Meng Wu and Emperor Hongshan, both of whom had relatively mild temperaments, were not angered despite being lured into this gathering.
Their desire for divine artifacts was not as intense, and they simply joined in for the spectacle, satisfying their curiosity.
After taking their seats, they drank and conversed casually, appearing completely at ease.
Emperor Lingyuan, however, was different.
Once he sat down, he continuously sized up Zhao Xing, Yun Tiandao, Du Yun, Lu Yuehan, and Zhan Ze.
As a formation master and mechanist, he could not tolerate being manipulated.
And more importantly, his method of being lured here was different from the others.
This so-called Emperor of Tianning had claimed that his Ten Thousand Demon Divine Throne had a fatal flaw?
Utterly ridiculous!
Since the Emperor of Tianning spoke with such confidence, Emperor Lingyuan had planned to test him—only to witness Zhao Xing's death and resurrection, reversing time itself.
"If the divine artifact is real… then does my Ten Thousand Gods Formation truly have a flaw? But how does the Emperor of Tianning know this?"
Emperor Lingyuan was riddled with doubt but remained composed on the surface, sitting cross-legged and closing his eyes in silence.
As for Du Yun, Yun Tiandao, Lu Yuehan, and Zhan Ze—these small figures were beneath his notice.
It was normal for an Emperor to have a few attendants.
However, before Lingyuan could fully settle in, the wooden door opened once more.
A middle-aged man carrying a purple wooden case at his waist stepped through the doorway, immediately grumbling as he entered.
"A dignified Emperor, yet you rent such a small, shabby door? How pathetic… Oh? Meng Wu, Hongshan?"
Everyone turned to look.
This newcomer had an immortal-like presence, his silver hair flowing like a river of stars. His very aura radiated a gentle warmth, and his body exuded a faint medicinal fragrance.
He wore a Tianliang Crown, adorned with three beams, and a black robe with red and purple borders—a relic from the Five Emperors era, specifically the Imperial Physician's ceremonial attire.
It was unclear whether it was an imitation or the original artifact.
Around his waist, he wore a Five Emperors Jade Belt, from which hung the Universal Spirit Physician Cauldron and Spirit Resonance Rejuvenation Needles. His Black Cloud Shoes completed his attire—all items originating from the Five Emperors era, treasured by ancient physicians.
"Emperor Tianchen?" Meng Wu and Emperor Hongshan immediately rose to their feet in respect.
Even the aloof and proud Emperor Lingyuan left his seat and gave a slight bow to show his respect.
Ancient Physician Tianchen—according to legend—had lived since the Five Emperors era.
Some even called him the God of Medicine.
His fame spread across the entire Xuanling Star Domain because he possessed a peerless ability—he could heal the true soul wounds of Reincarnation Realm cultivators.
One of Ancient Physician Tianchen's most legendary feats was when an ancient kingdom's ruler contracted a rare and deadly illness.
Even after reincarnating three times, the ruler failed to escape his fate.
He had already begun preparing his final will when Emperor Tianchen arrived and cured him.
In terms of age, Ancient Physician Tianchen was acknowledged as a senior among seniors.
In terms of virtue, he had saved an Emperor's life without asking for compensation and even supplied his own priceless medicinal ingredients.
In the cold and ruthless universe, Ancient Physician Tianchen was a beacon of morality!
"Greetings, Grand Imperial Physician."
Meng Wu and Emperor Hongshan bowed respectfully.
Ancient Physician Tianchen did not like being called Emperor Tianchen; instead, he preferred to be addressed as 'Grand Imperial Physician'.
Even Emperor Lingyuan gave a formal salute.
Among all the Emperors, Ancient Physician Tianchen had the most terrifying network.
The number of Reincarnation Realm cultivators he had saved was beyond counting.
"No need for such formality."
Ancient Physician Tianchen waved his hand in a benevolent manner.
"Who is the Emperor of Tianning? Surely, it isn't one of you three?"
The three of them turned toward the main seat, looking at Zhao Xing.
"Greetings, Grand Imperial Physician. I am the Emperor of Tianning. Please, take the seat of honor."
Zhao Xing cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.
By this point, Zhan Ze, Yun Tiandao, Lu Yuehan, and Du Yun had already risen to their feet, moving to stand near Zhao Xing.
The chief seats on either side of Zhao Xing were now completely vacant.
The four of them felt completely numb.
Especially Du Yun and Zhan Ze.
As genius disciples of the Origin Heaven Palace, they had met a few Reincarnation Realm powerhouses before.
But this was different—this was a living legend!
"Oh? It's you."
Ancient Physician Tianchen glanced at Zhao Xing.
"I don't sense any illness in you. Where is this 'grave condition' you spoke of?"
Zhao Xing had tailored his bait accordingly.
To lure Ancient Physician Tianchen, he had used a different approach.
"Please, take a seat first, Grand Imperial Physician. I assure you, I will not disappoint you."
To be honest, Zhao Xing himself hadn't expected that Ancient Physician Tianchen would actually show up.
Among the wide net of invitations he had cast, the probability of Ancient Physician Tianchen arriving had been very low.
First, Zhao Xing had no idea whether Ancient Physician Tianchen was even in a recognizable location during this era.
Second, there was no guarantee that the message would even reach him.
Ancient Physician Tianchen had no fixed home and liked to wander freely, unlike most powerhouses who had established bases.
His whereabouts were always a mystery, and only a few people could even contact him.
In his past life, Zhao Xing had once undertaken a mission related to Ancient Physician Tianchen, spending immense effort just to track him down.
In the end, he had only managed to contact one of Tianchen's disciples, and it had taken over 8,000 years before he finally met him.
At that time, Ancient Physician Tianchen had been deep within another world, researching the Taiyi Extinction Heaven Poison Source Body.
"I don't like waiting."
Ancient Physician Tianchen remained standing.
"If you don't give me a reason right now, I'll leave immediately."
Zhao Xing had no choice but to send a transmission:
"Grand Imperial Physician, the 'Taiyi Extinction Heaven Poison Source Body' isn't here. It's in an unexplored domain."
The full name of the Taiyi Extinction Heaven Poison Source Body was actually the Taiyi Annihilation Heaven Poison Source Body.
Ancient Physician Tianchen had been searching for it to collect various poison source bodies.
This particular poison was deadly even to Reincarnation Realm experts.
As for how Zhao Xing knew about it?
Simple.
In his past life, a Qi Sect cultivator in the Reincarnation Realm—believing his body to be invincible—had volunteered as a test subject for poison experiments.
"You've seen it?"
Ancient Physician Tianchen's eyes gleamed.
"I haven't seen it, but I know its location."
Zhao Xing replied.
"Now, please take a seat."
"Fine."
Ancient Physician Tianchen finally sat down.
In reality, it wouldn't be long before he discovered the poison source on his own.
Everything Zhao Xing knew had originally come from Ancient Physician Tianchen himself, who had once shared it with that Qi Sect cultivator.
In other words, everything Zhao Xing said had originally come from Ancient Physician Tianchen himself.
With Ancient Physician Tianchen now seated, there were already four Reincarnation Realm experts present.
Du Yun, Yun Tiandao, Lu Yuehan, and Zhan Ze were completely numb from shock.
However, what happened next took them by surprise once again.
The wooden door creaked open, and a short, bald man carrying a massive blue sword on his back squeezed through the entrance.
"Who is this?"
Meng Wu, Emperor Hongshan, Emperor Lingyuan, and even Ancient Physician Tianchen did not recognize him.
Even Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned.
[Name: Wang Zhiyong]
[Cultivation: Reincarnation Realm]
[True Soul: Seventh-Life True Soul]
Since Wang Zhiyong was in the Reincarnation Realm, Zhao Xing could only see his basic information—his name and realm.
Zhao Xing was puzzled.
"Who is Wang Zhiyong?"
"I don't remember ever reaching out to someone named Wang Zhiyong."
Even Master Zhao himself was a little dumbfounded.
All the previous arrivals had been powerful Emperors, each one exuding an imposing presence, but now, a mere Reincarnation Realm cultivator—one who had only undergone seven reincarnations and hadn't fully escaped danger—suddenly appeared.
This was completely unexpected.
Looking around, he noticed that the expressions of the other guests were equally perplexed.
The bald man hesitated for a moment, then noticed Emperor Hongshan and Emperor Lingyuan.
"Emperor Hongshan? Emperor Lingyuan?"
However, he failed to recognize either Ancient Physician Tianchen or Meng Wu.
Still, Wang Zhiyong quickly adjusted to the situation.
He immediately clasped his hands and bowed.
"Apologies, esteemed seniors. I must have entered the wrong place."
Then, he cautiously reached for the wooden door, attempting to close it carefully as if he had never been there.
Zhao Xing was just about to stop him, since the Time House required a specific incantation to enter.
That meant this person had also come seeking 'Emperor of Tianning'.
Since he had come for him, Zhao Xing couldn't let him leave just yet.
However, before Zhao Xing could act, Emperor Lingyuan struck first.
With a flick of his wrist, a complex and intricate fire sigil emerged on the wooden door.
The moment Wang Zhiyong touched the door, his hand was burned, and he instinctively stumbled back inside.
This saved Zhao Xing the trouble.
"Daoist Wang, were you looking for Tianning Zi?" Zhao Xing asked tentatively.
He had sent out messages under different names, sometimes as 'Emperor of Tianning,' sometimes as 'Liu Tianning' or 'Tianning Zi'.
Not everyone had been lured by the Time Artifact.
For instance, Ancient Physician Tianchen had been attracted using the coordinates of a 'poison source body'.
Some individuals were unaware of the inviter's cultivation level, nor did they know about the Time Artifact.
Clearly, Wang Zhiyong was one of them.
Wang Zhiyong's face was filled with bitterness as he clasped his hands again.
"I did come to find Tianning Zi, but it seems the person I was looking for is not here."
"Oh, but he is," Zhao Xing smiled.
"I am Tianning Zi. Please, take a seat."
Since he was already here, it didn't matter who he was—he had to stay.
"Understood," Wang Zhiyong sighed.
Seeing the situation, he realized there was no way out, so he obediently took a seat at the lowest-ranking position.
Zhao Xing glanced at his attire and the massive blue sword on his back.
After a moment of thought, he came to a realization.
"In my previous life, I only encountered Reincarnation Realm cultivators many years later, after the universe had already gone through major updates."
"If I summon powerful figures from that future timeline, there's a good chance some of them haven't fully grown yet."
"This Wang Zhiyong might be a future Emperor, but for now, he still uses this name."
The name displayed on his system panel always showed the current life's name or honorific—the one the individual internally recognized.
For instance, if someone checked Zhao Xing's panel, it would still say Zhao Xing, not Tianning Zi or Emperor of Tianning.
Reincarnation Realm cultivators usually settled their past-life karma before reincarnating.
Some continued using their old names after regaining their peak power, while others adopted new ones.
There was no fixed rule.
Wang Zhiyong seemed uneasy, but Zhao Xing didn't bother questioning him further.
Because at that moment, the wooden door opened once more.
"Who is Liu Tianning?!"
A figure, as if sculpted from blue-green glass, stepped inside.
His entire body emitted a greenish flame, and three star marks glowed on his forehead.
"I am Liu—"
"You carry none of my disciple's true soul aura. How dare you impersonate him?!"
Zhao Xing didn't even get a chance to finish before the figure struck.
A flash of white light—and Zhao Xing was gone.
A moment later, time rewound, and Zhao Xing stood there again, unharmed.
The new arrival, Emperor Qingli, had a strange look in his eyes as he walked inside once again.
"What just happened…?"
Curious, he tested it again.
HUM—
A white light flashed again.
HUM—HUM—HUM—
After three consecutive attempts, Meng Wu finally had enough.
"Emperor Qingli, your curiosity is a bit excessive."
He slammed his cup down, his irritation evident.
"Calm down. Stop testing it and take a seat."
He had just swallowed his wine, only to find himself back in the moment before drinking it.
The repeated time loops were becoming unbearable.
Even for powerful cultivators, enduring time reversal came at a cost—it was not something they could afford to waste on nonsense.
"Qingli, just sit down." Ancient Physician Tianchen spoke up as well.
"What are they talking about?"
"Emperor Qingli… attacked? What do you mean, attacked…?"
Wang Zhiyong was completely lost.
Three questions flashed through his mind:
"What just happened?"
"Why do I feel like that guy has already entered before?"
"What kind of crazy event did I get myself into?!"
Meanwhile, the Spirit Domain Grand Gathering was about to begin.
Dongyan Hai, Dongyan Ma, and Dongyan Jue had gathered once more.
Each of them held significant identities, and this time, they had convened on Yuanhai Realm Star.
This was the second-to-last meeting before the execution of their plan.
And it was an unexpectedly forced meeting.
Originally, they were only supposed to meet one more time, but Dongyan Jue, the Fate Officer, and Dongyan Ma, the Historian, had both reached out to the current patriarch, Dongyan Hai.
Thus, an additional meeting was scheduled.
"What's going on? I shouldn't be meeting with you two in secret again."
Dongyan Hai had just arrived when he noticed that his two fellow clansmen had serious expressions.
He found himself inside a pyramid-like structure, with Dongyan Ma and Dongyan Jue seated in the center.
Between them, one held a brush, the other a book.
"Take a look at this," Dongyan Jue said.
"How can I possibly read this?" Dongyan Hai frowned. The Fated Destiny Record was not something an outsider could simply view.
To prevent heavenly secrets from leaking, many matters were only accessible to Dongyan Jue and Dongyan Ma.
Similarly, the ritual arrangements were something only Dongyan Hai was allowed to know.
"It's fine. Jue and I have already expended our lifespan and paid the price," Dongyan Ma said. "You must be informed."
Dongyan Hai hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped onto the altar and approached the ancient book.
Rustle—
The ancient book flipped back to the previous page.
The timestamp on the page showed the year of the grand assembly.
[…The process of welcoming back the Ancient God proceeded smoothly. When Dongyan Ma, wielding the Xuanling Chronicles, summoned an avatar of the Ancient God, before he even acted, half of the Reincarnation Realm experts at the assembly voluntarily chose to reincarnate, abandoning their current life's cultivation.]
[As for the other half, four individuals, each wielding a divine artifact, attempted to destroy the altar. However, they were unaware that the Ancient God's Altar repelled all divine artifacts except those aligned with the three great paths of 'History, Fate, and Ritual.']
[Throughout Yuanhai Realm Star, only divine artifacts belonging to these three great paths could exert their power.]
[Thus, these four individuals immediately chose to flee, and they successfully escaped.]
Dongyan Hai nodded slightly.
The development of the Fated Destiny Record was not too far from what he had anticipated.
Once he activated the Xuanling Chronicles' main record page, summoning the phantom of the Ancient God, his combat strength would already surpass all Reincarnation Realm cultivators.
At that point, any Reincarnation Realm cultivator who did not want their True Soul to be erased would have no choice but to abandon their cultivation, offering up the spiritual essence they painstakingly cultivated as a sacrificial tribute!
Anyone who hesitated, anyone who felt reluctant to let go, would no longer have the chance to escape.
It was clear that many individuals at the assembly were decisive.
Reincarnation at least offered the chance to cultivate anew—not reincarnating meant absolute death.
As for those four who attempted resistance, the Dongyan Ancient Clan had already accounted for them.
In such a large gathering, there were bound to be a few powerful Reincarnation Realm experts in possession of divine artifacts.
Yet out of forty to fifty thousand people, only four individuals possessed divine artifacts—and they were suppressed.
In the end, they had no choice but to flee for their lives.
"Becoming part of the God means they will never have a chance to revive. Of course, they'd run. Four of them escaping isn't an issue," Dongyan Hai thought.
He then raised his head to look at his fellow clan members, uncertain why they wanted him to continue reading.
"Isn't this all going smoothly?"
Dongyan Jue's eyelids lowered, signaling the clan leader to keep reading.
With no other choice, Dongyan Hai continued to gaze into the Fated Destiny Record.
[The Divine Altar emerged from the center of the assembly—sixteen altars in total, arranged around the main altar, transmitting divine power sequentially.]
[However…]
"However?"
A cold shiver ran down Dongyan Hai's spine.
Everyone knew that whatever came before 'however' was irrelevant.
Even if ninety-nine percent of the plan had gone smoothly, it meant nothing.
The greatest fear in a Fated Destiny Record was the emergence of an anomaly—and anomalies always began with 'however'!
"What happened next?"
Dongyan Hai felt a surge of unease.
He couldn't see the words following 'however'.
"Great Rotation of Fate, Eye of Destiny—Open!"
Dongyan Hai activated his Fate Vision, enabling him to 'see' the truth.
[…The Time Page has appeared. It is located in Yuanhai Realm Star, on an unexpected minor figure.]
[As a Time Page formed during the 2nd Era of the Barren Domain, its priority level is unparalleled.]
[The altars sank back into the ground, and the cultivators who had chosen reincarnation were forcibly pulled back to their previous lives…]
"What?! The Time Page appeared?! And it's in Yuanhai Realm Star?!"
Dongyan Hai gasped sharply.
The Time Pages of the Xuanling Chronicles were not limited to a single copy.
However, after the Barren Domain Era, each Time Page captured the nearest segment of the time river, or rather, the Dao of Time.
In other words, for reversing events within the nearest era, this Time Page was the strongest.
This unique trait ensured that whoever possessed the Time Page in the present era would always have the greatest power of temporal reversal.
The Xuanling Chronicles contained different categories of records:
[Main Records], [Great Clans (Including Ancient Clans)], [Biographies], [Ten Tables], and [Eight Books]—each with its own function.
Among them, for most categories, the older the page, the stronger the power.
However, Time Pages from the 'Ten Tables' category were unique—the closer they were to the present, the stronger they became.
This was due to the Divine Being who created the Xuanling Chronicles leaving behind a warning:
"The past cannot be pursued, the future cannot be foreseen, but the present can still be changed."
This declaration set the rule that a Time Page would always emerge in a random location every era, and within that era, it would be the strongest artifact for reversing time.
This was a cautionary measure for starfield historians, warning them not to delve too deeply into the past, lest they lose themselves in history.
Dongyan Hai understood this logic perfectly.
The problem was that the Time Page was not in their hands.
If no one had possessed it, it wouldn't have mattered.
But the very divine artifact they had been searching for was in Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom?!
"This is exactly what I was afraid of…"
Dongyan Hai sighed deeply.
As a Reincarnation Realm cultivator who followed the Path of Ritual, his greatest concern had always been the revival ceremony being reversed!
Now, the Fated Destiny Record had confirmed his fears.
"Can the temporal artifacts we obtained counteract the Time Page's reversal?" Dongyan Hai asked.
His expertise lay elsewhere, so he had to consult his companions.
The Dongyan Ancient Clan had prepared for all contingencies, including potential countermeasures.
"It will be difficult."
Dongyan Jue shook his head.
"Among all divine artifacts, time-based artifacts are undeniably the strongest."
Time rules over all, while space reigns supreme in its absence. Among all divine abilities, the strongest is always time-related, followed closely by those of space.
The same principle applies to artifacts—if a divine artifact embodying the Dao of Time appears, its priority surpasses all others!
"If it were just a time-related Reincarnation Dao Soldier, even that legendary clock in Scholar City, we could have resisted."
"But the Time Page…" Dongyan Ma shook his head.
"For so long, the Time Page never showed itself, yet now, right when we're about to act, it suddenly appears?" Dongyan Jue's vertical eye twitched violently, thin streaks of blood leaking from the corner.
"Enough, Jue!" Dongyan Hai interrupted him, both to halt his divination and to reinforce his conviction.
"The Time Page's appearance isn't necessarily a bad thing. If it has surfaced in Yuanhai Realm Star, perhaps fate itself is helping us!" Dongyan Hai said.
"Think about it. How much have we done? How many hardships have we endured? Yet we made it through."
The Dongyan Ancient Clan's preparations ensured that apart from History, Fate, and Ritual-related divine artifacts, all other divine artifacts would be completely suppressed!
Divine artifacts were already extremely rare, and with their combined influence, they had already excluded all outside forces from using divine artifacts to sabotage the ritual.
Even time-related artifacts had substitutes among their ranks—many Reincarnation Dao Soldiers had similar effects, they just never found a true Time Artifact.
Furthermore, they had fought to secure the Spirit Domain Grand Assembly, ensuring it would be held within Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom.
They even stole a Derivation Divine Tablet.
They endured countless hardships hiding within the Barren Domain for years…
Now, with the arrow nocked onto the bow, how could they possibly stop?
To stop now was a path to certain death!
"I understand," Dongyan Jue nodded, his vertical eye ceasing its involuntary movements.
The three of them had endured too much together, their trust in each other unshakable.
Rustle, rustle, rustle—
[…He repeatedly used the Time Page, and soon, he paid the price—his lifespan rapidly drained.]
[…The altar sank into the ground once more, and the grand assembly plunged into eerie silence.]
At this moment, Dongyan Hai turned to another page, noticing that the crystal pen's script had become jagged, as if encountering resistance.
The contents were interrupted, disjointed.
[…The God has emerged from Shenluo, if Yuanhai does not sink, how can it return?]
[Anomalies at the Grand Assembly seem to…]
"Stop it! Stop it from writing any further!" Dongyan Jue shouted sharply.
Sensing the shift in fate, Fate Official Dongyan Ma instantly sank into a weakened state—his eye sockets hollowed, his forehead splitting open.
In an instant, his expression became haggard.
A book in his hands burned away, merging into the crystal pen, which in turn was swallowed into the void, ceasing all writing.
Dongyan Hai ignored Dongyan Ma's injuries, immediately asking:
"Can we locate the Time Page? If it's within Yuanhai Realm Star, we should at least know where it is and who possesses it."
"We can—but you'll have a hard time taking it." Dongyan Jue replied.
"How would we know if we don't try?" Dongyan Hai countered.
"Then let's try."
———
Mountain Sea Pavilion, Time Chamber.
After Wang Zhiyong, several more figures arrived—Qingli Emperor, Youhuang Emperor, Haochen Emperor, Chixiao Emperor, and Seven Sword Emperor.
Including the earliest arrivals—Meng Wu, Hong Shan, Ling Yuan, and Tianchen—there were now ten people present.
Among them, nine were Emperor-tier powerhouses, while the weakest was Wang Zhiyong, who had nonetheless experienced seven lifetimes of reincarnation.
At this moment, Wang Zhiyong felt his heart pounding with unease.
Unlike Du Yun, Yun Tiandao, Lu Yuehan, and Zhan Ze, who had no idea what was happening, he was also not like the other nine Emperors, who were fully aware of the situation.
Time had been rewound multiple times, leaving Wang Zhiyong in an eerie middle ground—he understood just enough to know something was wrong, but not enough to comprehend everything.
He couldn't clearly perceive how time had rewound upon himself, but he could faintly sense that something was off.
Strong individuals and total weaklings both had nothing to fear, but those caught in between—like Wang Zhiyong—felt like they were about to die from sheer terror.
"Tianning zi… no, Tianning Emperor!" Wang Zhiyong's voice trembled as he transmitted his thoughts, "I am but a mere junior. Please, Emperor, grant me mercy and allow me to leave."
Zhao Xing's expression remained calm and indifferent.
"Were you not originally going to attend the Grand Assembly?" he asked.
"Yes," Wang Zhiyong obediently admitted.
Strictly speaking, he wasn't forcibly summoned—he had intended to participate in the assembly to begin with.
"Then I am saving you."
Saving me? Please don't save me!
Wang Zhiyong did not believe a single word. He only wanted to return to the 664th floor and stay there.
"Wait," Zhao Xing said indifferently. "The time for you to leave will come."
Seventeen seats—ten guests had arrived.
Including Zhao Xing's own five people, only two seats remained empty.
"Tianning Emperor, I believe almost everyone has arrived now," Youhuang Emperor spoke, holding an ancient dark bronze instrument, its seven strings resembling a zither. Her entire figure was enshrouded in a black robe.
Among the nine Emperors, she was the only female, and she was also a Reincarnation Realm musician.
Zhao Xing glanced at Youhuang Emperor.
Frankly, her appearance surprised him.
Reincarnation Realm musicians were exceedingly rare, and he had never even considered recruiting her.
It could only mean that the allure of divine artifacts was simply too great!
Yet Zhao Xing remained silent, merely waiting patiently for another two months.
———
Two months later.
Zhao Xing gently flicked the glass cup before him.
Ding—
The sound resonated through the chamber, like the prelude to some grand revelation.
At last, Zhao Xing spoke.
"Everyone is nearly here. The rest are not worth waiting for."
Swish—
All eyes immediately turned to Zhao Xing.
The Nine Great Emperors and Wang Zhiyong all fixed their gazes upon him.
Some had waited patiently for hundreds of years, like Meng Wu and Hong Shan.
Even the shortest wait had been two hundred years.
Now, at last, this mysterious Tianning Emperor was finally going to reveal his purpose.
"You are all about to face a great catastrophe. Your cultivation in this life will be sacrificed for someone else's gain."
Zhao Xing had remained silent, but the moment he spoke, his words carried an undeniable weight. A strategist's first move was always to seize control of the conversation.
"Great catastrophe?" Ling Yuan scoffed, a mocking smirk appearing on his face. "I think it's you who is facing catastrophe."
"Tianning zi, you're only at the Origin Realm now, your strength hasn't recovered, yet you dare to expose your hand and summon so many powerful figures?"
"The divine artifact you have is only one, while there are nine of us. How do you plan to deal with us?"
Ling Yuan Emperor had no patience for Zhao Xing's tactics.
Everyone present had lived for countless years, and they had all heard similar words before. Scare tactics? Who hadn't used them before?
To Ling Yuan, Wang Zhiyong wasn't even worth mentioning—he completely ignored him.
The others also watched Zhao Xing closely.
At least half of the ten were here for the divine artifact.
The other half had come to the Time Chamber for their own reasons—such as Gu Yi Tianchen and Youhuang Emperor.
But even those who had other motives couldn't possibly be unmoved by a divine artifact of time!
If Zhao Xing was merely a spokesperson for Tianning Emperor, that would be one thing.
But the fact was, he truly possessed a time-related artifact.
Who among them hadn't killed for treasure before?
Bringing them here was easy, but sending them away unscathed was another matter entirely.
"You're wrong." Zhao Xing glanced at Ling Yuan Emperor, his voice calm.
"I summoned you all here not to distribute the divine artifact, but because I have another reward to offer."
"You will all be rewarded in the future, but it won't be this divine artifact."
"So… from the beginning, you never intended to hand over the artifact?" Haochen Emperor, seated on the left, spoke with displeasure. "Are you playing games with us?"
Du Yun could only smile bitterly.
He truly didn't understand what Zhao Xing was thinking.
Zoren had warned him—dealing with this guy meant facing uncertainty at every turn.
And he had been right.
Among the emperors here, any one of them could kill Zhao Xing without suffering any consequences.
At most, they would pay a small price—or perhaps none at all.
Now that a divine artifact was involved, who cared about some genius from the Origin Heavenly Palace?
"If Haochen Emperor wants to think that way, I don't mind," Zhao Xing said indifferently.
"A mere Origin Realm cultivator thinks he can negotiate with us?" Qingli Emperor's aura surged, filling the air with overwhelming pressure.
"Both of you, be quiet!"
Zhao Xing suddenly snapped, his voice booming like a thunderclap.
Everyone was caught off guard.
Zhao Xing's expression turned dark and serious as he glared at them.
"I think you've all misunderstood one crucial thing."
"Have you lost your mind?" Qingli Emperor frowned.
"I am declaring that all of you have been kidnapped by me."
Zhao Xing lightly tapped the table, his gaze sweeping across the room.
"Did I make myself clear?"
The atmosphere froze instantly.
Du Yun and Zhan Ze's eyes widened, completely stunned.
Yun Tiandao's expression darkened, while Lu Yuehan's eyes sparkled with admiration.
At this moment, her admiration for Zhao Xing reached an all-time high.
Kidnapping Reincarnation Realm cultivators?
Kidnapping Emperors?
Zhao Xing was only at the Origin Realm, yet he dared to say such words?
"Arrogant fool!"
Ling Yuan immediately lunged toward Zhao Xing.
However, the moment his hand moved, his vision blurred.
When he regained clarity, he was sitting in his seat again.
Ding!
A crisp sound echoed in the chamber.
It was Zhao Xing, lightly flicking the rim of his glass cup.
Everything had reset—back to two months ago.
"Do you understand now?" Zhao Xing asked softly.
They understood.
Even Wang Zhiyong, the weakest among them, seemed to grasp the situation.
Meng Wu frowned.
"Tianning Emperor, what do you mean?"
"Do you plan to trap us in this endless two-month time loop?"
"It's not that I am trapping you here," Zhao Xing said.
"It's that you all need to agree on a way to escape this ritual."
Zhao Xing waved his hand.
The sky turned transparent, revealing the Grand Assembly grounds outside.
"This Spirit Domain Grand Assembly…"
"Is part of a massive conspiracy orchestrated by the Dongyan Ancient Clan!"
Zhao Xing no longer held back.
The binding contracts had already dissolved, and the assembly was about to begin.
Now, the only goal was to survive.
Kidnapping nine emperors and one Wang Zhiyong…
That was his escape plan!
"They have turned this place into an Ancient God Sacrificial Altar!"
"Everyone in this Grand Assembly—even the entirety of Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom—will become offerings to a god!"
"The moment you step out of this room, you will lose all contact with the outside world."
"You won't even be able to send a message beyond Yuanhai Realm Star."
"You… you're joking, right?"
Ling Yuan's pupils contracted.
He still couldn't detect anything unusual.
He still thought Zhao Xing was making things up.
But others had already started believing it.
Meng Wu, Hong Shan, and Gu Yi Tianchen all had grave expressions.
Some of them possessed fate-related divine artifacts, and the moment Zhao Xing exposed the truth, their artifacts activated automatically—as if tearing open a veil of deception.
Others had cultivated golden body secret techniques, which gave them strong premonitions of danger—like Meng Wu.
"Wu Tian… is this kid telling the truth?"
Meng Wu had already believed 70-80% of it, but he couldn't accept the idea that his entire life's cultivation was about to end as a sacrifice.
Instinctively, he turned to Wu Tian for confirmation.
"What a cursed fate," Wu Tian sighed.
"You and I indeed have a life-and-death crisis looming."
"Originally, if you had left earlier, there was still a chance to escape unscathed."
"But now…"
"If this is true, then there is no escape…" Meng Wu interrupted, his face darkening.
Then, he remembered Wu Tian's three previous 'unspeakable' warnings.
Could it have been this?
That's too insane!
"Then what do we do now?" Meng Wu asked urgently.
"Now, you'd better listen carefully to what that kid has to say."
Wu Tian's voice was calm.
"Otherwise, your entire life's cultivation will have been for nothing."
After a brief moment of chaos, the nine Emperors and Wang Zhiyong fell into silence.
Each of the nine Emperors had their own methods to verify the situation, and now their expressions varied—some were angry, some regretful, and some contemplative.
Of course, everyone quickly calmed down.
They had roamed the universe for countless years—what dangers hadn't they faced?
Before coming here, they had already mentally prepared themselves—divine artifacts were never easy to obtain!
The only exception was Wang Zhiyong.
He had no way of verifying anything, and upon hearing Zhao Xing's words, it felt as though his entire world had collapsed.
"Tianning zi, what do you want us to do?" Gu Yi Tianchen asked, his face calm and composed, as if life and death were matters entirely unrelated to him.
"Senior, my request is simple," Zhao Xing pointed to the sky above and said, "When the Grand Assembly begins, all of you will exit this door and escort me to the center of the assembly."
"At the same time, Ling Yuan and Haochen Emperor, your task is to open a passage between Yuanhai Realm Star and the outside world."
"You might ask—if there is a sacrificial ritual in progress, how is it still possible to open a spatial passage?"
"You don't need to worry about that—someone else will handle it. Your job is simply to exert force within Yuanhai Realm Star itself."
"Hmph." Ling Yuan flicked his sleeve in irritation.
No matter how he looked at it, Zhao Xing was still ordering them around.
Although the truth was that they had been kidnapped, he still felt frustrated.
"I'll do it." Haochen Emperor nodded.
This situation was clearly one where recklessness was required.
Did they really want to be trapped here by Zhao Xing?
Zhao Xing was only at the Origin Realm—if he died, then he died.
But for someone like Haochen, who had cultivated for so long, dying here was completely unacceptable.
No matter what, there was no other choice at the moment.
"Chixiao Emperor, you have the treasure 'Heavenly Clear Realm'."
"Hong Shan Emperor, you have the treasure 'Earth Bright Land'."
"I need you both to separate Yin and Yang, but be careful—if a sacrificial altar suddenly appears, and you see a man impaled by a sword upon it, do not interfere. Instead, assist him."
Hong Shan Emperor and Chixiao Emperor nodded without further questions.
"Meng Wu, you will protect us."
Zhao Xing had assigned Meng Wu the role of human shield.
"It seems I don't have a choice." Meng Wu downed a cup of wine, accepting his role.
"Grand Physician, Senior Tianchen."
Zhao Xing then turned to Gu Yi Tianchen.
"I know you must have a way to escape. Please, use your expertise to help us."
"Not a very profitable deal," Gu Yi Tianchen chuckled and shook his head. "The Taiyin Annihilation Poison Physique alone isn't worth me saving so many lives."
"What if I recommend a suitable test subject for you?" Zhao Xing countered. "Finding someone capable of withstanding Taiyin Annihilation Poison isn't easy. But it just so happens I know someone."
Gu Yi Tianchen pondered for a moment before nodding.
"Fine."
"Youhuang Emperor, regarding what you wanted…"
"Ling Yuan Emperor, your Myriad Demon Throne…"
"Qingli Emperor…"
Zhao Xing continued to make promises, weaving an intricate web of offers and rewards.
Of course, he never planned to fulfill any of them.
His true belief was that this grand sacrifice would fail.
If it did fail, that meant a divine-level entity would interfere—most likely the Reincarnation Palace.
The Three Divinities Destiny Palace referred to the three divine beings of the Reincarnation Palace.
And considering that no one in his past life remembered Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, no matter how much deception or promises he made today, no one would remember it later anyway.
Of course, if someone did remember, he would still honor his word—after all, he wouldn't have a choice!
"Tianning Emperor!"
Suddenly, a thunderous voice interrupted.
The voice carried a mix of helplessness and suppressed fury, so intense that it nearly forced Zhao Xing into another time loop reset.
Zhao Xing turned his gaze and saw Wang Zhiyong.
"Emperor, you've given everyone a role. What about me?!" Wang Zhiyong glared, his face filled with anger.
He had been ignored the entire time.
Ling Yuan had looked down on him, and so had the others.
At first, he had endured it, but now he couldn't take it anymore.
His life was already at risk—who cared about offending anyone at this point?!
"Uh…"
Zhao Xing had completely forgotten about Wang Zhiyong.
He had kept him here only to prevent leaks, nothing more.
The Time Chamber was currently an isolated space, and his rule had been 'entry allowed, exit forbidden'.
"You… just follow me," Zhao Xing finally said.
"Thank you, Emperor!"
Wang Zhiyong immediately moved to Zhao Xing's side.
At a time like this, who cared about dignity?
"Alright, when we step outside—"
Just as Zhao Xing was about to speak, two things happened at once.
First, in the sky, a projection of the Grand Assembly flickered.
At the center of the assembly grounds, a majestic figure in golden robes appeared.
It was the ruler of Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom.
"The Spirit Domain Grand Assembly will begin ahead of schedule. Fellow cultivators, please enter and witness this grand event."
At the same time, another sound echoed.
The wooden door creaked open.
"Mm?"
Zhao Xing's brows furrowed, and he turned his gaze to the door.
The door slowly swung open, and a black-robed figure stepped inside.
"The Lord of Yuanhai?"
Wang Zhiyong gasped in disbelief.
"Didn't you just appear outside? How are you…?"
All eyes turned to Zhao Xing.
Had he invited the Lord of Yuanhai here?
But Zhao Xing's expression changed drastically.
Because even though this figure looked identical to the Lord of Yuanhai, his status panel displayed something different.
[Name: Dongyan Hai]
[Realm: Reincarnation Realm]
There was no other visible information, but just the name alone sent a chill down Zhao Xing's spine.
Everyone else thought this man was the Lord of Yuanhai, or perhaps the Emperor of Yuanhai.
But the true name in his status panel was Dongyan Hai.
Zhao Xing suddenly recalled the ancient historians' mysterious abilities.
Which meant…
The real Lord of Yuanhai had been swapped out—by the powers of a Historian!
"I never expected it to be you…"
Dongyan Hai's gaze locked onto Zhao Xing, filled with deep resentment.
One word at a time, he spat out Zhao Xing's alias.
"Qing! Yu! Zi!"