The cold wind howled as waves roared and surged.
Towering waves crashed against the icy mountains. In the distance, atop a cresting wave, stood a swordsman dressed in a flowing white robe, his posture upright and firm like a pine tree. On the glacier below, a towering, muscular man with a physique as solid as steel—Chunyu Yan—raised his head and fixed his gaze on the waves.
Amidst the sound of the crashing waves, a cool and detached voice rang out.
"Yi Feng of the Qingyang Sword Sect seeks guidance from Tianwu Marquis."
Yi Feng's long hair billowed in the wind, and a sharp light gleamed in his eyes. In his hand, he held a precious sword that shimmered with cold light, its blade etched with intricate, mysterious patterns resonating with the rhythm of the waves. His domain condensed around the three-foot-long blade, the sword aura extending as the manifestation of his domain.
"Late Destiny Palace, Sixth-Rank Domain, and you still dare to challenge the pass?" Tianwu Marquis Chunyu Yan rose from his kneeling position. "How do you compare to Xiao Jian from the Tianjian Sect, who was already defeated by me?"
Yi Feng laughed heartily. "I regard Xiao Jian as nothing more than a clay chicken or a pottery dog!"
Chunyu Yan responded impassively, "Your arrogance knows no bounds."
He leapt off the glacier, plummeting toward the sea like a meteorite.
The towering waves collapsed under his descent, transforming into a still and flat surface, as if the ocean itself had become solid ground.
Chunyu Yan strode forward with measured steps, his fists clenched tightly. A faint light flickered around his knuckles, and with each step he took, the sea surface trembled slightly. The two locked eyes, tension crackling in the air.
Chunyu Yan quickened his pace, soon breaking into a run. As he sprinted across the ocean, the towering waves ahead seemed to collapse like crumbling mountains, falling away into the sea.
Yi Feng's eyes flickered slightly. With a gentle swing of his sword, he unleashed a sharp sword aura that spanned a thousand meters in an instant, thrusting directly at Tianwu Marquis's throat. "Clang!" The sword tip struck the marquis's chest, producing the sound of metal clashing against metal, the blade bending sharply under the force.
Even the treasured divine sword failed to pierce the fabric of Tianwu Marquis's simple garment, much less his physical body.
"Swish! Swish!"
"Chi! Chi!"
From a thousand meters away, Yi Feng continued to thrust his sword. The tip of the blade appeared to fight at close range with Chunyu Yan, as though an invisible force was wielding the weapon. Despite launching a series of over a dozen attacks, the best strike merely caused Chunyu Yan's running speed to slow slightly.
"The reputation of the Qi Sect's martial physique mastery is well-earned."
Yi Feng switched swords without hesitation, drawing a second blade from his belt that radiated light like the sun. "The Qingyang Sword?" Chunyu Yan's eyes narrowed slightly as he halted in his tracks.
The Qingyang Sword, a top-tier treasure, was far superior to Yi Feng's earlier weapon. Seeing Chunyu Yan pause, Yi Feng's confidence soared.
For over a month, Tianwu Marquis had guarded this sea gate, defeating eighteen experts from various sects. A victory over Chunyu Yan would grant Yi Feng the right to proceed with his exploration.
"Soul-Severing Strike!"
Once more, Yi Feng swung his treasured sword. The tip traced an intricate arc through the air, suddenly materializing three meters away from Chunyu Yan. Like a descending blazing sun, it crashed toward the marquis.
"Boom!"
Chunyu Yan raised his right hand to block, sliding backward over ten meters. His calf sank into the seawater, but he successfully deflected the strike.
"What an extraordinary martial body. It must have reached a level where the soul and physical form are completely unified, becoming an indestructible law in itself."
For martial artists with powerful physiques, the soul was often a weakness. Yi Feng had employed the Soul-Severing Sword intending to target Chunyu Yan's soul. Yet, under the scrutiny of his Heavenly Eye, the marquis's soul appeared entirely hidden.
In other words, it was unshakable.
Under ordinary circumstances, this strike would have revealed the opponent's soul trembling within their body.
"To possess such immense strength yet remain a mere marquis, it's clear he rarely engages in military or administrative matters, devoting himself entirely to cultivation," Yi Feng mused. Some powerful individuals excelled in personal strength but lacked aptitude for governance. Official rank did not always equate to true ability.
"Boom!"
Chunyu Yan lunged toward Yi Feng like a bolt of lightning, his right fist swinging with immense force. The resulting shockwave, as powerful as a cannonball, hurtled toward Yi Feng. The compression of air along its trajectory produced explosive sounds.
Yi Feng's gaze sharpened, and he waved his sword lightly. A fierce sword aura shot forth, colliding with the shockwave. With a deafening roar, a massive energy ripple expanded outward, instantly shattering the surrounding icebergs. Undeterred, Chunyu Yan continued his relentless assault, his fists raining down like a storm.
Yi Feng's movements were nimble as he wielded the Qingyang Sword, weaving a tight web of sword aura to fend off each of Chunyu Yan's punches.
He maintained a safe distance throughout, though the gap narrowed steadily as the battle progressed. In the duel between a sword cultivator and a Qi Sect practitioner, distance was key.
The range of a Qi practitioner's blood energy domain was small, rarely exceeding ten meters.
Should Yi Feng be caught within Chunyu Yan's domain, close combat would spell certain defeat.
The intensity of the battle escalated. Chunyu Yan's ferocious punches carried overwhelming power, his small frame unleashing force capable of shattering hundred-meter-thick ice sheets. Yi Feng's Qingyang Swordsmanship was equally exquisite, his sword movements flowing like clouds and water, alternating between the sharpness of lightning and the grace of a gentle breeze.
He remained at a calculated distance, but as the gap closed to within five hundred meters—
"Mountain Fist!" Chunyu Yan roared, gathering all his strength into his right fist. A massive fist projection, resembling a small mountain, barreled toward Yi Feng. "You're not a Qi Sect practitioner!" Yi Feng's expression shifted to one of shock.
He countered with tightly interwoven sword movements. "Sunshine Profound Radiance!"
Brilliant sword light surged into the sky. "Break!"
Yi Feng shouted, and the radiant sword light slashed toward the massive fist projection like a bolt of lightning. "Boom!"
Another thunderous explosion rocked the heavens, sending energy waves rippling through the ocean. Waves rose dozens of feet high, while the sky darkened with dense clouds, lightning flashing and thunder roaring. As calm gradually returned, the distance between Yi Feng and Chunyu Yan had shrunk to a mere hundred meters.
Yi Feng's Qingyang Sword lost its brilliance, slipping from his grasp into the seawater. A metallic arm was embedded in his chest, clutching and crushing his heart. "You… You're a Mechanized Martial Practitioner… A heretic!" Yi Feng choked out his final words before his body shattered into fragments.
Chunyu Yan, now missing his left hand, summoned his severed right hand, which flew back to him instantly. "I never claimed to be a Qi Sect practitioner. You all simply assumed so." "The imperial court established these rules to send you to your deaths."
"You performed well, forcing me to use the [Jinyou Mechanized Bones]." Chunyu Yan fished the Qingyang Sword from the water, tossing it in his hand. With just two flicks, the sword's artifact spirit dissipated.
"Perfect timing. The Jinyou Mechanized Bones have sustained significant damage from all these battles. The Qingyang Sword will make an excellent replacement for the sword bone. Let's see what the Fuming Furnace can forge from this material."
At that moment, Chunyu Yan's expression darkened as he glared in a specific direction. "Who dares?!"
Boom!
Blood energy erupted under his feet as Chunyu Yan charged toward the glacier. However, the shadowy figure moved with unparalleled speed, launching into action only after Yi Feng's death and the retrieval of the Qingyang Sword.
Splash!
The shadow dived into the sea gate, evading Chunyu Yan by a split second. "Scoundrel! Thief! Vagabond!" Chunyu Yan roared furiously, the glacier beneath him shattering into pieces.
For over a month, he had guarded the gate without a single failure, defeating nineteen powerful challengers. Yet today, an unknown thief had slipped past him. "Report to King Luohou. An unidentified individual has infiltrated Sea Gate No. 78."
Within the Juzigong Palace.
Zhao Xing's divided soul observed the furious Chunyu Yan in the earthly domain, finally piecing together the situation.
"Three months have passed, and the Southern Barbarian Alliance, along with sects and the Eastern Yan faction, have formed a formidable coalition capable of challenging Great Zhou." "However, neither side can gain an absolute advantage."
"Great Zhou cannot entirely expel these lurking wolves, nor can the External Alliance breach Great Zhou's critical defenses or secure a stable foothold at an entrance."
"Great Zhou has too many territories to defend. Blocking every point is impractical, so they opted for a diversionary strategy. By setting specific rules, the Outer World forces are funneled into the sea gates."
"This allows targeted elimination of the External Alliance's experts."
"Of course, both sides suffer casualties."
"The continuation of this stalemate depends on who collapses first."
Great Zhou had to deploy many experts for exploration, which left fewer strong individuals guarding its outer defenses.
Through this approach, regardless of whether the elites from the External Alliance perished or entered, the pressure on the ground battlefield would be eased.
"Without the prerequisite of the Purple Light Divine Command, most people only have one chance."
It was only then that Zhao Xing understood why so many people were gathered in the plaza. "So it was done intentionally."
"This also serves as a good opportunity to observe the new generation of geniuses and elites among the External Alliance forces."
However, such an approach carried its risks, as there was a chance the External Alliance could inherit the legacies of the three—Qing Yuzi, Su Xianzi, and Puta. "It's all a gamble for national fortune."
The External Alliance sent their geniuses and elites inside, but first, they had to overcome the challenges of Great Zhou. If they failed to gain enlightenment and were ejected from the barrier, there was a high probability they would be killed by the Great Zhou patrols outside.
The External Alliance was gambling that one among them might obtain the legacy. With the legacy in hand, there was a significant chance to break through the encirclement beneath the glaciers! It was a strategy akin to nurturing gu, where even if 99 out of 100 perished, having just one succeed would be considered a victory.
Both the External Alliance and Great Zhou were gambling.
If Great Zhou's people could acquire the legacy first, it would deal a severe blow to the enemy's elite forces. The results would far surpass those of Emperor Jing's low-rank soldier training on the barbarian battlefield.
Cultivating top-tier elites was far more challenging.
"How's the progress?" Zhao Xing looked up at Liu Tianning. "At present, Great Zhou's elites are all stuck at the first trial."
"Through Fate Officers' calculations, it's also evident that the opposing forces are similarly struggling with the first trial."
"Moreover, there are already three distinct legacy trials identified. The trials vary depending on the profession of the cultivator who enters."
Liu Tianning picked up a dossier. "For example, King Shenluo and Chen Ju encountered Puta's legacy trial. Although the first challenge is nearly identical—creating a new method to break through—the methods they need to cultivate and the paths they need to comprehend differ."
Zhao Xing nodded slightly.
Qing Yuzi, Su Xianzi, and Puta represented a Shennong, a Soul Master, and a Mechanist, respectively.
The trials varied slightly in content, but the first challenge always required creating a new method, formation, or soul technique. The commonality was their immense difficulty.
So far, over three months had passed, and no one had cleared the first stage of any of the three legacy paths.
Great Zhou held the advantage of the Purple Light Divine Command, allowing those who failed their first attempt to retry.
On the other hand, the External Alliance forces would forget about the trials entirely after failing and being ejected, making them easy targets for Great Zhou patrols. "With such a high level of difficulty, I still don't know how you managed to obtain part of the treasures," Liu Tianning said, looking at Zhao Xing.
Only by truly beginning to explore the ruins and accumulating information did the magnitude of Zhao Xing's gains become apparent! The items stored elsewhere were merely treasures—valuable but far less challenging to obtain.
Most of them were legacies left by Qing Yuzi and his disciples during the Yu Dynasty.
The weaker disciples left behind fewer and less powerful treasures, with correspondingly easier trials. Great Zhou had already acquired a batch of treasures, but the Three Shrines were beyond imagination in difficulty!
"The old methods simply won't cut it for that challenge."
"One must create new techniques based on the insights gained."
"In Qing Yuzi's legacy, someone has already developed a top-tier, flawless new technique. Even with a seventh-level domain, they couldn't clear the first trial," Ji An explained.
The level of a Dao could amplify the power of a technique. A seventh-level domain, combined with a flawless top-tier technique, was sufficient to dominate in the Xuanhuang Realm. Yet, it still failed to clear the first trial. The difficulty far exceeded expectations.
"With such a high level of difficulty, the fact that Duke Zhao has acquired so many rare treasures is truly remarkable," Ji An remarked, glancing at Zhao Xing.
"When I passed through the corridor, Qing Yuzi's Dao Form suddenly appeared, spoke a bunch of gibberish, and then handed me some treasures. Ji Daren, care to analyze why?"
Zhao Xing wasn't lying; every word he said was true.
"Perhaps Qing Yuzi recognized your talent?" Liu Tianning speculated. "It doesn't matter much, though. Who knows what temperament a visitor from beyond might have? What's certain is that you've gained benefits and still have a good chance of inheriting the legacy."
Ji An dropped the matter after hearing this.
How Zhao Xing obtained the treasures wasn't crucial. What mattered was that he was willing to share them with the six departmental chiefs and Ji Ce.
The treasures from the Sun and Moon Palace had been handed to the Ministry of Works for research, the Grand Observation Realm was being studied by Liu Tianning, and Zhao Xing himself utilized the Heavenly Qi Soul Artifact. Moreover, Zhao Xing contributed numerous rare-grade pills and spiritual liquids.
At Zhao Xing's status, explanations were unnecessary. Trust from Ji Ce, Liu Tianning, and figures like King Luohou was enough. Trust in Zhao Xing as a person made brief explanations sufficient. Without trust, even the most detailed justifications would be pointless.
Ji An's question was merely a professional habit. "How's your progress in comprehension?"
"Decent," Zhao Xing replied.
He had only reached the third level of domains, with his strongest barely at the fourth. His performance was indeed average. In comparison, Wang Tianzhi and Ling Tianchen were already at the seventh domain level.
In terms of Dao comprehension, many surpassed Zhao Xing. In terms of technique, Wang and Ling had already mastered ultimate techniques.
"The first trial is challenging, but you have the potential to rise later, perhaps overtaking others by leveraging the Heavenly Qi Soul Artifact," Liu Tianning said with a smile. "Since the outsider values you, there's a good chance you'll inherit Qing Yuzi's legacy."
"Thanks for the kind words, teacher." Zhao Xing chuckled, feeling hopeful.
After all, in just three months, he had reached the fourth domain level. With the aid of the Ascension Soul Artifact, he had a good chance of catching up to the top-tier elites. The key lay in how high the threshold for clearing the first trial was.
"Even a seventh-level domain with a flawless top-tier technique couldn't pass. The difficulty is unimaginable." Ultimate techniques were not easily created; otherwise, there would already be countless such techniques.
Even with murals inside the ruins for guidance, creating an ultimate technique within a short period was an immense challenge.
Even after creating an ultimate technique, one might need to refine it further to enhance its power before clearing the first trial. The difficulty was staggering.
"But Wang Tianzhi and Ling Tianchen are probably very close."
"Li Boqian created Primordial Seal only after exiting, and Primordial Seal is a sealing technique, not an offensive one."
"A seventh-level domain paired with a third-level ultimate technique should suffice." Zhao Xing's split soul returned to the underground ruins, calculating in his mind. The level of Dao amplified the power of techniques, so Qing Yuzi couldn't have set the bar unreasonably high.
In this era, vitality tides were beginning to emerge, and spiritual energy was gradually recovering from outside the Xuanhuang Realm. The rules of heaven and earth were no longer as impenetrable, which explained the widespread emergence of Fate Palace cultivators capable of comprehending domain rules.
If the trial was too extreme, no one could pass.
"Zhao Heavenly Venerable!" As the split soul floated back underground, Zhao Xing once again heard the voice of the Mist Walker. "Zhao Heavenly Venerable, please wait."
"Why not just call me Divine Venerable?" Zhao Xing was exasperated. This person had a knack for assigning sect titles.
"Divine Venerable is the title for sect masters, but if Zhao Heavenly Venerable is willing to join the Xuantian Sect and acknowledge its lineage, that wouldn't be an issue," the Mist Walker said with a sly grin.
"I've also read Heavenly Venerable's 'Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Celestial Cycle,' along with the 'Two Classics Annotated Collection' and 'The Principles of Objects.' If Heavenly Venerable joins us, I'll fully support you taking the position of sect master. Removing the current sect master wouldn't be an issue."
The Mist Walker's old face beamed like a blooming chrysanthemum as he spoke such rebellious words.
Zhao Xing ignored this nonsense, instead probing for information. "Your status in the Xuantian Sect must be quite high?"
"Just so-so, holding sway over Three Mountains and Five Lakes," the Mist Walker said with a sly grin.
Zhao Xing nodded slightly. This meant that in the Xuantian Sect, the Mist Walker's rank was equivalent to the dean of Great Zhou's sub-academy, comparable to Ling Tianchen's status. However, the Mist Walker likely wielded far greater authority.
Unlike Ling Tianchen, who couldn't arbitrarily execute members of the Xuantian Academy, the Mist Walker held life-and-death power within the sect system. "Do you know who the Blood Spirit Sovereign is? Are they alive or dead?" Zhao Xing suddenly thought of his old adversary.
He had always been curious about the true strength of the Blood Spirit Sovereign.
From orchestrating events as significant as destroying a Cave-Heaven to small matters like capturing slaves in Gu City, the Blood Spirit Sovereign was involved. "The Blood Spirit Sovereign? In terms of seniority, he's my junior disciple. He acts as a representative for mundane forces."
"In terms of sect affiliation, he belongs to the Heavenly River faction of the Houbian lineage. After being severely injured by Zhao Heavenly Venerable and King Tianyan, he retreated to the Blood Lake for recuperation."
"Is his true form a spiritual lake?" Zhao Xing asked with interest.
"Indeed. When the Xuantian Sect first entered Great Zhou, the Houbian faction learned only fragments of the secret methods. They never acquired the Heavenly River Houbian Grand Method."
"How could Houbian focus solely on the transformation of life without incorporating climate and material transformations?"
"Zhao Heavenly Venerable, if you're interested, I can—"
"Not interested." Zhao Xing's tone was indifferent as he floated away.
This old man thought he could tempt me with secret techniques?
What saintly figure could resist temptation?
"Hmph, does he think I've never seen the world?"
Zhao Xing surmised that this Mist Walker was likely a member of the Houbian Sect's offshoot. His body's state was peculiar, appearing as if condensed from mist, yet Zhao Xing could still sense his life core. "The Dao of Shennong is profound and boundless. When the Xuantian Divine Sect split and a branch joined Great Zhou, they indeed lacked some key secret techniques."
"Mistification of the Dao body—this must be the Divine Mist Transformation technique."
"A technique that allows one's Dao body to dissolve into a misty state, greatly weakening most attacks' power against it, or rendering them completely ineffective. Now that the ruins of those three hapless figures—Qing Yuzi, Fairy Su, and Puta—have surfaced, they're bound to draw out many hidden prodigies."
Even Mist Walker, who was no older than 400, had mastered Divine Mist Transformation, broken through Great Zhou's elite guardians, and entered the ruins through the Sea Eye teleportation. This alone spoke volumes about the Xuantian Sect's foundation.
"What a pity," Mist Walker muttered, watching Zhao Xing's split soul float into the hall. "A talent like that should return to the Xuantian Sect but is instead shackled by Great Zhou."
"However, with the revival of spiritual energy on the horizon, the Central Plains Dynasty will either ascend or collapse. There will eventually be opportunities to reconnect."
The imminent revival of spiritual energy had become a widely accepted view among the sectarian world.
The sect forces from the Dormant Realms weren't merely cooperating due to the Divine Moon Goddess's orders. The main reason lay in their shared judgment about the changes happening within the Xuanhuang Realm.
...
Returning to the Three Shrines, Zhao Xing's split soul sat down to continue his contemplation.
"As time passes, more and more people will enter."
"I may not be the strongest Shennong, nor am I entirely confident in obtaining Qing Yuzi's legacy."
"Currently, the sudden emergence of a major war in the Western Extreme Continent has significantly deviated from historical trends. Whether this change will be a blessing or a curse for Great Zhou is unclear."
The variables were numerous, and with Qing Yuzi's cautionary tale as a precedent, Zhao Xing had grown more hesitant.
Although wielding the Heavenly Qi Soul Artifact, which greatly accelerated his progress, Zhao Xing increasingly realized that manually triggering the spiritual energy revival was far more challenging than imagined.
Qing Yuzi and his two companions possessed treasures such as the Sun and Moon Palace and the Heavenly Observation Sphere, possibly even stronger artifacts. Despite this, even with two companions who had reached the Origin Stage, they still failed to complete the revival.
True, Puta had died early, but Fairy Su and Qing Yuzi persisted for 200,000 years before finally succumbing. Could they have had no opportunity to complete the revival in all that time?
"Whew—"
Zhao Xing took a deep breath, clearing his mind of unnecessary thoughts.
"The path is made by walking. First, focus on the tasks at hand."
Setting aside distracting thoughts, he concentrated fully on his study of Purple Moon Origin.
According to Zhao Xing's plan, of the five years allotted for passing the trial, he would dedicate the first two and a half years entirely to raising his understanding of the Dao. The remaining time would then be used to integrate Purple Moon Origin and develop new techniques.
Sitting before the Purple Moon Stele, Zhao Xing became completely immersed in his study.
Time passed quickly, and soon, a year had elapsed—spring of the fourth year of Yuan Shou. At this point, Zhao Xing's progress in different Dao paths showed stark disparities.
The fastest progress was in the Water Path Domain, where the Three-Light Divine Water Domain had reached the sixth stage. The slowest were the Metal Path and Wood Path.
The Solar Geng Metal Domain had only just reached the fourth stage, while the Cangwu Wood Domain was merely nearing the fourth stage without truly breaking through.
"I've never been adept at the Metal Path. Among the techniques I've studied, only the foundational aspects of Primordial Seal have been truly internalized, during the years I devoted to studying Two God Symbols and Burning Heaven's Lock-Yuan Grand Formation."
"As for the Wood Path, the Cangwu Domain leans toward the Dao of Life rather than the pure essence of Wood, so it receives minimal amplification from the Heavenly Qi Soul Artifact. Comparatively, its progress has been slower."
The progress of Earth, Fire, Wind, and Thunder Paths was relatively consistent, all reaching the fifth stage.
If one had to distinguish, the Earth and Fire Origins were slightly ahead due to the innate engravings of Five Elemental True Intent in his Dao body during its formation. Wind and Thunder, however, required interaction with the Five Elemental True Intent, creating an additional layer of complexity.
That said, thanks to the solid foundations built during earlier practice of wind and thunder techniques, their comprehension speed wasn't slow either. The Heavenly Wind Domain and Chaotic Thunder Domain had both reached the fifth stage.
"The Three-Light Divine Water Domain has reached the sixth stage, but progress has slowed considerably." Zhao Xing gazed at the massive Purple Moon before him.
"From the sixth to the seventh stage marks a qualitative transformation. Entering the Regular Rule Stage requires at least a top-tier seventh-stage domain."
"The second condition is mastering an ultimate technique to imprint one's will upon heaven and earth."
"The third condition is for the Life Soul and Seven Spirits to integrate with the rules of heaven and earth through spiritual energy techniques, influencing the heavens and earth from the inside out."
"Only by meeting all three conditions can one truly enter the Rule Stage."
"In the vitality-rich era of the Xuanhuang Realm, reaching this point in the Dao was considered the pinnacle. Only a select few could advance further, and even they often didn't know how they achieved it, leaving no legacy to guide successors."
"Standing before this threshold and looking toward the Dao's direction, it's all a blur. Without the guidance of Purple Moon Origin, it would be incredibly difficult to discern the path ahead."
Objectively, the Heavenly Qi Soul Artifact remained remarkably effective. After all, it was known as the Ascension Soul Artifact. However, its speed boost was no longer as pronounced as it was initially.
"One year has passed. I wonder what's happening in the outside world—has anyone cleared the first trial?"
Zhao Xing dispatched a split soul to investigate.
Exiting after a year, he found the scene drastically different—there were only a handful of people in the plaza.
"What's going on? A year ago, there were over 500 people, yet now I see only a few. Could everyone be meditating inside the shrine?" Zhao Xing was puzzled. By all logic, there should have been more people, not fewer.
Scanning his surroundings, his gaze quickly landed on a familiar figure—Linghuan Marquis.
Back when Zhao Xing was attacked in the Tianhe Prefecture, the support team sent by Lord Tianyan and Lord Luohou included the Tianhe Prefecture Lord, Linghuan Marquis, Master of the Feast Palace, and King Shenluo. Linghuan Marquis, a cultivator of Divine Derivation Art, was now undergoing Fairy Su's soul trial.
"Linghuan Marquis, do you know what's been happening outside? Why are there so few people here compared to a year ago?" Zhao Xing asked.
This version of Linghuan Marquis was clearly a split soul as well, with most of his focus still on his main body within the shrine. He appeared somewhat mechanical and listless.
"Another war broke out two months ago."
"The Tianhe Prefecture Lord died, and so did the Master of the Feast Palace. Many others also perished."
"What triggered it?"
Linghuan Marquis explained, "Over the past year, the External Alliance realized that the initial peace talks were too disadvantageous to them. So, two months ago, they tore up the agreement and launched an even larger-scale war."
"Because of the fighting, fewer External Alliance members descended here. We had to mount resistance, and many elites were called back to the front lines."
Zhao Xing listened quietly, clearly recognizing the desperation behind this escalation.
War is driven by interests. If those interests aren't satisfied, then naturally, the conflict will continue.
"They've received support from sectarian forces and alliances with Dongying and the Southern Barbarian Royal Court. In terms of fortifications, supplies, divine weapons, and the number of high-level experts, they're now on par with, or even slightly surpass, Great Zhou."
"The course of the war now depends solely on first-rate experts. Although the scale of troop deployments this time is smaller, the intensity is much greater."
"Many have died," Linghuan Marquis said woodenly. "I don't even know why we must fight. This trial feels like a trap laid by some outsider, as if they're toying with us…"
"That's enough, Linghuan Marquis. Take some time to rest." Zhao Xing frowned, interrupting him. Linghuan Marquis fell silent, only nodding slightly.
Zhao Xing sent his split soul flying outward, feeling a heavy weight in his heart.
"The losses must be significant. Even someone like Linghuan Marquis has begun to waver in their belief in the war."
For Linghuan Marquis to have doubts, it meant he'd seen countless friends and comrades die. This was proof that Great Zhou had also suffered tremendous losses in the second war.
"The External Alliance has grown strong enough to go toe-to-toe with Great Zhou." Zhao Xing ascended swiftly, heading toward the Matrix Palace.
Before he could find Liu Tianning, he heard the furious roars of Lu Ying from a side hall. "What the hell were you doing, Jiang Yu? What were you even fighting for?"
"Three Linked Cities were equipped with eight heavy weapon battalions and fortified with the Eightfold Hunyuan Formation, and you still lost it? Don't bother explaining!"
"Why is it that their Mechanists dare to conduct repairs within bombardment range, but the engineers you command are so afraid of dying? Weren't they supposed to be elite troops?"
"You recommending him as Junior Chief of Engineers to His Majesty was truly a mistake! How did I not realize he's a useless coward without any backbone!"
"Apologize with death? Fine! I'll cut you down myself right now..."
"Grand Engineer, please don't be impulsive."
"Quick, take Lord Jiang away."
"Calm down for a moment..."
A cacophony erupted from the Hall of Crafts, as though something heavy had been smashed to the ground. Zhao Xing didn't enter and instead headed directly to the Hall of Shennong.
At this time, dozens of Liu Tianning's figures were bustling about in various rooms of the Hall of Shennong. Noticing Zhao Xing approaching, one of the figures waved him over.
"Grand Shennong," Zhao Xing greeted formally, observing the people around. "Mm." Liu Tianning dismissed the people from the granary chamber with a wave.
"I passed by the Hall of Crafts earlier and overheard Lu Ying threatening to kill someone..."
"You mean Jiang Yu?" Liu Tianning asked. "He indeed committed a grave error. He won't be able to keep his position as Junior Chief of Engineers. Dismissal is inevitable." He brought out a stack of documents. "Both our side and the enemy have suffered losses, but we've also seen gains."
Zhao Xing took the casualty report and glanced through it. The death toll on both sides was staggering. No wonder there were so few people left—everyone had been sent to war!
The battles of reinforcement and interception, offense and defense; the entire Western Extreme Continent was embroiled in combat! Among the names on the list of fallen, he spotted several he recognized:
Dean Yun Duo of Yunzhong Academy.
Dean Feng Boping of Fengxing Academy, who used to write to him often, urging him to study wind techniques. Geng Shouchang and Hengyuan—both had tried to recruit him to the School of Heavenly Timing.
Gu Changqing of Kunyuan Academy. Yu Xia, Dean of the Twin Academy of Shangluo Academy.
"Lord of the Eclipse Palace, Lord of Longyuan Prefecture..."
"Ding Shan? She had just seized an opportunity, fused with fragments of a soul artifact, and comprehended the Domain of Bright Shadows—yet she's dead?"
"Tong Jin, that palace guard who once escorted me."
"Xiao Huang and Jiang Chuan, two musicians... also on the casualty list."
"Bai Mingchuan? Long Xiao's father-in-law—he's dead too?"
"Marquis Yingwu, Xia Hongyi? That's Xia Jing's father."
Looking at the names on the death list, Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel a heavy heart.
In the extreme cold regions, where supplies couldn't be effectively replenished, many positions in Shennong, grain transport officials, and logistics supervisors suffered severe casualties. Both sides continued drawing on elite forces, battling over the ruins in the Western Extreme Continent.
The Great Zhou Dynasty suffered considerable losses, but so did the External Alliance.
The Crown Prince of the Great Snake Kingdom, Fengxiu Grand Sovereign, the Red Bone Heavenly Venerable, and True Master Ziluo of the Corpse Puppet Sect, along with Yan Lie from the Flaming King's Court... even with such heavy casualties, neither side showed any signs of retreating.
"This war has exposed many flaws," Liu Tianning commented.
"Zhao Xing, the supply capabilities of Shangluo Academy under extreme conditions remain inadequate. My expertise in the Laws of Heavenly Timing also falls far short of Li Boqian's."
"If he had wielded the artifact of the Twenty-Four Seasonal Qi Commands, it might have rendered large areas of the frozen Western Extreme Continent arable once soil was laid down."
"But I haven't fully unleashed the potential of the Twenty-Four Seasonal Qi Commands. Recently, during a confrontation with a mysterious agronomist from the External Alliance, he exploited a gap, creating a three-breath vacuum in the planting zone. During that brief moment, thirty percent of the supply crops froze to death. If it weren't for the resilient plants in the Wenhua Greenhouses, eighty thousand people outside the Matrix Palace would've starved today."
Zhao Xing consoled him, "The new emperor has just ascended, and the six department chiefs are still in the process of coordinating. Master, don't be disheartened."
"The External Alliance is also in the midst of coordination. You don't need to comfort me," Liu Tianning replied. "I estimate this war won't last much longer. The question now is who will first propose peace talks. Entry quotas to the ruins will surely need to be redistributed."
Zhao Xing nodded in agreement.
"The most crucial issue now is the progress of the exploration below," Liu Tianning continued.
"There are fewer than fifty people left from our side down there."
"The External Alliance initiated this war mainly because their fate officers predicted that someone on our side—a mechanist—was about to breach the first checkpoint. They panicked and sought to disrupt the process through warfare."
Zhao Xing was stunned. "Who?"
"It's unclear," Liu Tianning admitted. "Fate officers on both sides have only predicted that someone is on the verge of success. Once the first checkpoint is breached, part of the inheritance will be obtained, potentially altering the entire war's trajectory."
Now it all made sense to Zhao Xing. No wonder the External Alliance was desperate.
The profession of mechanist had a significant impact on warfare. A breakthrough in technology could immediately cause a noticeable shift in power dynamics. Other professions were comparatively less impactful in the short term.
For instance, even if agronomists made progress, the immediate results would only be better or worse food. Sustained warfare was needed to reveal the true effects. As for warriors and priests, their contributions were even less directly transformative.
Among the three alien visitors, if mechanist Puta left behind a revolutionary mechanized formation, it could dramatically widen the gap between enemy and allied forces.
"How's your progress in breaching the checkpoint?" Liu Tianning asked. Though mechanization provided immediate breakthroughs, the other two paths couldn't be neglected.
"At least another year and a half," Zhao Xing answered honestly. His plan was to comprehend and create new techniques during that time.
Of course, if his Rule Domain advanced to the seventh stage earlier, he could attempt to create a technique sooner.
"His Majesty holds high expectations for you and often inquires about your progress," Liu Tianning said. "Losing this war doesn't matter as long as the agronomist inheritance remains with us. With the resources of the Great Zhou's nineteen provinces, our accumulation will eventually surpass that of the External Alliance."
"I understand," Zhao Xing replied solemnly. "I will give it my all."
Zhao Xing's spirit body didn't linger above for long before returning below.
He initially planned to comfort Xia Jing and Long Xiao, but since both were far from the Matrix City, fighting at the borders of the Western Extreme State, contacting them seemed unlikely. He gave up on the idea.
"My comprehension needs to focus," Zhao Xing's main body said as he studied the Purple Moon Origin. "Apart from the Three-Light Divine Water Domain, I should also prioritize advancing my Heavenly Wind Domain." After all, the adjacent technique tablet was titled Void Wind, clearly wind-related.
Comprehending the corresponding domain before creating a technique would speed up the process. "Merge!"
Zhao Xing fused his six primary souls into one.
Before the monument, only his main body and a soul split remained, immersing themselves in understanding the paths of wind and water domains.
One year later.
At a certain moment, Zhao Xing's main body suddenly frowned and looked up toward the Purple Moon. A hum resonated in the air.
Entering the realm created by the stone tablet, Zhao Xing floated in the skies, observing the rotation of the Purple Moon.
"Each time the Lunar Purple Moon begins to revolve, the flows of wind across the celestial body shift accordingly."
"The Sun and Lunar Stars influence the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth."
"The Heavenly Wind Domain I previously mastered can only be classified as advanced wind. It doesn't qualify as the peak of winds." Zhao Xing ascended into the skies, his body seemingly weightless, drifting along with the flowing winds.
The winds that passed him were of various types—gentle breezes, agile and soft currents, and eerie gusts. Some winds were fierce, blowing one across the celestial sphere with a single push. Others were scorching, as though they could evaporate a person. Still, others were chilling, burrowing into one's very bones.
With each type of wind that touched him, Zhao Xing absorbed its essence.
Currently, his Heavenly Wind Rule Domain had reached the sixth stage. Zhao Xing continued to assimilate the subtle truths of these weaker winds, fusing their essences together.
The hallmark of a peak seventh-stage Rule Domain was the fusion of multiple truths into a singular extreme essence. The process of integration was also the act of creating the ultimate wind!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Countless winds emanated from Zhao Xing's main body, each tinted with vibrant colors, swirling around him in a continuous vortex. Gradually, the winds became purer until only a faint purple hue remained.
A resonating hum filled the space.
As the winds around Zhao Xing condensed into a single stream, only one distinct color remained.
"Finally..."
A faint purple wind circled Zhao Xing, with a phantom of a full moon emerging within it.
"After merging over a thousand different wind essences, this Wind Domain has finally reached the seventh stage."
"Born of the Lunar Star and comprehended from the Purple Moon Origin, I'll call it Lunar Purple Wind."
In the second year and third month of comprehending the Monument of Origins, Zhao Xing's Wind Domain had surpassed his Water Domain, reaching the seventh stage first. However, before Zhao Xing could fully savor his success, the Dao Form of Qing Yuzi suddenly appeared before him.
"The Path of Shennong now has a successor who has passed the first checkpoint."
Zhao Xing immediately turned his gaze toward Qing Yuzi.
"Someone has already passed the first checkpoint?"
After more than two years, someone had finally created the ultimate technique? Was it a member of the Great Zhou, or someone else entirely?
Just as Zhao Xing was pondering the possibilities, Qing Yuzi's Dao Form spoke again:
"He left a message for all current challengers of the first checkpoint."