"Qing Yuzi?" Wang Zhiyong was stunned. "Wasn't it supposed to be Tianning Zi? Where did Qing Yuzi come from? What exactly is the Lord of Yuanhai talking about?"
Meng Wu, Emperor Hongshan, Ancient Physician Tianchen, Emperor Lingyuan, Emperor Qingli, and the other nine great Emperors also looked at Zhao Xing with surprise.
Who was Qing Yuzi?
Just moments ago, the Lord of Yuanhai had been outside, announcing that the grand assembly would begin ahead of schedule, but now, he had suddenly appeared inside the Time House?
"Judging from his expression, it doesn't seem like he was invited. More like an uninvited guest…" Meng Wu narrowed his eyes, instinctively entering combat mode. His golden body emanated a faint ripple of power.
Apart from Wang Zhiyong, none of the Emperors in the room were fools. The Lord of Yuanhai was an Emperor-tier existence himself.
If what Zhao Xing had said earlier was true, then the entire Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom had already been infiltrated beyond repair.
And judging from the Lord of Yuanhai's tone, he was either not an ally—or worse, he was an enemy!
"I had to search high and low for you…" The Lord of Yuanhai locked his gaze onto Zhao Xing with an ice-cold glare.
However, the moment he stepped inside, his eyes flickered as he noticed the nine Emperors seated around Zhao Xing.
He froze for a moment.
"Meng Wu, Emperor Hongshan, Ancient Physician Tianchen?"
What were they doing here?
Among those who possessed divine artifacts at the predestined moment, three were already present in this very room!
"He's been plotting against my clan from the very start." Dongyan Hai's gaze was filled with icy killing intent.
Seeing so many Emperor-tier powerhouses gathered inside this lower-level chamber of the Yuanhai Pavilion, everything became crystal clear to him.
He should have killed him sooner!
Yun Tiandao was the first to recognize what was happening—after all, this was exactly how he had been lured out before!
"So you're Qing Yuzi, you're also Tianning Emperor, yet you don't take either name yourself, huh?"
As for Du Yun and Zhan Ze, they had their own reactions. Du Yun, sensing the shift in atmosphere, instinctively retreated behind Meng Wu.
Something was wrong.
Why was the Lord of Yuanhai calling Zhao Xing "Qing Yuzi"?
And why did he sound like he was gritting his teeth in anger?
Du Yun was always good at reading situations. He even pulled Lu Yuehan back with him.
As for Zhan Ze, he couldn't take it anymore.
"I can't do this!" He screamed internally, choosing to self-destruct his clone.
Boom!
A small explosion rang out, breaking the momentary silence.
The Lord of Yuanhai instantly attacked Zhao Xing!
"Hum—"
His speed was so extreme that Zhao Xing's Time Page was passively triggered ten times in an instant!
The scene rewound repeatedly. The nine Emperors shifted positions ten times, yet they always returned to their original spots.
Zhan Ze's clone reformed, and Du Yun and Lu Yuehan found themselves back where they had been moments ago.
Trying to self-destruct and flee? Not that easy!
"Damn it!"
Zhao Xing's heart pounded wildly. Thanks to the Time Page, he perceived everything in slow motion.
He could clearly see that the Lord of Yuanhai had attacked ten times, and the nine Emperors had responded accordingly—Ancient Physician Tianchen, Meng Wu, and Emperor Hongshan had acted immediately, while the other six moved to intervene by the third time reversal.
But then, Zhao Xing noticed something strange.
Whenever the Time Page rewound an event, everyone returned to their original positions.
However, the Lord of Yuanhai was different.
His position never changed—he remained at the doorway.
"Is it because he was standing right at the boundary of the Time House, at the very edge of the Time Page's influence?"
"Or… is he simply too fast?"
"It's probably both."
By the eleventh rewind, Zhao Xing finally understood.
"Dongyan Hai came prepared. He has countless clones moving toward the Time House, and he also possesses a time-related Reincarnation Dao Soldier!"
Zhao Xing envisioned a terrifying scene—outside the Time House, an army of Dongyan Hai's clones stood at the doorway, each holding a pyramid in their hands.
One black, one gold.
These pyramids were producing ripples in the air, resisting the temporal reversal of the Time Page.
Because they were stationed at the very edge of the Time House's effect, they appeared completely unaffected by the rewinds.
Moreover, Dongyan Hai also wielded a time-type Reincarnation Dao Soldier.
Every time the timeline reset, he moved faster than everyone else.
Which meant he could always kill Zhao Xing before the other Emperors could even react, forcing the Time Page to trigger again.
"This is insane…" Zhao Xing forced a bitter smile.
Right now, all he could see was endless white light.
Time was rewinding continuously, giving him no chance to speak!
The worst part was that his lifespan was draining rapidly.
"Before, whenever my Time Page triggered passively, it only cost me a few years of lifespan."
"But now, with Dongyan Hai interfering, I'm losing my lifespan in chunks of hundreds of years!"
Zhao Xing quickly glanced at his system panel.
[Name: Zhao Xing]
[Realm: Third Realm (Minor)]
[Age: 3,065]
[Remaining Lifespan: 2,451,542]
The next second, his remaining lifespan dropped to 2,451,000.
A loss of 500 years in one go!
"At this rate, if this keeps up for 4,902 more loops, I'll be dead."
Zhao Xing swiftly did the calculations.
"Dongyan Hai must be losing lifespan as well, and his cost is probably even greater than mine."
"But his lifespan is that of a Reincarnation Realm cultivator. Mine is not."
"At this rate, I'll be the one to die first."
Reincarnation Realm cultivators had astronomical lifespans. And worse, the Spirit Domain Grand Assembly was already starting.
If he was still trapped inside the Time House when Qing Yuzi descended here… he would have no way out.
"This is getting impossible…" Zhao Xing sighed.
The Dongyan Ancient Clan had prepared too thoroughly.
Meanwhile, his own preparations were far from enough.
"At this point, my only option to survive…"
"…is to break through to the Five Elements Dao Domain Realm."
"If I reach the Five Elements Dao Domain Realm, my lifespan will increase dramatically. At that point, Dongyan Hai might not be able to outlast me anymore—because his own lifespan cost will be far greater than mine."
Zhao Xing had already reached the peak of the Minor Divine Ability Realm. Theoretically, both the Minor Divine Ability Realm and the Major Divine Ability Realm were stages where one could break through to the Five Elements Dao Domain Realm!
"Skipping the Major Divine Ability Realm will definitely weaken my foundation in the future, but it's not something that can't be fixed."
"But Dongyan Hai's attack frequency is too high. Even if I break through, he'll just knock me back down. I need a gap in time."
Zhao Xing needed a moment to breathe, a chance to actively choose his time reversal point. In other words, he needed Dongyan Hai to pause for at least one second.
Then, once Zhao Xing actively chose his time reversal point, even under the endless barrage of attacks from Dongyan Hai, he would still retain the lifespan of the Dao Domain Realm after each reversal!
But the problem was—Dongyan Hai would never give him that chance!
Even if he called upon the Nine Emperors to buy him time, it wouldn't work. He didn't even have the time to say a single word!
[Remaining Lifespan: 1,200,821]
The flashes of white light continued.
Zhao Xing's lifespan quickly dwindled to just one epoch.
And it was still dropping at an alarming rate.
"Am I really going to die here?" Zhao Xing felt dazed. "Ji Si… Ji Si, my survival depends on you now."
Outside the Mountain Sea Pavilion, Ji Si was waiting anxiously.
The Grand Shennong had entered the Mountain Sea Pavilion a long time ago, but no matter how Ji Si tried to contact him, there was no response. He hadn't come out either.
At that moment, at the center of the Grand Assembly, the Lord of Yuanhai suddenly appeared.
"The Grand Assembly will begin ahead of schedule. Fellow Daoists, please enter and witness this grand event."
Ji Si turned around abruptly, his heart pounding.
Something's wrong!
Without hesitation, he abandoned his watch outside the Mountain Sea Pavilion and sped toward another location.
As he flew, Zhao Xing's words echoed in his mind.
"Ji Si, once you've sent the messages, wait outside the Mountain Sea Pavilion."
"If the Grand Assembly begins and I still haven't come out, immediately seek out the Reincarnation Envoy 'Emperor Yuanding'."
"All you need to say is one sentence: 'My master is Qing Yuzi.' That will be enough to save me."
Ji Si's speed was so fast that his feet seemed to be burning.
Soon, he arrived before a formation bridge, where four large characters were inscribed in flowing script: 'Emperor Yuanding'
But when Ji Si tried to step forward, he was blocked by a formation barrier.
An Emperor-tier Reincarnation Realm cultivator wasn't someone he could just meet whenever he pleased.
Many Dao Domain Realm cultivators came to the Grand Assembly just for the chance to catch the attention of powerful figures.
But if an Emperor didn't want to be disturbed, there was no way to meet them.
Ji Si immediately pulled out a stack of communication talismans from his robe.
With golden light flickering from his fingers, he repeatedly wrote the words 'Emperor Yuanding' on them while shouting:
"Emperor Yuanding! Emperor Yuanding!"
Fwoosh—
The first time-imbued talisman burned up instantly, turning to ash.
It didn't go through.
Ji Si didn't waver. He wrote a second one.
Each time he wrote a new talisman, his hair turned whiter.
Sending messages to an Emperor-tier Reincarnation Realm cultivator was outright magical harassment—a price he had to pay with his own lifespan.
But Ji Si didn't stop. He kept writing.
"Emperor Yuanding! My master is Qing Yuzi!"
"Emperor Yuanding! My master is Qing Yuzi!"
His lifespan burned away at an alarming rate.
Just when Ji Si was on the brink of despair—
"Hum—"
Suddenly, one of his messages disappeared from his hand.
In the next second, time seemed to freeze.
Ji Si's vision blurred.
When he regained his senses, he was inside a dimly lit hall.
The flickering candlelight cast shadows across the hall, where seven-star lamps lined the space.
The light from the flames was so dazzling that Ji Si had to squint.
Because each lamp's flame wasn't ordinary fire—it was made from actual Taiyin and Solar stars!
At the center of the hall stood a figure clad in dark gold battle armor, his presence blending seamlessly into the void.
His voice, carrying a strange resonance, seemed to emerge from the depths of the Nine Hells, causing Ji Si's head to throb with pain.
"Who are you, and who told you to say those words?"
"Emperor Yuanding… Fifteenth floor of the Mountain Sea Pavilion… Time House…" Ji Si forced out the words before collapsing.
With a wave of his hand, Emperor Yuanding pulled Ji Si's soul out of his body and stored it inside a soul lantern beside him.
The next moment, Emperor Yuanding vanished from the hall.
At the border of the Shenluo Barren Domain and the Great Ye Dynasty, Starhail Pass.
Nalan De and his nephew Nalan Hao were patrolling a broken starbelt deep within the Barren Domain.
"Uncle, how much longer is your term?"
"Just one thousand years left." Nalan De smiled. "After that, my duty as a guardian will be complete, and I can return to the family and enjoy my days in peace."
"I want to go out and see the world," Nalan Hao said. "I've already reached the Second Realm Peak, Uncle. I want to venture beyond our borders."
"We'll discuss that later," Nalan De replied. "You may have reached the Second Realm, but not all of it was achieved through your own cultivation. Your combat skills still need refinement."
"Why do you say that, Uncle? I worked hard for my cultivation!" Nalan Hao protested.
"Hahaha, if it weren't for that senior's reward of two billion Yuanhai coins, do you think you could have broken through to the Second Realm so quickly?"
"Uncle, I've already mastered seven forms of the Yuan Thirteen Spears, and I've cultivated the Pure Yang Golden Body to the second layer. Isn't that enough to go out and explore?" Nalan Hao's argument weakened slightly.
"The universe is dangerous," Nalan De said solemnly. "Even that great opportunity we once stumbled upon—it seemed safe at the time, but we were actually taking a huge risk."
Nalan Hao fell silent.
Nalan De, lost in thought, murmured, "Back then, we were stationed at Starhail Pass when we met that senior who called himself Qing Yuzi."
"But not long after that, the Purple Moon Mansion announced that Qing Yuzi had died."
"…And he had already died long ago. Then, the senior we met back then—who was he really?"
"We waited for over a thousand years before we dared to take the token and investigate."
"But then, we kept hearing stories about Qing Yuzi. There were even sects and relics bearing his name—Qing Yu Sect, Qing Yu Medallion… Some even claimed he was still alive."
"This is all too strange. Back then, even I started regretting making that decision," Nalan De admitted.
Nalan Hao nodded blankly as he recalled everything. "Yeah… I still don't know. The one who rewarded us—was it really Qing Yuzi, or was it Zhao Xing?"
"That's exactly why," Nalan De said, his tone like that of someone who had seen the world, "you should stabilize your cultivation before thinking about adventuring."
"But I just—"
"Enough, let's not talk about this anymore. We should head back first," Nalan De interrupted. "The Barren Domain is suffocating. We'll discuss this later."
"Alright…"
The uncle and nephew turned around and started flying back toward Starhail Pass.
But as they flew, something felt off.
"What's going on? We've been flying for two months, and we're still in the Barren Domain?" Nalan Hao asked in confusion.
"Uncle, did we take the wrong direction?"
"Impossible. We didn't make a mistake," Nalan De frowned, checking the star map. "By now, we should have already entered Starhail Pass."
"Why are we still stuck in the Broken Star Belt?"
"Uncle… doesn't that look like Ringland?" Nalan Hao's voice trembled as he pointed ahead.
Before them, a massive, shattered half-ring continent floated in space, its surface scarred and broken beyond repair.
It was completely lifeless.
"What?" Nalan De's face twisted in horror.
He immediately leaped out of the boundary vessel, scanning the surroundings.
Then—he froze.
The space that was once Starhail Pass—the stars, the planets, the grand celestial structures—everything was gone.
What replaced them were countless shattered star continents, floating flat and lifeless, as if they had been crushed beneath some unfathomable force.
Only Ringland still vaguely retained its shape.
Behind where Starhail Pass should have been, the spiritual energy index was supposed to exceed 10.
But now—not only did it fail to reach 10, it had plummeted to 5.
"Aina! Lady Aina!"
Nalan Hao shouted desperately, but there was no response.
"Buya! Lord Buya!"
That was the name of Starhail Pass's Guardian, a powerful Third Realm cultivator.
But he, too—was gone.
No response.
"Activate the long-distance communication array on the boundary vessel. Report this to the Emperor of Great Ye!" Nalan De commanded.
Nalan Hao immediately worked the controls.
They waited for half a month.
No reply.
Nalan De's scalp tingled.
A deep, overwhelming sense of fear took hold of him.
The Great Ye Dynasty's highest authority had just been contacted.
And yet—for half a month, there was no response.
Had the entire court lost contact?
"What about the family? Can we reach them?" Nalan De grabbed his nephew's shoulders.
"…Nothing." Nalan Hao was just as shocked.
"Even if there was a war, we would have at least received some kind of message…" Nalan De muttered.
"But now… what exactly happened?"
"Uncle, are you saying that the Great Ye Dynasty—including our family—was completely wiped out? That's impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Boom!
Nalan Hao forcefully steered the boundary vessel, accelerating toward Great Ye Dynasty's territory and their family's domain.
But after flying for half a month—
Still, no response.
The spiritual energy continued to decline.
It had already dropped to 1.
There wasn't a single living soul responding to them.
Once-flourishing star systems had become drifting star debris.
Even the Sun and Taiyin Moon had gone dark.
The entire universe was now a void of endless darkness and death.
"Stop searching! Stop searching!"
Nalan De suddenly realized something, shoving his nephew aside, grabbing the controls, and roaring in terror:
"Fly in the other direction—NOW! GET OUT OF HERE!"
"Uncle, what the hell is going on?!" Nalan Hao shouted in fear.
"Great Ye Dynasty is gone! The entire dynasty has turned into a Barren Domain—don't you understand?!"
"We have to escape!"
Xuanhuang Realm, The House of Epochs.
[Xuanhuang Chronicles · Volume 25]
Wang Tianzhi, as always, was recording the events of the past century.
[I have been here for 2,500 years. The 3,000-year term promised by the Grand Shennong is drawing near.]
[Recently, I have observed many strange occurrences. First, within Xuanhuang Realm itself.]
[Before His Majesty left, he passed the throne to the Fifth Human Emperor, Ji Chen.]
[But even the Ascension Realm (Legends Realm) cannot escape the fate of a Fortune Dynasty's lifespan restrictions. Ji Chen, Ji Ze… They all perished one after another.]
[Three generations later, the ruler of Central Great Zhou is now Human Emperor Ji Hong.]
[After Ji Hong ascended to the throne, three great artifacts—the Book of Fate, the Human Emperor Sword, and the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe—all resurfaced.]
[Strangely, the Southern Barbarians have birthed yet another Moon God, along with the rise of multiple Royal Courts.]
[I sent my disciple, Ling Yue, to investigate. To my shock, Great Zhou is preparing for yet another Ascension Flight.]
[This confuses me greatly.]
[His Majesty and the Grand Shennong had extracted the vast majority of spiritual essence when they left. Although Xuanhuang Realm is still considered within the Spiritual Qi Era, it should no longer meet the criteria for Ascension.]
[Why, then, have the Book of Fate, the Human Emperor Sword, and the Kun Yuan Hoe all emerged once more? Even the Moon God—who was supposed to have perished—has suddenly returned?]
[Ling Yue reported that the Southern Barbarians have also started mentioning the Purple Dragon God, the Ke God, and the Nine Nether God… This is simply absurd.]
[I wish I could question Ji Hong and learn what is truly happening. But the Grand Shennong left explicit orders—do not interfere with the world's development.]
[So, I obeyed. I stopped observing the Central Lands and turned my gaze toward the Western Continent.]
[Strangely enough, the once-glorious ruins of the Three Divine Relics… have been completely abandoned by Great Zhou.]
[Why is this happening?]
[I used my divine powers to probe underground, only to find that the relics left behind by Qing Yuzi, Su Wan, and Puta had all vanished.]
[The once-existing Void Monument had disappeared, and even Gulu Star was gone… It was as if these ruins had never existed in the first place.]
[Twenty years later, Ling Yue returned with shocking news—within the sectarian world, a new and powerful cult had suddenly emerged, calling itself the "Xuanhuang Divine Sect." It seemed to be a rebranded version of the former Xuantian Sect.]
[Strangely, they no longer revered figures like Yun Tiandao as their forefather… Instead, they worshipped someone named "Gu Xiao"?]
[In the history of Xuantian Sect, besides Yun Tiandao, was there ever another legendary founder?]
[I don't understand… It seems that everything will only be revealed when the Grand Shennong and His Majesty return.]
Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, Imperial Capital Star System, within the Shanhai Pavilion.
Zhao Xing's vision was still filled with flashing white light.
Dongyan Hai stood tall, gripping his golden pyramid tightly, unleashing endless attacks upon Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing glanced at his remaining lifespan: [22,412]
"Only twenty-two thousand years left."
Out of over two million years, he now had only twenty thousand remaining!
"Two whole eras of lifespan… gone just like that."
"A few more times, and I'll be dead."
Zhao Xing felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
It wasn't that he couldn't accept death, but having lived a second life, he wasn't willing to just die so easily.
"I hope Great Zhou will thrive within the Red Star Empire and eventually resurrect me in the future."
"No, wait… If I become a sacrifice, there won't be any chance of resurrection."
"Damn you, Dongyan Ancient Clan! Damn you, Qing Yuzi!"
"Maza faka…"
As Zhao Xing's mind spun in frustration, suddenly—
"BOOM!"
A massive explosion erupted from outside the wooden door.
Dongyan Hai's golden pyramid dimmed instantly.
The flashing white light vanished.
It seemed someone had launched a direct assault on Dongyan Hai.
"Now's my chance!"
Zhao Xing's mind sharpened as his eight billion four hundred million acupoints activated simultaneously, and the Yin-Yang energies within his body violently clashed.
In every acupoint, Yin and Yang merged and intertwined—you exist within me, and I exist within you.
"BOOM!"
An overwhelming aura erupted from his body, and beneath his feet, clouds materialized, shimmering with countless stars.
Yin-Yang transforms into the Five Elements!
At this moment, Zhao Xing seized the opportunity and successfully broke through to the Five Elements Dao Domain Realm!
The numbers on his life panel skyrocketed, and a smile finally crept onto Zhao Xing's face.
"NO!!"
Dongyan Hai's face twisted in agony.
He stopped attacking Zhao Xing.
Manipulating fate and time always demanded a price—and the lifespan cost he had to pay far exceeded Zhao Xing's.
Initially, he could have used this method to forcefully exhaust Zhao Xing to death.
And once Zhao Xing died, given his combat prowess, he could have easily seized the Time Page.
But now, that was no longer possible.
Zhao Xing's breakthrough into the Five Elements Dao Domain Realm had drastically increased his lifespan, which in turn multiplied the price Dongyan Hai had to pay.
Even as an Emperor-tier Reincarnation Realm cultivator, he could no longer use this method to kill and plunder treasures.
At this moment, Dongyan Hai's hatred for Qing Yuzi was indescribable.
At the same time, Zhao Xing loathed the Dongyan Ancient Clan.
But neither of them had time for useless rage.
"Everyone, he is NOT the Lord of Yuanhai!" Zhao Xing roared. "He is Dongyan Hai! He is the mastermind behind all of this!"
"What?!"
Du Yun's face turned pale.
The Lord of Yuanhai… was actually Dongyan Hai?
That brief moment of hesitation was all that was needed—three figures instantly appeared in front of Zhao Xing.
"BOOM!"
Meng Wu's golden light surged as his golden body ignited with blood-red flames, completely shielding Zhao Xing.
Emperor Hongshan's eighteen earthen rings extended beneath his feet, surrounding the blood-colored flames with a secondary protective barrier.
Gu Yitianchen hurled a vial into Zhao Xing's body.
"Shua, shua, shua—"
The remaining six emperors unleashed their divine abilities simultaneously, launching a combined assault against Dongyan Hai.
Beyond this battlefield, Emperor Yuanding was also attacking Dongyan Hai.
This was the unexpected twist in fate—the four key figures holding divine artifacts did not flee.
Instead, they joined forces to fight.
"BOOM!!!"
With a deafening explosion, the entire Shanhai Pavilion was obliterated!
Zhao Xing and his allies emerged on Yuanhai Star, right beside the main Dao Conference grounds.
"Shua, shua, shua, shua, shua—"
Apart from Dongyan Hai, Dongyan Ma, Dongyan Jue, and twelve other Emperor-tier Reincarnation Realm cultivators appeared simultaneously.
Each of them wielded divine artifacts.
Without uttering a single word—
They began a massacre, slaughtering everyone on Yuanhai Star.
"What's happening?!"
A normal Reincarnation Realm cultivator looked toward the ruined Shanhai Pavilion in confusion.
And then—
He saw them.
A pair of cold, emotionless, blood-red eyes.
In the very next instant—
His true soul was erased.
Just like that, ten thousand ordinary Reincarnation Realm cultivators vanished in an instant.
Dongyan Jue's Fate Law Eyes had locked onto them.
"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!"
It didn't matter if they were spell cultivators or body cultivators—
All of them were instantly turned into sacrificial materials.
No one had anticipated this.
They were just like Wang Zhiyong—
Even at this moment, they couldn't even sense the danger.
And without Reincarnation Dao Soldiers, they had no way to reincarnate or activate life-saving techniques in time.
There was no chance to escape.
Who would have imagined that the Dao Conference of the Spiritual Domain would turn into such a nightmare?
"HUMMM—"
Dongyan Ma raised his hand.
A thin, ancient book floated into the sky, completely replacing the heavens of Yuanhai Star.
"WHOOOOOSH—"
[Xuanling Chronicles · Ancient God's Phantom]
Dongyan Ma flipped to the last page.
A strange purple radiance burst through the thick clouds, splitting the heavens apart like an apocalyptic fissure, releasing endless terror upon the land.
And then—
A colossal head of an Ancient God slowly emerged from the void.
Chaos mist surrounded the gigantic head, and within the swirling mist—
Ghostly shadows of the countless souls it had slaughtered flickered in agony.
The Ancient God's eyes were like two bottomless, blood-drenched abysses, coldly sweeping across the once-prosperous Yuanhai Star.
Suddenly, its massive mouth opened wide, spewing out a black torrent. Wherever it passed, space collapsed, and entire buildings crumbled like fragile paper. Countless cultivators let out terrified screams, but in the blink of an eye, they were obliterated.
Blood and shattered limbs flew through the air, while a thick stench of iron filled the sky, dyeing the once-clear blue heavens a horrifying shade of crimson.
Yuanhai Star had billions of inhabitants, yet at this moment, almost all cultivators below the Third Stage had already been wiped out. Under the Ancient God's assault, only Reincarnation Realm cultivators remained.
"BOOM—"
Amidst the blood-drenched darkness, a group of fanatical worshippers formed a sinister ritual array, chanting an ancient and eerie sacrificial incantation:
"From the birth of chaos, the Ancient God returns. Spirit Seas heed the call, the stars tremble and wail. With our wretched bodies, we offer our blood, flesh, and souls as tribute…"
The cultists raised their hands high, palms facing the sky, slicing their fingertips open. Drops of fresh blood dripped onto the ground, flowing in twisted patterns, forming mysterious, glowing runes.
The countless shattered bodies of those massacred transformed into a crimson flood, surging toward sixteen grand altars.
"Reincarnation Altars?!"
"No… those are God-Realm Altars!"
"Dear heavens… Yuanhai's Dao Conference… it was nothing but a massive sacrifice for a god!"
"RUN!"
At that moment, half of the surviving Reincarnation Realm cultivators immediately activated Reincarnation Secret Techniques, choosing to reincarnate voluntarily.
If it were only Reincarnation Altars, they might have fought back. But God-Realm Altars… If they delayed even a second, they would be beyond salvation!
"Damn it… my cultivation for this lifetime…"
"I finally reached the fourth layer of the 'Ancient Golden Body'… It took me two whole epochs just to gather the materials, and now it's all gone…"
"A whole lifetime of cultivation… my hundred Epoch Dao Tree… all plucked by someone else."
"The Dongyan Ancient Clan… truly cunning…"
"A God-Realm Altar… I suppose my death is not in vain."
Those with Reincarnation Dao Soldiers all chose to reincarnate voluntarily, abandoning their cultivation, their weapons, their treasures—everything. They cast it all away and performed their Reincarnation Secret Techniques, escaping into new lives.
For Reincarnation Realm cultivators, this was the only way to survive against a divine sacrificial ritual.
"So it really was a conspiracy all along…" Emperor Hongshan gazed at the blood-red sky, muttering to himself, "The Dongyan Ancient Clan has planned this for a long time… They've orchestrated the complete harvesting of so many Reincarnation Realm cultivators' lifetimes of cultivation."
"Dongyan Hai!" Emperor Lingyuan growled, his Ten Thousand Beasts Throne roaring beneath him. "Let me leave!"
"Leave?" Dongyan Hai's gaze was cold and indifferent. "The exit is right in your hands. Reincarnate, Lingyuan."
"Bastard!" Emperor Qingli roared, unleashing a river of countless Dao Soldiers, sending a devastating force crashing toward Dongyan Hai. "I have no grievance with the Dongyan Ancient Clan!"
"Neither do most people here." Dongyan Hai cut him off, his expression still calm. "But tell me, Qingli Emperor, have you never killed for profit? You should just obediently reincarnate."
"Dongyan Hai, you dare violate the rules of the Reincarnation Divine Hall?! Do you have a death wish?!" Emperor Yuanding bellowed in fury, stalling for time.
"The rules of the Reincarnation Divine Hall?" Dongyan Hai sneered. "You monopolize the ascension pathways. Every Reincarnation Realm cultivator here is a peerless talent, having struggled through countless hardships—yet they are still bound by your ridiculous laws. Your own hall is rotten to the core, and you still think you can uphold justice in the universe?"
"Look at this." Dongyan Hai pointed at the central tombstone standing at the heart of the ritual. "That… is your Reincarnation Divine Hall's Derivation Monument!"
"If the Dongyan Ancient Clan followed your foolish rules, do you think we would have dared to seize this monument?!"
"BOOOOOM—"
The surrounding spirit energy erupted into absolute chaos, and the remaining Reincarnation Realm cultivators found themselves utterly powerless against the Ancient God's Phantom. Escape was impossible.
Every moment, someone self-destructed, becoming fuel for the ritual.
Many others attempted to strike back against the Dongyan Clan's forces, but under the protection of the divine sacrificial artifact, Dongyan Hai remained completely unharmed.
Standing at the forefront of the altar, Dongyan Hai stood alone, yet he challenged the entire world.
"Today, only five of you may leave unscathed."
Dongyan Hai's finger swept across Meng Wu, Emperor Hongshan, Gu Yitianchen, and Emperor Yuanding.
These four held divine artifacts. Even if they weren't granted permission to leave, they could still escape at great cost.
"And… you."
Dongyan Hai's finger finally landed on Zhao Xing.
Because Zhao Xing possessed the Time Page.
Though Dongyan Hai despised Qing Yuzi, he had no choice but to leave a way out—thus, he deliberately announced Zhao Xing's exemption.
"Qing Yuzi, you may leave. You leaked my clan's secrets and cost me eight whole epochs of lifespan… But from today onward, your grudge with my clan ends."
"I will allow you to leave… and you may take some of your people with you."
"SHUA, SHUA, SHUA, SHUA—"
Countless gazes fell upon Zhao Xing.
Many of the remaining powerful Reincarnation Realm cultivators were stunned—who was this Qing Yuzi? Why was he special enough to be granted a safe exit from this catastrophe?
"Qing Yuzi, take me with you!"
"Qing Yuzi, I'll give you my three Reincarnation Dao Soldiers—just let me escape!"
"Qing Yuzi, I am the King of the Heaven Dynasty! If you take me away, I will share my entire ancient kingdom with you!"
"Qing…"
One by one, desperate powerhouses flooded Zhao Xing with mental transmissions, their voices filled with pleas, bribes, and desperation.
At this moment, Zhao Xing's head was about to explode.
Countless voices overlapped in his mind, forming an overwhelming pressure. One thought remained crystal clear—Leave.
Meng Wu, Emperor Yuanding, Emperor Hongshan, and Gu Yitianchen all stared at Zhao Xing.
The Time Page was in his possession. If he left, even though the four held divine artifacts, they wouldn't be able to hold out for long.
In the end, they too would have to flee.
In other words—
The only person who could overturn this situation… was Zhao Xing.
And then—
Zhao Xing laughed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
With a burst of laughter, Zhao Xing stepped out from the protective circle of Meng Wu and Emperor Hongshan, staring directly at Dongyan Hai.
"Dongyan Hai, back then, I made a karmic oath with you. I let you go in exchange for my own escape, yet your Dongyan Ancient Clan has repeatedly refused to let me leave."
"And now, you finally say this? Isn't it a little too late?"
Dongyan Hai glared at Zhao Xing, his expression dark. "Aren't you afraid that I'll continue to drain your lifespan?"
"Go ahead, try!" Zhao Xing spread his arms wide. "Do you think this is my first day in the universe?"
"If you truly had a choice, would you be willing to let me go?"
"If I'm not mistaken, draining my lifespan would cost you far more than it would cost me!"
Dongyan Hai's gaze darkened. His earlier display of the Ancient God's Phantom, along with the mass execution of tens of thousands of Reincarnation Realm cultivators, had been nothing but a bluff—an attempt to scare Zhao Xing into fleeing. But now, Zhao Xing had seen through it at a glance.
"Dongyan Hai, right now, you are the one without a choice. You need me."
"Why don't you try it? Kneel down and beg me."
Zhao Xing took one step forward, then another, walking toward Dongyan Hai.
At this moment, Zhao Xing was still weak. Any casual burst of energy could erase him completely.
Yet, Dongyan Hai did not dare. Instead of attacking, he deliberately stabilized the surrounding space.
Zhao Xing sneered. "Not kneeling? You'll regret it."
"THUD!"
Without hesitation, Dongyan Hai, Dongyan Ma, and Dongyan Jue all knelt.
"BUZZ—"
Dongyan Hai opened a void passage, then picked up one hundred top-tier Reincarnation Dao Soldiers, wrapping them neatly in a bundle and offering them to Zhao Xing.
"Daoist Qing Yuzi, if this satisfies you, then let's consider our grudge settled."
Everyone stared in disbelief.
No one expected Zhao Xing to actually make the three elders of the Dongyan Clan kneel.
And not only that—he even received an entire hoard of battle spoils, all in exchange for simply leaving.
"Who is this man? Why have I never heard of him before?"
"Qing Yuzi… Could he be the descendant of a god-realm cultivator?"
"Or maybe… half a step into the Godhood Realm?"
"That's impossible! He's clearly just at Five Elements Dao Domain Realm!"
"Daoist, please take me with you!"
"Qing Yuzi Emperor…"
Dongyan Hai had acted decisively, choosing to kneel and pay the price without hesitation.
But unfortunately for him—Zhao Xing had no intention of being 'let go.'
He could be rescued, but he could not be 'released.'
No matter how many treasures the three Dongyan Elders handed over, they could never keep him under their control.
"Kneeling will only make you regret it even more," Zhao Xing laughed wickedly, looking every bit like the villain in this scenario.
"BUZZ—"
In the next instant, time reversed across the entire Yuanhai Star.
Every cultivator who had reincarnated voluntarily, every soul that had been slain and sacrificed—
They were all restored.
The world had returned to the exact moment when Shanhai Pavilion was first destroyed.
Zhao Xing was once again standing within Meng Wu and Emperor Hongshan's protection.
"QING YUZI!!!"
Dongyan Hai roared in fury.
The worst possible outcome had happened—all the people they had killed had been resurrected.
The sacrificial altars had also sunk back into the ground.
With this, Qing Yuzi alone had completely disrupted their ritual.
And outside of Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom—time was still flowing normally.
Sooner or later, this commotion would attract the intervention of supreme Godhood cultivators from major powers!
"Everyone, act according to the plan." Zhao Xing transmitted his voice to the nine other Emperors and Wang Zhiyong.
As for the newly arrived Emperor Yuanding? Zhao Xing didn't bother including him.
If Emperor Yuanding wanted to survive, he had to rely on Zhao Xing and his allies. There was no way he could surrender to Dongyan Hai and survive.
Otherwise, no place in the universe would be safe for him.
"Over there!"
Suddenly, Emperor Lingyuan struck at a certain point in the void.
The Ancient God's Phantom that had just massacred the cultivators reappeared.
Countless figures scattered in terror, and the very fabric of space twisted violently.
To Zhao Xing and his allies, it seemed like the world itself was shattering and collapsing into oblivion.
But Emperor Lingyuan and Emperor Haochen—both formation masters—did not waste time attacking Dongyan Hai.
Instead, they focused all their efforts on assaulting a protrusion in the void.
At that moment, Emperor Yuanding also took action.
A single drop of black liquid appeared in his hand, which he flicked toward the same location that Lingyuan and Haochen were targeting.
"POP!"
The droplet had no destructive power—but as it touched space, ripples spread outward like a lake disturbed by a single stone.
"CRACK—!"
In the midst of the chaos, a streak of black lightning suddenly appeared.
And then—
A voice rang out, echoing clearly through the battlefield.
"All forms are mere ants before me. I alone reign supreme over heaven and earth!"
Zhao Xing turned toward the source of the voice.
A blue-robed figure stood at the center of the Dao Conference grounds.
Zhao Xing's eyebrows twitched.
"Old Qing… are you serious? You're stealing my lines now?"
At this moment, Qing Yuzi's appearance was bizarre.
His entire body had flattened, as though he had been pressed into a two-dimensional painting.
His features were completely compressed, making him look like a rectangular slab of stone.
Zhao Xing stared at him for a moment, then muttered, "Why does Old Qing look like a tombstone?"
And not just that—there was a sword embedded in his forehead.
The sword's blade pointed upward, while its hilt fused with his body.
From a distance, it seemed fine.
But up close… the hilt was absurdly large.
"Wait a minute… Has he fused the Derivation Monument with a divine sword?"
"What the hell is he trying to do…?"
Zhao Xing couldn't figure it out.
"Long time no see, everyone." Qing Yuzi slowly turned, facing the three Dongyan Elders.
"Qing—" Dongyan Hai, Dongyan Ma, and Dongyan Jue all froze in shock.
The man in front of them had Qing Yuzi's face.
But if he was Qing Yuzi…
Then who was the person holding the Time Page?
Instinctively, they all turned toward Zhao Xing.
"…Who are you?" Dongyan Hai's gaze shifted between Zhao Xing and Qing Yuzi.
"…And who are you?"
Zhao Xing smirked.
"I am Qing Yuzi."
"…I am Emperor Tianning."
The Dongyan Clan members fell into stunned silence.
Chaos. Right now, the minds of the Dongyan Clan were filled with complete chaos.
"BOOM~~~"
At the site of the Dao Conference, the altar resurfaced, and sixteen secondary altars began revolving around the central main altar once more.
However, the moment Qing Yuzi's Reincarnation Altar emerged, something bizarre occurred.
The divine power of the sixteen pyramid altars was actually being drawn toward Qing Yuzi's Reincarnation Altar.
The sacrificial divine artifacts under Dongyan Hai's control suddenly went rogue, shifting their trajectory on their own and thrusting toward Qing Yuzi's altar.
"No! Stop him!"
Dongyan Jue roared in panic.
At this moment, he desperately wished Zhao Xing would reverse time again. If they could return to the very beginning, they would risk everything to stop Qing Yuzi from descending.
Because right now, the Divine Realm Inscription Brush was writing:
[A god descends upon Shenluo, Yuanhai shall not sink. How shall it return?]
[The anomaly at the Dao Conference seems to have made the resurrected Ancient God hesitate, as if blocked by the flow of time and another divine force, unable to fully enter Yuanhai Star…]
[Qing Yuzi, in a unique manner, has fused the Derivation Monument and the Sacrificial Divine Sword—both at once!]
[He has taken control of the ritual and is now stealing divine power for himself…]
[The grand scheme envisioned by the Dongyan Ancient Clan has undergone a drastic and unforeseen change at this very moment!]
The three Dongyan Elders and Qing Yuzi simultaneously erupted into roars.
The Dongyan Elders' cries were filled with fury, while Qing Yuzi's seemed more like an act of release, a declaration.
"BOOM—"
The main altar and the secondary altars became completely mixed up.
The three Dongyan Elders no longer paid attention to Zhao Xing. Instead, they rallied their forces and charged toward their original altar.
The Ancient God's Phantom resumed capturing the remaining Reincarnation Realm cultivators, dragging them back to the original main altar before executing them.
"Yaan!"
On the altar, the Ancient God Phantom let out an earth-shaking roar, its form seemingly becoming more tangible, more real.
At the same time, atop the other altar, Qing Yuzi's voice rang out like thunder:
"Storm Divine Rune! Form for me!"
Zhao Xing was dumbfounded.
"Storm Divine Rune? Old Qing… is he… is he forging a Divine Rune to ascend into Godhood?"
Nearby, Gu Yi Tianchen noticed Zhao Xing's expression and raised an eyebrow. "This wasn't in your predictions?"
"No, everything is going exactly as I planned," Zhao Xing replied indifferently. "I knew this would happen."
Gu Yi Tianchen chuckled, unconvinced.
"He's attempting ascension to Godhood?"
From Meng Wu's ring, a voice filled with excitement called out. "Meng Wu, let me out! I want to witness the birth of a god in this world!"
Meng Wu hesitated. "You should stay in there. I'm afraid things might get too chaotic."
"Afraid of what? The empire's Godhood cultivators won't let you die. You were once personally guided by the old ancestor of the empire—that's a great karmic debt. Do you really think he isn't aware that you're here?"
Meng Wu thought for a moment before sighing. "Fine, I'll let you out, but don't look around recklessly."
"This trip was worth it," Emperor Hongshan's eyes gleamed as he stared at the two altars. "In all my years, I never imagined I'd witness something like this—on one side, they're resurrecting an Ancient God, and on the other, someone is trying to ascend into Godhood?"
"They're playing on a truly grand scale…
"Storm Divine Rune?"
Emperor Chixiao's gaze flickered with undisguised greed. His fingers twitched. "If only I were the one standing there."
"A chance like this… even in a hundred lifetimes, one might never encounter it again."
As the two altars spun faster and faster, Zhao Xing's vision became completely obscured by the blinding brilliance.
And then, in the next moment, a dazzling white light engulfed his entire being.
His consciousness faded.
The moment he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing beneath an endless starry sky.
"Spirit Qi Index: 500."
"Stability Coefficient: 80."
Zhao Xing blinked. "Huh? Where's Yuanhai Star?"
"Wait—where's my Time Page?!"
He shouted in alarm.
"It's with me."
A deep voice rumbled from above.
Suddenly, Zhao Xing felt solid ground beneath his feet.
He looked up and saw a colossal figure holding him up, raising him toward its massive, towering face.
Without hesitation, Zhao Xing knelt and bowed.
"Greetings, senior."
The aura of this being was both familiar and foreign to him.
Beyond this giant figure, five other immense silhouettes stood under the starlit sky.
But Zhao Xing could not make out their faces.
It was as if they did not truly exist within this time and space.
The giant stood upon an altar.
Across from him, another altar loomed, and atop it sat a figure with two horns on its head, black and gold skin shimmering like obsidian, its features resembling those of a demonic bull.
"Don't bother guessing."
The colossal being holding Zhao Xing spoke, his voice echoing across the void. "That is the Ancient God, 'Yaan.' And I… am Qing Yuzi."
Zhao Xing's eyes widened in shock.
"The other five figures—three belong to the Reincarnation Divine Hall's Godhood cultivators, one is from the Red Star Empire, and one is from Origin Heaven Palace."
"I see." Zhao Xing nodded, not daring to recklessly speculate further.
After a brief pause, he hesitated but couldn't help asking:
"Senior… did you succeed? Did you ascend into Godhood?"
"Yes." Qing Yuzi's tone was calm. "I revived from Reincarnation, which is essentially the same as stepping into this realm. But I am only at the threshold—I have only just arrived at this level."
"That is why you can still see me."
"That Ancient God you see—his power was partially stolen by me. He is stronger than I am, but not by much."
Zhao Xing had a thousand questions, but he didn't dare to ask.
If Qing Yuzi was still at Emperor-level, he might have the courage to probe.
But now? Qing Yuzi had become a god.
He wasn't about to take any chances.
"Ask whatever is on your mind," Qing Yuzi said with a slight smile. "You have done me a great favor. I will answer all your doubts."
"Yes, senior."
Zhao Xing immediately asked the most pressing question on his mind:
"Senior… what will become of me? What should I do now?"
More than anything, he cared about his own survival.
Would he be allowed to live?
"Among the three Godhood cultivators of the Reincarnation Divine Hall—one believes you misused a forbidden artifact and should be erased from history. Another believes you should be neither punished nor rewarded. And the third believes you should be rewarded."
Zhao Xing's heart clenched.
A split decision among the three gods?
"Senior… I am merely a small figure. I do not seek rewards. I only wish to survive."
Qing Yuzi chuckled. "Do not worry. Though I am not as powerful as those three, I now have a voice in this matter. You will live."
Hearing this, Zhao Xing exhaled in relief.
He had survived this catastrophe.
As for anything beyond that?
After experiencing such a calamity, he no longer had any extravagant hopes.
"Senior, has Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom disappeared?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Yes." Qing Yuzi nodded. "But your friends are still alive. Du Yun, Yun Tiandao, Lu Yuehan, Ji Si… some of them, I will exercise my revival authority and bring them back."
"However, Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom will now become history, no longer existing. This place has already turned into a desolate domain."
"Due to the catastrophic influence brought by the Dongyan Ancient Clan, everything here will be sealed, erased from people's memories."
"The three paths of Sacrifice, History, and Fate will also be reselected."
"In other words, those people you previously captured, aside from Meng Wu, Hongshan, Yuan Ding, and Gu Yi Tianchen, will not remember being taken by you."
"As for those four who do remember, they will give me face and won't cause you any trouble. You can rest assured."
Zhao Xing finally understood—Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom had truly vanished.
And the path of sacrificial rituals had been severely cut down, reduced to nothing more than an underground cult practice.
This meant that the chapter of events he had gone through was now truly over!
"Senior, will I keep my memories?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Do you want to?" Qing Yuzi countered.
"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded without hesitation.
"In theory, no." Qing Yuzi said. "However, you can make a request, and I will grant you three wishes."
"Alright, my first wish is to keep my memories," Zhao Xing immediately responded.
If his memories were erased, even if only this period of time, there was no guarantee that other parts of his consciousness wouldn't be affected. Zhao Xing valued his independent will and didn't want to wake up one day completely in the dark.
"Granted." Qing Yuzi nodded. "What is your second wish?"
"My aftereffects." Zhao Xing pointed at himself. "I used the Xuanling Chronicle: Time Page, which greatly shortened my lifespan and even forcefully pushed me into the Five Elements Dao Domain Realm. I'd like to ask Senior to restore me."
"You don't need to use a wish for that." Qing Yuzi smiled. "A wish granted by a Godhood cultivator isn't so cheap. This, I can restore for free, no need to waste a wish."
"Additionally, regarding the issue with your Three Divinities Destiny Palace, I will help completely stabilize it so you can retain this divine ability permanently."
"Thank you, Senior." Zhao Xing realized that this request was indeed unnecessary—since memory sealing might provoke objections from the other Godhood cultivators, Qing Yuzi would need to argue and negotiate for it.
But restoring the aftereffects? That was something Qing Yuzi could do on his own.
Understanding that Qing Yuzi's promises were truly valuable, Zhao Xing hesitated.
What should he ask for?
Money? He had plenty of ways to earn it.
Cultivation? If a Godhood cultivator assigned him a mentor from the Reincarnation Realm, he could advance quickly, but… that didn't seem worth it.
"Senior, how about… you gift me something?" Zhao Xing spoke frankly. "If I make a request myself, I might shortchange myself."
He deliberately avoided asking to join the Reincarnation Divine Hall.
One of the Godhood cultivators already disliked him. Entering the hall would only cause more trouble.
Besides, in the future storylines, the Reincarnation Divine Hall was riddled with internal strife—not exactly a stable place to stay.
Qing Yuzi, having just stepped into Godhood, wouldn't be able to protect him while isolated in seclusion.
So Zhao Xing didn't even bring up the idea of joining them.
"Hahahaha, that's just like you." Qing Yuzi laughed. "Alright, then I will gift you a treasure."
"I see that you want to simultaneously cultivate Heavenly Timing, Earthly Advantage, and the Self Path. When you break through to the Reincarnation Realm, I will procure a 'Boundary-Breaking Divine Stone' for you."
Zhao Xing's eyes widened in disbelief. "Senior… are you serious?"
"Of course." Qing Yuzi nodded. "However, you will have to wait. I just broke through, and right now, I'm as broke as one can be."
"Thank you, Senior!"
The Boundary-Breaking Divine Stone was an invaluable treasure used when advancing into the Reincarnation Realm—aiding in the creation of one's Personal World!
And during that time, the cultivator's body would give birth to an 'Innate Seed'.
The higher the quality of the treasure used, the stronger the Innate Seed. Among all known materials, the Boundary-Breaking Divine Stone was second only to the Primordial Divine Stone!
No doubt about it—this was a divine-tier item.
Helping Qing Yuzi ascend into Godhood had definitely been worth it!
"As for your third wish, you may keep it for later." Qing Yuzi said. "Like I mentioned earlier, I have nothing to give you right now. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to."
"I assume you also lack any enemies that require my intervention as a Godhood cultivator."
"Thank you for considering my situation, Senior." Zhao Xing bowed his head.
Indeed, he had no enemies right now that warranted Qing Yuzi's involvement.
Wait… enemies?
Zhao Xing's eyes suddenly turned toward the Ancient God 'Yaan'.
"Senior, will he try to kill me?"
"He won't." Qing Yuzi shook his head. "He won't have the chance. He will soon be removed."
"Removed?"
"Do not ask further. It is not in your best interest to know." Qing Yuzi warned. "All I can tell you is that after I stole his divine power, he is no longer in a complete state. He cannot resist us, and he no longer has the qualifications to negotiate."
So he's helpless? No wonder…
The Reincarnation Divine Hall is truly terrifying.
"What about the Dongyan Ancient Clan?" Zhao Xing asked.
Qing Yuzi answered, "They no longer remember your existence. How would they seek revenge against you?"
"Besides, not all members of the Dongyan Ancient Clan are madmen. Dongyan Hai and his faction were extremists, nothing more."
Zhao Xing took this chance while Qing Yuzi was still in a good mood to ask another question.
"Senior, may I ask—what was your previous name?"
"I have already stepped into Godhood," Qing Yuzi said calmly. "Everything from my past life is nothing but passing clouds. I shall not speak of it again. The past will no longer bind me."
Zhao Xing nodded. The Reincarnation Divine Hall was like this. Each cycle, they would never reuse the same title, unless it was for some totalitarian purpose.
"Senior, you've been planning against the Dongyan Ancient Clan for a long time. Was it your initiative to enter Xuan—"
Before he could finish, Qing Yuzi suddenly sealed his mouth shut.
"Do not mention it." Qing Yuzi's expression turned stern. "No matter what happens, never speak of your homeland to anyone. Understand?"
Zhao Xing felt a chill run down his spine.
Did this mean that Xuanhuang Realm still harbored secrets?
Even someone at Godhood Realm like Qing Yuzi refused to let him mention it?
"A desolate domain can bury even a Godhood cultivator. It can also be their grave."
"Whether it is the Xuanling Star Domain or the Ancient River Domain, the emergence of a desolate domain is never without cause," Qing Yuzi's tone deepened. "That is all I can tell you. Unless you reach the Reincarnation Realm, do not attempt to uncover its secrets."
"I understand." Zhao Xing was deeply shaken. A desolate domain, a graveyard for Godhood cultivators? No wonder the revival ritual had been conducted at Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom.
From the star map, Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom was only separated from Shenluo Barren Domain by the Great Ye Dynasty—in other words, it was very close.
If the ritual had been too far away, such as at the center of the Spirit Qi Domain, it would have been far less convenient.
"Thank you, Senior, for your warning."
"Alright. Your destination has been decided." Qing Yuzi glanced at the five towering figures ahead. "The Reincarnation Divine Hall finds it inconvenient to take you in. The Origin Heaven Palace is unwilling to accept you. The Primordial Hill has not sent anyone. You have only one choice left: the Red Star Empire."
"Understood, Senior." Zhao Xing replied mechanically, as if he had no emotions left.
"Do you have any more questions?"
Zhao Xing thought for a moment. "Yes, Senior. Can Lu Yuehan's family also be revived?"
Lu Yuehan was the sole survivor of her family. That was simply too cruel.
"It is possible. Her father, Marquis Yuelan, was merely at the Dao Domain Realm. But as for her ancestors, that is out of the question," Qing Yuzi stated. "I will revive the people of Purple Divine Mansion. Bringing back her direct bloodline along with them is no issue."
"She helped you enter Yuanhai Star, and in doing so, helped me as well."
A Godhood cultivator believed in settling karmic ties. Qing Yuzi naturally included those linked to Zhao Xing in the revival.
Of course, if it involved someone at Reincarnation Realm, there was nothing he could do.
"Senior, I have one final question."
"Speak."
"Senior, how much do you know about me?" Zhao Xing asked nervously. "Why were you so certain I would help bring you out?"
"I never read your memories, nor do I wish to know who you were in your past life. And don't tell me, either." Qing Yuzi said calmly. "Alright, this is the end of our conversation. It's time for you to leave."
"Understood." Zhao Xing fell into deep thought.
———
Zhao Xing was thrown into the air. As he was flung away, Qing Yuzi left him with a final message in his ear.
"Zhao Xing, if you ever face a life-or-death crisis, you can use your final wish. As for how… you should already know."
"Thank you, Senior."
This time, Qing Yuzi did not respond.
A blinding white light engulfed Zhao Xing.
When his vision cleared, he found himself standing on a lush, green grassland.
Ahead, a grand palace stood tall.
Ji Si and Yun Tiandao were standing beside Meng Wu.
"We meet again, Tianning Zi." Meng Wu's gaze was unreadable as he looked at Zhao Xing.
"Greetings, General Meng." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.
Meng Wu waved a hand. Before Zhao Xing, a large tub filled with foul-smelling medicinal liquid appeared.
Without a change in expression, Meng Wu spoke. "Jump in. I don't feel like explaining why."
Zhao Xing forced a wry smile, cupped his hands, and jumped in without hesitation.
———
"Hissssss~"
The moment Zhao Xing entered the tub, he felt his cultivation level plummeting.
From Five Elements Dao Domain Realm, he regressed all the way back to the Minor Divine Ability Realm.
"So this must be Qing Yuzi fulfilling his promise to remove my aftereffects," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
He checked his status panel.
His lifespan was also stabilizing.
He was still at three thousand years old, his lifespan returning to what it was before. In fact, it had even been restored to the third realm's limit, theoretically three eras of lifespan.
Qing Yuzi had truly been generous—Zhao Xing's efforts in aiding his ascension had not been in vain.
"I even feel like my innate bone quality has improved, and my understanding of the Five Elements and Yin-Yang Dao has deepened," Zhao Xing mused.
———
Over the next half a month, Zhao Xing completed his metamorphosis.
Meng Wu, however, did not wait for long before pulling him out impatiently.
Now standing completely bare, Zhao Xing smiled bitterly and cupped his hands.
"General Meng, I can explain."
Meng Wu clearly held a grudge.
A perfectly good medicinal solution had been dumped into a filthy tub, its nauseating smell making his nose wrinkle.
There was no doubt—this was targeted at him!
But honestly, it was understandable.
"Explain?" Meng Wu sneered. "I don't need an explanation. I don't know how you knew about my Bone Fire Rune, but you are definitely not one of my old friends."
"General Meng—"
"Shut your mouth!" Meng Wu cut him off. "I've seen plenty of silver-tongued tricksters. And there just so happens to be one waiting inside Erliang Slope."
Meng Wu grabbed Zhao Xing with one hand and sealed him inside his storage ring.
"Hey, wai—"
Before Zhao Xing could react, he vanished on the spot.
"No more distractions this time. No matter what you say, I won't listen." Meng Wu muttered to himself.
"You're going to stay locked up in Erliang Slope for a few hundred years."
"Let's see how you like being played with." Meng Wu rubbed the storage ring thoughtfully.
"Wu Tian, I need you to teach him a lesson."
"Such villainy, and you expect me to help?" A voice inside the ring scoffed.
"Do a good job, and I'll reduce your sentence."
"Deal."
Satisfied, Meng Wu looked toward Ji Si and Yun Tiandao.
"You two have something to say?"
"No," Ji Si obediently shook her head.
"Locking him up is the right choice." Yun Tiandao stated bluntly.