Killing another cultivator of the Primordial Straw Puppet Technique could repair the flaw in one's soul and allow entry into the Demigod Realm?
That was the reason Zuo Qiyu was betrayed by his disciple.
When Five Venom Emperor revealed this hidden truth, Zhao Xing was initially shocked.
However, he quickly regained his composure.
The Path of the Self was notorious for its twisted and extreme practices—this revelation was hardly surprising.
Back in the Xuanhuang Realm, when he and Liu Tianning first set foot in Shangluo, they had also engaged in battles over the Dao.
The Primordial Straw Puppet Technique was absurdly powerful—it could even seal the Straw Puppet techniques of others. Zuo Qiyu himself could prevent others from advancing in the Straw Puppet Dao at its very root.
For his disciple, seeing even the slightest hope of fixing the flaw must have driven him mad.
"He only agreed to teach me because of his agreement with Emperor Red Star, Gu Luohe, and the other seniors."
"Back then, Zuo Qiyu warned me not to regret this decision. He remained cold and detached the entire time—he must have already prepared for the possibility of another 'Master-Slayer' appearing."
"Rather than getting entangled in emotions and karma, he chose to remain indifferent from the very beginning."
Thinking about it from this perspective, Zhao Xing finally understood Zuo Qiyu's attitude.
If he truly reached the Reincarnation Realm, and Zuo Qiyu's true soul was approaching its limit, would Zuo Qiyu also consider testing whether the rumors were true—would he consider killing his disciple to prove the Dao?
"Don't worry," Five Venom Emperor said reassuringly. "Back then, Zuo Qiyu failed to kill his traitorous disciple, and the traitor failed to kill him as well. There's no need to be overly concerned—it's not like these things happen all the time."
"Master, we don't have this kind of situation between us, right?" Zhao Xing hadn't considered it at first, but after hearing Five Venom Emperor's reassurances, he couldn't help but ask.
"Of course not." Five Venom Emperor smiled kindly. "The Path of the Self has its share of extreme practices, but when it comes to techniques that are inherently twisted, Zuo Qiyu is the only real example."
"The most I'll do is use my disciples as test subjects and experiment assistants—it'll be a bit exhausting, that's all."
Seeing that Five Venom Emperor had almost exposed himself, Zhao Xing was speechless.
Fortunately, he had known what he was signing up for before officially apprenticing under Five Venom Emperor.
Being a disciple under him meant that testing poisons was unavoidable.
From a technique standpoint, the Shennong profession inherently involved testing and identifying poisons, requiring hands-on experimentation.
For example, in the Xuanhuang Realm, there had been a technique known as Body-Melting Identification Method.
To determine the effects of an unknown native plant, one would cut off a small portion and consume it personally, allowing them to experience its properties in detail.
But this technique was infamous for getting people killed—countless Shennong practitioners had succumbed to poisoning.
Some even joked that Shennong's destiny was to die on the path of tasting poisons.
In comparison, Five Venom Emperor only had his disciples test poisons under controlled conditions, which Zhao Xing found to be completely acceptable.
"Disciple, now that you are officially under my tutelage…"
"I don't have much else to give you—the Primordial Realm doesn't allow direct point transfers, so instead, I'll give you a Primordial Divine Weapon and an Emperor-grade sapling as a gift." Five Venom Emperor said casually.
"What?" Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned before his face lit up with excitement. "Master, seriously?"
Five Venom Emperor feigned displeasure. "Would I deceive my own disciple?"
"Thank you, Master!"
Zhao Xing was so moved that he almost shed tears.
This was not easy to come by.
Ever since he entered the Primordial Realm, he had taken two masters.
Gu Luohe only took him in because of Old Qing's request, treating it as nothing more than a task—not a single resource was given.
With Zuo Qiyu, the situation was even worse. He had spent a thousand years just to pass the Void Barrier, yet not only was Zuo Qiyu unwilling to be his backing, but there was also the possibility of them becoming enemies in the future.
Now that he had taken Five Venom Emperor as his master, the latter immediately gave him treasures without hesitation.
And it wasn't just any apprenticeship gift—a Primordial Divine Weapon and an Emperor-grade sapling!
Even ordinary Reincarnation Realm cultivators wouldn't necessarily receive such an extravagant gift.
Zhao Xing was genuinely touched.
Seeing the look on Zhao Xing's face, Five Venom Emperor was quite satisfied.
How do you build a strong master-disciple bond?
By spoiling your disciple first—then when the time comes, the disciple will return the favor, and the cycle continues.
A Primordial Divine Weapon and above-ranked Reincarnation Dao Weapons were crafted from irreplaceable materials.
Although Zhao Xing couldn't wield Reincarnation Dao Weapons just yet, a growth-type Primordial Divine Weapon could be nurtured in advance, just like the Emperor-grade sapling.
With the resources given, Zhao Xing would be well-equipped until he reached the Life-and-Death Dao Domain Realm.
After that, it would be up to his own fortune to see if he could break past life and death and enter the Reincarnation Realm.
"Swish~" Five Venom Emperor flipped his hand, and a World Ring flew toward Zhao Xing.
"Everything is inside. You're an intelligent kid—you don't need me to explain how to use them."
"You have a lot to digest right now. There's no need to visit frequently—just come once every hundred years. Once you become a Coral-tier member, I'll officially start guiding you in cultivation."
Looking at the World Ring, Zhao Xing accepted it respectfully.
The ranking system for weapons followed the hierarchy of Realm Star, Lunar, Solar, Primordial, Reincarnation, and Divine Artifact—this World Ring was a top-tier Solar Dao Weapon.
Five Venom Emperor was ridiculously generous—even a casual gift like this was top-tier.
"Thank you, Master. I will remember your teachings, train diligently, and strive to become a Coral-tier member as soon as possible!"
Five Venom Emperor nodded approvingly. "The Empire is about to make a big move, and the Primordial Realm will definitely be involved. There will also be a grand event, and the sooner you become Coral-tier, the sooner I can take you along and get a piece of the action."
"If you're too slow, it'll be difficult for me to maneuver things for you."
"Go now—become a Coral-tier member as soon as possible."
"Yes, Master." Zhao Xing responded solemnly.
Zhao Xing didn't ask further. Since Five Venom Emperor chose not to elaborate, it meant that it wasn't time for him to know yet.
In Haizao City, within Huai Liu Courtyard, Zhao Xing returned to his cultivation chamber and sat cross-legged, calming his mind.
His gains today were immense. First, he had obtained the invaluable Void Straw Puppet Technique from Zuo Qiyu. Then, Five Venom Emperor had gifted him a grand apprenticeship package.
"I've been in the Primordial Realm for 1,558 years, and only now has the road truly opened!" Zhao Xing sighed with emotion before picking up the World Ring.
There were many types of Qiankun Rings and other spatial storage artifacts. Some were purely for storage, while others had multiple functions.
For example, Fairy Su had once left behind the Void-Escaping Soul Ring, a top-tier Realm Star Dao Weapon, which not only served as a storage space but also allowed the user to conceal their soul and escape through the void.
There was also the Grand Observatory, an external space-type Dao Weapon capable of establishing a lush oasis.
The World Ring belonged to this multi-functional category.
"A top-tier Solar Dao Weapon, no less."
Zhao Xing examined the ring. Its face was divided into red and blue halves, while the band was a subtle gold.
As soon as his divine sense entered the ring, he was transported into a vast world within.
Inside was a sprawling, vibrant landmass. To the east, a Solar Star burned brightly; to the west, a Lunar Star radiated a cold glow.
"These are top-tier Yin-Yang Dual Star Fragments, carved from the primordial essence of Solar and Lunar Stars, forming a binary star system within this spatial domain."
"The land has a radius of 1.25 billion kilometers, with precisely engineered soil composition, spiritual mountains, spirit qi rivers, and lakes, all meticulously crafted through formation diagrams."
"An internally stable spirit qi space of this caliber can already sustain living beings."
A Shennong's Primordial Space couldn't accommodate people until Reincarnation Realm, when it transformed into an Internal World.
The World Ring, however, already had this capability.
"Not only is it massive and rich in spirit qi, but the Four Pillar Mountains beneath the landmass are actually formed from the legs of four Profound Void Turtles—impressive!"
The Profound Void Turtles and Four Pillar Mountains, combined with earth-element formations, could enhance a Fate Shaman's World Techniques.
With this ring's augmentation, Zhao Xing's Yin-Yang Boundary Technique could now open his Primordial Space even when facing a Life-and-Death Dao Domain expert.
Wearing the World Ring, Zhao Xing felt overwhelmingly powerful.
Of course, the World Ring was just a bonus—his main focus lay on two treasures floating above the continent's center.
"A Primordial Divine Weapon... Golden Cicada Robe?"
Zhao Xing approached the center of the World Ring, where three towering metallic trees stood, forming a perfect triangle.
A dense web of lightning threads suspended a pale blue, egg-shaped object in the air at the triangle's core.
Upon closer inspection, the object's outer layer resembled the molted shell of a cicada, with a faint golden hue as its true form.
For a fleeting moment, Zhao Xing felt an illusion—as though the robe was still alive, breathing faintly. The surrounding space distorted slightly, as if it could tear open a void passage at any moment.
"Marvelous."
Zhao Xing withdrew his gaze, admiration welling up in his heart.
The Golden Cicada Robe was crafted from a rare, ancient cosmic race known as the Dao-Ancient Golden Cicada.
These creatures once dwelled deep within the third layer of the Void—the Dao-Ancient Layer—and could only be found at depths beyond 15 fathoms.
Due to their ability to thrive in the Dao-Ancient Layer, they earned their name.
However, they had gone extinct long before the Desolate Era, making their remains an irreplaceable resource.
"A robe made from its material allows the wearer to traverse the Dao-Ancient Layer. If pursued by powerful enemies, I could dive deep into the void to escape—most Reincarnation Realm cultivators wouldn't even qualify to chase after me."
Practitioners of the Path of the Self had inherently fragile physical bodies, regardless of their faction, making their true body's survival a top priority.
With the Golden Cicada Robe, Zhao Xing's true body could dive into the deeper void, avoiding death entirely.
It could also serve as an emergency escape tool from dangerous locations.
Five Venom Emperor had essentially gifted him a second life.
"Blood offering!"
Without hesitation, Zhao Xing dripped his heart's blood onto the Dao-Ancient Golden Cicada suspended in the lightning net.
"Boom—"
A heartbeat echoed from within, slowly syncing with Zhao Xing's own.
The next instant, the Golden Cicada Robe flew toward him, wrapping around his body.
A refreshing sensation coursed through him, and Zhao Xing felt as if he could phase through space at any moment—even the World Ring's barriers couldn't contain him.
A golden cicada imprint manifested on his back, its wings slightly flapping, as if alive.
"Such exquisite craftsmanship—it even grows in tandem with my strength."
The core of the Golden Cicada Robe lay in the cicada imprint on his back, which was, in reality, a mechanist-crafted Soul Palace Mechanism.
The smith who had forged this robe had extracted the Dao-Ancient Golden Cicada's primordial essence and fused it into the Soul Palace Mechanism, binding it to Zhao Xing.
If Zhao Xing died, the robe would self-destruct, preventing others from using it.
As he grew stronger, the primordial essence of the Dao-Ancient Golden Cicada would also strengthen, eventually reaching the peak of Primordial Divine Weapons.
"It's as if they extracted the Golden Cicada's natural talent and transplanted it into a cultivator. Originally, I could only explore the third fathom of the Dao-Manifestation Layer, but with the robe's protection, I can now enter the first fathom of the Dao-Ancient Layer."
"Still, an artifact is just an artifact—it's not truly my own ability. When cultivating, I must still comprehend within the Dao-Manifestation Layer."
Zhao Xing willed it, and the Golden Cicada Robe transformed into a liquid-like state, instantly retracting into the golden cicada imprint on his back.
His gaze then shifted downward, landing on a small indentation in the ground where a sharp bamboo shoot barely peeked out.
"An Emperor-grade plant soldier—Seven-Domain True Spirit Bamboo."
"Five Venom Emperor has truly been generous to me."
Seeing this Emperor-grade plant soldier, Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel grateful once again.
The Seven-Domain True Spirit Bamboo, also known as the Reincarnation Bamboo or Transmigration Bamboo, possessed innate abilities comparable to Reincarnation-grade secret techniques.
It had two functions:
For offense, if it struck an opponent, it could directly send them into reincarnation.
For defense, it could self-destruct, sacrificing itself to ensure its master's safe reincarnation.
If nurtured to full growth, it could serve as both a powerful plant soldier and a Reincarnation Dao Weapon.
Its only limitation was its fixed reincarnation range, spanning between 100,000 to 2 million astronomical units.
"If I'm in the Desolate Domain, where the reincarnation range contains no living beings, the transmigration process would fail, causing severe consequences—even true death."
"Moreover, the range isn't that large. If a truly ruthless pursuer went on a killing spree across 2 million astronomical units, wiping out all life within its limits, I would have no escape—even if it took them some time."
Despite this, the Seven-Domain True Spirit Bamboo remained an exceptional Emperor-grade plant soldier.
"Grow!"
Zhao Xing cut his own flesh and fed the bamboo with his blood.
To cultivate Seven-Domain True Spirit Bamboo, it had to feed on the master's blood essence from a young age.
"Whoosh—"
Having absorbed Five Venom Emperor's two gifts, Zhao Xing immediately exited the World Ring.
He spread out paper and brush, writing a letter of gratitude and sending it to Five Venom Emperor in Five Elements City, expressing his appreciation and detailing the bonding process with the gifts.
He chose not to send a Star Mirror transmission, opting for a formal letter instead.
It was brief and simple, but Zhao Xing believed this small gesture was necessary.
"Relationships are built through these little details."
"Sinda, deliver this letter to Five Elements City and hand it to Five Elements Emperor (Five Venom Emperor's formal Dao title)."
"Understood, my lord."
After giving the order, Zhao Xing focused his attention on the jade talisman left behind by Zuo Qiyu.
"This is the real prize."
Zhao Xing's eyes burned with anticipation.
The Void Straw Puppet Technique was an advanced version of the Great Yang Straw Puppet Technique.
His current mastery of the Great Yang Straw Puppet had already hit a bottleneck. If he could successfully cultivate the Void Straw Puppet, his power would undergo a qualitative leap, making it his strongest technique.
"Once I master the Void Straw Puppet, I'll surpass my peers in one fell swoop. Even if my Dao Field isn't among the top ten, I'll still be able to defeat them."
The Void Straw Puppet's combat strength corresponded to the Dao Domain Realm—but not just any Dao Domain cultivator—it was modeled after Void Ancestor.
Who was Void Ancestor?
One of the Five Emperors of the Xuanling Star Domain.
A peerless powerhouse who had dominated an entire era, invincible at every cultivation stage.
The Void Straw Puppet Technique was crafted based on Void Ancestor's power during his Dao Domain Realm.
"I'll need to dedicate the majority of my focus to this technique."
Gripping the jade talisman, Zhao Xing activated it.
A vast collection of training materials burst forth, along with comprehension manuals infused with Dao resonance, all provided by Zuo Qiyu.
Whatever cold detachment Zuo Qiyu displayed in personal relationships, he was exceptionally meticulous in his practical affairs.
All resources for practicing the Straw Puppet Technique were provided for free, albeit in fixed quantities at set intervals, but it was more than enough for Zhao Xing's training.
"The Void Straw Puppet is incredibly difficult to master. If I want to succeed quickly, I have to use these resources wisely to avoid detours."
With a thought, Zhao Xing pulled up his skill interface, fully immersing himself in cultivating proficiency.
Time passed, and in the world of cultivation, years flowed like water.
In the blink of an eye, over two centuries had gone by.
It was now Year 1,775 of Zhao Xing's time in the Primordial Realm.
In the early spring of March, within the tranquil Eastern District of Haizao City, in Huai Liu Courtyard—
"Shuuuuu—"
A two-meter-tall straw puppet, primarily black and gray, shimmered into existence within Huai Liu Courtyard.
Half of its body emerged from the void, its eyes tightly shut.
As its entire form detached from the void, its gray eyes suddenly snapped open.
Six swirling mists coalesced, forming pupils.
Its gaze was deep and boundless, like a universe of infinite voids.
On the 1,775th year, 4th month, and 12th day of Zhao Xing's journey in the Primordial Realm—
His first Void Straw Puppet was completed.
And at the exact moment of its completion—
A mighty tremor surged forth from the mere two-meter-tall puppet, sending shockwaves rippling through the void of the entire Primordial Realm.
On that day—
Every Shennong below the Reincarnation Realm across the Primordial Realm was shocked to discover that their Straw Puppets suddenly collapsed into dust.
No matter how much they tried, they couldn't reactivate them—nor could they summon a second Straw Puppet.
At the same time, every Shennong cultivating the Straw Puppet Technique saw a vision—
The back of a man dressed in a dark-gold robe, standing amidst boundless void.
"What's going on? Why did my Straw Puppet suddenly disintegrate?"
"Who is this figure? Am I hallucinating?"
"Damn it! My Straw Puppet Technique failed at a critical moment—it almost crushed me!"
"Something's not right—"
Throughout the Primordial Realm, Shennongs everywhere were thrown into chaos.