"This seat, Xuantianzi, welcomes you all to join our divine sect and cultivate the Grand Dao together."
"If any of you wish to pass the first trial, you must meet the following requirements: A seventh-stage Rule Domain and a self-created ultimate technique of at least one revolution; or a sixth-stage Rule Domain with a self-created ultimate technique of three revolutions; or a fifth-stage Rule Domain with a self-created ultimate technique of four revolutions; or a fourth-stage Rule Domain with a self-created ultimate technique of five revolutions. These are the minimum thresholds to break through. Ideally, the technique created should involve Wind, Thunder, or Transformational Change."
After these words from Qingyuzi's Dao Form, the projection vanished.
"The current Xuantian Divine Venerable?" Zhao Xing scoffed, "It's no surprise this arrogant individual is behind this."
Openly revealing the criteria for passing the trial, without fear of others catching up—what else could that be but arrogance?
"The so-called 'Five-Eight Sovereign' treats this place as their personal playground."
The "Five-Eight Sovereign" was a nickname given to the Xuantian Divine Venerable by the players.
This nickname originated because every generation of Xuantian Divine Sect's leader was titled Xuantianzi. The current sovereign happened to be the 580th leader, and the Xuantian Divine Sect often captured Shennong practitioners from various regions to enslave them. Thus, the nickname "Five-Eight Sovereign" stuck.
"So, the opponent Old Liu clashed with previously was this newly ascended sect master?"
"It was his sneak attack that caught Old Liu off guard."
The Xuantian Divine Sect adhered to a system of polarization and exploitation. Resources were highly centralized, with extreme disparity in distribution.
For example, if Liu Tianning received one unit of resources, the Xuantian Divine Venerable might receive three.
The Divine Sovereign essentially enjoyed the combined elite resources of institutions like Xuantian Academy, Shangluo Academy, and Kunyuan Academy.
This difference lay in their organizational systems.
Liu Tianning, for instance, had to negotiate with Kunyuan Academy's Dean, Qiu Yuanshan, to access treasures like the Shennong Hoe. He wouldn't monopolize all resources for himself, ensuring that those at every level could obtain sufficient support to grow in a balanced environment.
In contrast, standing out in the Xuantian Divine Sect was exceedingly difficult.
Such an imbalanced system might seem unsustainable, as a lack of foundational support should theoretically collapse it. However, the sect had its survival strategies—aligning itself with national religions or influential factions.
During the Spirit Qi Era, the sect dominated vast territories and populations, ruling over numerous mortal dynasties. After being driven out during the Fortune Era by the Fortune Dynasties, it sought refuge in regions like the Southern Barbarians and Dongying, capturing populations from places like Great Zhou.
Naturally, these efforts weren't without cost.
They provided services like assassinations or inciting rebellions within Great Zhou on behalf of their patrons, ensuring their continued survival.
This was the typical state of affairs among the major sects within the Sectarian World.
"The Five-Eight Sovereign actually managed to enter this place? Isn't he supposed to be thousands of years old?"
"Ah, the Xuantian Ice Coffin—most of his time is spent in suspended animation. His actual age is likely just slightly older than Old Liu."
Zhao Xing was just over 200 years old, Liu Tianning slightly over 300, while the current Xuantian Divine Venerable was approximately 370 to 380 years old.
"Someone has broken through Qingyuzi's first trial. What about Puta's legacy?"
For more than a year, both the External Alliance and Great Zhou's simulations had pointed to an imminent breakthrough in the Mechanist's inheritance.
And yet, the breakthrough that occurred was in Qingyuzi's legacy.
"Or could it be that the trials for different paths are independent and unaware of each other?"
"What's the situation outside now?"
Zhao Xing immediately dispatched a soul fragment, which swiftly exited the underground trial zone.
Compared to a year ago, the plaza was now bustling with over 5,000 people.
At a glance, it was evident that 70-80% of them were individuals from Great Zhou.
Zhao Xing's gaze quickly landed on a familiar figure.
"Swish!"
Zhao Xing materialized in front of Ye Yukong.
"Brother Ye!"
"Zhao Xing!" Ye Yukong looked up and broke into a broad grin. "Haha, your soul projection has wandered out again."
"It's been over a year, Brother Ye. How are things outside?" Zhao Xing inquired earnestly.
Ye Yukong nodded. "Not bad. Six months ago, the court and the External Alliance agreed to a ceasefire."
"Oh?" Zhao Xing's interest was piqued. "No more fighting?"
Ye Yukong confirmed, "That's right. The large-scale war has ceased. The External Alliance initiated negotiations."
"What terms were agreed upon?" Zhao Xing asked.
"I don't remember all the details," Ye Yukong admitted, scratching his head. "But in short, it came down to trading resources."
He paused, then added, "For example, the Serpent God Monarch of Dongying exchanged the Dragon Elephant Divine Tree for 300 entry slots—260 slots for third-rank individuals, and 20 each for second and first ranks."
"The Dragon Elephant Divine Tree?" Zhao Xing exclaimed.
The tree's legendary fruit was one of the key components required to cultivate the nearly invincible Dragon Elephant Golden Body, as perfected by the Martial God Ji Shuang.
During the Warring States Period, this tree had been stolen. Zhao Xing had heard Liu Tianning mention its fate and knew it had ended up in Dongying.
In his previous life, Zhao Xing had even undertaken the top-tier mission to retrieve it.
Yet now, it had been voluntarily returned.
"No wonder..." Zhao Xing murmured.
"And what else?"
"I've forgotten the rest," Ye Yukong confessed sheepishly.
"You really do your job as Vice Minister of War well—only remembering the benefits to martial artists," Zhao Xing teased.
"Of course! Although I'm from the Sword Sect, I couldn't possibly forget such a critical treasure for Qi practitioners," Ye Yukong replied with mock indignation.
"What about Puta's legacy? Has anyone broken through?" Zhao Xing pressed on.
"The Mechanist trial? Not yet," Ye Yukong said, shaking his head.
"How is that possible? Wasn't last year's major conflict sparked by the imminent breakthrough in the Mechanist inheritance?" Zhao Xing questioned.
"I wouldn't know," Ye Yukong admitted.
"Brother Ye, let's catch up later." Zhao Xing saw that he wouldn't get any more useful information here, so he soared past the dark seabed and glacial passages, heading toward the Matrix Palace above.
"Buzz!"
His soul fragment passed through layers of underground soil and barriers, finally arriving outside the palace.
"It seems the ceasefire is real," Zhao Xing observed.
Compared to a year ago, the area was much less bustling, lacking the intense wartime atmosphere.
"Buzz—"
Zhao Xing arrived at the Shennong Hall, only to find that Liu Tianning was absent. Instead, he encountered Ji Si.
"Lord Ji? Where is the Grand Shennong?"
"He's entered the Tri-God Plaza," Ji Si replied.
"Teacher has entered the Tri-God Plaza?" Zhao Xing was surprised.
"Following the ceasefire six months ago, the Grand Shennong decided to enter the Tri-God Plaza to bolster Great Zhou's chances of success," Ji Si explained.
"What led to the sudden ceasefire?" Zhao Xing asked.
"The External Alliance had suffered double the casualty ratio in the war and could only send a limited number of people into the ruins. After six months of heavy losses, they could no longer sustain the fight. Internal conflicts arose, with Dongying leading the push for negotiations," Ji Si said.
"War is merely an extension of politics, and politics is driven by interests," Ji Si explained. "The legacy site of Qingyuzi is vast, and it's impossible to completely prevent infiltration. At that time, the court decided to take advantage of this opportunity to divide the External Alliance."
"Additionally, the Great Serpent Divine Monarch of Dongying offered enough benefits in exchange for access slots, which led His Majesty, after considering the advice of various factions, to agree to the exchange."
"The Great Serpent Divine Monarch traded the Dragon Elephant Divine Tree for three hundred slots: 260 slots for third-rank individuals, and 20 each for second and first ranks."
Zhao Xing nodded. Qingyuzi's legacy site was buried deep beneath glaciers, twenty thousand li below the surface, with random sea eye portals appearing sporadically on the ocean surface. Controlling all these points was nearly impossible.
Given the inability to block access entirely, trading benefits became inevitable.
In terms of value, the Dragon Elephant Divine Tree, though classified as a rare-tier divine tree, matched the value of extraordinary treasures when combined with the Dragon Elephant Golden Body technique.
"Dongying's plea for peace, the return of the Dragon Elephant Divine Tree, and the compromises made by the Southern Barbarian forces and sect alliances turned this into a game of exchanging benefits for exploration slots in the legacy."
"Aside from the Dragon Elephant Divine Tree, we also acquired several secret techniques from the sects, including the Xuantian Sect's seasonal cultivation method, The Divine Mist Transformation. From the Southern Barbarian's Four Great Royal Courts, we gained two hundred ferocious beasts and artifacts like the Heaven and Earth Altar and two Babok larvae."
"Ultimately, the legacy exploration ratio between Great Zhou and the external forces was maintained at seven to three."
Hearing this, Zhao Xing couldn't help but sigh at the lengths these factions were willing to go.
Even if they sent more people into the legacy site, there was no guarantee of acquiring the inheritance—only a slightly increased probability. After all, Great Zhou had many powerful individuals competing for the inheritance as well. It was a high-stakes gamble!
From Great Zhou's perspective, launching a war was for profit. Merely offering competitive slots yielded a trove of rare treasures, secret techniques, and exotic beasts, which naturally had to be collected.
However, today's developments suggested a different scenario.
The odds seemed to have shifted in favor of the external forces. Their gamble appeared more likely to pay off since the Xuantian Divine Venerable had already passed the first trial of Qingyuzi's legacy.
"Lord Ji, are you aware of today's events? Someone has already passed the first trial of Qingyuzi's legacy," Zhao Xing remarked.
"I know," Ji Si nodded. "It was expected."
"Is His Majesty not concerned that the inheritance might fall into the hands of the Xuantian Divine Venerable?" Zhao Xing asked, puzzled.
Compared to Qingyuzi's inheritance, the terms offered by the External Alliance seemed much less valuable.
Zhao Xing had already received substantial gifts, but Qingyuzi undoubtedly left behind even more potent treasures.
Ji Si looked at Zhao Xing and replied, "The External Alliance is making their calculations, and so are we."
"Thanks to the items you provided from Qingyuzi's relics, we have a direct medium for divination, allowing us to glean more information."
Zhao Xing listened quietly. Divinations performed by Fate Officers with a specific target yielded more comprehensive results.
After all, when the Blood Spirit Sovereign attempted to assassinate him using a curse technique, they first gathered numerous items related to him.
"Over the past two years, during the ongoing divination battle, countermeasures and counter-countermeasures were employed. I've sacrificed a hundred years of lifespan," Ji Si revealed.
"In the end, we reached a conclusion."
"Qingyuzi's inheritance involves three trials."
"The third trial, which holds the final inheritance, is something we cannot 'see.'"
"The External Alliance could only observe the first trial."
"I saw both the first and second trials."
Ji Si's lips curled into a faint smile. Despite the heavy cost, he took pride in his success. "This contest involved entities from beyond this world and the strongest individuals on Earth."
"I blocked their view of the second trial, and in the second trial, you and Liu Tianning are already ahead of the Xuantian Divine Venerable."
"Zhao Xing, if I'm not mistaken, you've reached the seventh stage of Rule Domain, haven't you?"
"What?" Zhao Xing looked at Ji Si in astonishment. This Great Fate Officer had surprised him multiple times with his insights.
Ji Si spoke calmly, "I observed the second trial. You and Liu Tianning entered the third trial before the Xuantian Divine Venerable."
"The External Alliance only saw the first trial, which showed the Xuantian Divine Venerable clearing it."
"Given these circumstances, what do you think they'll do?"
Zhao Xing understood instantly.
"No wonder—no wonder they were willing to sacrifice so much, giving away such valuable treasures just to enter."
"Lord Ji, your calculations are brilliant."
Zhao Xing was genuinely impressed. This was Ji Si's moment of brilliance.
The External Alliance had been manipulated, their expectations expertly managed.
Seeing the Xuantian Divine Venerable leading in the first trial, they naturally assumed he would emerge victorious in the end. Clearing such a high-difficulty trial first was proof of strength.
But they had no idea that Ji Si had seen further.
"Lord Ji, my teacher mentioned that the war a year ago was triggered by predictions that the Mechanist's trial was on the verge of a breakthrough. How is the progress on the Mechanist inheritance now—wait, why are you smiling?" Zhao Xing's expression shifted sharply. "You're not about to tell me it was all fake, are you?"
Ji Si smiled faintly. "That's exactly right. As of now, no one has passed the first trial of Puta's inheritance."
"The claim that acquiring the first trial's treasures from Puta would turn the tide of the war was just a ploy."
"You've studied some divination techniques yourself," Ji Si continued. "You should know that we Fate Officers can construct false facts to mislead our opponents and occupy their 'calculation power.'"
"In this matter, the cost of their calculations was far higher than ours. Why? It's like placing a locked box here—cracking it open always requires more effort than setting it up."
Ji Si seemed to relish the opportunity to explain his plan. His lips twitched into an excited smile as he added, "This entire matter was known only to His Majesty. Even the heads of the six ministries were unaware. Hahaha, to deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your own people!"
"By forcing them to focus on the first 'box,' I gained the upper hand in the second trap," Ji Si said, his tone filled with confidence. "They can only observe the first trial and assume that the extraterrestrial visitor's rules are unbreakable, preventing them from seeing the later stages!"
"I, Ji Si of the Great Zhou royal family, have spent two and a half years, burning a century of my lifespan, to execute this scheme and lure them into a trap!"
"If the Great Ancestor's spirit watches over us, he would surely praise me as a worthy descendant!"
"My elder brother Ji Tianyan would willingly acknowledge me as the Great Fate Officer!" Ji Si exclaimed, his pride spilling over.
Zhao Xing, moved by the sheer brilliance of the strategy, offered a formal salute. "Lord Ji!"
"Cough, cough—" Ji Si suddenly began coughing violently, his face turning an unsettling green.
"Lord Ji? Are you alright?" Zhao Xing asked, concerned.
"It's nothing," Ji Si said dismissively. "I got too excited, and an old injury tore open. It's just backlash from my previous divination."
"Zhao Xing, as the saying goes, 'Man proposes, but Heaven disposes.' You and Liu Tianning may have entered the third trial before the Xuantian Divine Venerable, but you cannot let your guard down. If you falter even slightly, we still stand a slim chance of losing this gamble."
"I understand," Zhao Xing said, taking a deep breath. "I will give it my all."
"The Fate Shaman of the External Alliance will eventually realize the box is empty," Ji Si added. "When they discover they've been deceived, they won't take it lightly. Chaos is sure to follow."
"You must act swiftly. Although we can win without the inheritance, gaining it would significantly enhance our position. The fewer lives lost, the better."
"Understood," Zhao Xing affirmed with determination.
Zhao Xing's projection once again pierced through the icy layers, descending to the ruins buried 200,000 miles below and re-entered the Tri-God Plaza.
"According to the words of the Five-Eight God Sovereign," Zhao Xing murmured, "to break through this trial, one must meet these thresholds: achieve the seventh stage in a Rule Domain and create an ultimate technique with one cycle of refinement; reach the sixth stage and create three cycles; the fifth stage demands four cycles; and the fourth stage requires five cycles. The best techniques to achieve this are aligned with Wind, Thunder, or Seasonal Change."
He paused, his voice filled with confidence. "My current understanding of the Dao of Wind has already reached the seventh stage. With this level of comprehension, even the smallest refinement to an ultimate technique will suffice to pass this trial."
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Xing turned away from the Dao Tablet, focusing his mind entirely on the Law Tablet.
"Void Wind..." His gaze locked onto the inscriptions.
With his current understanding of the Dao and the support of the Tianyuan Soul Artifact, Zhao Xing was immediately drawn into the "Realm of Law Comprehension."
It was cold, desolate.
When Zhao Xing reopened his eyes, he found himself standing on a solitary meteorite.
The meteorite drifted aimlessly across a vast starfield.
"The purple moon is gone," Zhao Xing muttered. "In its place are a normal solar star and a lunar star—though they appear much smaller from this perspective."
He scanned the surroundings carefully. "It seems this Law Tablet depicts a scene outside of Qing Yuzi's homeland."
"Above, below, all directions form the universe; past and future form the temporal cosmos. These dimensions, coupled with yin and yang, illuminate the tri-lights of the cosmos."
"Just as the Xuanhuang Realm has its Four Seasons, so too does the universe possess its cycles."
"This forms the foundation of the Heavenly Timing Universe Theory," he mused, "and is the perspective of Shennong Fate Officers regarding the cosmos."
"With seasons come wind, rain, thunder, and clouds."
"The so-called revival of spiritual fortune is essentially a 'rain' of revitalization falling upon the Xuanhuang Realm's position within the cosmos."
Zhao Xing's gaze returned to the Void Wind Tablet. "This stele captures a cosmic-level storm for cultivators to comprehend."
He recollected fragments of the Heavenly Timing Universe Theory and waited silently for the wind to arrive.
The Shennong of Xuanhuang Realm lacked this breadth of understanding. To them, flying past the nine layers of gale resulted only in encountering the thick boundary walls of their world.
The starlit skies they observed were mere projections on the boundary layer of the Xuanhuang Realm.
These walls were intangible, devoid of spiritual energy, and imposed immense pressure—so vast that even those in the Ascension Stage struggled to survive. Breaking through them seemed an insurmountable challenge.
Traversing the boundary layer would result in energy depletion and unbearable force, phenomena collectively known as the "Ascension Tribulation."
To the people of the Xuanhuang Realm, this "Void" was thought to be empty. They lacked the systematic principles to comprehend the significance of the stele's teachings and thus often stumbled in their enlightenment.
"This is the first difficulty in comprehending this Law Tablet," Zhao Xing noted.
"Qing Yuzi left no annotations on this stele, perhaps to filter out the exceptional talents capable of breaking free from conventional notions and embracing new knowledge."
"But even if Qing Yuzi were to explain it explicitly, without firsthand experience of the universe, most would still fail to grasp its essence."
Suddenly, Zhao Xing's attention sharpened. "It's coming!"
The distant scene was something no Shennong of Xuanhuang Realm could have imagined. Hundreds of stars converged in the distance, collapsing in an instant into darkness. A silent storm swept across the star system, shredding the celestial bodies into fragments and absorbing their energy into the vortex.
The vortex expanded further, consuming the entire starfield in moments.
"I can't fathom how intense this cosmic storm is," Zhao Xing thought, even as he, a seasoned observer of such phenomena in the universe, found himself awestruck.
As the storm approached, the void twisted, warping the fabric of space. Zhao Xing's gaze shifted to nearby planets, watching as the violent changes in climate triggered the birth of life on some planets in mere moments.
"Such profound Seasonal Changes..." Zhao Xing murmured. "This realm of comprehension could indeed inspire the creation of Seasonal Change Techniques."
The storm loomed ever closer, and soon all light extinguished from Zhao Xing's view. Darkness consumed the cosmos.
Even the solar and lunar stars had been shredded by the storm.
The three-kilometer radius meteorite beneath Zhao Xing's feet crumbled into powder, and the intense pull of the vortex dragged him, along with the debris, toward the eye of the storm.
As Zhao Xing was about to plunge into the heart of the tempest, the hurricane abruptly condensed within an unimaginably short span, disappearing into the void.
In the end, it vanished completely.
"A storm capable of ravaging a minor star system, born of the void and disappearing into the void... This is the majesty of the cosmos. This is the Void Wind!"
Zhao Xing could not help but marvel.
Qing Yuzi had captured this star-system-level Void Wind and inscribed it onto the stele, including his own insights, creating a realm of comprehension for cultivators to refine their techniques and test their aptitude.
"Setting such a threshold for an ultimate technique is indeed not excessive."
Unconsciously, Zhao Xing opened his eyes, staring at the tablet before him. The realm of law comprehension had ended, but countless sparks of inspiration now surged through his mind.
With his seventh-stage mastery of the Dao of Wind, Zhao Xing found himself unable to resist the urge to create wind-based techniques after emerging from the realm.
"Inspiration flows like an unstoppable torrent," Zhao Xing muttered, his tone half-amused.
A shadow emerged behind him, replicating his thoughts and efforts.
Even with his main body, Zhao Xing couldn't contain the overwhelming desire to create, requiring the help of his projections to channel his creative impulses.
"Oh! This feels amazing!" Zhao Xing exclaimed.
"Every technique created within seconds carries high potential," he marveled.
The sheer joy of breakthroughs explained why so many cultivators sought secluded retreats—this feeling of epiphany was a hundred times more exhilarating than any worldly pleasure.
"Wind, come forth!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whirl!"
Thousands of projections simultaneously crafted new techniques, summoning winds of all varieties—gentle, fierce, and penetrating.
Fortunately, the space surrounding the stele was vast enough to accommodate Zhao Xing's experimentation.
Within three days, Zhao Xing had developed a perfected top-tier wind technique.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Under the enhancement of his Lunar Purple Wind Domain, the self-created ultimate wind technique unleashed a power rivaling that of a single-cycle ultimate technique.
Wave after wave struck the Law Wall relentlessly.
"Clang clang clang clang clang!"
As Zhao Xing refined and adjusted his spellcraft during the process of creating new techniques, the sound of metal striking metal began to echo from the wall of spells.
"This isn't right!"
"Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!"
"No, not right! Try again!"
"Woo woo woo roar—"
"Still missing something."
Each attempt brought progress, and with each adjustment, Zhao Xing pushed closer to perfection.
Whenever inspiration ran dry, Zhao Xing would study the spell monuments and enter the Comprehension of Spells Realm, immersing himself in the overwhelming storm—a storm powerful enough to obliterate lunar and solar stars, destroying entire star systems.
Through this, he filtered out flawed ideas, retaining only the essence of each iteration. His wind techniques evolved rapidly into something extraordinary.
Consumed by the joy of creation and comprehension, Zhao Xing lost all sense of time.
Until a certain moment—"There!"
A muffled sound echoed.
Zhao Xing snapped out of his trance and looked up.
The once indestructible wall painting had developed a tiny crack. It was so minuscule that it was nearly invisible to the naked eye, but a crack nonetheless.
"Buzz—"
Suddenly, a figure materialized in the space—a Dao Manifestation of Qing Yuzi.
Qing Yuzi examined the faint crack on the wall before turning to Zhao Xing with a smile. "Congratulations, inheritor. You've completed my first trial."
So that's it? Zhao Xing glanced at the barely noticeable crack.
Well, as long as it broke—even if it was just a tiny chink in the armor—it counted as breaking the defense. Naturally, it meant passing the test.
"You are the seventh person to pass the first trial, and it took you three years and six months."
"Oh? Seventh?" Zhao Xing suddenly recalled Qing Yuzi's Dao Manifestation appearing several times during his spell comprehension and creation.
But he had ignored it completely.
Who had the patience to listen to someone showing off?
"Whoosh—"
Qing Yuzi extended his hand, plucking something from thin air. A transparent purple grain appeared in his palm. "As a reward for passing the first trial, I present you with this." Qing Yuzi explained, "This is the Wind Elm Fruit, a derivative species I created."
"It's been preserved in an ice casket for quite some time, so about ninety percent of its efficacy remains."
Zhao Xing listened intently.
"The Wind Elm Tree grows in the core of my homeland and bears fruit only once every ten thousand years. Hmm, you may not understand that, but it's not important. What matters is that consuming it will greatly enhance your talent in the Dao of Wind Movement."
Zhao Xing smirked slightly. Who are you underestimating? I'm not some local; I know perfectly well how a tree can grow in the planet's core.
"Of course, passing this trial already places your talent at the pinnacle within the Xuanhuang Realm."
"While consuming it yourself may yield minimal effects, you can also choose to give it to your family or friends."
"Anyone who consumes the Wind Elm Fruit, regardless of how poor their talent in the Dao of Wind Movement, will rise to the top tier in this world."
"In the Xuanhuang Realm's treasure classification, this fruit is considered a Rare Treasure."
"However, once removed from the ice casket, its preservation time is limited to thirty years. Unless you find a way to preserve spiritual fruits, you must ensure your loved ones consume it within this timeframe."
Zhao Xing took the Wind Elm Fruit and stored it in his Pure Essence Space.
Qing Yuzi smiled at Zhao Xing. "As someone who passed the trial, you are granted the chance to speak to all other inheritors. Do you have anything to say?"
Zhao Xing thought for a moment. "No."
Being the seventh one, there wasn't much to brag about.
As for sharing his insights on passing the trial?
Zhao Xing had no such inclination. He wasn't some show-off like Xuantian Divine Venerable, always flaunting his superiority to everyone.
"Proceed to the second trial," Qing Yuzi declared before vanishing.
Ahead, a crack appeared in the wall, revealing specks of starlight. Beyond the crack lay an entirely new world.
"Huff…"
Zhao Xing retracted all his clones and confidently stepped forward into the passage.
At the end of the starlit path, Zhao Xing found himself on a small green planet.
It had an atmosphere, white clouds, and flourishing vegetation. Zhao Xing estimated the planet's radius to be about twenty kilometers.
It was indeed quite small.
"Whirr—"
Qing Yuzi's Dao Manifestation appeared again at the far end.
"Welcome, inheritor, to the second trial."
How polite of you—hearing this formal greeting, Zhao Xing was momentarily transported back to his past life, completing tasks like "Honored Adventurer, please unclog the village outhouse."
"This second trial is called Gulu Star."
Hearing the name, Zhao Xing's expression instantly became complicated.
The reason? The name "Gulu" was synonymous with the Heavenly Shennong Pet, a classic companion in the cosmic version of his path, whose formal name was the Heavenly Gulu Beast.
The Heavenly Gulu Beast was a type of spirit creature primarily used by Shennongs to assist in soil management and enrichment.
Its divine ability made soil exceptionally fertile.
Additionally, the Heavenly Gulu Beast shared a symbiotic relationship with plants, promoting faster growth and greater vitality in the flora under its care.
Among the three main schools of Shennongs in the cosmos, Qing Yuzi exemplified the Heaven School, compensating for his weaknesses with treasures and exotic beasts.
The Gulu Beast essentially fulfilled the roles of both the Earth School and the Self-School, making it an indispensable assistant for Heavenly Timing practitioners.
Zhao Xing had expected the trial to involve catching a Gulu Beast or something similar.
But it turned out to be entirely different.
"Gulu Star generates a directed Transformation Phenomenon."
"Once you enter, you will transform into a Gulu Beast within a short time."
"You don't need to worry about what a Gulu Beast is. Your trial is to resist this transformation phenomenon."
"The intensity of the transformation phenomenon on Gulu Star varies periodically. As long as you can break free from the morph form at the peak intensity, you will gain access to the final inheritance trial."
"There is no time limit for this trial. During the trial, you may exit at any time, either to return to the first trial for further comprehension or to make preparations. In any case, you must break free at the peak intensity to pass."
"To exit, simply mimic the Gulu's seven cries."
Qing Yuzi smiled.
Zhao Xing:
I'm going to turn into a Gulu Beast? And to leave, I have to mimic Gulu cries?
I didn't expect you, Qing Yuzi, with your upright appearance, to have such a wicked sense of humor.
However, Qing Yuzi's Dao Manifestation vanished after delivering these instructions.
Zhao Xing found himself falling onto the small planet.
No sooner had he steadied himself than a chubby, radish-like figure appeared nearby.
As Zhao Xing landed, it happened to be right beside the figure.
"Gulu? Gulu!!"
Turning his head, Zhao Xing immediately recognized the familiar cloud-patterned thunder robes. "Dean Wang?!"
"Gulu!" The Heavenly Gulu Beast shook its head in embarrassment before bolting away.
"Dean, don't run! I know it's you! Let's have a chat!" Zhao Xing quickly chased after it.