"After a Domain opens, the overlapping zone generally lasts for seven days."
"Gu, are you trying to make it disappear sooner?" Nangong Yaoyue's expression was odd. "After the overlapping zone disappears, the Domain will completely fuse with our world…"
"Wait."
Gu Zheng froze. "Miss Nangong, are you saying the Domain won't disappear, but will remain from now on?"
"To be precise, it transforms into a channel."
Nangong Yaoyue explained, "What is a Domain? A Domain is a special region formed when the world of Demon Fiends collides with our own during an invasion. Because this area is an overlap of two worlds, treasures like Source Fruits, Marvels, and Magic Gold—all condensed from the Power of Rules—are born here."
"At first, the Domain is unstable because the two worlds are pulling at each other, and the Power of Rules is chaotic. Once it fully stabilizes, the Domain evolves into a channel."
"A channel connecting the two worlds!"
Gu Zheng fell silent.
Internally, however, his thoughts were a surging tide, unable to find peace.
'So a Domain is an overlap of two worlds, and it'll eventually become a permanent channel.'
'Doesn't this mean Qingshi County is finished?'
'We can move the villagers into the city to hide for a while, but they can't hide forever.'
'Not to mention, the food supplies alone won't last long.'
'And to think he believed the Domain could be ended early…'
'As it turns out, if it did end early, the channel would just form even faster.'
"Are you worried about Qingshi County, Gu?"
Seeing Gu Zheng's silence, Nangong Yaoyue smiled faintly. "Actually, it's not impossible to eliminate a Domain. I mean, there's a chance to destroy it before it transforms into a channel."
"Really?" Gu Zheng's body jolted. He looked up at Nangong Yaoyue, his eyes flashing with undisguised joy.
"Of course it's true." Nangong Yaoyue smiled. "I once read a secret tome in the Ancestral Land. It recorded that within the seven days after a Domain opens and before it fully stabilizes into a channel, if one ventures into the center of the Domain, finds the Rule Array Hub, and destroys it, the entire Domain can be eliminated, severing the connection between the two worlds."
"But the location of the Rule Array Hub will inevitably be guarded by a powerful Demon Fiend. To destroy the hub, you must kill the Demon Fiend…"
"What level is this guardian Demon Fiend?" Gu Zheng couldn't help but interrupt and ask.
"At least Tier Two!"
Nangong Yaoyue said grimly, "A Tier-Two Demon Fiend is equivalent to our Super Body Realm. And that's only because the Domain has just formed and higher-level Demon Fiends can't descend yet. As for the Super Body Realm, from what I know, only the Royal Capital has cultivators at that level in all of Jing Country."
Nangong Yaoyue didn't say the rest.
But the unspoken meaning was all too clear.
They didn't have time to go to the Royal Capital and ask for help.
Besides, even if they asked, there was no guarantee they would come.
Qingshi County wasn't the only place where a Domain had opened; they were appearing elsewhere too.
Of course, the Hidden Clans were certain to have experts at the Super Body Realm.
But to the Hidden Clans, the opening of a Domain was a great opportunity. Why would they ever destroy it?
'Unless Gu Zheng really does possess the bloodline of the Qing King…'
'However, it's not as if Gu has no chance to eliminate the Domain.'
'If his Bronze Elephant Body were one hundred percent unlocked, he would most likely be at the Super Body Realm.'
'For that reason, finding the Rule Array Hub is the key.'
'As for the other treasures, like Source Fruits and Marvels, we can just search for them along the way.'
At this thought, the weight on Gu Zheng's heart finally lifted.
'It's not a strong opponent I fear, but having no hope at all.'
…
After thanking Nangong Yaoyue, Gu Zheng directed Han Ming, Guan Ai, and the others to travel through the villages around Qingniu Market, gathering the villagers to leave for the county seat.
Compared to other places, the operation in Qingniu Market went relatively smoothly. Because it was so close to Great Dragon Mountain, the residents of the market town and villages were already aware of the sudden changes and the danger they posed.
Furthermore, Gu Zheng led by example, carrying a child on his front, another on his back, and one in each arm.
Han Ming, Wang Meng, and the others also carried the elderly or children on their backs.
The long column of people was filled with suppressed terror, but they remained relatively orderly.
Upon entering the county seat, the people were settled in hastily emptied houses, primarily the estate of King Runan.
Here, one had to admire Tong Yuanshan's boldness; he had directly commandeered King Runan's estate.
The estate of King Runan was truly massive. It had carved off and enclosed one-fifth of the area from several districts, such as Pingchang Square and Pingkang Square, to create its gardens.
Coincidentally, the caretakers left at the estate had previously been killed by a Demon Rat.
With no one to stop him, Tong Yuanshan simply occupied the grand residence, and naturally, no one else dared to object.
In addition to King Runan's estate, Tong Yuanshan also personally visited the city's prominent families, one by one, to borrow their vacant houses.
For the Gu Family, Gu Zheng made the decision himself, opening up three courtyards for people to live in.
With Gu Zheng leading the way, other families also lent out one or two courtyards, as well as their suspended workshops.
All in all, under Tong Yuanshan's forceful measures, they barely managed to settle all the citizens who had been moved into the city.
Once things were settled, Gu Zheng gave some instructions to Han Ming, Tao Qi, and the others, then left the city once more and returned to Qingniu Market.
…
"Gu, you moved everyone away at once. Now there's no one left to cook."
In the inn, Liangqiu Changkong remarked teasingly, holding a pot of tea he had just brewed himself.
"Hmph."
Before Gu Zheng could speak, Dongfang He snorted coldly. "He's the Chief Constable. He's diligent and responsible, so of course his priority is protecting the common people. How could he have time to wait on us?"
"Skipping a couple of meals won't kill you."
Nangong Yaoyue shot him a sidelong glance and said nonchalantly, "The Domain is about to open. Once inside, you can at the very least find a Source Fruit. That'll be enough to sustain you for days."
"It's finally starting."
Yuan Qianjun, his face wreathed in smiles, chimed in, "Speaking of which, these Source Fruits are truly miraculous. Some directly grant a Strong Body, some can only fill your stomach, some are simply Divine Wondrous, and some even grant people special abilities. What do you guys think are the principles behind their creation?"
"Source Fruits are derived from the Power of Rules, so their effects are inherently random."
Liangqiu Changkong took a sip of tea and said calmly, "My standards aren't high. Finding a piece of Magic Gold would be enough for me."
"You call that not high?" Yuan Qianjun rolled his eyes at him. "A single piece of Magic Gold can forge three Spiritual Soldiers and can even be used to replicate a Divine Weapon. With it, the power of your Divine Weapon Lineage would increase significantly."
"Oh, right, speaking of Magic Gold." Yuan Qianjun looked at Gu Zheng and pointed to the Celestial Frost Blade in his hand, smiling. "Gu, if your blade were fused with Magic Gold, it could also become a Spiritual Soldier. With a Spiritual Soldier in hand, your strength would double."
"Is that so."
Hearing this, Gu Zheng looked down at the Celestial Frost Blade in his hand. Before the Celestial Change, this blade was a bona fide Divine Weapon.
After the Celestial Change, it became just an ordinary sharp blade.
'If it could become a Spiritual Soldier…'
BOOM—!!
Suddenly, a colossal roar resounded from the direction of Great Dragon Mountain.
The earth shook as if it were being flipped over.
An invisible but tangible wave of energy spread out in all directions, with Great Dragon Mountain at its center.
Gu Zheng clearly sensed an Anomalous Power sweep swiftly over his body.
"The Domain is open!"