dangerous."
"Brother Zhao, as much as I'd love to hunt for treasure, our main goal is still to find the exit in the Moonfall Extreme Dao Hall," Jing Yan said. "I want to get out as soon as possible."
Now wasn't the time to get greedy—their lives came first!
"If you don't search for treasure, how do you plan on getting past the final trial?" Zhao Xing countered. "I already told you, scholars counter scholars. We need to gather historical artifacts to deal with that test."
"Then what should we be looking for?"
"Historians have three treasures—the Tai Shi Crown, the Realm-Repairing Brush, and the Preaching Tome," Zhao Xing explained. "Moonfall Ancient Kingdom should have them too."
"Even if the tomb's owner wasn't a Grand Historian, he was at least a high-ranking historian, so he should have either a lower-tier version or a replica."
Zhao Xing didn't mention the Xuanling Historical Records Fragment, because that thing was hard to find, and even if they did, they might not be able to take it.
If they could at least get their hands on the basic three treasures, their chances of escaping would be much higher.
He figured that the three Divine Ability experts from Sparks had also been looking for these three items to find a way out.
"Tianqing, are you ready?"
"Yes," Yu Tianqing pressed his palms together, then pulled them apart sharply—a blurry image appeared in front of Zhao Xing's eyes.
It only lasted for a second, but Zhao Xing's Will Divine Ability allowed him to capture it clearly.
Jing Yan, on the other hand, saw nothing—he only saw Yu Tianqing's hand gestures, and then Zhao Xing nodded.
"That way."
Zhao Xing extended his hand and locked onto a direction.
The three of them moved quickly.
Before long, a beam of light shot straight at Jing Yan.
"Watch out!" Yu Tianqing shouted.
Zhao Xing immediately expanded, shielding both of them.
Boom!
A piece of flesh was torn from his shoulder, revealing bloodied muscle.
Before he could even check his wound, a voice rang out.
"Who dares sneak into the imperial palace?!"
Zhao Xing's gaze snapped toward a palace hall.
A dark, semi-spherical palace suddenly split open, and multiple Book Puppets emerged.
A total of fifteen.
The one leading them had a vicious curved horn on his forehead, wielding a flame-tipped spear. A totem glowed on his chest.
He was the one who had pierced Zhao Xing's defenses.
Fifteen Third Rank warriors! And the leader… gave Zhao Xing the feeling that he was at Divine Ability Realm!
"Tianqing, find his weakness," Zhao Xing rapidly enlarged his body, shielding the two.
"Hurry, brother!" Jing Yan urged. "Where's the weak point?"
"He… he doesn't have one," Yu Tianqing's face turned red. "Every detail of his body is flawless—his Dao Rhythms are completely intact. The characters on his paper form flow seamlessly, as if born that way."
"Huh?" Jing Yan froze.
Yu Tianqing was also at Third Rank, and he was no weakling.
Yet he was now saying that this opponent had no weaknesses?
"Could he be at Divine Ability Realm?"
"Yes," Zhao Xing's expression turned grim. "This is definitely the aura of a Divine Ability Realm expert—probably someone worthy of being recorded in history."
Yu Tianqing's Breaking Illusion Eyes could see through essence, but this was a growth-type Divine Ability.
He couldn't see beyond his own level to analyze a much stronger enemy.
Which meant that this Divine Ability Realm figure was one of Moonfall Ancient Kingdom's greatest prodigies.
Even if he wasn't on Du Yun's level, he was at least comparable to Yang Baihe. Otherwise, he wouldn't be the leader of the palace guards.
"I'll ask you one last time—who are you?!" The dark Book Puppet raised his flame-tipped spear, his cold gaze locking onto Zhao Xing.
Pfft!
A second fiery spear strike shot out at blinding speed, impaling Zhao Xing's shoulder before he could even react.
This time, the injury was worse.
Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone could feel a searing force invading his entire body, burning from within.
"Tianqing, describe everything you see—right now!" Zhao Xing ordered. "Be quick!"
Zhao Xing's interface couldn't detect non-living beings, meaning he couldn't analyze the Book Puppets.
Since Book Puppets were a fusion of magic and artifact, his panel couldn't extract useful information.
Yu Tianqing rapidly compiled his observations.
Meanwhile, the guard captain's flame-tipped spear began glowing with its third ignition.
"Kill them all—"
Just as the command was about to be given, Zhao Xing suddenly shouted.
"Lord Ming, wait!"