The gray mist drifted through the cosmic space, ever-changing and unpredictable. At times, it flowed past in thin, wispy strands, and at others, it surged like a mighty river, sweeping across entire planets.
The planet beneath Zhao Xing's feet was a deep crimson, contracting and expanding as if it were breathing. With each inhale and exhale, streams of gray mist crashed onto the land where he stood. The terrain began to pulse and expand as if it were alive.
This trial left behind by Zuo Qiyu, though it provided a sliver of hope for success, was exceedingly difficult. The trial itself was abstract, offering no clear path forward, no obvious exit, and no explicit goal to complete.
It was as if a painter had just completed a masterpiece, only for the heavens to dump a bucket of chaotic colors onto the canvas, turning it into a complete mess—yet insisting that this was a divine work of art, and that enlightenment would transform one into a master painter.
"Stay calm. Observe carefully."
Zhao Xing constantly reminded himself. However, he didn't even need self-affirmation—his excitement at finding the true trial had already been drowned out by the crushing despair of its difficulty, a feeling so overwhelming that he even had the urge to give up.
"Maybe I should just quit. I've already wasted too much time—wait! How could I even think that?!"
Zhao Xing snapped back to awareness, suddenly realizing that a strand of gray mist had already seeped into his Juyang Clone.
Whoosh!
His Juyang Clone swiftly repositioned itself, attempting to avoid further infiltration of the gray mist. However, despite his best efforts, it seemed as though the more he dodged, the more the gray dust clung to his Dao Heart, weighing him down with growing feelings of lethargy and defeat.
Within three Boundless Time Units, Zhao Xing stopped moving, completely immersed in the gray mist.
The mist felt warm, like a soft down blanket wrapping around his Juyang Clone. As his clone lay down, Zhao Xing's true body—seated on the reef by Boundary Surge River—also collapsed into a resting position.
Across the entire realm, all of his active clones seemed to be affected by this inexplicable exhaustion. Even his faraway clones, stationed in places like Fengdu Realm Star in the Northern River Star System, or Checkpoint Fourteen of Jiachen, had succumbed to the same affliction.
——
Within Yanyun Corridor, the Great Zhou had recently adjusted its expansion strategy. Zhao Xing had previously stationed a clone under Liu Tianning's jurisdiction, temporarily overseeing new frontier developments.
But now, Liu Tianning's clone, who had been conversing with Zhao Xing's clone, suddenly noticed something unusual.
Zhao Xing had suddenly collapsed.
"Zhao Xing, what's wrong?"
Liu Tianning immediately leaned forward, trying to rouse him.
However, Zhao Xing gave no response. His body remained utterly relaxed—as if even maintaining the clone's form was becoming difficult. The meridians on his arm were beginning to unravel, a clear sign that his Straw Puppet Clone was beginning to dissolve.
"Zhao Xing!"
Liu Tianning acted swiftly, grabbing Zhao Xing's arm before it could fully disintegrate. Thin willow branches sprouted from his palm, unraveling like silken threads before wrapping themselves around Zhao Xing's limb in a spiraling motion.
"Seal the Soul, Lock the Will. Cocooned Rebirth!"
Liu Tianning executed two divine abilities at once. A ripple spread across his body, stabilizing Zhao Xing's form. However, as a result, their arms had become physically bound together, resembling conjoined twins.
"Teacher… I'm so… tired…"
Zhao Xing spoke weakly.
Liu Tianning's expression darkened. His cultivation had already reached the Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm, granting him Mind-Type Divine Abilities, and his expertise in Straw Puppet Techniques was so advanced that even Lord Qianhua had praised him.
Yet despite all this, he still couldn't figure out what was happening to Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone.
"Humph!"
Liu Tianning exerted all his power, channeling his divine abilities. The powerful Dao Force swirled between them.
Upon reaching the Dao Domain Realm, one's spiritual energy and spells would merge to form Dao Force, an energy capable of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Zhao Xing had long since shared his Juyang Straw Puppet Techniques with Liu Tianning. As a result, Liu Tianning was intimately familiar with its structure and intricacies.
"Zhao Xing… Zhao Xing…"
"Wake up!"
——
By the Boundary Surge River, Zhao Xing's true body suddenly opened his eyes.
At that moment, he had two perspectives.
One was from his Juyang Clone, which was still trapped inside Primordial City's trial.
The other was from within an opulent golden hall, where Liu Tianning sat across from him, his brows furrowed in concern.
The voice calling his name had come from Liu Tianning.
"Teacher? I… What is this—?"
Zhao Xing's mind was disoriented.
"This is my Great Divine Ability: Mind Palace. It allows me to pull your consciousness into a shared mental space, enabling me to sense everything happening to you in real-time."
Liu Tianning explained patiently before asking, "I see your true body sitting by a riverbank, but one of your clones is shrouded in a thick mist. What exactly is going on?"
"Mind Palace?"
Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned.
"Teacher, what level have you reached? You're able to bridge consciousness across such vast distances just through a clone?"
"I've perfected it."
Liu Tianning nodded. "But something is strange. I can clearly see your true body, yet your clone is completely obscured. It's as if the mist is blocking my perception. Are you in Primordial City? Are you safe?"
A perfected Mind-Type Divine Ability? No wonder!
Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone had mastered Millet Chaos Technique and Five Finger Mountain, while Liu Tianning had perfected Mind Palace. Since they shared deep familiarity and cultivation roots, this allowed them to establish a link almost instantly.
Zhao Xing quickly grasped the situation and reassured him, "Teacher, I'm fine. I'm inside Primordial City, undergoing a trial. If I pass, I'll be able to learn a rare Straw Puppet Technique."
"It's just that this trial… is far too demanding."
Hearing this, Liu Tianning sighed in relief.
"So that's what's going on. I thought you had fallen into a trap. As long as you're safe, that's all that matters."
"This trial is extremely difficult. I fear I may not be able to pass…"
Zhao Xing sighed.
Even now, he was deeply affected by the illusions of the Void Trial, unable to muster the willpower to resist its influence.
Liu Tianning sensed Zhao Xing's sudden despondency and immediately reprimanded him, "How could you think like this? Pull yourself together!"
"You've already spent 1,000 years challenging this trial, reaching the final step. How can you even consider giving up now?"
"Where's that fighting spirit you had when you convinced me to step down?"
Hearing Liu Tianning bring up the past, Zhao Xing couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
"Teacher, your words are right. Please don't dispel Mind Palace. Keep pushing me forward."
"But I worry that the senior overseeing this trial might not approve of outside interference."
"He won't mind." Zhao Xing shook his head. "Senior Zuo set up this trial and doesn't fear others giving guidance."
The true Void Trial was theoretically passable by cultivators of the Origin Stage, but even that was only in theory. Zuo Qiyu had no reason to worry about people providing assistance.
By allowing people to attempt the trial through clones, he had already provided an opportunity. Zhao Xing's true body could still roam Primordial City, absorbing knowledge from its various treasure troves, while sending his clones to challenge the trial repeatedly. The sheer difficulty of the trial was a statement of confidence in itself.
Standing by Boundary Surge River, Zhao Xing took a deep breath and straightened up.
"I've already identified one of the major challenges of Zuo Qiyu's Void Trial—the illusionary realm, capable of completely trapping the mind."
"Illusions typically test both mental willpower and soul strength—two fundamental aspects required to control Straw Puppet Clones effectively."
"After 1,000 years of cultivation, my soul level has already reached the Five Elements Dao Domain Realm. In terms of willpower, I've perfected Slaughter Mind Blade and Mind Bell, though I haven't yet grasped a Grand Divine Ability."
"But against Zuo Qiyu's challenge… it's still not enough."
"Fortunately, I came prepared."
Whoosh! Zhao Xing flipped his hand, summoning a vast pile of purple pills in front of him.
"Soul Spirit Pills!"
"Each pill costs 10,000 points, and even Dao Domain Realm cultivators benefit from their soul-strengthening effects."
"Only Reincarnation Realm cultivators are unaffected, as they generally rely on True Soul Fruits instead."
"I've already consumed 500 Soul Spirit Pills over the past 1,000 years, and I still have 500 more—the maximum limit I can take."
"Originally, I planned to consume them gradually over 2,000 years, ensuring maximum absorption while avoiding side effects. But at this point… I can't afford to wait!"
Just then, a passing figure near Boundary Surge River caught sight of Zhao Xing summoning 500 Soul Spirit Pills at once and was momentarily stunned.
"Zhao Xing, have you lost your mind? Are you seriously about to take 500 Soul Spirit Pills in one go?!"
Zhao Xing turned and saw that the speaker was Fairy Youling. He grinned.
"How can I walk the Path of the Self without a little madness?"
"I'm eating them!"
With that, he opened his mouth wide and swallowed all 500 pills in a single gulp.
"Hey, you—"
Fairy Youling instinctively wanted to stop him, but it was too late. Zhao Xing had already devoured them all in one breath.
Gazing toward Primordial City, Fairy Youling's curiosity was piqued.
"Could Zuo Qiyu's trial actually be passable?"
With that thought, she sent a clone toward Primordial City while messaging Zhao Xing.
"Zhao Xing, did you discover something? Why don't you share it with me?"
"If Fairy Youling is willing to teach me the Mystic Spirit Seed Law, I'll tell you."
Zhao Xing, still under the influence of the Void Illusion, was like a person suddenly struck by depression. Having someone to chat with—even if it was just banter—helped.
"Oh?" Fairy Youling became interested. "Sure, you first."
"You teach me first."
"You tell me first."
"You first— Forget it. Pretend I never said anything."
Zhao Xing gave up trying. The Mystic Spirit Seed Law was a tightly guarded sect secret, and Fairy Youling was unlikely to hand it over so easily.
Unexpectedly, Fairy Youling stepped closer and said, "I'll teach you the foundational techniques. If you show talent, you can come with me to Sanbao Dao Sect in the future."
"Fairy, stop joking. I was just messing around. Even if you're willing to teach me, I wouldn't be able to learn it—it's against your sect's rules."
"And why should that matter?" Fairy Youling replied. "If you join Sanbao Dao Sect as my Dao Companion, you'd qualify."
Zhao Xing, still digesting the Soul Spirit Pills, was caught completely off guard.
"Fairy, are you… serious?"
"Of course." Fairy Youling blinked innocently.
"I can't tell you, then." Zhao Xing shook his head.
"Are you messing with me?"
"Yes, I am."
Fairy Youling frowned, realizing that Zhao Xing wasn't behaving normally. Over the years, she had interacted with him, Han Chuchen, and others numerous times. This was completely out of character for him.
"Fine, I'll figure it out myself!"
Without saying another word, Fairy Youling dispatched multiple clones toward Boundary Surge River.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xing focused on absorbing the Soul Spirit Pills.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, his Three Souls—Heaven, Earth, and Human—stood atop a vast mountain, continuously growing stronger.
In an instant, his soul aura surged to the Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm!
A Sun Mark appeared on his Heaven Soul's forehead, while a Moon Mark manifested on his Earth Soul.
"Originally, consuming 1,000 Soul Spirit Pills over time would have allowed me to reach the Life-and-Death Dao Domain Realm. But consuming them all at once… I could only reach the Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm."
"This was one of Primordial City's greatest benefits, and I've completely exhausted it."
"But increasing soul strength can be done in many ways. Meanwhile, Zuo Qiyu's Straw Puppet Techniques are incredibly rare. The trade-off is worth it!"
Zhao Xing's soul body suddenly began swelling—like a person breaking out in pustules.
This was the backlash of consuming too many Soul Spirit Pills at once.
Originally, Zhao Xing's soul projection was refined and dignified, but now, he looked like a bloated, festering corpse.
Additionally, he had to endure the intense itching and pain from the soul's backlash—until the side effects subsided.
However, the benefits were also obvious. Zhao Xing felt an overwhelming surge of power, quickly shaking off the influence of the Void Illusion Realm.
Whoo—
Zhao Xing's true body let out a long breath.
Atop Primordial City, Zuo Qiyu stood on the city walls, gazing into the distance. Five Venom Emperor appeared beside him.
"This kid is ruthless. Just to learn your techniques, he's willing to destroy his own soul form. With his talent, he could have used 1,000 Soul Spirit Pills to directly elevate his soul to the Life-and-Death Dao Domain Realm, avoiding unnecessary suffering."
Zuo Qiyu ignored him.
"Still mad?" Five Venom Emperor glanced at him cautiously. "Alright, alright, I was wrong, okay? I offer my sincerest apologies to the great and supreme Primordial Envoy—consider my words an offense—"
"Enough with the nonsense." Zuo Qiyu finally looked away from Zhao Xing and shot Five Venom Emperor a glare.
"You were always a lowly bastard to begin with!"
"Thank you for the compliment, Envoy." Five Venom Emperor grinned shamelessly.
"Get lost!"
Deep within the gray mist, Zhao Xing's Juyang Clone managed to struggle free—yet it was not a complete escape.
Though Zhao Xing no longer suffered from the illusion's mind-numbing effects, the gray mist still exerted an influence on him.
But this time, it wasn't affecting his mind—it was affecting his Straw Puppet body.
"Something's wrong. Why am I expanding?!"
Zhao Xing watched as the misty tendrils wove through him. His body began inflating, like a balloon being filled with air—growing larger and larger uncontrollably.
"Treasure Mountain Divine Ability!"
Zhao Xing activated Wu Tian's Divine Ability, attempting to suppress his growing form.
But it was useless. His body continued to expand, soon surpassing the Five Extremes limit.
And it kept growing at an alarming rate.
It was as if the gray mist was some sort of nourishment, feeding his Juyang Clone beyond control!
"My Juyang Straw Puppet has a size limit of Seven Extremes! If I keep growing, I'll explode!"
"Millet Chaos Technique—Shrink! Shrink! Shrink!"
Zhao Xing immediately switched tactics, deploying a Grand Divine Ability.
Millet Chaos Technique—a high-tier ability capable of condensing one's physical form into an unbreakable state.
It refined the body into near-indestructible micro-particles, small enough to pierce through any defense.
At the Third Stage, one could shrink to thumb-sized.
At the Fourth to Sixth Stage, the body could be reduced to the size of a grain of rice.
If fully mastered, one could attain the particle form, becoming completely undetectable—capable of bypassing all defenses, infiltrating enemies' bodies to cause devastation, or expanding suddenly to rupture foes from within.
"Shrink! Shrink! Shrink!"
Due to the unique nature of his Juyang Clone, Zhao Xing had developed the Millet Chaos Technique far beyond his main body. His Juyang Clone had already cultivated it to the Fourth Stage.
Instantly, his form compressed to below One Extreme in size.
But under the mist's influence, his body quickly expanded again—surging past Three Extremes, racing toward its limit.
The endless tug-of-war between expansion and contraction left Zhao Xing feeling immensely frustrated.
"The expanding force exceeds my spell's limit. At most, I can hold on for six months before I lose control completely."
"Damn it, Zuo Qiyu, learning your techniques is really a nightmare!"
Zhao Xing couldn't help but curse.
But cursing wouldn't get him anywhere. He had to pass this trial.
Thinking quickly, Zhao Xing started reviewing everything he had learned, searching for a way to counteract the situation.
"I have no choice but to risk it. There's one technique, but I don't know if it'll work on a clone. My success rate is only 30%."
Within the Inner World of Gu Luohe, Zhao Xing had already explored four training grounds:
1. The first site housed an Emperor-grade Tenacious Vine.
2. The second contained a Millennium Willow Tree.
3. The third was a Reincarnation Realm Wild Grass.
4. The fourth was an Emperor-grade Green Bamboo.
"Gu Luohe once told me that I had stepped onto the Path of Life, taking my first step into Dao Domain comprehension."
"Every three training grounds represent one step. The first step was Life's Origin—I mastered Stem Funnel Divine Ability, allowing me to shake the very essence of life itself, strengthening all my cultivation methods: Mutant Techniques, World Techniques, Parasite Techniques."
"Now, I've taken the second step, comprehending Life's Revival. With this, all my arts—Straw Puppet Arts, World Arts, Parasite Arts, Divine Radiance Arts—will see significant improvement."
"But my understanding of the Second Step of the Path of Life is still incomplete. Applying Life's Revival to the Straw Puppet Art only has a 30% success rate."
At this point, he had no time for further study.
Zhao Xing could only gamble everything on one attempt.
Six months later.
Boom!
His Juyang Straw Puppet finally succumbed to the expansion, bursting apart at high speed.
Just as Zhao Xing had anticipated, the intense struggle between growth and suppression proved too much—the Juyang Straw Puppet failed to hold.
Zuo Qiyu's voice echoed through the vast void.
"Zhao Xing, you've failed."
"Wait a moment, Senior!" Zhao Xing suddenly stood up. "I haven't failed yet!"
"Oh?" Zuo Qiyu glanced at the scattered remains of the Straw Puppet. "Are you still trapped in the Void Illusion Realm? Can't you see that your Straw Puppet has already exploded?"
Zhao Xing transmitted his voice over the void.
"Senior, my clone's consciousness has not dissipated. I deliberately allowed it to scatter—please be patient and watch carefully."
Zuo Qiyu's expression shifted slightly as he looked again at the scattered Straw Puppet remnants.
Then, his eyes flashed with surprise.
Among the shattered pieces of Straw Puppet, a portion had fallen into the earth, with faint green shoots sprouting from within.
A delicate leaf unfurled, stretching toward the light.
"Scattering the puppet to replant it, continuing the cycle… He has comprehended the Second Truth of the Path of Life—Life's Revival," Five Venom Emperor murmured, watching the scene unfold.
"A genius… truly a genius! Zuo, this kid really does resemble you back in the day."
Comprehending Dao was one thing, but applying it to techniques was another. The ability to integrate one's Dao insights into spellcasting was a rare and remarkable skill.
Five Venom Emperor had seen countless geniuses before, but Zhao Xing's talent truly amazed him.
Even if Zhao Xing were a reincarnated cultivator, Five Venom Emperor would still find his abilities impressive. However, he firmly believed that Zhao Xing was not a reincarnated being.
"To be able to create a Grand Divine Ability on his own... Zhao Xing's talent is already close to that of Du Yun among martial artists. Though still raw, he's got immense potential. Brother Zuo, just teach him already." Five Venom Emperor tried to persuade.
"Say another word, and I'll throw you out of Primordial City," Zuo Qiyu shot him a cold glance.
"Fine, I'll shut up." Five Venom Emperor quickly covered his mouth.
Seeing that Zuo Qiyu had not ended the trial, Zhao Xing let out a silent sigh of relief.
At the peak of his spiritual, mental, and physical state, he did not disappoint himself—he successfully executed Juyang Revival, a self-created Grand Divine Ability applying Life's Revival to his Juyang Straw Puppet.
This allowed his Juyang Straw Puppet's materials to scatter and be absorbed into the surroundings in accordance with his predetermined trajectory.
At that moment, a part of his divine sense was embedded within a "Left Rib Bone", which was actually a piece of Soul Mulberry Wood.
The gray mist accelerated the growth process.
A month later, Zhao Xing noticed that many materials had already begun to recover, forming the foundation needed for his Juyang Straw Puppet's rebirth.
"Juyang Rebirth, Rise!"
The Soul Mulberry Wood levitated into the air.
The earth trembled, the flowers and trees swayed violently, and a torrent of materials surged skyward, converging upon the Soul Mulberry Wood like a tidal wave.
Another one and a half months later, the Juyang Straw Puppet reappeared, now exuding an even stronger vitality!
"From now on, the expansion effect caused by the gray mist is no longer a problem for me." Zhao Xing was filled with confidence. Having overcome this life-threatening crisis, his mastery over Juyang Revival surged drastically.
His status panel indicated that his technique had reached Grand Divine Ability Third Stage.
If it had only been at the First Stage, he would still have a risk of failure at this distance.
But reaching the Third Stage meant that failure was no longer a possibility—he had truly mastered the ability.
As Zhao Xing's Juyang Straw Puppet reemerged, Zuo Qiyu's voice echoed once more.
"The final trial of the Void Barrier is simple."
"If your clone or divine sense can leave this world, you will have passed."
Zuo Qiyu's voice was calm, as if he was certain Zhao Xing would not succeed.
But Zhao Xing was not discouraged. Instead, he clasped his hands in thanks.
"Many thanks for your guidance, Senior!"
Then, he began to ponder seriously.
"My clone or divine sense must leave? But this world appears to be an endless cosmos—how do I leave?"
Zhao Xing scanned his surroundings, realizing that the scene was identical to a real universe.
He activated Heavenly Sight of the Soul, but found no boundary or exit.
His Juyang Straw Puppet took off from the ground, flying outward.
Even after traveling 100 million li, Zhao Xing saw no walls, no edges—just infinite void.
The vast and empty space felt like an inescapable trap.
"I can't keep flying. My Juyang Clone has no external energy source beyond the gray mist-covered land. If I go too far, I'll eventually fall apart."
The void was frigid and devoid of any spiritual energy, reminding Zhao Xing of the Desolate Domain—except this was even more barren, utterly devoid of spirit essence.
"Return!"
Zhao Xing reversed his course, landing back on the gray continent.
Time passed.
Thirty years flew by in contemplation.
"I still don't have a clue." Inside the Mind Palace, Zhao Xing shook his head. "Teacher, I feel like Zuo Qiyu is deliberately making this impossible."
"You don't need to 'feel'—he is making it impossible." Liu Tianning chuckled. "Learning his techniques was never going to be easy. In the universe, there's no such thing as a free meal."
"Countless geniuses have failed to obtain his Straw Puppet Art. Of course, it's difficult. If it weren't, why would it be your turn?"
"Instead of focusing on the difficulty, focus on finding a solution." Liu Tianning continued, "Analyze the problem, then work toward solving it. Now, tell me—what have you discovered in these thirty years?"
Zhao Xing nodded and relayed everything he had observed within the void.
Liu Tianning closed his eyes, remaining silent.
Three years later, he suddenly spoke.
"Heaven and earth are vast, yet in the Void, all things are but one."
Zhao Xing's eyes widened. "Teacher, what did you just say?"
"The Void is formless, yet it is the essence of Qi. Its gathering and dispersal shape all transformations."
Liu Tianning continued, then opened his eyes. "This is my understanding of the legendary Void Straw Puppet… Zhao Xing, I don't think you're in an ordinary world."
Zhao Xing's mind buzzed. "Teacher, are you saying—"
"Yes," Liu Tianning confirmed. "Your clone is inside a Void Straw Puppet."
"When you entered Primordial City, you were swallowed by that black light—that was the Void Straw Puppet absorbing you into its body."
Zhao Xing suddenly understood. "The Void Barrier… So this is the real Void Barrier! I see now!"
"Teacher, Zuo Qiyu's test… he wants me to control the Void Straw Puppet inside Primordial City, doesn't he?"
"Almost certainly," Liu Tianning replied. "Zuo Qiyu said that either your divine sense or your body leaving this world would count as passing. That means controlling the Void Straw Puppet must be the only way to escape!"
"I noticed that the gray mist connecting the floating planets resembles meridians—they seem to be a scattered version of a living body's internal structure. Maybe you should start from there."