When Zhao Xing spoke the words "Lord Ming, wait" in the language of the Moonfall Ancient Kingdom, the dark-armored guard wielding the Flame-Tipped Spear immediately raised his hand, halting the subordinates who were about to attack.
At this moment, Yu Tianqing's face was filled with regret. He had just discovered that he had awakened a powerful divine ability, a chance to soar into the skies, yet he was now facing certain death. How could he not feel regret?
Jing Yan nudged Yu Tianqing with his elbow, winking as he said, "Look, Old Zhao is about to show off again."
It was good to be knowledgeable. Jing Yan had no idea what language Zhao Xing was speaking, but since he had managed to stop the combat puppet, he must have some level of confidence.
"Who are you?" Lord Ming repeated his first question.
"We are people of the Grand Tutor." Zhao Xing spoke each word deliberately. The pronunciation of the Moonfall Ancient Kingdom was unique, requiring an understanding of the fundamental essence and following a certain rhythm of the Dao of Sound.
As Lord Ming spoke three sentences, Zhao Xing was rapidly adjusting his pronunciation, making his linguistic patterns align more closely with the historical Moonfall True Speech.
Originally, he wouldn't have learned this so quickly, but people are often forced to surpass their limits under pressure.
The lives of Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing, along with half of his wealth, were at stake here. Zhao Xing had tapped into his potential, forcing himself to achieve this feat.
"People of the Grand Tutor, why are you forcing your way into the palace?" Lord Ming continued to ask.
Hearing such a response, Zhao Xing felt his confidence surge, and his speech became more fluent. "The king has been deceived by slander, and the Grand Tutor is about to be executed. If the Grand Tutor dies, chaos will engulf the nation, and the kingdom will face ruin."
"I have heard of Lord Ming's loyalty and righteousness, your name spreading far and wide. I implore Lord Ming to uphold justice and save the nation from disaster."
Zhao Xing's impassioned voice echoed through the empty palace before silence settled once more.
Jing Yan felt as if Zhao Xing was radiating brilliance at this moment. His admiration was boundless. Just a few impassioned words, and this fearsome combat puppet had gone silent?
Was being educated really this powerful?
Zhao Xing, on the other hand, kept his gaze fixed on the other party, because he had read about this man's name, title, and biography from the records obtained from Du Yun.
The patterns and ancient inscriptions described by Yu Tianqing also matched this man's identity.
In other words, this Lord Ming, the inner court guard captain named Jun Yichen, was a figure recorded in the annals of the Moonfall Ancient Kingdom.
His heroic spirit was immortalized in history.
But how had Jun Yichen's name been preserved in the records?
Du Yun's information was limited, only providing a single sentence: "Stormed the palace to remonstrate, executed traitors, sacrificed himself to prove his loyalty, unparalleled in righteousness."
As for what exactly he remonstrated about and who he killed, Zhao Xing didn't know. He speculated that a man who had earned a positive historical evaluation must not have been the antagonist in the Grand Tutor's execution incident.
A figure who had overseen palace security, engaging in such an act of storming the palace—if there had been any selfish motives, he would have been labeled a regicide, not remembered as a hero.
Judging from Jun Yichen's behavior and words—he kept asking about Zhao Xing's identity rather than attacking immediately—Zhao Xing speculated that Jun Yichen had been a positive figure in the Grand Tutor's execution incident, perhaps even a crucial ally in breaking through.
After all, a Grand Tutor, a man of great merit, being sentenced to death should have stirred some voices of protest, or even an attempt at a prison break, right?
"I am but a lowly official, my Dao is shallow, and I lack the qualifications to see His Majesty or the ability to do such things," Jun Yichen said solemnly. "You have sought the wrong person."
"Lord Ming, does your sense of justice waver according to your abilities?"
"Does your loyalty and righteousness depend on your rank and position?"
The consecutive questions left Jun Yichen momentarily stunned, unable to respond.
He could have crushed these three people with a mere gesture, yet he found himself unable to lower his spear.
Zhao Xing did not dare to waste too much time. He immediately spoke resolutely, "I am now searching for a way to serve the nation I love, fulfilling my own sense of justice. If Lord Ming wishes to kill us, we will not blame you."
"We are willing to die under Lord Ming's righteous spear."
With that, Zhao Xing strode past Jun Yichen.
Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing didn't know what had just transpired, but they mimicked Zhao Xing, wearing expressions of righteous resolve as they dropped their weapons and walked past the formidable combat puppet.
After all, they couldn't win a fight, so they might as well follow Zhao Xing's lead.
The three of them walked past the tip of Jun Yichen's spear, eyes fixed ahead, heading toward the Moonfall Ultimate Dao Hall.
They soon left the encirclement.
Yu Tianqing was deeply shaken.
What had just happened? How had they walked past unscathed?
Jing Yan, meanwhile, was simply in awe of Old Zhao's performance.
Zhao Xing also let out a silent sigh of relief. He couldn't always suffer for being uneducated—sometimes, knowledge had to be useful!
Just as the three of them thought they had escaped unscathed, Jun Yichen suddenly spoke.
"Wait."
Their hearts sank.
Zhao Xing did not turn around, only tilting his face slightly, his mind racing for a way to save Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing.
But Jun Yichen did not attack.
"You three heading to the Moonfall Ultimate Dao Hall will accomplish nothing but making matters worse."
Jun Yichen held his long spear and stepped forward.
Zhao Xing was slightly taken aback.
"Lord Ming, you…"
Jun Yichen did not speak, but with each step he took, his aura intensified exponentially.
Yu Tianqing shuddered as he transmitted his thoughts, "Zhao… Zhao Xing, his fundamental essence fluctuations have reached a level I cannot comprehend. That piece of paper is showing both the Sun and Moon Stars, and they are rising from the page!"
Zhao Xing didn't know exactly what this meant, but Jun Yichen's aura had definitely surpassed the Third Realm and reached the Dao Domain Realm.
By the time Jun Yichen walked up to him, this man already felt stronger than Grand Scholar Zhuo En.
As Jun Yichen moved past Zhao Xing, he suddenly stopped and turned slightly. "My sense of justice has never wavered. I simply could not be certain whether the Grand Tutor was truly sentenced to execution."
"Do you have a token of the Grand Tutor?"
Zhao Xing's heart sank. He didn't have such a thing on him.
But at that moment, Yu Tianqing, who had been silently observing, suddenly understood the question.
He had never learned the language of the Moonfall Ancient Kingdom before, but through his innate divine ability, he had gradually come to comprehend it during their brief conversation.
"I do." Yu Tianqing reached into his robe and pulled out three objects.
It was a ceremonial headpiece and three ancient coins.
Jun Yichen extended his hand, and in an instant, the items floated toward him, landing in his palm.
"Indeed, they carry the Grand Tutor's aura."
Without another word, Jun Yichen turned and flew toward the Moonfall Ultimate Dao Hall.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished from their sight.
"Hah… hah…"
It wasn't until ten breaths later that Jing Yan finally started gasping for air.
Yu Tianqing also began trembling, belatedly realizing the weight of the situation.
"Brother Zhao, did we… did we survive?"
"Yes."
Zhao Xing nodded.
Then, he turned to Yu Tianqing with a puzzled expression. "Brother, where did you get that from just now?"
Yu Tianqing wiped the sweat from his forehead. "You mentioned before that Bai Yang had been possessed by the Grand Tutor's spirit, and I once witnessed him in that state."
"When he was possessed, he discarded some of Bai Yang's belongings. After he left, I picked them up, thinking they might be useful."
"I—I was just grasping at straws, hoping they'd come in handy."
"Frugality truly is a virtue." Zhao Xing couldn't help but sigh. "Good thing you had an eye for those scraps and picked them up."
The battle between Bai Yang and Ruan Chang was bound to have a victor and a loser.
If Ruan Chang's spirit wanted to erode Bai Yang's will, the first step would be stripping away his spiritual defenses.
Some of these discarded belongings would have inevitably been tainted with Ruan Chang's aura—making them valid as proof of identity.
Zhao Xing suspected that Jun Yichen would have gone to the Moonfall Ultimate Dao Hall sooner or later. The difference was, he wasn't someone who could be easily swayed by mere words.
They needed tangible proof that they were truly connected to the Grand Tutor.
"If I were in a historian's trial realm right now, then moving through the palace would require extensive knowledge of Moonfall's history."
"Beyond that, I'd also need key quest items related to the Grand Tutor Ruan Chang, such as his personal token…"
"Damn it, I hate this kind of mission. It's a real headache." Zhao Xing cursed under his breath.
"Stop complaining, bro. Let's move somewhere safer first. I don't feel secure here at all." Jing Yan whispered.
He was terrified that Jun Yichen might suddenly turn back.
"You're actually scared?" Zhao Xing teased.
"Brother, my life is just as valuable as yours." Jing Yan shot back. "Having the courage to face death doesn't mean I want to die. If I can live, why would I choose to die? What kind of stupid question is that?"
"…"
Zhao Xing was speechless.
They had escaped a deadly situation, but they knew they couldn't stay put.
The Hanluo Army had been dispatched elsewhere, and the Palace Guard Captain Jun Yichen had left as well.
That meant Zhao Xing and his companions were significantly safer now.
However, as they searched for the Three Treasures of the Historians, they still encountered many guardian book puppets along the way.
Fortunately, Yu Tianqing's Eye of Insight allowed them to avoid the most formidable ones.
With Zhao Xing guiding them, they encountered several battles, but none were life-threatening.
"Brother Zhao, how did you know that the four-mark book puppet earlier couldn't leave the palace's thousand-mile range? And that if it did, it would be hunted by another palace guardian?" Jing Yan asked.
"Even if the creator of this tomb follows a 'fictionalized history' approach, they must still adhere to certain historical records when designing it."
"The balance between truth and illusion must be maintained to create an effective deception."
"Besides, why would they waste their Realm Engraving Brush on minor figures?"
Jing Yan spread his hands. "Honestly, this all seems too smooth. Other than Jun Yichen, we haven't run into any truly powerful spirits."
"The storm has passed, and now you think you're invincible?" Zhao Xing scoffed. "Who was the one trembling in fear just moments ago, saying he didn't feel safe?"
"Did I?" Jing Yan feigned ignorance.
Zhao Xing couldn't be bothered with his shamelessness and continued explaining. "You guys must not have been to many historian trial realms."
"In these trial realms, there are always designated 'protagonists' and 'supporting characters.' The main narrative and the historical setting are predefined."
"Aside from Yu Tianqing, who exists outside the script, you and I have already been marked with supporting character labels."
"You mean… we have preassigned roles in this realm?" Jing Yan asked.
"Yes. Minor roles."
"Jun Yichen, for example, is a key supporting character."
"Bai Yang, though, is in a much worse position. He came in fully prepared, which means he automatically stepped into the role of the Grand Tutor."
"The Realm Engraving Brush focused its influence on Ruan Chang's history, meaning Bai Yang is facing exponentially greater dangers than us."
"This entire world is structured to target him as the 'protagonist,' not us."
"The Sparks Unit is definitely after something big this time. They must be aiming for the Moonfall Grand Historian Crown, the Realm Engraving Brush, and the Canon of Preaching."
Zhao Xing picked up two divine ability scrolls and waved them in the air. "There's no way they're here just for these small profits."
Yu Tianqing felt his worldview being shattered. To him, these divine ability scrolls were already immensely valuable.
"Brother Zhao, have you ever been the 'protagonist' in a trial realm before?" Yu Tianqing asked curiously.
"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded. "It was extremely dangerous."
"How dangerous?" Jing Yan pressed, determined to know more.
They were currently hiding within the Twelve Wandering Gods' Concealment Barrier, a secluded realm used for resting.
"I once entered a trial realm with a major challenge." Zhao Xing recalled. "I can't reveal the name of the powerful figure associated with it, nor can I share the exact details. So, I'll use aliases."
Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing nodded, eager to hear more.
"A long time ago, there was an ancient kingdom named 'Qing,' and a monarch named 'Fulin.' There was also a disciple named 'Xingsen.'"
"The ruler of this ancient kingdom was not focused on governing his nation. Instead, he indulged in unorthodox practices and became acquainted with Xingsen."
"One day, his beloved concubine died. Overwhelmed with grief and deceived by Xingsen's words, he made a shocking decision—to abandon his kingdom and live as a reclusive cultivator, detached from worldly affairs."
"At that time, the Qing Ancient Kingdom was still dealing with internal and external crises. The nation's Fortune was unstable, and if the monarch truly left, it would inevitably lead to the kingdom's downfall, potentially inviting foreign invasions."
"In this trial world, different people played different roles—some as Xingsen, some as Xingsen's master, others as the monarch's ministers, and even as his own son..."
"The trial had two opposing factions. One aimed to stop the monarch from abandoning the world, while the other sought to deceive him into doing so."
"If you were part of the deception faction, you had to brainwash the monarch daily, all while enduring constant obstacles and assassination attempts. Your only supporter was the monarch himself."
"If you were part of the savior faction, you would have the support of everyone in the kingdom—except the monarch. But that also meant you risked losing your life. For instance, Xingsen's master failed to stop him and ultimately perished by self-destruction on the Sun Star."
"Either way, both paths were perilous and filled with obstacles."
Jing Yan frowned. "What kind of fool would willingly give up his throne? Just because he loved a woman that much?"
Yu Tianqing asked, "Brother Zhao, what was the final outcome? Which side won?"
Zhao Xing shook his head. "The deception faction won. In the end, the ancient kingdom's monarch truly abandoned his cultivation and joined the ancient sect. But the deception faction didn't really win either—Xingsen died, and his master also perished."
Jing Yan's eyes brightened. "Couldn't I just play the prince? Wouldn't that be an easy win?"
"You could. But the moment you enter the trial, you'll contract smallpox—neither dead nor alive. You'd have a hard time surviving."
"What's smallpox?" Yu Tianqing asked.
"A devastating disease. Even cultivators at the Dao Domain Realm couldn't withstand it."
"At the time, a plague called 'smallpox' was sweeping through the star domains. Many challengers failed simply because they couldn't survive the disease. Once you entered, you were doomed."
"The savior faction also lost many people. The royal physician who failed to cure the beloved concubine? He was executed, along with countless others."
"..."
Jing Yan was starting to feel that Zhao Xing was spouting nonsense. Zhao Xing was just a Nascent Realm cultivator, yet the trial world he described sounded like something out of the Chronicles of Emperors—far beyond his level.
But there was no way to verify it, so he decided to just listen for fun.
"Overall, we're pretty lucky. Bai Yang took most of the heat, and we had Yu Tianqing to help us." Zhao Xing grinned. "The tomb's master is merely a Dao Domain Realm expert, and he wants his history to be passed down, so our chances of surviving are quite high."
"There are some Starry Sky Historians who fabricate ridiculous mythological stories to trap challengers, making it impossible to complete the trial. The moment you enter, you're doomed—no amount of lives would be enough to survive."
"This field deserved to be restricted ages ago," Jing Yan muttered in agreement.
No wonder this profession was weakened—its challenges were absolutely unfair.
"Yu Tianqing, have you recovered?" Zhao Xing asked.
Yu Tianqing opened his eyes. "Barely."
Jing Yan quickly pulled out a bright red spiritual fruit and offered it with a serious expression. "Brother, don't push yourself too hard. If you need more, we have plenty. We can wait."
He didn't fully understand Yu Tianqing's abilities, but he could tell he was special. Without him and Zhao Xing, Jing Yan knew he'd never make it out alive.
"Barely recovered? That's not good enough!"
"Eat as much as you need. Zhao Xing and I may not have much else, but we're well-stocked on supplies." Jing Yan added, "You must rest properly, Brother Yu."
Yu Tianqing couldn't help but chuckle at Jing Yan's eagerness. He hesitated for a moment before accepting the fruit. "Then I'll rest for another three to five months."
"Good, good."
Yu Tianqing's innate divine ability consumed an immense amount of energy.
Among the three of them, he was the most exhausted.
Zhao Xing, on the other hand, was incredibly durable. His battles hardly drained his Primordial Source at all.
What did it mean to have Juyang energy?
Jing Yan had already cycled through over ten rounds of recovery, yet Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone hadn't even used up half its energy.
And Zhao Xing had fought just as much as Jing Yan.
"Qi sect martial artists are really something," Zhao Xing sighed.
Especially when it came to survivability in dangerous environments. Compared to them, spellcasters were far more fragile.
In fact, if Zhao Xing didn't need to get Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing out, he could have simply hidden somewhere and waited.
Eventually, Primordial Heaven Palace would open this tomb, and he wouldn't have to worry about starvation or exhaustion.
But Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing wouldn't be able to do the same.
If Zhao Xing's real body didn't cultivate the Yuanhai Realm, he wouldn't have been able to survive here either.
…
Six months later, Yu Tianqing finally recovered to full strength.
Not only that, but his cultivation had advanced significantly.
Before entering the ancient tomb, he had just stepped into the Minor Divine Ability Realm. Now, he had reached the late stage of that realm.
"Breaking through multiple minor realms in just over two years… even I'm jealous," Zhao Xing admitted.
"When Brother Yu soars to new heights in the future, I'll ask him to imprint his technique for me. By then, the cost for him will be low, so he should agree." Zhao Xing thought to himself.
Investing in a future monarch—this was a sure-win deal. And how much had he spent so far?
Bailing Yu Tianqing out had only cost ten million, and even after helping him hunt monsters and lending him money for equipment, it wasn't much.
"Le Yao is truly a talent. I should visit more prisons in the future," Zhao Xing mused. "Take that Wu Tian, for example—his Five-Finger Mountain Divine Ability is quite a treasure."
Twelve Arch Bridges flew back into Jing Yan's body, and the illusionary world around them slowly faded.
They could once again see the palace outside.
The three of them set off again in search of the Three Treasures of the Historians.
"Brother Zhao, I think I found something," Yu Tianqing suddenly said, his gaze fixed in a certain direction.
"What did you see?" Zhao Xing asked.
"A book. Its cover is black, with thirty-six Sun Stars on the front and seventy-two Moon Stars on the back."
"I can't see through the book cover to determine what's inside. There's a strong force blocking my vision," Yu Tianqing said.
"But I can see light radiating from it—some beams shoot up into the sky, while others sink into the ground."
"That must be the Sermon Book," Zhao Xing said. "It's the foundation of this entire trial world. All spells—whether it's Book Puppets, memory alteration, perception blocking, or identity confusion—originate from it."
"It's like the core chamber of a Realm Vessel. If we take it, we can weaken the dangers of this entire trial world."
"Brother Zhao, what level is it?" Jing Yan asked.
"It should be a Solar Dao Soldier," Zhao Xing mused. "If this were a Chronicle Realm, it would require an Origin God Weapon to sustain it."
"Solar Dao Soldier?!" Jing Yan's eyes gleamed with greed.
"Brother Yu, can you see where the Grand Historian's Crown is?" Zhao Xing asked.
"A crown?" Yu Tianqing muttered. "I see a lot of crowns—many different styles. I don't know which one is the Grand Historian's Crown."
"The true one should have a Sun Star on the crown top, surrounded by twelve orbiting stars, radiating light in sequence, symbolizing time and illumination."
"It should have a square shape, with embroidered all-seeing eyes on the front, and crown ribbons extending past the ears to the shoulders to symbolize clarity in vision and hearing."
"It belongs to the Moonfall Ancient Kingdom, meaning it should also be adorned with jade ornaments on both sides of the ribbons, collectively known as Luo. The Grand Historian's Crown should have seven Luo pieces."
"As for the exact patterns, there are many theories—about eighty-nine different designs exist for Luo ornaments." Zhao Xing waved his hand, sketching out the designs he knew.
Yu Tianqing studied the images before looking into the distance again. In his vision, the grand palace halls gradually faded, leaving only floating crowns suspended in midair.
"Brother Zhao, following your description, I found three palaces, each housing an identical Grand Historian's Crown—all seven Luo tier."
Zhao Xing sighed. "The tomb's owner deliberately set up a deception. Only one of them is real."
"A one-in-three chance? That's easy," Jing Yan said nonchalantly. "We just check all three. I'll send Mechanical Puppets in."
"Go ahead and try," Zhao Xing said, unconvinced it would be that simple.
Jing Yan confirmed the locations with Yu Tianqing and sent out three Mechanical Puppets, each heading for a different ancient palace.
However, before they even reached the palace doors, Book Puppets blocked their path.
The blue stone tiles of the palace square suddenly came alive, condensing into three thousand Book Puppets.
Each one had the strength of a Minor Divine Ability Realm cultivator and possessed the Twin Soul Book Puppet ability.
Jing Yan decided to test their power, commanding one of his Mechanical Puppets to engage in battle.
"Boom!"
A melee Mechanical Puppet charged forward, wielding a spear, aiming for the Book Puppet's weak spot—its navel.
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"
A rapid series of strikes followed. Amid the afterimages, a spectral rhinoceros-like beast roared, carrying the blazing Solar Origin Force. Its violent impact knocked aside the Book Puppet's greatsword.
"Whoosh!"
A blinding light pierced through the Book Puppet.
"Jing Yan's Origin Dispersion combined with his Advanced Battle Tactics Optimization is really strong," Yu Tianqing commented. "He didn't even deploy the Twelve Wandering Gods, yet the combat power is already impressive."
Advanced Battle Tactics enhanced the Mechanical Puppet's combat instincts and techniques.
Optimization further pushed the limits of Mechanical Puppets.
Origin Dispersion was a secret technique of Imperial Mechanists, capable of weakening an opponent's Origin Power.
Yu Tianqing only learned about Advanced Battle Tactics Optimization after meeting Jing Yan. Origin Dispersion was an even more refined battle technique, something he had never heard of before.
"The tactics are solid, but they won't work here," Zhao Xing shook his head. "These are Twin Soul Book Puppets. The more you fight them, the stronger they get. By the time only one is left standing, its power will be unimaginable."
"Besides, he didn't even manage to kill many."
Before Zhao Xing finished speaking, Jing Yan's Mechanical Puppet was torn apart, reduced to a pile of broken parts.
However, it did manage to destroy seven Book Puppets, which wasn't too bad.
"No way to break through," Jing Yan admitted. "If they aren't wiped out all at once, they just keep getting stronger."
"Don't look at me," Zhao Xing said. "Even my Juyang Clone can't take down one thousand Third Stage Book Puppets at once."
The tomb of a Dao Domain cultivator wasn't easy to crack. Even if this historian's tomb wasn't built specifically for killing intruders, it wasn't something a Minor Divine Ability Realm cultivator could easily break into.
"I thought you knew everything?" Jing Yan asked.
"What's the use of knowing if we don't meet the hard requirements to pass?"
"The method to obtain the Grand Historian's Crown is right in front of us—just one-shot a thousand Book Puppets, and we can walk through."
"The problem is, even if we combine our strength, we don't have that kind of power."
Zhao Xing quickly assessed the situation—this was a challenge beyond their ability.
"Let's check where the Realm-Inscribing Brush is and see what its trial requires," Zhao Xing suggested. "We can ignore the Sermon Book for now. Without the Grand Historian's Crown and the Realm-Inscribing Brush, that trial will be even harder."
Yu Tianqing said, "The Realm-Inscribing Brush is in the twenty-ninth arched-roof palace from the east."
"It keeps moving, as if writing something on the fabric of the void itself."
"Every time it moves, countless written words radiate outward like beams of light."
Zhao Xing nodded. "Jing Yan, your turn."
His Juyang Clone wasn't suitable for scouting missions right now.
Jing Yan was an Imperial Mechanist and a Dao Soldier cultivator, making him the best candidate.
The Juyang Clone was tough, but if injured, it would be difficult to heal since Zhao Xing didn't bring many Void Ancestor materials.
Yu Tianqing was a Martial Mechanist, but he didn't have a combat-ready clone. Jing Yan, on the other hand, had a pile of Mechanical Puppets at his disposal.
"Again?!" Jing Yan grumbled. "I'm a prince, not a disposable scout…"
"What are you mumbling about? Brother Yu is a future monarch, and I'm the Grand Shennong. Either of us is worth far more than some prince who ranks thirty thousandth in succession."
"It's twenty thousand! Only twenty thousand left ahead of me!" Jing Yan protested. "I'm climbing the ranks!"
"Fine, fine. Twenty thousand, then." Zhao Xing smirked. "Now get moving, Prince No. 20,000."
"…"
Jing Yan cursed under his breath as he flew toward the east.
Yu Tianqing activated his Truth-Seeking Eyes, carefully observing the area.
In less than thirty seconds, Jing Yan was already flying back.
"How was it?"
"What do you mean?" Jing Yan looked confused. "Didn't we just fail the Grand Historian's Crown trial? I was waiting for you to come up with a plan."
"What happened to him?" Zhao Xing frowned.
"When Jing Yan approached, a beam of light from the Realm-Inscribing Brush passed through him," Yu Tianqing explained. "Then he turned around and came back—without encountering any battle."
"So, he lost his memory," Zhao Xing nodded. "That means this trial involves Memory Alteration or Memory Erasure abilities."
"Should I go?" Yu Tianqing asked. "Memory-related techniques don't work on me. Maybe I can break through."
"I'll go first," Zhao Xing said. "If I fail, then you go."
Yu Tianqing was their last hope. He could not be put in danger.
"Alright," Yu Tianqing nodded. "Be careful."
"Jing Yan, watch me closely," Zhao Xing instructed.
Jing Yan now realized that he must have attempted the trial earlier—but had no recollection of it.
"It looks like I really need to train harder," he muttered.
He had always explored lower-level places, but now that he was facing Dao Domain-level obstacles, he felt completely powerless.
Jing Yan took out his Twelve Wandering Gods, arranging them around Zhao Xing for protection.
The two flew together toward the Realm-Inscribing Brush's location.
Yu Tianqing anxiously waited for their return.
However, two days later, Zhao Xing returned—his face pale, and Jing Yan had once again lost his memory.
"What happened?" Yu Tianqing asked.
Zhao Xing swallowed a spiritual fruit to restore his energy.
Jing Yan, having forgotten everything again, was just as confused. "Wait, what are we doing here?"
"Aside from memory erasure," Zhao Xing said grimly, "the Realm-Inscribing Brush also showed me scenes of bloodshed and darkness."
"I knew they weren't real, but when the enemies in those illusions charged at me, I couldn't help but feel fear—a deep, instinctive terror."
"This trial also includes a test of willpower. Even with my Minor Divine Ability, I couldn't endure it."
"I lost control, and my soul was injured." Zhao Xing sighed. "In those illusions, falsehood became reality. The vengeful spirits actually attacked me."
There was nothing they could do. Even though Slaughter Mind Blade had reached Minor Divine Ability, Seventh Stage, this trial's difficulty was simply too high.
The Realm-Inscribing Brush wasn't something they were meant to claim. It was likely meant for the three Divine Ability Realm experts from Sparks Unit.
But now that Bai Yang was gone, if they wanted to escape, they had no choice but to play the protagonist's role as side characters.
"I'll give it a shot," Yu Tianqing said. "Since you and Jing Yan made it back safely, at the very least, I should be able to retreat unharmed."
"Alright," Zhao Xing nodded.
Now, everything depended on Yu Tianqing.
If he also failed, their only option would be to hide and wait for rescue—a gamble filled with uncertainty. Who knew if help would ever come?
"Whoosh~"
Yu Tianqing shot toward the east.
—
Far away, outside the imperial palace, at the Purgatory Execution Grounds.
Countless powerful spirits surrounded the burning sea of flames.
Bai Yang's body was pierced by countless spikes, each one stabbing straight through him.
Expressionless, he simply gazed at the surroundings, silently waiting for death.
"Ruan Chang, do you really want to die this badly?" A voice echoed within his body. "The Moonfall Emperor is incompetent, manipulated by his consort—why don't you rebel?"
Bai Yang's mind was in turmoil. His body was now fully controlled by Ruan Chang.
The worst part? After taking over his body, Ruan Chang didn't even resist the Moonfall Emperor's execution!
Ruan Chang wanted to die.
But Bai Yang—Yang Baihe—had no intention of dying.
He had two Divine Abilities and a bright future ahead. If he returned to the empire, this experience would be an invaluable achievement in his records.
With talent, potential, and power, Yang Baihe had endless possibilities before him.
How could he accept dying here?
"I see him as my own son," Ruan Chang's voice whispered. "If a child wants something from his parent, how could a parent refuse? Even if it's my life, I'll give it to him."
"Even if history repeats a thousand times, I would still make the same choice."
"Yang Baihe, you don't belong to my era. You are not me. You won't understand."
"You idiot! That's blind loyalty!" Yang Baihe roared. "Do you know you were killed by him? And after your death, Moonfall Ancient Kingdom collapsed instantly! You're actually trying to erase this history for him?!"
"If my death can wake up the wise and heroic child he once was, then it's worth it."
"If we are resurrected, I will rebuild the Moonfall Ancient Kingdom with him."
—
"You're insane. That dog emperor is insane. You're insane too!"
"You think dying will lead to rebirth? Keep dreaming…"
Yang Baihe howled, twisting in fury—until his voice disappeared.
His body and soul were consumed entirely by fire.
And as Ruan Chang died, the spirits around him began killing each other.
A team set off toward the location of the Grand Historian's Crown, the Sermon Book, and the Realm-Inscribing Brush.
—
"Shhh-shhh-shhh~"
The Realm-Inscribing Brush trembled violently before Yu Tianqing, ancient characters flashing rapidly through the void.
[…Ruan Chang willingly faced death. After being executed by the incompetent emperor…]
—
[General Jun Yi broke through three realms in one day, advancing from Divine Ability Realm to Dao Domain Realm, seeking to slay the emperor's consort and force the ruler to wake up.]
[Two days later, he perished in the Extreme Dao Palace.]
—
[The Empress and the Emperor issued a secret decree: eliminate all who knew the truth, force the Grand Historian to erase all unofficial records, and rewrite the official history.]
—
Yu Tianqing and Zhao Xing stared at the words, their expressions darkening.
"What's wrong?" Jing Yan asked, confused. "Didn't we just retrieve the Realm-Inscribing Brush? Why do you both look so grim?"
Yu Tianqing obtained the Realm-Inscribing Brush effortlessly. Any memory-erasing or willpower-testing abilities seemed to have no effect on him.
The moment he took hold of it, the Realm-Inscribing Brush began automatically writing in midair.
Zhao Xing and Yu Tianqing immediately recognized the characters. Though the translation might not be completely accurate, they could still understand the general meaning.
However, the information it provided was far from good news.
"The words written by the Realm-Inscribing Brush will inevitably come true. Once Jun Yichen and Ruan Chang die, a purge will occur in this city." Zhao Xing's expression darkened.
Jing Yan's face lit up. "But we got the Realm-Inscribing Brush, didn't we? Does that mean we can leave now?"
Zhao Xing shook his head. "Having the Realm-Inscribing Brush only allows us to understand what happens next. But none of us are historians, so we can't actually use it."
"We don't know how long it will take before Jun Yichen's battle happens, or how soon after his death the strongest spirits will arrive to cleanse the city."
"In any case, we're in serious danger. We need to move quickly."
Zhao Xing stood up, looking in the direction of the two remaining artifacts.
"Yu Tianqing, now that you hold the Realm-Inscribing Brush, you may not be able to use it, but since you can carry it, it means you can enter and exit the Sermon Palace and the Grand Historian's Hall."
"We need to retrieve the two remaining treasures immediately."
"Got it." Yu Tianqing didn't waste time and moved immediately.
The three of them rushed toward the two palaces.
Meanwhile, the Realm-Inscribing Brush continued writing.
Zhao Xing watched it closely.
Since it could predict future events, if anything unusual happened, they could at least be forewarned.
"At this point, even if we wanted to call for help, it would be too late. We have to find an exit ourselves," Zhao Xing thought grimly. "The purge is about to begin. Even if we offend Sparks Unit, their reinforcements would still be too far away to help."
With Yu Tianqing leading the way, Zhao Xing and Jing Yan quickly entered the Grand Historian's Hall and retrieved the Grand Historian's Crown.
Without hesitation, Yu Tianqing placed the Grand Historian's Crown on his head and then led them to the Sermon Palace.
Boom!
The moment they took the Sermon Book, the entire realm trembled.
Zhao Xing immediately looked at the Realm-Inscribing Brush.
A new line of text appeared in the air:
[Ruan Chang was executed at the Purgatory Execution Grounds. The immense Dao Origin Energy released upon his death caused the heavens and earth to shake, as if mourning for this Grand Preceptor.]
[The cultivation of all practitioners has been affected.]
—
"The Sermon Book's displacement has weakened these Book Puppets," Zhao Xing observed the once aggressive puppets now wandering aimlessly outside the palace.
"Their strength has dropped. Originally, they were Minor Divine Ability Realm, Cohesive Puppets. Now, they've been weakened by two sub-levels, leaving them at Second Realm, Late Stage."
Yu Tianqing sighed regretfully. "Too bad I can't use it."
Among the three treasures, only the Grand Historian's Crown provided him with protection.
However, the Realm-Inscribing Brush and Sermon Book were profession-specific Dao Weapons. Without having cultivated the "Historical Records", there was no way to activate them. They could only observe.
"This is already a huge advantage," Zhao Xing reassured. "By moving the Sermon Book, we've at least weakened the Book Puppets."
"The Grand Historian's Crown will allow us to resist the various divine formations of this realm. Jing Yan and I don't have to worry about losing our memories anymore. And most ordinary Book Puppets won't even notice us."
Now that they had the Seven-Jewel Grand Historian's Crown, their situation improved significantly.
To the Book Puppets, they were now affected by the divine ability "See Not, Hear Not", making them practically invisible.
"Now, we just have to wait and see how the Realm-Inscribing Brush pushes the story forward," Zhao Xing said. "The tomb owner must have left an exit somewhere. We need to find it—first, let's get out of the imperial palace!"
The three of them moved quickly, leaving the palace.
But just as they exited, two separate teams arrived at the palace gates.
—
"Shua! Shua!"
Two Divine Ability Realm cultivators appeared.
One was a man clad in silver battle armor, wielding a crimson warblade. His skin glowed red, as if it had been bathed in solar essence for years.
Chen Xuan, another Divine Ability Realm expert from Sparks Unit.
The other was a tall woman with long hair, wearing a black-and-white ritual robe.
Her heterochromatic eyes—one purple, one blue—flashed coldly.
Her codename was Yue Nu, a Divine Ability Realm expert in Soul Dao cultivation.
"Yue Nu, what's the situation?"
"Bai Yang is dead." Yue Nu closed her eyes, sensing the residual soul energy.
"We entered first and lured away a large number of Book Puppets, creating a relatively safe path for him to explore. Yet he still died?" Chen Xuan took a deep breath. "This place is even more cursed than we thought."
"Activate the backup plan," Yue Nu commanded without hesitation. "From now on, I am leading this operation. You will follow my orders."
"Yes." Chen Xuan nodded.
"The Imperial Palace is experiencing a spirit uprising. You take your squad and block the Hanluo Army and other invading spirits," Yue Nu ordered. "Meanwhile, I will retrieve the Grand Historian's three treasures. You do not retreat until I give the order."
"Understood." Chen Xuan nodded again.
The two squads—a total of forty elite cultivators—split up.
Yue Nu went for the treasures, while Chen Xuan secured their rear.
—
"Damn, that's a lot of Book Puppets…" Jing Yan looked up at the massive horde.
Spirits filled the sky and land, resembling a flood of ants, swarming throughout the city.
"Even weakened, there are still over ten thousand Third Realm puppets. Not to mention Divine Ability Realm spirits—and even some Five Elements Dao Domain experts?!"
"I swear, I'm never robbing a Grand Historian's tomb again. This is way too terrifying."
With the protection of the three treasures, they were completely unaffected by the chaos and cleansing.
Even the Dao Domain-level Book Puppets couldn't see them.
"I feel the same." Yu Tianqing, who had never experienced anything this intense, felt a rare sense of fear.
It was too nerve-wracking!
They had just brushed past some of the strongest beings in this city—many of whom could crush them instantly.
Yu Tianqing had never in his life experienced such an intense and nerve-wracking journey.
Among the three of them, Zhao Xing remained the calmest.
He wasn't worried about his life—his only concern was wealth.
"Alright, don't just stand there staring," Zhao Xing instructed. "See if you can grab a few decree scrolls from the fallen Divine Ability Realm experts."
"Don't be greedy—three to five per person is enough."
"Why?" Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing both asked in unison.
"The decree scrolls serve as the core formation of these Book Puppets and are also a fundamental part of this realm's structure."
"If we take too many, it could disrupt the realm's function, making us a target of the entire realm itself." Zhao Xing explained. "In other words, since we are outsiders, if we alter the narrative too much, the Realm-Inscribing Brush will work to correct the story."
"To ensure the realm remains balanced, it will eliminate us outsiders."
Zhao Xing pointed at the Realm-Inscribing Brush. "If we grab too many, this thing might just write: 'Zhao Xing, Jing Yan, and Yu Tianqing, three guards of the Grand Preceptor, tragically perished in this calamity.'"
"Wouldn't that be the most unjust death imaginable? We've already secured a way out and a fortune—let's not throw it all away at the last moment because of greed."
Yu Tianqing took a deep breath, suppressing his temptation for wealth.
To be honest, ignoring so many decree scrolls lying around took immense willpower.
Each of these scrolls contained Divine Abilities or Martial Techniques. Even if incomplete, they could be sold for astronomical prices!
If Zhao Xing hadn't stopped him, he would have already been grabbing them by the handful.
He had never in his entire life seen so much wealth in one place!
"Brother, you're way too experienced," Jing Yan sighed in admiration. "I actually believe you when you say you've explored other ancient realms before."
Thinking back to everything from the start—crossing the moat, entering the city, finding him, reconnecting with Yu Tianqing—every single move Zhao Xing had made was the correct choice.
Even though Yu Tianqing's abilities played a major role, if Zhao Xing hadn't been there, Yu Tianqing probably wouldn't have made it out alive.
One wrong move, and they would've been wiped out.
Even someone as strong as Bai Yang, after a single trip into the palace, ended up executed on the spot.
A Divine Ability Realm genius, buried in this tomb without leaving a ripple behind.
"Zhao Xing, we really owe you," Yu Tianqing said sincerely.
"No need for that," Zhao Xing waved him off. "Thank me when we get out."
Why celebrate before the game is over?
"When picking up treasures, if the scroll is incomplete and can't form a full technique, leave it."
"If the energy fluctuation from the scroll feels weak, that means it's not worth keeping. Discard it."
"Only take those that came from Divine Ability Realm or Dao Domain Realm experts."
"Five is the absolute limit—do not get greedy and stash extras."
"We're already beyond lucky to have obtained the Three Grand Historian Treasures. Let's not push our luck."
"Understood. Tianqing, is this Divine Ability decree scroll strong?" Jing Yan held up a scroll with a short sword illustration.
"Meh," Yu Tianqing replied instinctively.
"Then toss it." Jing Yan threw it aside without hesitation.
"What about this one?"
"It's decent."
"Still not good enough—toss it."
Zhao Xing chuckled, watching the two pick through the scrolls like spoiled nobles.
"You two can brag about this for a lifetime when we get back."
"Throwing away Divine Abilities like trash? Even the wealthiest nobles wouldn't dare to be this extravagant."
"Hahaha!" Jing Yan laughed. "When I return to the Empire, I'll boast about this non-stop!"
"My friends probably won't even believe me," Yu Tianqing added, grinning.
Normally serious and reserved, he was now laughing so hard his face hurt.
—
As Zhao Xing and his team gleefully looted, Yue Nu and Chen Xuan's squads were having a miserable time.
The purge and uprising predicted by the Realm-Inscribing Brush had spread into the imperial palace.
Yue Nu had searched for a long time but still couldn't find the Three Grand Historian Treasures.
Instead, she only found cheap fakes.
"What's going on? They're not here?" Yue Nu muttered. "That's impossible."
"Yue Nu, I can't hold out much longer!" Chen Xuan's voice was filled with urgency.
He stood atop the palace walls, his massive sun-like body wielding a flaming warblade.
Endless Book Puppets surged toward him like a tidal wave, their frenzied attacks crashing like meteors against the fortress.
Chen Xuan was a pure Qi Cultivator, making him nearly indestructible—even Five Elements Dao Domain Book Puppets struggled to shake him.
But there were too many of them.
Even an elephant could be brought down if enough ants swarmed it.
His blazing sun-like presence was on the verge of being snuffed out.
"Hold the line no matter what!" Yue Nu screamed. "Sparks Unit spent 7,000 years planning this mission! We can't leave without the artifacts!"
Chen Xuan cursed Bai Yang and Yue Nu in his heart.
He had held the front for so long—why the hell hadn't they found anything yet?!
"Damn it, am I really going to die here? I haven't been back to the Empire in ages…"
Just then—huh?
In the corner of his vision, he saw something suspicious.
On top of a distant, spherical palace dome, a figure flickered into view.
It peeked around sneakily, glanced at the surroundings—then quickly vanished into the void.
"Wait… was that Jing Yan?" Chen Xuan nearly thought he was hallucinating.
The Grand Historian's Crown made them invisible to Book Puppets—but it had no effect on living humans.
And right now, Chen Xuan was at full power, his gigantic body giving him an unparalleled vantage point.
He had seen everything.
"The Twelve Wandering Gods Formation… He's alive?!"
"That little bastard is looting Divine Ability scrolls?!"
"Wait—why aren't the Book Puppets attacking him?"
Then, it clicked.
"Holy shit. Yue Nu and I are fighting for our lives, and that little rat got the Grand Historian's Crown and is out there grabbing loot?!"