Zhao Xing opened the letter from Wu Tian, only to find that it contained nothing but a Star Mirror encrypted identification code.
Following the instructions, Zhao Xing added Wu Tian's private account using the encrypted code, and only then did he receive the real content.
"Wu Tian was released early?"
"He went to the Heitian Barren Domain?"
Zhao Xing was momentarily taken aback. In his memory, Wu Tian was supposed to remain imprisoned for much longer.
But now, he had completely skipped the transfer from Erliangpo Prison to a minimum-security facility and was directly released.
"The Heitian Barren Domain is a place completely devoid of light, rumored to be the most likely location for a 'Dead Zone'. In my previous life, players explored its borders, but even with resurrection abilities, they never figured it out. Entering meant certain death, so people eventually gave up on it."
"Wu Tian is shrouded in mystery. What exactly is his background?" Zhao Xing wondered.
In his past life, he had assumed Wu Tian was just an ordinary Dao Domain Realm cultivator, but in this life, when Wu Tian was imprisoned in Erliangpo, it completely changed his perception.
A mere Dao Domain cultivator could never have debated on equal footing with Meng Wu, nor could he have had any authority in Erliangpo Prison.
"At the very least, he's on the same level as Meng Wu. Maybe even…" Zhao Xing pressed his chest as he thought of the Heart Lamp.
Even when he participated in the Primordial Assembly, the power of the Heart Lamp within him wasn't even questioned by Emperor Chen Jiu.
Either it wasn't detected, or it was detected but deliberately ignored.
No matter which possibility it was, one thing was clear—Wu Tian's true identity was far from simple.
"We have no personal ties. What does he want from me?"
Zhao Xing put down the Star Mirror, setting aside the matter of Wu Tian.
As for the letter from Han Chuchen, it also contained an encrypted identification code. Zhao Xing hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose not to add him.
"Better to avoid unnecessary trouble. I should focus on reaching Seaweed Second Tier as soon as possible."
It had already been two and a half years, and judging from the points leaderboard, many Seaweed-Tier members had begun earning extra points.
The promotion requirements for Seaweed-Tier were not that high, and some members had already reached Seaweed Seventh Tier.
"Many members have a solid Great Divine Ability Realm foundation. They don't need to rebuild from scratch like I do, so they've already started taking point-earning missions."
"The highest-ranked Seaweed-Tier members are at Fifth Tier, and only two people have reached that level—Tuo Sen and Pu Guangrui."
"That means their strength gap is quite small."
Both Tuo Sen and Pu Guangrui were Seaweed Fifth Tier, and they were the only two at that level. However, at Fourth Tier, there were many more, with over 160 members in that range.
"Ancient Luohe suggested that I should try challenging the Primordial Ocean. Now that my Hunyuan Realm cultivation progress has slowed down, it's the perfect time to test it out."
Both Seaweed-Tier and Seaweed-Tier members were required to enter the Primordial Ocean from the West Coast.
As for Coral-Tier members, they could enter from other directions, granting them access to deeper ocean zones.
The Primordial Ocean was both a training ground and a point-earning challenge, making it one of the most popular locations.
Near the coast, there were countless trumpet-shaped plants emitting a hazy gray glow.
These were the derivative species created by the Primordial Realm—"Instant Flowers."
In ancient times, Shennong cultivators rarely used Mechanist-made boundary boats or teleportation arrays, instead relying on plant-based travel methods.
The Thousand Star Vine was used for long-distance mass transport, while Instant Flowers handled shorter journeys within 100 million li, earning them the nickname "Shared Flower Carriages" among players.
In most parts of the Primordial Realm, movement speed was limited, and Seaweed-Tier and Seaweed-Tier members weren't allowed to fly freely.
Everyone had to follow designated routes.
Even Zhao Xing and the others had to maintain a standard human-sized form, all for the sake of preserving the Primordial Realm's 'transport capacity'.
Whenever someone teleported in, an Instant Flower would swell up, glow faintly, and at the moment of blooming, it would eject the person, completing the teleportation.
"Swish—"
A tall man in a plain blue robe emerged from an Instant Flower, landing on the vine-covered streets of the West Coast.
On both sides, Luminous Trees and Sunflowers stood tall, radiating brilliant light.
"Crash—"
Waves crashed against the shore, blending with the bustling crowds of people.
Zhao Xing's ears were instantly flooded with countless voices, and he quickly realized just how crowded this place was.
"A coastline stretching ten thousand li, people covering both the sky and the ground, from the shore to the shallows—it's packed."
"No wonder this is one of the most popular locations."
Just as he was observing the surroundings—
"Move! Get out of the way!"
A frantic voice suddenly came from the ocean, and when Zhao Xing turned to look, he saw a massive figure flying toward the shore.
Most people on the shoreline were around two meters tall, and the taller ones only reached a little over ten meters.
But the figure hurtling toward them was over 300 meters tall, resembling a meteorite crashing down at astonishing speed.
"Swish—"
The people around Zhao Xing immediately scattered, avoiding the impact zone.
Zhao Xing, however, remained completely calm, not even moving his feet.
"Thud!"
The colossal figure, upon entering the West Coast, rapidly shrank before crashing onto the soft grass, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
"Hahahaha!"
Laughter erupted from all around, and Zhao Xing couldn't help but watch with interest.
There was no malicious intent behind the laughter—this was simply a common sight on the West Coast.
Whenever a genius ventured too far into the Primordial Ocean, reaching a point where they could no longer proceed, the ocean waves would forcibly eject them back onto the shore!
The waves would disrupt all spiritual power of those attempting the challenge and send them crashing back to shore.
"Jiang Xing, you fell again? How many times has it been this month?"
"Jiang, you martial artists sure are tough. The ground here on Flower Street is as solid as a Fifth Rank Dao Domain Realm defense, yet you managed to slam your head hard enough to leave a dent. Impressive."
"Did you get into the Primordial Realm using Iron Head Technique?"
"Hahahaha!"
Jiang Xing, despite being ridiculed, didn't get angry. Instead, he stood up, dusted himself off, rubbed his head, and smiled at those around him.
"I'm just not skilled enough. Sorry for the embarrassment."
Then, he sat cross-legged beneath a giant mushroom, seemingly analyzing his previous attempt.
"This place brings back memories." Zhao Xing strolled along the West Coast, observing the beach. It was covered in patches of 'Spirit Mushrooms', one of the Primordial Realm's solutions for counteracting Barren Domain contamination.
These Spirit Mushrooms weren't very large, at most 100 meters tall, but they were incredibly easy to cultivate. Their adaptability and reproduction rates were extremely high.
To what extent?
As long as they had sunlight, they could spread across an entire mid-tier world within a century, even if there was no spiritual energy, only vitality.
More importantly, they produced spiritual energy and could even grow to the Origin Realm.
In the cosmic cultivation world, there were many plant-based combat species that could survive in various environments, but they all required spiritual energy to thrive.
Spirit Mushrooms, however, didn't even need a spiritual energy environment—a truly rare trait.
"Even though they're considered a low-grade species, they perfectly embody the Self-School's philosophy—survival in any environment." Zhao Xing reached out and touched the soft white stalk of a Spirit Mushroom.
These mushrooms had no offensive capability, and their spiritual energy production rate was slow.
However, when considering their ability to improve barren environments, over a millennium or longer, even emperor-tier plant species couldn't compare.
"This is the true strength of Self-School Shennongs." Zhao Xing thought.
"In the last Primordial Assembly, the top-ranked cultivator in the Self-School Support Division, Yuan Qiusheng, successfully cultivated 19,000 Origin Realm plants in just three months, in an absolute barren zone."
"This number was over 5,000 more than the second-place cultivator, Ji Jingzhu."
Self-School support-type Shennongs had various techniques, such as 'Seasonal Qi Command,' 'Origin Brightness,' 'Divine Splendor,' and 'Origin Foundation.'
These classifications hadn't changed much from the Xuanhuang Realm's era because the Self-School specialized in adapting to extreme environments—environments without any spiritual energy, where only vitality could be utilized.
"When I eventually participate in the Western Frontier Development, if time allows, I should study support spells to avoid being trapped in a dead-end."
"If there's no time, I'll have to carry a few prisoners as backup."
A cultivator's need was also a kind of energy.
By burying captured cultivators as 'fertilizer,' one could extract their spiritual essence in emergencies, using it to cultivate plant-based combat units and escape certain death.
However, this technique—'Necro-Seed Method'—was considered inhumane and had been classified as a 'Demonic Planting Technique' by many ancient nations. Any Shennong who practiced it was immediately labeled as a 'Heretical Cultivator'.
Within the Primordial Realm, learning 'Demonic Planting Techniques' was extremely difficult. The Imperial stance was: "Not encouraged, not opposed, not monitored."
If someone managed to learn it, they wouldn't be breaking any laws—as long as they didn't use it on their own people.
"In the Primordial Realm, one of the most proficient in the Demonic Planting Technique is the Five Venom Emperor. I wonder if I could learn from him someday."
After taking a moment to rest, Zhao Xing accessed the Star Mirror and accepted a mission, preparing to enter the Primordial Ocean.
Mission: Boundless Ocean - Primordial Ocean Points Challenge
Point Acquisition Rules:
For every 1 li traveled forward, if the challenger maintains balance for 10 breaths, they earn 1 point.
After 100,000 li, each additional 1 li grants 10 points.
After 1,000,000 li, each additional 1 li grants 100 points.
Mission: Island Fishing - Primordial Ocean
Point Acquisition Rules:
After reaching 10,000 li, challengers can find 'Primordial Islands'.
They can land on these islands and use their Dao Field as a fishing rod, and spiritual energy as bait.
The Primordial Ocean contains various Dao-infused fish, which enhance Dao comprehension when consumed.
Mission: Treasure Hunting - Primordial Ocean
Point Acquisition Rules:
The Primordial Ocean contains Five Elements Origin Stones, Yin-Yang Origin Stones, and World Origin Stones.
1 Five Elements Origin Stone = 5 points.
1 Yin-Yang Origin Stone = 500 points.
1 World Origin Stone = 5,000 points.
Only available after reaching 10,000 li.
The Primordial Ocean missions were both challenging and highly rewarding.
With such abundant treasures, many cultivators had become fixated on completing these missions.
For those with the strength, it was possible to reach Coral-Tier solely through the Primordial Ocean, obtaining permanent residency.
"Shhh—"
The moment Zhao Xing stepped into the ocean, his legs went numb, as if he were an ordinary person being electrocuted, making it impossible to move.
"Every single droplet of water is violently colliding against me."
"The water barely reaches my ankles, yet the force is already immense."
"It looks like a calm sea, but it hides a terrifying power, making it difficult to maintain balance."
After advancing 1 li, the water level rose above 2 meters, but Zhao Xing increased his size accordingly.
Once inside the Primordial Ocean, there were no restrictions—he could freely enlarge his body.
Unlike the West Coast, the Primordial Ocean had virtually no rules.
Challengers were allowed to use their Origin Space, plant-based combat units, techniques, divine abilities, or even brute force to advance.
But trying to exploit loopholes in the challenge was nearly impossible.
For example, Zhao Xing had a Thousand Illusions Tree, a Life and Death Dao Domain Realm plant in his Origin Space.
Would summoning it allow him to reach 1,000,000 li?
Impossible. The Primordial Ocean's impact force didn't just target the physical body, but also suppressed Origin Space.
Even at 100,000 li, Zhao Xing's Origin Projection would be forced back into his body, and the Thousand Illusions Tree would also be pushed back into Origin Space.
This was because his World Law wasn't strong enough, and his Origin Space lacked the necessary strength.
Not to mention, the further he advanced, the more complex the environment became. The ocean's impact force increased, and even the seawater would become boiling hot.
Even if he could summon the Thousand Illusions Tree, it was still a tree focused on spiritual control. There was no way it could take root or stabilize itself in the Primordial Ocean.
If the plant-based combat units couldn't stand firm, then as a Shennong, he definitely wouldn't be able to withstand the force either.
Trying to take shortcuts was simply impossible.
"The Thousand Illusions Tree doesn't count as part of my own strength. I only control it through a Water-Origin Contract Technique. Even my Origin Space can't fully support it. I have to limit its absorption, keeping it in a low-activity state just to maintain balance."
"It's useful for fighting weaker opponents, but if I faced a Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm Shennong, they could instantly suppress my projection. And against a Life and Death Dao Domain Realm cultivator? I wouldn't stand a chance."
Relying on external forces, even an Emperor-Tier plant comparable to the Reincarnation Realm, could be subdued.
Many great factions and ancient families had similar inheritances, and plant-based lifeforms had no issue with accepting inheritors.
But even if 'taming' an Emperor-Tier plant wasn't an issue, a weak Shennong still wouldn't be able to wield it properly.
If the Origin Space was too weak, it couldn't hold the plant. Even if it barely fit, the fragile Dao Embryo inside would collapse under the pressure of the plant's own Dao Rhythms.
It was like trying to fit a ton of cargo into a flimsy plastic bag.
Even if all those problems were solved, in actual combat, he'd either dominate weaklings or get crushed by stronger cultivators.
Zhao Xing simply pushed forward using his own strength.
At 10,000 li, he activated the Heavenly Timing Technique to part the water.
At this point, the ocean's impact force directly affected his Origin Space.
"If I use Yin-Yang Partition World Law here, its power drops by 10%."
"If the power scaling continues, by the time I reach 100,000 li, I probably won't be able to use World Laws at all."
Zhao Xing thought to himself.
The immense suppression force meant that his Origin Space and Dao Field would eventually become unusable, making World Laws impossible to cast.
At 100,000 li.
"Whoosh—"
Just as Zhao Xing reached this threshold, a massive tidal wave surged forward.
"Rumble—"
A powerful aura mixed with a terrifying weight crashed toward Zhao Xing.
Deep within the Primordial Ocean, it was as if a sun had risen, its energy erupting like a volcano.
At this moment, Zhao Xing stood in the center of a black-purple vine.
"Hiss—"
Before the wave even made contact, the leaves and roots of the Mo Yun Vine began smoking from the intense heat.
"Not good, it can't hold up! Mo Yun, retreat!"
Zhao Xing immediately commanded the Mo Yun Vine to pull him backward.
"Boom!"
At 99,000 li, on a small island, Zhao Xing watched as the violent tidal wave receded, feeling a lingering sense of fear.
"The 100,000-li threshold—I couldn't even withstand it for one breath."
"My World Laws are unusable, my Dao Field and Origin Space won't open."
"Even Mo Yun Vine got injured while protecting me."
Right now, Mo Yun Vine was in its peak condition, comparable to the Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm.
But even though the Mo Yun Vine had Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm strength, Zhao Xing did not.
So, he had to let the Mo Yun Vine detach from its Origin Soil, taking root in the void above the ocean just to protect him as he advanced.
Because of this, Zhao Xing's Shennong Origin Space provided no enhancement to Mo Yun Vine.
Instead, it drained Mo Yun Vine's own strength just to shield him, making it impossible to stand firm in the Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm waters.
"Mo Yun Vine is already one of the most adaptable plant species. It can root itself in the void, but Thousand Illusions Tree cannot—it can only root in my Origin Soil or the seabed. And planting it in the seabed is impossible—I might not even be able to retrieve it afterward. In reality, Mo Yun Vine is better suited for this challenge."
"The Primordial Ocean's environment is just too complex. Even at 100,000 li, Mo Yun Vine is barely able to survive."
The boiling seawater had scorching temperatures, and Mo Yun Vine's leaves and roots were still smoking.
The void itself was becoming unstable, making it impossible for the Mo Yun Vine to carry Zhao Xing any further.
"If I rely only on my own Self-School Shennong abilities, this is as far as I can go." Zhao Xing thought.
"Shennongs and their plant-based combat units are supposed to complement each other, but right now, I'm just a burden."
"This proves that my strength in the Self-School hasn't fully reached the Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm—at least, not in all aspects."
In terms of offense and control, Zhao Xing could barely match a Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm cultivator.
After all, Green Venom Empress had actual combat victories, and Void Mushrooms had enough control power to defeat Wu Chuanlan.
But in the Primordial Ocean, his defensive strength wasn't enough.
Zhao Xing's biggest weakness remained the same—his Origin Space was too weak.
Even with his attempt to remodel the Primordial Realm, the results wouldn't show immediate effects.
"This is just a rigid challenge format. If this were an actual battle, the gap between me and a Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm cultivator would be even greater."
"But—I belong to multiple factions."
"Come on! Let's go all in!!"
He had already reached the 100,000-li mark; he had to stand firm for 10 breaths no matter what.
Zhao Xing had a minor obsession with numbers, and the Primordial Ocean challenge had currently given him 99,999 points.
If he turned back now, he wouldn't be able to sleep for days.
"Mo Yun, let's give it another try! This time, don't worry about me!"
The Mo Yun Vine extended a vine tendril, curling its leaves into a fist-like shape and bumping fists with Zhao Xing.
Like its master, Mo Yun Vine was also unwilling to admit defeat!
Navigating the Primordial Ocean was also a form of evolution for Mo Yun Vine!
"Hooo—"
Treasure Mountain Divine Ability shone brilliantly in the seawater, and Zhao Xing, along with Mo Yun Vine, set out once again.
Their destination: the 100,000-li zone.
"Boom!!"
A towering wave rose from the ocean, but Zhao Xing had already activated Treasure Mountain Divine Ability to its maximum.
Yet, in the face of the monstrous waves, his 'Five Extremes' form still looked small.
Mo Yun Vine was even larger than Zhao Xing, spreading to both his left and right, forming two green barriers.
The waves came from three sides, leaving only a single retreat path behind them.
Within the waves, something as blazing as the sun was lurking—the boiling seawater threatened to burn through everything.
"Five Finger Mountain! Suppress for me!"
Standing at the 100,000-li boundary, Zhao Xing gathered all the treasure light around him.
A massive illusory figure appeared behind him.
Its divine features radiated solemnity, and a giant gray hand materialized in the air.
The activation of Five Finger Mountain shook the earth veins beneath the ocean, and even the Earth-attribute Dao of the Primordial Ocean trembled.
A great force surged into the giant gray hand.
The searing heat and stinging pain in the air diminished, yet Zhao Xing still found it hard to endure.
"Break for me!!"
With a thunderous roar, Five Finger Mountain, which had been at Great Divine Ability Third Tier, suddenly broke through to Fourth Tier.
Although it was only a single-tier breakthrough, its power surged dramatically, marking the difference between entry-level and minor mastery!
"Hooo—"
The gray-colored Five Finger Mountain turned light gold, but was soon dyed red by the blazing ocean light.
Zhao Xing ignored the waves to his sides and slammed Five Finger Mountain directly at the oncoming wave!
"Boom!!"
Five Finger Mountain expanded to a height of over 20 Extremes, standing between Zhao Xing and the Primordial Ocean's monstrous waves.
The once-turbulent sea surface now had a concave depression, while the surrounding water continued to surge higher, trying to engulf Zhao Xing.
The mountain trembled, barely stable.
One breath. Two breaths. Three breaths…
At fifteen breaths, the Five Finger Mountain was still shaking but had not collapsed.
The waves split, bypassing both the mountain and Mo Yun Vine.
By the time they reached the 90,000-li area, they suddenly vanished, sinking into the seafloor, forming underground rivers.
Seeing this, Zhao Xing grinned.
100,000 li—cleared!
Looking at his Star Mirror, his extra points had finally changed from 99,999 to 100,000.
"That's satisfying."
"Mo Yun, well done."
Zhao Xing raised a fist, bumping it against Mo Yun Vine.
Standing firm at 100,000 li meant his overall combat strength had reached Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm!
"If I only used Self-School techniques, I'd only have a single Yin-Yang Dao Domain ability."
"But now, with Mountain Law Divine Ability, it's a different story."
"The Shennong Path, encompassing Heavenly Timing, Earthly Advantage, and Self-School, has endless potential," Zhao Xing murmured in reflection.
If he treated this Primordial Ocean challenge as a life-or-death battle, then having Five Finger Mountain and not having it was the difference between life and death.
This only further solidified his resolve to cultivate multiple factions simultaneously.
"Let's try moving forward a little more."
Beyond 100,000 li, every additional li was worth 10 points.
Ten days later, Zhao Xing was smashed backward, landing on a small island in the 90,000-li region.
"Thud!"
"Cough—cough—"
Covered in ash and seawater, Zhao Xing lay in a crater, staring up at the sky.
"Stopped at 100,100 li."
"The Primordial Ocean's waves became even more unpredictable, and the environment worsened."
"The impact didn't just block my Dao Field and Origin Space, but also carried mental and spiritual attacks."
"If the mind is unstable, all techniques weaken—some might even fail entirely."
"Advancing past 100,000 li is still too much for me."
Zhao Xing rubbed his face, planning to accept other types of missions.
For example, Island Fishing or Deep-Sea Treasure Hunting.
These missions could earn a good amount of points and exchange for resources.
However, compared to Boundless Ocean, these tasks would take much longer.
It had taken Zhao Xing only two and a half months to reach 100,000 li.
But the other missions would require much more time.
Just as Zhao Xing was about to get up, a sudden, unfamiliar face appeared beside the crater.
He had appeared so abruptly that Zhao Xing hadn't sensed him approaching at all.
When the stranger saw Zhao Xing, his expression froze for a moment before twisting into gritted teeth.
"It's you?!"