Seeing the sudden change in the attitude of the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, Zhao Xing decided it was the perfect time to discuss future plans for their ascension.
"When I return, I will immediately take over as the Sect Master of the White Bone Sect, and the Golden Feather Court will undoubtedly revere me as the National Advisor."
"In terms of mechanisms and formations, I will hold significant sway. The formations I provide to the court will all include hidden backdoors. Once a war breaks out, I'll reveal these backdoors to you."
"Moreover, I have a few creditors who joined forces back then to imprison me in the Lava Purgatory. I'll share their whereabouts and details with you…"
Before Zhao Xing could finish, the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable burst into an enthusiastic tirade.
Watching his animated expressions, Zhao Xing realized this person had likely endured quite a miserable existence under the Golden Feather Court, burdened with numerous grudges.
After several hours of deliberation, they outlined methods of contact and subsequent plans for sabotage before parting ways.
When Zhao Xing handed over the compiled details of his conversation with the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable to Lord Luohou, the latter appeared surprised. "Even without this, wouldn't he have rebelled on his own? It seems like he's been plotting this for a while."
Zhao Xing chuckled. "It's understandable. As a former candidate for Sect Master, the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable shouldn't have been treated this way, even with debts to his name."
"After all, he was serving the alliance at the time. After being betrayed, all the blame was placed on him, and he was made to bear all the losses alone. How could he not harbor resentment?"
Lord Luohou contemplated for a moment. "True. If the External Alliance hadn't been so severely battered by the Great Zhou this time and forced to deploy everyone they could, the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable would never have been sent out. He probably wouldn't have had a chance to recover his position in this lifetime."
"You mentioned earlier that the Mist Walker also has intentions of defecting to the Great Zhou?"
Zhao Xing pondered for a moment. "That's what was said, but without constraints, I can't be certain he will actually follow through."
"The White Bone Sect is merely a top-tier sect, while the Xuantian Sect is a divine sect. The weight of the two is vastly different."
"Even if a divine venerable perishes in the Xuantian Sect, there are countless powerful figures ready to take their place. Their foundation remains profound and unshaken."
"To put it bluntly, even if the Mist Walker is sincere, it's still uncertain whether he can command the sect or truly take control of it as an interim Sect Master."
"Furthermore, the Xuantian Sect and the Golden Feather Court are deeply intertwined. Defecting to the Great Zhou isn't as simple as it seems. Let's maintain contact for now and observe the situation."
Hearing this, Lord Luohou teased, "If you were to become the Grand Shennong, the Mist Walker's efforts to convince others to defect might face less resistance."
"Your cultivation in all three disciplines makes you an ideal candidate for Sect Master. Meanwhile, Liu Tianning is seen as someone from a humble background in the divine sect."
Zhao Xing couldn't help but laugh at this remark. To succeed in this world, one needed power and a solid background.
While Liu Tianning's status in the Great Zhou was strong, it was still looked down upon within the sectarian world.
The founder of the Shangluo Academy came from a divine sect and was a servant disciple, leaving an indelible impression on many.
This bias wasn't exclusive to the sectarian world. Even the Great Zhou harbored a slight prejudice. It wasn't until the last two centuries that the Self School's Shennong status rose significantly. Previously, it was always considered among the lowest of the three schools. It took four emperors and eight generations of Grand Shennongs to elevate a Self School Shennong to prominence.
Technically speaking, Zhao Xing was also from the Shangluo Academy, but his association with it wasn't particularly strong.
Most of the Shennongs who acknowledged him hailed from the other two schools, Earth Advantage and Heavenly Timing, due to his cultivation in all three disciplines.
"How could anyone merely label him as a disciple of the Shangluo Academy?"
"Time is of the essence. I'll immediately assign people to assassinate the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable," Lord Luohou declared decisively, setting aside the intelligence report.
To make the play convincing, the Great Zhou couldn't simply let the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable leave unopposed after inheriting his newfound power. Thus, in the spring of the eighty-first year of Yuanshou, Lord Luohou planned to dispatch Commander Li Hao of the Wuyao Guards to lead three thousand elite fighters in pursuit of the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable.
Simultaneously, the External Alliance received word of the operation.
"Quickly! Gather strong fighters to rescue the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable!"
Tian Gui appeared at the Moon Priestess Temple to inform the alliance's Supreme Commander, Tuoba Gong.
"Gui, what happened? Aren't we supposed to be retreating? Engaging with the Great Zhou now should be avoided at all costs unless…" Tuoba Gong asked in confusion. At that moment, he was organizing the retreat in the command hall, surrounded by tribal leaders, sect masters, and elders.
"The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable has acquired the ultimate inheritance of Puta!" Tian Gui announced with astonishment.
"What?!"
"Purple Bone actually succeeded?"
"He managed to turn things around?"
"Unbelievable!"
The hall erupted in chatter.
Among them, none were more overjoyed than the White Bone Sect's Supreme Elder, Ming Bone Heavenly Venerable.
Previously, with the loss of their Sect Master and the debacle surrounding the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, the White Bone Sect's reputation within the alliance had plummeted, leaving them at the bottom of the hierarchy.
But now, the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable had reclaimed his standing!
"My nephew truly has an extraordinary will!" Ming Bone Heavenly Venerable exclaimed, moved. The other elders of the White Bone Sect were also thrilled, their voices growing louder and more confident.
"Commander Tuoba, we must immediately rescue the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable!"
"Yes, we cannot let him fall into the hands of the Great Zhou!"
"The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's possession of the mechanism path's inheritance is crucial to our future!"
Tuoba Gong, visibly pleased, finally heard good news after years of struggle. "Very well! I will immediately organize a rescue team!"
Tuoba Gong's firm decision rallied the others. "Please return and prepare at once!"
With most attendees dismissed, Tuoba Gong and Tian Gui began strategizing the rescue operation in earnest. However, with Ji Si's vastly improved abilities, Tian Gui couldn't pinpoint any critical information. They only knew that the Great Zhou would dispatch three thousand elite fighters led by Li Hao. As for the exact location of the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable or his escape route, they were clueless.
Helpless, Tuoba Gong decided to increase their numbers, deploying nearly ten thousand elite fighters to expand the scope of both the rescue and interception operations.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xing himself participated in the pursuit. At the icebound Wei Mountain Range, a lone figure appeared atop a peak.
"According to Ji Si's intelligence, a group of alliance fighters will intercept the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable in the southwestern Wei Mountain region."
Now, with Ji Si wielding the [Star Fate Codex], his strength far surpassed Tian Gui's, and his intelligence was highly reliable. Of course, this was primarily due to the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's cooperation.
Looking at the terrain map with a purple dot marking the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's position, Zhao Xing couldn't help but chuckle at the Heavenly Venerable's erratic movements.
"The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable keeps running left and right within the encirclement but never breaks out of it. Just as he's about to be rescued, he suddenly changes direction."
"What a genius."
It was no wonder Tian Gui's calculations were coming up short. After all, the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable was already a defector!
Given these circumstances, Tuoba Gong had no choice but to allocate more forces.
The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, a crucial figure of the Golden Feather Court, now bore the vital inheritance of the mechanism path. Even at great cost, they had to ensure his safe return.
"In the Wei Mountain region, there are three First Rank experts. Among them is the Nine Nether Sect's elder, Ink Feather Heavenly Venerable."
"Based on Ji Si's calculations, he possesses a seventh-level domain and wields an artifact comparable to Rule Realm power. There's a thirty percent chance he follows the path of magic and a seventy percent chance he's a martial artist."
A power rivaling the Rule Realm remained within the scope of divination calculations, though not at the true Rule Realm level.
"Before challenging Liu Tianning, let me practice on you!"
"Nine years of comprehending myriad straw puppet techniques—it's time to test the results."
Zhao Xing released hundreds of ordinary clones, scattering them in all directions. These clones, though weak, served as key points for teleportation. Should Ink Feather Heavenly Venerable prove too strong, retreat would be effortless.
With a seventy percent likelihood of being a martial artist, Ink Feather Heavenly Venerable was unlikely to possess elaborate tricks, and the chances of him stopping Zhao Xing from retreating were slim.
Deploying a batch of clones in the distance, Zhao Xing summoned five more.
The five clones are completely different, each radiating an incredibly powerful aura, almost indistinguishable from the original.
"The first one, the Cangwu Clone!"
"The core is the Cangwu Apex Leaf. Using it as the foundation, I crafted this Straw Puppet clone. It can unleash a sixth-tier Life Domain. My Life Domain specializes in 'Life Absorption,' which is slightly different from Liu Tianning's Life Domain."
"His Life Domain specializes in 'Life Deprivation,' relying on the Divine Tree Huangquan Yin as its foundation," Zhao Xing explained. "Each person's comprehension varies. Even if it's the same path, the results they achieve are vastly different. Of course, my Life Domain and Liu Tianning's Life Domain share a commonality: both consume lifespan during combat!"
"The difference lies in Liu Tianning's [Life Deprivation], which destroys the structural hierarchy of an enemy's life force, harming others without benefiting oneself. On the other hand, my [Life Absorption] extracts an opponent's life force and transfers it into the Cangwu Clone."
"In terms of raw power, Liu Tianning's Life Deprivation is more ferocious, but when it comes to practicality, the Life Domain of the Cangwu Clone is superior."
"It's like using the enemy's life force against them. After a battle, the Cangwu Apex Leaf might not only remain undamaged but even get recharged. This distinction is the essence of what Liu Tianning and I have comprehended."
"The second one, the Soul-Devouring Clone!"
Zhao Xing shifted his gaze to the second Straw Puppet clone. Its entire body gleamed with a black-gold luster, constructed from rare materials such as the Divine Trees Tianhun, Huangquan Yin, and Shen Shanglu. The Soul-Devouring Clone was the first type Zhao Xing began cultivating.
"It mainly focuses on soul attacks and employs soul-based techniques. In the Soul Dao, there's no concept of domains; it's all about strength."
"With the Soul-Devouring Straw Puppet as its base, its ultimate technique, the Soul-Devouring Spear, has already reached the power of a third-tier ultimate transformation."
"The third one, the Lihuo Clone."
"Using the Lihuo Divine Lotus as its core material, I crafted the Lihuo Straw Puppet. It stems from the [Mystic Fire Clone] within the Straw Puppet Art." "This clone can unleash a sixth-tier Lihuo Domain."
"The scorching fire alone rivals the power of a third-tier ultimate transformation, eliminating the need for any additional fire-based techniques."
"The fourth one, the Windwalking Clone."
"The materials for the Windwalking Clone come from the Qingyu Tree, a rare wind-element treasure found in the Qing Yuzi's treasure hoard. Its Windwalking Domain reaches the seventh tier. Paired with the ultimate fifth-tier technique, [Wind of Destruction], it is my strongest ultimate art in terms of pure spells."
"In overall combat power, the Soul-Devouring Clone is undoubtedly the strongest, mainly because my soul has reached the Rule Realm. Naturally, soul techniques are my strongest area."
"The Windwalking Clone ranks second."
"The fifth one, the Dragonspirit Clone."
"This fifth clone was crafted from Dragonspirit Bamboo." "It wields a fifth-tier Solar Geng Metal Domain."
"From the Dragonspirit Bamboo, the Dragonspirit Clone comprehended Geng Metal Breath, which also matches the power of a third-tier ultimate transformation."
These five major clones differ significantly from Liu Tianning's.
Liu Tianning's seven clones consist of the Soul-Devouring, Heavenly Descent, Mystic Fire, Huangquan, Wutu, Floating Wanderer, and Skywalker. Including Zhao Xing's [Substitution Straw Puppet], he has six clones in total.
Because Zhao Xing's Five Elemental Domains are complete, his personal domain has also reached the fifth tier.
The personal domain enables rule-jumping, swapping the location of the Straw Puppet with the original body—this is Substitution. It originates from the large category of spells known as [All Grass as Soldiers].
However, since the Grass-Men are divided into the Five Elements, all five elements must give rise to domains before mastering the [Substitution Straw Puppet]. Liu Tianning and Xu Hang both lack the capability to utilize the Substitution Straw Puppet.
This is because Liu Tianning's primary paths and methods aren't as comprehensive as Zhao Xing's.
"Thanks to the divine abilities of the Three-Destiny Palace, my clones suffer only a negligible power drop as long as their number doesn't exceed ten thousand. "Only when exceeding ten thousand does their control noticeably weaken."
"Even if it's just a ten percent drop in control, at Zhao Xing's level, a ten percent decline in spell control becomes a significant distinction. Typically, when deploying this many clones, it's for pursuits or exploration."
"Against weaklings, this might not matter."
"But when facing powerful opponents, even a slight difference might allow them to seize an opportunity to escape."
"Of course, these are merely five split souls. From the perspective of the Soul Dao, there's essentially no difference."
"The distinction lies in the materials used for crafting the clones. A Cangwu Clone formed from the Cangwu Apex Leaf differs greatly in vitality from other plant materials, naturally resulting in varying domain powers."
"The original body's physical defense, in fact, is weaker than these five clones."
At the First-Rank Destiny Palace level, the physical body of a spell-focused practitioner can't compare to the clones crafted from rare and precious plants. However, the original body possesses broader abilities, such as the Marquis Transformation Art, and is more balanced.
"For example, while the Cangwu Clone's Life Domain is undeniably stronger, if it were to wield the Windwalking Domain, its power wouldn't match that of the original body. Similarly, if the Lihuo Clone attempted to use the Water Element's Three-Light Divine Water Domain, its power would significantly diminish."
"This is due to the conflict between the inherent attributes of the clones and the rules and domains comprehended by the soul."
"Whoosh—"
As Zhao Xing entered the Western Extreme Glacier region, an enemy stationed there, named Paco, became alert. "Someone has entered my domain."
Paco, who had been crouching inside an ice mountain, immediately leapt onto its peak, gazing eastward. "He invaded within ten thousand meters of my Frost Domain before I noticed?"
Paco's eyes narrowed solemnly.
The intruder's ability to enter his domain undetected until now signaled a domain level higher than his and proficiency in concealment techniques. If the intruder were a martial artist, their powerful blood essence would make hiding impossible.
"My domain is tier five; the opponent must be at least tier six." Paco quickly alerted the nearby Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable. "Heavenly Venerable, someone has intruded into my domain!"
Paco promptly reported to Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable, who was resting a kilometer away inside an ice cave.
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable followed the martial path. Usually, martial artists practicing the Qi School have extremely small domain ranges, as they only possess a single blood-essence domain and cultivate body techniques later.
Sword Sect martial artists' domains are slightly larger but still inferior to Dao Law domains.
Thus, among the three stationed here, Paco handled surveillance due to his expansive Frost Domain in this environment. Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable was responsible for combat.
The third individual, known as Four-Symbols Daoist, specialized in various escape techniques and handled retreat strategies.
Their role was to guard this area and escort Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable if encountered. Inside the ice cave, Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable opened his eyes.
He was shirtless, with black horns on his head, red feathers on his back, and red-black mystical patterns entwining his skin. Even his breathing caused the surrounding airflow to take on shades of black and red. Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable, a hybrid of the Golden Feather Imperial Court's royal lineage and the Fire Demon Tribe, had apprenticed under the Divine Martial Sect. Upon hearing Paco's warning, he opened his eyes.
However, he remained motionless, lazily asking, "Paco, has he noticed you? If not and he's not here for us, just let him pass."
"Heavenly Venerable, he seems to have noticed me, and it looks like it's Zhao Xing of the Great Zhou!"
"Oh? The Zhao Xing who inherited Qing Yuzi's legacy?"
"That's him!"
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's interest was piqued. "Paco, lure him over here with Four-Symbols Daoist."
"Understood!" Paco obeyed immediately.
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable knew that practitioners of the Dao Path were generally adept at fleeing. Without sufficient distance, they wouldn't reveal themselves.
"The Qing Yuzi legacy—if we can capture Zhao Xing, this would be a tremendous achievement!" Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable grew excited. "Could it be that my fortune has arrived, to encounter Zhao Xing like this?"
"Wait, it might be just a clone, not necessarily his original body." Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable calmed himself.
"Paco, determine whether it's his true body. If it's just a scouting clone, there's no need to waste effort. Eliminate it quickly."
"Heavenly Venerable, the fact that he could pinpoint my location instantly suggests that even if it isn't his true body, it's a formidable clone, likely crafted from precious materials," Paco analyzed.
"Even so, that means he's a treasure trove!"
With this thought, Paco condensed an ice-snow giant in the distance.
"King Zhao, we have no intention of becoming your enemies. If you have other business, please bypass this area, and we'll pretend we didn't see you. The Great Zhou and we have a peace treaty..."
Although Paco wanted to capture Zhao Xing, his words were deliberately weak and conciliatory.
Zhao Xing casually destroyed Paco's ice-snow avatar with a single strike and charged toward his location. Feeling the destruction of the ice-snow giant, Paco's face lit up with delight.
"Heavenly Venerable, Zhao Xing's casual strike was incredibly powerful. There's a high chance this is his true body! Even if not, it must be an important clone of his!"
"Oh? Stall him!"
"Understood!"
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable quickly flew toward Paco's location.
The Great Heat Domain rippled outward, the ten suns in the sky relentlessly suppressing Paco's domain.
Feeling Zhao Xing's rapid approach, Paco's heart grew tense. "Heavenly Venerable, Zhao Xing is stronger than me. I... I can't hold on much longer…"
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable replied calmly, "You and Four-Symbols Daoist retreat farther away."
"Yes!" Paco immediately joined Four-Symbols Daoist nearby. "Let's retreat farther. Don't let me see you two," Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable commanded firmly.
"But…" Four-Symbols Daoist hesitated. "If we retreat any farther, I won't be able to assist the Heavenly Venerable in a leap."
"When I say retreat, you retreat! Enough nonsense!" Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable barked.
Paco and Four-Symbols Daoist had no choice but to retreat even further.
"Mo Yu doesn't just want to hoard the treasure and legacy; he also wants to monopolize the credit. He won't even leave us the scraps," Paco grumbled to Four-Symbols Daoist as they distanced themselves.
"Nothing we can do about it. He's stronger than us and of royal lineage," Four-Symbols Daoist replied with a resigned sigh.
Though they kept their distance, they dared not stray too far. Once the battle ended, they'd need to respond when called. Ignoring a summons could lead to trouble.
As the two retreated, Zhao Xing pinpointed Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's location. "There he is!" Zhao Xing muttered, his gaze locking on the figure.
He was now within his own domain, and Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable stood out like a blazing sun. The overwhelming vitality of his blood energy made it impossible to conceal his presence once Zhao Xing entered his range.
"Hahaha, Zhao Xing," Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable laughed, flying out with an air of dominance. "You've got some nerve, daring to wander about like this with your true body?"
"Mo Yu," Zhao Xing responded with a cold smile. "You don't need to test me. My true body is right here. If you have the guts, come and kill me!"
Zhao Xing had no intention of engaging pointlessly. If Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable believed it was merely a clone, he wouldn't waste time entangling himself further. Even if he could destroy Zhao Xing's clone, it wouldn't hold much appeal for him.
By appearing slightly more difficult to deal with, Zhao Xing knew Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable would hesitate to act rashly unless he believed Zhao Xing's true body was present.
"You're truly arrogant," Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable sneered, seeing through Zhao Xing's ploy. "Do you think I'll let you lure me in so easily? Fine, I'll grant your wish!"
Boom!
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable soared upward, his blood energy erupting like a rising sun as he charged toward Zhao Xing.
"Boom!"
Zhao Xing's Five Great Clones activated their overlapping domains, simultaneously pressuring Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable. "You dare not retreat even after seeing me? You're courting death," Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable growled, feeling disrespected.
Instead of retreating, Zhao Xing closed the distance, leaving a mere five kilometers between them. For a spellcaster, this was practically point-blank range—a blatant insult to Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable.
"Break!"
A blood energy domain unfolded, its tyrannical force piercing through the overlapping domains like a blade slicing tofu. The domain extended outward with an oppressive aura, closing the gap between them.
"Break the Winds of Destruction!"
The Windwalking Clone moved to intercept Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable, activating its spinning domain. At the same moment, the spell Winds of Destruction materialized, creating a vortex that pulled at Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's blood energy domain. The winds even carried a faint red hue.
"Huh?" Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable frowned.
Typically, domains of equal level would leave a martial artist's domain unshaken. Conversely, they could easily disrupt spellcaster domains. The strength of martial domains compensated for their smaller range, ensuring their superiority in close quarters.
But now, he felt his blood energy domain being affected. His flight trajectory, initially straight, curved involuntarily.
"So, the legacy he inherited has some merit after all," Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable thought, his anticipation growing. "This only confirms his value."
"Heavenly Golden Body, expand!"
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's body suddenly began to grow.
Martial artists of the blood energy path absorbed the world's energy into their bodies, their ultimate goal to assimilate everything, including heaven and earth itself. As a result, their physical forms naturally grew larger over time.
In an instant, Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable expanded from two meters to twenty meters tall, towering like a giant.
This form was his natural state at this level of cultivation. He only restrained it in daily interactions for convenience. "Martial artists of the blood energy path can one day comprehend the divine ability Heavenly Dharma Manifestation, making their forms even more colossal."
"With his enlarged body, his energy source has become even more massive," Zhao Xing observed carefully. "Previously, his body was like a balloon, easy for my Winds of Destruction to push around. But now, he's like a heavy weight—far harder to move."
For the first time since reaching the Destiny Palace stage, Zhao Xing faced an opponent of this caliber and analyzed the nuances.
Martial artists excelled at close combat, dominating other professions when in range. However, this advantage only held when there was no significant disparity in rank or secret techniques.
"If he gets within a thousand meters, he could start damaging my clones," Zhao Xing mused.
Suddenly, Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable accelerated, his blood energy-infused punch targeting the Windwalking Clone.
"Boom!"
The Windwalking Clone shattered, its Lunar Purple Wind Domain retreating like a tide. The Winds of Destruction spell disappeared, replaced by other overlapping domains.
"Hm?" Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable frowned. "Something's off. It vanished."
He scrutinized Zhao Xing's movements carefully.
In that moment, Zhao Xing's Windwalking Clone abruptly disappeared, replaced by a weaker clone. Using the fifth-tier advancement of his Self Domain, Zhao Xing's five major clones could execute rule-jumping to swap places with Substitution Grass-Men.
As a result, Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable had merely destroyed a cheap decoy. Such losses meant little to Zhao Xing, who could mass-produce these substitutes.
"Buzz~"
A common Straw Puppet emerged from Zhao Xing's body, enabling the Windwalking Clone—crafted with Qingyu Tree materials—to reappear after swapping with the ordinary substitute. In a single breath, the Windwalking Clone returned, reinstating the Lunar Purple Wind Domain and Winds of Destruction.
The brief gap had lasted mere moments. Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable had advanced only a few meters before the winds resumed tugging at his body.
"I'd like to see how many times you can swap!" Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable roared, punching forward again.
This time, Zhao Xing didn't resist. He adjusted his strategy, retreating to maintain distance.
"Whoosh!"
At the center of the storm vortex, a faint golden light flashed.
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable dismissed it, relying on his martial path's philosophy of overwhelming all tricks with raw power. Yet when the golden light struck, he felt a breach in his blood energy domain. The light hit his chest, leaving a sharp pain.
It was the Dragonspirit Clone's Geng Metal Breath!
To Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable, it seemed like the clone had casually spit at him. But the Geng Metal Breath boasted immense attack and penetration power, equivalent to a third-tier ultimate transformation—not something even his reinforced body could withstand lightly.
Looking down, Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable saw a bloodstain on his chest. "Injured?!" he thought, stunned. "He actually managed to wound me?"
"It's working."
Zhao Xing noticed the change in effect after altering his strategy. He struck and retreated simultaneously, using the Wind of Destruction to disrupt Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's Blood and Qi Domain, weakening its resistance. At the same time, he employed Gengjin Breath to pierce through the physical defenses.
"As long as the physical defenses can be breached, even a single hit counts."
"The Life Domain of the Cangwu Avatar can overlap with any domain. As long as the defenses are broken, life absorption takes effect." Zhao Xing's gaze fixed on the bloodstain on Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's chest. The visible wound was healing, but at a rate far below what would be expected of someone at Mo Yu's level.
The permanent loss of vitality, absorbed by the Cangwu Avatar, was the true killing move!
This effect was subtle, unlike the ferocious life deprivation techniques of Liu Tianning. The effect of life absorption was akin to boiling a frog in warm water. Until a critical threshold was crossed, Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable wouldn't even notice.
"Maintain high-intensity combat exchanges, and the later Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable realizes the problem, the better. It's like how mortals, while exercising, may not notice a bleeding cut. In perceiving the loss of vitality, even strong cultivators have the same dull reaction as mortals unless they also cultivate the Life Domain."
Zhao Xing refrained from using his Lihuo Avatar and Soul-Devouring Avatar for two reasons. First, he needed to guard against Mo Yu's two companions, Paco and Four-Symbols Daoist, potentially joining the battle. Second, he didn't want to alarm Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable too early. If the latter became fully alert and decided to flee, the situation could become troublesome.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
The Gengjin Avatar opened its mouth, continuously breathing attacks.
Each strike caused only minor injuries. For Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable, these shallow wounds were negligible. The distance between the two combatants continued to close.
"Boom, boom, boom!" Zhao Xing's avatars were continuously shattered. However, they were all Substitution Straw Puppets!
As time passed, a strand of white hair silently crept onto Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's head, growing beside his crimson horns, nearly unnoticeable.
"Something's wrong!"
From a distance, Four-Symbols Daoist furrowed his brow. "Why does it feel like Heavenly Venerable is weakening?"
"Weakening?" Paco questioned, confused. "I don't feel it. It's obvious Heavenly Venerable has the upper hand, constantly destroying Zhao Xing's avatars. Zhao Xing is entirely on the defensive."
"What's the use of destroying avatars?" Four-Symbols Daoist's gaze grew solemn. "For Zhao Xing, it doesn't matter at all. What kind of weakness are you referring to?" Paco remained puzzled.
"Weakness on a fundamental level of vitality," Four-Symbols Daoist replied. "You know I specialize in escape and survival. To improve my chances, I've cultivated a secret method that senses an enemy's life fluctuations. It's more comprehensive than magical detection and covers a much greater range."
"At the level of life itself, Heavenly Venerable is growing weaker!"
"At first, it was barely noticeable. I thought I was mistaken, but now it's undeniable!"
"Weakened vitality?" Paco hesitated. "But wouldn't Heavenly Venerable notice it himself?"
"Caught up in the heat of battle, with one's focus fully engaged, even if something feels off, it's easy to dismiss it as fatigue or injury from the fight, solely focusing on killing the enemy. Unless Heavenly Venerable also cultivates the Life Domain, it's unlikely he'll realize it," Four-Symbols Daoist explained.
"Paco, we should head over. I feel like Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable is in trouble!"
"Go over?" Paco sneered. "Four-Symbols Daoist, didn't you hear Heavenly Venerable say not to interfere? He wants all the credit and treasures for himself, and now we should shamelessly go help him?"
"At least send a warning. If he returns and vents his anger on us…"
As they deliberated—
"Boom!"
A powerful tremor suddenly erupted ahead.
Even from thirty-four miles away, the two could feel the shockwaves. Icebergs were hurled into the sky.
Massive ice shards even landed in front of them. "This is bad!"
Four-Symbols Daoist's expression changed.
"Paco, we need to leave! Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable might be doomed!"
"What?!"
"Are you coming or not?"
"Let's go, let's go!" Paco hastily grabbed Four-Symbols Daoist's hand, and the two disappeared instantly.
At the center of the battle, all domains had dissipated into nothingness. Of Zhao Xing's five avatars, only three remained.
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's Blood and Qi Domain had vanished. His exposed skin was riddled with cracks, bleeding profusely. His flesh had become wrinkled, with feathers entirely shed, leaving bare wings of flesh. One of the horns on his head was broken.
A massive wound gaped across Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's chest—the most severe of his injuries.
"Thump, thump!"
Through the opening, Zhao Xing could see Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's heart, encased in a layer of armor. This crimson, protective shell was what shielded his heart.
"What… what have you done…"
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable clutched his chest with one hand and raised the other to inspect it, muttering to himself. His hands showed blackened spots and wrinkles—a clear sign of life nearing its end!
"A peerless treasure, the Heart-Origin Divine Armor," Zhao Xing muttered, his gaze locked on the still-beating heart. "Just now, my five avatars combined their efforts, sacrificing the Lihuo Avatar to execute the Heavenfall Strike. By condensing the power of Lihuo into a single point, I pierced his chest, exposing his heart. This confirms that his Life soul has begun merging with his physical Seven Souls, a half-step into the Rule Domain."
"Confirmed—his Life soul is integrated into the heart!"
When a martial artist advances to the Rule Domain, their Life soul doesn't remain in the Sea of Consciousness but merges with their body.
Before full integration, the Life soul might reside in any of the internal organs, depending on the cultivation method. It could begin from the heart and spread across the body, or it could start from the kidneys…
At a higher level, even the Earth soul would merge with the Seven Souls, as in the case of King Luohou, making him immensely stronger.
"Identified the weakness. The Soul-Devouring Avatar unleashed thousands of Soul Spears but failed to kill him outright. Mainly because his heart is protected by the peerless treasure Heart-Origin Divine Armor."
If the Soul Spear targeted a mage, it would pierce the head and the Sea of Consciousness. For Qi practitioners, however, it must strike the internal organs where the Life soul resides.
"It didn't kill him, but it shook his heart. He's still injured."
Zhao Xing felt slightly dizzy. Using the Soul Spear earlier had drained a significant portion of his soul power, leaving him somewhat dazed. "Seize the opportunity—kill him completely!"
"I want to become the Grand Shennong. Without a solid battle record, how could I? Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable, your corpse is mine!" Zhao Xing stopped holding back, ensuring no escape routes remained.
He unleashed his true form, projecting a Pure Essence Manifestation.
"Buzz~"
A shadow engulfed a thousand miles of glacier.
"Roar!"
From the east, a towering ancient bamboo emerged, accompanied by faint dragon roars—the Dragon Spirit Bamboo, a late-stage Rule Domain entity!
"Hiss~ Hiss~ Hiss~"
To the south, a massive crimson lotus bloomed. The Fire Lotus radiated intense heat, melting the glacier into a boiling sea.
"You… you…"
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable was utterly stunned.
True Rule Domain plants, and two of them!
"Divine Soldier Art!"
Zhao Xing roared, and the Dragon Spirit Bamboo and Fire Lotus launched their attacks.
"Boom!"
The Fire Lotus's bloom remained closed, with its center bulging as if charging. Its petals formed a barrel-like structure, firing a thin red beam. The Dragon Spirit Bamboo's hundreds of nodes each emitted a burst of Gengjin energy.
The energies intertwined, forming an intricate net that enveloped Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable, sealing his escape routes.
"You can't kill me!"
At the last moment, Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable broke free from the paralysis caused by his wounded Life soul. His entire being shed its skin, as if a new self emerged from his previous shell. His bloody, mutilated body split open from the top, narrowly evading the Fire Lotus's attack.
"What?! Golden Cicada Shell? What's his rank within the Nine Nether Army to have mastered this ultimate combat skill?" Zhao Xing was taken aback.
The Nine Nether Army was one of the trump cards of the Southern Barbarian Holy Mountain. Zhao Xing had once warned Xia Jing to flee if they encountered someone from the Nine Nether Army, even a commander, due to their profound abilities. The Moon Deity of the Southern Barbarian Holy Mountain rarely granted such directed divine combat skills unless the individual had a significant background or immense talent.
"So, a big fish indeed! Let's see where you'll run!" Zhao Xing's excitement soared.
"Swish, swish, swish, swish!"
Zhao Xing's avatars leapt continuously into the main battlefield. In an instant, the western and northern directions were covered with his clones.
"What?!" Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable fell into complete despair.
The east and south were occupied by Rule Domain plant soldiers, while Zhao Xing and his five main avatars were stationed in the west. Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable chose to escape northward. However, at this moment, Zhao Xing unleashed tens of thousands of avatars!
At least one percent of them were constructed with the same high-grade materials as his five primary avatars.
How much treasure had Zhao Xing acquired? Since the Yuan Qi Tide began, not to mention what he obtained from Qing Yuzi, even Shangluo Academy contributed significantly to his arsenal.
Apart from the uniquely crafted Cangwu Avatar, made from the singular top leaf of a Cangwu tree, Zhao Xing casually utilized over two hundred treasures of supreme-grade material to forge the other four avatars.
"It seems you have no more tricks up your sleeve. Accept your death!" Zhao Xing's eyes gleamed with ruthless intent as he repeated his tactics.
"No!"
Once again, Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable was dragged by the devastating winds and pierced through by Gengjin Breath…
Ten breaths later.
"Boom!"
Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's hardened body fell heavily onto the ice. Splash!
Waves surged in the ocean as Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's massive, ten-meter-tall body lay motionless atop the icy surface, drifting with the tide.
Whoosh!
One of Zhao Xing's avatars descended, its Gengjin-enhanced hand laboriously piercing into Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's body.
"So tough, even in this state, his flesh still has the hardness of a ninth-rank top-grade divine weapon."
Crack!
The avatar withdrew its hand, and Zhao Xing pulled out a golden heart.
"The Heart-Origin Divine Armor in the shape of a heart remains completely intact."
"But the heart inside it has been utterly shattered." Zhao Xing could sense it.
Despite the repeated impacts, even the Heart-Origin Divine Armor couldn't completely withstand the power of the Soul-Devouring Spear.
After all, Zhao Xing's soul was at the Rule Domain stage. When wielding the Soul-Devouring Spear, even though the spear's technique was only at the third transformation, its power was five hundred times that of a normal third-transformation soul secret art. This was the amplification brought by the soul divine ability!
"The life absorption of the Cangwu Avatar's Life Domain left Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable utterly powerless in the latter half of the battle. Repeated collisions, even with the protection of a peerless treasure, ultimately killed him through sheer vibrations."
"The Golden Cicada Shedding technique… how unfortunate."
A secret technique like the Moon Deity's Golden Cicada Shedding undoubtedly came with strict restrictions. Even if Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable were captured alive, it would be impossible to obtain this technique.
"Still, obtaining the Heart-Origin Divine Armor is quite the reward. This old relic possessing such a peerless treasure must have been an important figure. Killing him is achievement enough!" Zhao Xing seized the corpse and the Heart-Origin Divine Armor, swiftly heading back to the Matrix Palace.
"Who?"
Inside the military command hall, King Luohou, commanding his forces, suddenly turned his head as Ji Si appeared behind him, whispering something.
"You had him go after Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable, and he actually killed him?"
"Let me be clear, I never told him to kill anyone," Ji Si replied. "I merely provided a list. He chose this target on his own."
"And he obtained a martial qi sect Star Weapon?"
"Yes." Ji Si nodded. "He even brought the body back. It was intended for the military department, but it was intercepted halfway by people from the Medical Hall, who plan to dissect it."
"Outrageous! The report hasn't even been submitted yet, and they want to dissect it?!" King Luohou roared. "Cui Chengzhi is getting more and more out of line!"
Cui Chengzhi, the Grand Physician of the Military Realm, held the highest medical rank in the military. Although the Grand Imperial Physician was technically the highest-ranking medical officer, reforms implemented during Emperor Wu's reign had separated military medical duties from civilian ones. Cui Chengzhi's position granted him autonomy over the military's medical branches.
"Dong Ze, keep watch here. I'll take a look myself," King Luohou instructed a nearby officer.
"Understood, Grand Marshal." A burly man in green armor, with prominent cheekbones, stepped forward.
Dong Ze, the commander of the Imperial Forest Guards, was one of the beneficiaries of the Yuan Qi Tide. During Emperor Wu's reign, he was dispatched to a certain cave-heaven, where he underwent a transformation from first rank to the Rule Domain stage. A few years ago, he was secretly transferred to the Western Polar Prefecture under King Luohou's command in preparation for potential large-scale battles.
After giving his orders, King Luohou led a group of deputies into the Matrix Palace's relic vault.
Within the hall, numerous cabinets were neatly arranged. On one of them lay a corpse over ten meters long.
Swish, swish, swish!
King Luohou and the powerful figures behind him turned their gaze toward the corpse.
Standing beside it were Zhao Xing and a middle-aged man with a white high crown and a sharp blade in hand.
"Cui Chengzhi! Step aside!"
"Grand Marshal, I was only—"
"Shut up!" King Luohou cut him off.
"Understood," Cui Chengzhi muttered, retreating obediently.
The group approached, examining Zhao Xing intently.
"Is this truly Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable?" King Luohou asked.
"Absolutely," Zhao Xing confirmed, flipping his hand to reveal the Heart-Origin Divine Armor. "His heart was protected by this treasure."
"Damn, it really is that thing!"
"Hiss… Zhao Xing managed to kill a general of the Nine Nether Army?"
"Those who possess the Heart-Origin Divine Armor are always bestowed secret techniques directly by the Moon Deity. They are practically disciples of the deity."
"Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable was a qi sect cultivator. This corpse matches that identity perfectly."
"Doesn't this mean Zhao Xing could kill me too?"
The deputies behind King Luohou began murmuring. Many of them were qi sect martial artists, some stronger than Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable, others weaker. Regardless, most were at a similar level.
For Zhao Xing to have killed Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable—a general of the Nine Nether Army—this achievement was utterly astounding!
"You've actually managed to kill Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable, a general of the Nine Nether Army." King Luohou scrutinized Zhao Xing, finding him increasingly monstrous. Over the decades of the Yuan Shou Era, both sides had continuously dispatched forces, revealing more and more about the Nine Nether Army. It was clear that the Moon Deity had sent many powerful individuals to the frontlines.
The Nine Nether Army was mostly restricted to the Southern Barbarian regions, but certain extraordinarily gifted members, such as qi sect martial artists, could operate freely. However, they rarely acted under the name of the Nine Nether Army, instead using titles like "Heavenly Venerable" or other aliases.
Given King Luohou's extensive intelligence on the Nine Nether Army, he was well aware of Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable's true identity. Nine years ago, King Luohou wouldn't have thought Zhao Xing capable of challenging someone like Liu Tianning.
But now, with Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable slain, despite wearing a peerless treasure like the Heart-Origin Divine Armor, King Luohou needed to reassess Zhao Xing's strength.
"Grand Marshal, generals, I didn't waste my time in seclusion," Zhao Xing said without a hint of modesty. He was on the verge of executing his grand plan, with the first step being his appointment as the Grand Shennong. Standing before so many martial generals, he intended to showcase his capabilities.
"Even if ten like Mo Yu Heavenly Venerable attacked me together, I could kill them all!"
The hall fell into complete silence, all eyes fixed on Zhao Xing.
Without results to back it up, such words would seem like mere bravado.
But with the corpse lying right there, everything Zhao Xing said seemed entirely credible.
At that moment, a head peeked out from beside King Luohou. "Grand Marshal, can I dissect it now?"
"Get lost," King Luohou pushed Cui Chengzhi's head aside. "Why are you so obsessed with dissections? You're not one of those lunatics from the Academy of Creation!"
"Fine, I'll ask again later," Cui Chengzhi muttered, retreating dejectedly.
"Zhao Xing, His Majesty has summoned you for an audience," Ji Si's figure appeared in the hall.
"Grand Marshal, generals, I'll take my leave," Zhao Xing said with a bow before departing with Ji Si.
Inside the secret chamber, a broad mirror projected the image of Ji Che seated on the throne.
"Your servant greets Your Majesty," Zhao Xing bowed.
"Royal Brother, there are no scribes here," Ji Che reclined casually, smiling. "I hear you've slain a Nine Nether general?"
"That's correct," Zhao Xing nodded.
"What realm have you reached?" Ji Che inquired.
"My soul has reached the Rule Domain stage, though my physical body remains at the peak of the Fate Palace stage," Zhao Xing replied. "But I've mastered numerous secret techniques, so even against truly extraordinary opponents, I'm unafraid."
Having not seen each other for many years, this conversation between monarch and minister aimed to reacquaint them with one another.
"Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable and the Mist Walker have pledged allegiance to Great Zhou because of you, my elder brother. This time, your contributions are immense, and I don't even know how to reward you properly," Ji Che remarked with a smile. "Do you have any preferences yourself, Brother?"
"Do you want land, wealth, titles for your family, or perhaps… is there a princess you've taken a liking to?" If Emperor Jing had posed such a question, Master Zhao would've been prepared to flee on the spot.
But with Ji Che, he felt no need to overthink.
Without hesitation, Zhao Xing replied, "Che, I do have a request."
"Go on," Ji Che prompted.
"I want to become the Grand Shennong!" Zhao Xing declared.
Ji Che was taken aback. "Isn't it a bit early for that? Liu Tianning is doing a decent job…," he hesitated. It never crossed his mind that Zhao Xing would make such a bold request.
Zhao Xing shook his head firmly. "No, he actually has made some mistakes. In fact, many of the court's policies, including some of your plans, Che, have significant issues."
Ji Che's expression turned serious. "What issues?"
"First," Zhao Xing began, "the elemental fluctuations that Liu Tianning and his team summarized are incomplete. Some of the most critical patterns have been overlooked. Of course, this isn't his fault—it's just that his perspective is limited by the era he was born into."
"I discovered this flaw thanks to the inheritance of Qing Yuzi that I received in the ruins," Zhao Xing continued.
"For example, the elemental tides can be intercepted. If the development timing aligns, I would be the best person to handle it. Secondly, the Ascension Revelation you obtained from the Book of Destiny is also incomplete."
"Qing Yuzi once founded the Yu Dynasty, but he had failures as well," Zhao Xing explained.
Zhao Xing poured out a torrent of revelations, using Qing Yuzi's legacy as justification to share numerous hidden truths with the Martial Emperor.
Initially, Ji Che interjected with a few questions. However, as Zhao Xing continued, he fell silent and listened attentively.
Finally, when Zhao Xing finished, Ji Che said, "So, it's merely a tide? You're saying the true era of ascension hasn't even arrived yet?"
"That's correct," Zhao Xing confirmed. "But we can change this trajectory."
"Che, appoint me as the Grand Shennong," Zhao Xing implored. "I'll implement the Revival Plan, saving Great Zhou from countless detours. If I remain a mere Chief of Shennong, my ability to act will be severely hindered."
Ji Che took a deep breath. "Elder Brother, I have no objections. However, removing Liu Tianning from the Grand Shennong position without any apparent fault…"
"Che, as long as you support me, the rest will depend on internal competition within the Shennong Office," Zhao Xing assured. "I'll engage Liu Tianning in a Dao Discourse Battle."
Ji Che nodded. "If you're this confident, as long as you win the Dao Discourse Battle, leave the rest to me. Should you emerge victorious, I can even arrange a marriage for Liu Tianning."
Due to the ongoing war in the Western Extreme State, Liu Tianning and Princess You Ruo had been unable to formally apply for marriage. Now seemed like an opportune moment.
Zhao Xing nodded in agreement.
With that, their secret conversation in the chamber concluded.
In the autumn of Yuan Shou Year 80, Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable successfully returned to the Southern Barbarian lands. The war in the Western Ice Lands drew to a close, with both sides losing 90% of their forces.
The terrain was unsuitable for large-scale battles, and even if conflict were to erupt, it wouldn't take place on such a battleground. The External Alliance retreated decisively.
Although the legacy site of Puta held some strategic value, it remained firmly in Great Zhou's control, making it inaccessible. Ensuring Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's safe return was considered the greatest success. On the other hand, the Serpent Kingdom of Dongying suffered disastrous losses. Not only did Hua Bao Heavenly Venerable perish, but they were also forced to return the Dragon Elephant Divine Tree, gaining nothing in return. It was a case of losing both the treasure and their forces. Consequently, in Yuan Shou Year 80, the Serpent Kingdom declared its complete withdrawal from the External Alliance and pledged tribute to Great Zhou.
This minor event failed to attract much attention from the Southern Barbarians or Great Zhou. The Serpent Kingdom's allegiance, or lack thereof, was inconsequential.
What truly mattered in the coming days was the intensifying elemental tides, bringing natural disasters and opportunities alike. The main focus was preparing for the challenges posed by this phenomenon.
Within the sects, this was hailed as a sign of the Spiritual Era's arrival. However, the concept of elemental tides was best understood by the Martial Emperor and Zhao Xing.
Great Zhou's forces in the Western Extreme Glacier Lands were reduced by 80%, leaving only a 20% garrison. Yet, the Martial Emperor bolstered the military capacity of various provinces in the Western State.
The Purple Spirit Ruins' Dao Field trial site, inherently a treasure trove, became a prime location for the cultivation of top-tier powerhouses.
In the spring of Yuan Shou Year 81, Zhao Xing had returned to Yong State.
After the Spring She Festival, Ji Che held a grand coronation ceremony, formally declaring Zhao Xing the King of Zhao, granting him Six Noble Emblems, and bestowing 49 ranks of honor.
In terms of nobility, Zhao Xing received the highest accolades.
Additionally, Ji Che directly allocated the prosperous Dayuan Prefecture of Pinghai State as Zhao Xing's fiefdom. Dayuan Prefecture, Zhao Xing's hometown, included Nanyang County.
As Pinghai State's wealthiest region, the assignment of Dayuan Prefecture as a fiefdom stirred significant dissent. Nonetheless, given Zhao Xing's monumental contributions and Ji Che's firm stance, the coronation ceremony proceeded smoothly.
Following the coronation, rumors began circulating within the court, suggesting that Zhao Xing was more suitable for the Grand Shennong role.
These opinions, initially arising in Tianyong State, gradually spread to Daoyuan State, subtly gaining momentum.
In the summer of Yuan Shou Year 81, in Daoyuan State, at Shangluo Academy, on an otherwise tranquil day, Zhao Xing suddenly appeared beneath the Myriad Dao Tree, where Liu Tianning was immersed in comprehending the Heaven and Earth Soldier Scripture.
"Teacher, I have a request," Zhao Xing stated.
Liu Tianning opened his eyes. "Speak."
With a formal bow, Zhao Xing said, "Teacher, please step down from your position."