"I need to borrow the Fortune Gold List and the Mountain and River Diagram," Zhao Xing said. "These two artifacts, with the arrival of the Yuanqi Tide, have gradually increased in potency, and their effective range has also expanded."
Heading abroad to seize opportunities will inevitably lead to conflicts. With these two artifacts, things will be much easier.
"The Fortune Gold List and the Mountain and River Diagram? No problem!"
"You don't need to make a trip to the treasury, Brother Zhao. I'll bring them directly to you," Ji Che said. With a flick of his hand, the next moment, two artifacts pierced through the air and arrived.
The two artifacts appeared in the form of scrolls, one large and one small, one golden and one gray.
"Fortune Gold List." Zhao Xing received the artifacts, and upon seeing the Fortune Gold List, his expression turned nostalgic.
"What makes you so sentimental, Elder Brother?" Ji Che asked.
"I was hunted by rebel forces back then because of this," Zhao Xing said.
The Fortune Gold List had been in the hands of King Liang, Ji Mingxian, during the later period of the Jingxin Era. The list could rank all significant high-level experts within a specific range.
At the time, Zhao Xing, after writing the Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Celestial Cycle, was invited by Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing of the Hou Bian faction to help calculate the fluctuations of the cave-heaven cycles for contested passages.
Because of this, Zhao Xing's name was prominently featured on the list, as his actions posed a significant threat to what King Liang was planning to do.
In other words, the Fortune Gold List didn't just display personal information within its range but also evaluated the importance of individuals in terms of friend or foe.
The Fortune Gold List had originally been an extraordinary treasure, but with the updates brought by the Yuanqi Tide, its power had grown even stronger.
"King Liang... Hmph, that treacherous scoundrel," Ji Che said, his tone laced with anger as he heard the name.
During the late Jingxin Era, King Liang rebelled, causing extreme damage to the Great Zhou Dynasty.
In Pinghai Prefecture and Lüliang Prefecture, vast populations were lost. To this day, some areas hadn't recovered to their pre-war levels.
King Liang's rebellion also allowed the External Alliance to enter the Great Zhou borders, wreaking havoc. Even now, tales of evil gods persist among the common folk.
"Elder Brother, did you know there are still rumors claiming King Liang is alive?" Ji Che asked.
"King Liang is alive?" Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned. "How is that possible? Wasn't he trapped in Liang King's City and killed by the Ten Directions Array set up by the Hunyuan Warship?"
Ji Che nodded. "Indeed, that's what the records say, but the late Emperor once doubted this."
"Don't forget that the Corpse Ghost Sect is known for their Soul Splitting Technique. It's hard to say if King Liang practiced some sort of demonic art."
"In recent years, my men have searched for traces of him in the External Realms. There are faint rumors that he transformed into immortal and hid within the Realm of Slumber."
"You don't need to worry," Zhao Xing said, sensing Ji Che's unease. "Even if he's alive, what of it? He couldn't accomplish much when he held command over the Great Zhou's forces and possessed numerous treasures. How could he make waves now as an External Realm vagabond?"
"Still, such rumors are always a disgrace to the royal family," Ji Che said. "He was once known as a wise and virtuous king, renowned for leading troops against Yin You Mountain. His betrayal remained a thorn in the late Emperor's heart."
"No matter what, if you happen to visit the External Realms, could you help verify the truth of this matter for me?" Ji Che requested.
"Alright," Zhao Xing agreed. He was certain that King Liang had perished in the Great Zhou, as the matter had been decisively concluded. Even if he was alive somewhere in the External Realms, Zhao Xing had no intention of letting it bother him.
As Zhao Xing mentioned earlier, Ji Mingxian couldn't stir trouble when he commanded a powerful military and possessed awe-inspiring artifacts. He certainly wouldn't pose a threat now in the External Realms.
However, for Ji Che and the royal family, it was a humiliation. If King Liang truly practiced some form of corpse-reviving demonic art, Ji Che would undoubtedly want to erase the disgrace.
After all, if King Liang were alive, he could easily tarnish Emperor Jing's name with a few well-placed words. Ji Che, as a loyal son, could not tolerate that.
Still, Zhao Xing couldn't help but smirk at the thought—did Emperor Jing even need further tarnishing?
The two quickly brushed aside the unpleasant topic and returned to their discussion.
"Elder Brother, how do you plan to arrange this expedition?" Ji Che asked.
This question referred to the personnel Zhao Xing would bring, where to start, and whether Ji Che needed to coordinate diplomatic efforts.
"The Great Zhou will send a small number of elites abroad to seek breakthroughs. Fighting on foreign soil is inherently disadvantageous. If battles can be avoided, they should be. Diplomatic means are necessary but should be prepared to escalate if required," Zhao Xing explained.
"We won't bring too many people; a smaller group is better for maneuvering. I'll take three to five trusted individuals who are familiar to me."
"I already have a preliminary list: Ye Yukong, Junior Chief of the Ministry of War; Luo Tian, Chief Mechanist; Ji Yun, an official of Destiny; and Cui Chengzhi, Chief Physician of the Ministry of War."
Ji Che nodded in agreement. These five individuals were all first-rank experts, trustworthy in both loyalty and capability.
Heading abroad to seek breakthroughs didn't leave much room for rituals or spiritual ceremonies. The most viable path was to elevate the dynasty's fortune, and these individuals represented the seedlings of future Rule Stage cultivators.
"Will you be going yourself, Elder Brother?" Ji Che asked.
"My main body? Of course not. I'll send an avatar," Zhao Xing replied with a smile.
"When the Emperor's forces have achieved more breakthroughs, the effectiveness of Cloud Dream Academy will increase, farming efforts will expand, and the dynasty's fortune will naturally rise."
"At that time, I'll request a baptism of fortune from the Emperor to allow my physical body to break through."
Zhao Xing's current efforts were aimed at increasing the overall fortune of the Great Zhou. One of the key methods was nurturing more Rule Stage cultivators.
Ye Yukong and the others were essentially the seedlings of the Rule Stage, and Zhao Xing's avatar would lead them abroad to cultivate their potential.
When the Great Zhou's fortune ascended another tier, Zhao Xing could absorb it to enhance his cultivation. It was a simple and safe plan.
This approach was fundamentally no different from his earlier "fortune theft" schemes. However, the methods had shifted from draining resources recklessly to a sustainable development model.
At Zhao Xing's current level, there was no need to risk his life. Sending an avatar would suffice.
Ji Che said, "Indeed, there's no need for you to take such a risk. No matter how skilled you are at protecting yourself, if the Moon God doesn't play by the rules and is determined to kill you, your life will still be in danger."
"The Yuan Qi Tides have lasted for a hundred years. With the divine artifact I bring, I can rival the power of the Dao Establishment Realm. But that Moon God might not even need a divine artifact to already be in the Dao Establishment Realm."
Zhao Xing nodded in agreement. The Dao Establishment Realm comes with its own Dao Field, and his Substitute Straw Puppet wouldn't even work against Ji Che, let alone the Moon God.
The Dao Field is an incredibly terrifying ability. The tests set up by Qing Yuzi back then were all based on the creation of a Dao Field.
Even a being as powerful as the Five-Eight Divine Sovereign, who had nearly reached the Rule Domain Realm, could be suppressed within the Dao Field, reduced to a state where even Zhao Xing could defeat him.
Even when the Five-Eight Divine Sovereign regained full strength later, Zhao Xing, with the help of Qing Yuzi's Dao Field, could easily annihilate him with just a wave of his hand.
Take the Dao Field in Daoyuan Continent, for example—a place for people to spar and discuss the Dao. It has no offensive power, only restorative and protective capabilities.
Even though the creator of that Dao Field has been dead for countless years, the Dao Field left behind still possesses unfathomable abilities.
For instance, when Liu Tianning sparred with Zhao Xing, they fought with all their might, yet the Dao Field ensured neither of them could kill the other. If a lethal attack were detected, a protective shield would activate and teleport the target away.
There's also the Dao Field of the Divine Lord of Lihuo, which is bound to the Lihuo Divine Altar and enables teleportation regardless of distance.
Additionally, during certain specific months and hours, it can amplify the power of spells cast by disciples of the Lihuo Dao Academy...
Such phenomena all showcase the power of a Dao Field. The Dao Establishment Realm is the pinnacle of combat power in the Xuanhuang World.
Of course, Qing Yuzi's version of the Dao Establishment Realm far surpasses the ordinary Dao Establishment Realm.
"I have another concern about this trip," Zhao Xing said. "If the divine artifact is accidentally lost or taken..."
"Then that's perfect," Ji Che said with a laugh. "It would give me a legitimate reason to attack them."
"Hahaha," Zhao Xing joined in the laughter. "Some things are indeed too hot to handle if stolen."
After laughing, Ji Che asked, "Elder Brother, have you decided when to depart and where to start?"
"I'll leave after Teacher and the Princess's wedding," Zhao Xing replied thoughtfully. "As for the entry point, I won't take the conventional route. I'll depart from Hulu Heaven, guarded by the King of Beichen."
"That works well," Ji Che nodded. "It will also give us a chance to test whether the King of Beichen harbors any resentment."
"..."
Zhao Xing was momentarily speechless. He had no such intention; he simply thought Hulu Heaven, guarded by the King of Beichen, was a shortcut.
But Ji Che's instinctive remark reflected his strategic mind. As expected of Old Jing's descendant.
Liu Tianning, the former Grand Shennong, and Princess Youruo, the eldest princess of the Great Zhou, were to have their wedding grandly celebrated.
The preparations for the wedding alone had taken an entire year.
The formal marriage included multiple ceremonies and numerous sacrifices.
For instance, on Purple Sky Island in the Eastern Sea, they held a ceremony to honor Princess Youruo's great-grandmother.
In Liu Tianning's hometown of Taihe Commandery, another ceremony was to take place.
Additionally, locations such as Fengjing, Nanzheng (the royal family's ancestral land), Shangluo Academy, the Princess's fief, and Liu Tianning's fief required countless rituals and formalities.
Looking at the Ministry of Rites' detailed schedule, Zhao Xing estimated it would take two and a half years to conclude the entire wedding process.
"No wonder the Princess has a bad temper. A wedding like this must be utterly exhausting," Zhao Xing muttered as he flipped through the records, already feeling fatigued just from reading.
Incredible.
Considering that many powerful beings have lifespans of a thousand years or more, hosting a two-and-a-half-year wedding wasn't excessive.
Some weddings in the cosmos lasted even longer. There were cases where a citizen was born while an emperor's wedding was ongoing, and by the time that citizen had died, the emperor's wedding was still not over.
"In my past life, I gained a lot of experience freeloading at these banquets. For beings with long lifespans, such endless feasts are a great opportunity to milk for all they're worth," Zhao Xing thought as he stared at a flowerbed, lost in thought.
"The Grand Shennong speaks truly. Different beings utilize time differently," someone remarked.
"To a powerful being, a banquet may last one or two years, while to ordinary mortals, it's merely a day or two."
"And for certain insects, their lives span only a day or two. Within that short time, they experience growth, mating, reproduction, and death."
"What a brief yet magnificent life. Insects are truly remarkable beings."
Yingluo.
Hearing this, Zhao Xing was startled. He turned to see Ji Yingluo approaching.
Ji Yingluo had come to admire the flowers in the promenade. Her long dress, made of the finest materials, shimmered with the brilliance of the sunset. Embroidered with golden phoenixes spreading their wings, every feather seemed alive, ready to soar off her dress at any moment.
She wore a shawl as thin as cicada wings, adorned with countless tiny pearls. Each pearl was perfectly round and translucent, exuding a gentle glow. They formed floral patterns or mysterious runes. When the breeze stirred, the pearls clinked together, producing a pleasant, musical chime like a celestial melody.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Zhao Xing bowed respectfully.
"The Grand Shennong is too polite," Ji Yingluo replied, returning the courtesy before standing beside Zhao Xing to admire the flowers.
However, her focus wasn't on the flowers but the insects in the flowerbed.
Glancing at the ornament at Ji Yingluo's waist, Zhao Xing couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, have you entered the Dao of Creation Academy?"
Ji Yingluo smiled. "Indeed. Two years ago, I went for a visit, found it quite intriguing, and decided to settle there."
Sensing the subtle energy within Ji Yingluo, Zhao Xing remarked, "It seems Your Highness did more than just visit."
"As expected of the Grand Shennong's sharp eyes; you saw through it at a glance." Ji Yingluo extended her finger, and a tiny blue light appeared. "Look, Grand Shennong, I call it Yifu. It's a symbiotic beneficial insect. With its help, both flying spells and martial techniques are greatly enhanced."
Zhao Xing was momentarily speechless. Princess Ji Yingluo, this so-called "Millennium Princess," had indeed embarked on the path of insect cultivation.
Not wanting to interact further with someone so eccentric, he exchanged a few perfunctory words before bowing and taking his leave.
Watching Zhao Xing's retreating figure, Ji Yingluo's expression flickered between happiness and disappointment.
She was pleased that her "Yifu" insect had at least drawn Zhao Xing's attention for a moment, but disappointed that his gaze lingered so briefly.
Ji Yingluo was not much older than Ji Che. Back when the young Martial Emperor was spirited away by Zhao Xing during a bridal abduction, Ji Yingluo had been in the prime of her youth.
The romantic ideal of heroism mixed with the thrill of an abduction was, in Ji Yingluo's eyes, the pinnacle of romance.
Sadly, she had very few opportunities to interact with Zhao Xing over the years. Even when they attended the same banquets, their conversations were limited. Zhao Xing appeared utterly indifferent toward her.
"Yifu can make him look at me twice. If he can look at me twice, then why not three times, or four? One day, his gaze will be filled with nothing but me," Ji Yingluo mused, regaining her composure before departing the promenade.
Zhao Xing participated in the four main ceremonies of Liu Tianning and Princess Youruo's wedding, held respectively in Fengjing, the Eastern Sea, Taihe Commandery, and Shangluo Academy.
Interestingly, he didn't have much opportunity to converse with Liu Tianning but became quite familiar with Cui Chengzhi and Ji Yun, both prominent figures in their own right.
The most memorable among them was Cui Chengzhi. At the gift-giving segment, while most people brought traditional items such as "Jingtai Fetal Protection Pills" or "Five Progeny Elixirs," Cui Chengzhi chose to include a range of aphrodisiacs, like the "Kirin Pill" and the "Rehmannia and Peony Elixir," presumably to "liven things up" for the newlyweds.
When the gift list was read aloud, it caused uproarious laughter among the guests.
Liu Tianning, visibly embarrassed, wished he could throw Cui Chengzhi out immediately. After all, presenting such items could lead people to question his vitality. But only Cui Chengzhi, who served as a military physician under the late King Luohou alongside Liu Tianning, would dare make such a joke.
Currently serving as the Grand Physician of the Military Realm, Cui Chengzhi was skilled in treating internal and external injuries and was adept at refining elixirs for nourishment and recovery. Notably, three out of the twelve enhancement formulas for the Devouring Method at the twelfth layer were created by him.
As for Ji Yun, she served as a Fate Officer under Ji Si, one of the Thirty-Six Junior Fate Officers.
Ji Yun was a descendant of the War God Ji Shuang and, in terms of lineage, a niece of King Tianyan and a cousin to Ji Che. Ji Si, who had no daughters of her own, treated Ji Yun as one and passed down many of her skills. Ji Yun had mastered the Art of the Temporal Letter and was entrusted with wielding the divine artifact, the Golden List of Heavenly Luck.
After attending the four ceremonies, the early spring of the 84th year of Yuan Shou arrived. Zhao Xing refrained from attending further wedding events, delegating his responsibilities to others.
Zhao Xing's avatar, accompanied by Ye Yukong, King Shenluo, Ji Yun, and Cui Chengzhi, headed toward the Kingdom of Beichen.
During Liu Tianning and Princess Youruo's wedding, the Great Zhou Dynasty engaged in active diplomacy, leading to a brief period of peace with its neighbors.
Teams like Zhao Xing's, numbering eight in total, were dispatched overseas to seek opportunities in the Heavenly Creation Domain, striving to break through to the Rule Domain.
"We've arrived at Mingyuan Prefecture in Lingyuan Continent," King Shenluo remarked.
"Grand Shennong, should we beat the drums to announce our arrival?" Ye Yukong suggested. "Let's see how much Beichen has improved over the past two years."
Seeing his eager expression, King Shenluo laughed. "The Grand Shennong isn't here to audit accounts. What are you even saying?"
"Besides, there's no longer a Beichen Kingdom. Qin Feng is just a County Duke now." Though commonly still addressed as King Beichen, Qin Feng's official title had been reduced to Duke of Beichen following the dynasty's reorganization.
"Such a shame. If I'd been there, I could've witnessed the excitement," Ye Yukong said wistfully. "I wonder what became of the Shentu siblings."
Ji Yun replied, "The Queen turned into a chicken, and the Chancellor became a dog. Former Beichen citizens mockingly call them the Chicken Queen and the Dog Chancellor."
Her face, still showing traces of youthful roundness, grew indignant as she added, "Those two wretches ruined the reputation of the Ji royal family!"
Cui Chengzhi chuckled. "I've heard similar tales. It's said that after Shentu Ming turned into a wild dog, the citizens of the former Beichen capital took to chasing him around, ensuring he was never well-fed but not starving to death either."
"Rumor has it he's still alive, though his suffering must be worse than death by now."
Their group continued their lighthearted chatter as they approached an entrance to Hulu Heaven in the Mingyuan Prefecture.
The entrance was marked by towering stone gates nestled between two mountain peaks connected by fortified military structures. This was one of the primary gateways to Hulu Heaven.
King Beichen had traveled far to welcome them and appeared to have been waiting for quite some time.
As Zhao Xing's ship docked, King Beichen, along with his son, disembarked and bowed at a level slightly below the ship's deck. "Qin Feng, Guardian of the Twin Gates Peak, greets the Grand Shennong."
Adhering to protocol, Qin Feng addressed Zhao Xing by his official title. Although stripped of his noble rank, Qin Feng's duties had shifted from the dual heavens to guarding the Twin Gates Peak. His military command over the regions of Yuyang Heaven and Hulu Heaven remained unchanged.
"General Qin, please rise," Zhao Xing said. "Thank you for waiting. Please lead us into Hulu Heaven."
"It's my honor. This way, Grand Shennong," Qin Feng replied courteously, his demeanor polished.
After the incident years ago, Qin Feng had come to terms with many truths—about himself, his position, and the reality of power. Even reaching the Rule Domain meant little; after all, wasn't Deus, the fallen ruler of the Sith Kingdom, defeated in the northwest despite his might? Qin Feng dared not entertain delusions of grandeur anymore.
"General Qin, could you give us an overview of Hulu Heaven's current state?" Zhao Xing invited Qin Feng aboard, while his son took the lead to guide their way.
"Hulu Heaven, as the name suggests, is shaped like a gourd," Qin Feng began, seamlessly transitioning into his briefing. "Its narrow waist divides it into two halves, shared equally by the dynasty and the sect alliance."
"This division is primarily because the narrow passage is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Additionally, the corresponding exit in the real world is partially located outside Lingyuan Continent, so the court never intended to claim the entire region."
Zhao Xing nodded thoughtfully. Hulu Heaven would be strategically challenging to control due to its multiple entrances and sprawling exits. Moreover, the section outside the dynasty's territory would only complicate governance.
For these reasons, the court and the sect alliance had settled on a practical arrangement: each would claim half of Hulu Heaven.
As time passed, the once-quiet Hulu Heaven was about to transform into a bustling center of activity. At the far end of Hulu Heaven lay a peculiar region known as Jixi Dao.
It was rumored that this location harbored an extraordinary opportunity—an unparalleled chance for cultivators to break through the Rule Domain Realm.
"Does the Beichen Army have any intelligence on Jixi Dao?" Zhao Xing inquired.
"We do," replied the King Beichen with his characteristic military precision.
"The court controls Southern Hulu Heaven, which only has four entrances. However, Northern Hulu Heaven boasts thirty-six, five of which lead directly to Jixi Dao."
"Jixi Dao gets its name from its narrow and elongated terrain," the King Beichen elaborated.
"It spans an area equivalent to roughly four prefectures. Predominantly wilderness and dense forests, it has been jointly divided between the Corpse Puppet Sect and the Four Extremes Sect for use as a standard cultivation ground."
The King Beichen quickly ordered a detailed map to be brought over.
Peering at the map, Cui Chengzhi remarked with intrigue, "This looks like a Cave-Heaven Anomaly, as if a fiery abscess has grown from it."
"What makes it special?" someone asked.
Qin Feng shook his head. "Its value is rather low. Jixi Dao has always been treated by the two sects as an ordinary breeding ground. It rarely attracts attention. If anything stands out, it would be its terrain, which seems to expand and shrink unpredictably."
"In the early years of the Yuanshou Era, Jixi Dao only occupied two prefectures. By the fiftieth year of the era, it had expanded to eight prefectures. Yet, in recent years, it has contracted back to four."
"Do we know why?" Ye Yukong wondered aloud. "How can a place fluctuate in size like that?"
"No idea," replied the King Beichen with a shake of his head.
"The mysteries of the world are endless, and humanity's understanding of Cave-Heaven Micro-Worlds is less than one ten-thousandth," Ji Yun interjected. "Certain phenomena remain inexplicable."
Zhao Xing listened intently, nodding slightly as he processed the information.
From the King Beichen's description, Zhao Xing was reassured he had come to the right place.
"The reason Jixi Dao behaves this way is because it underwent a significant transformation in ancient times," Zhao Xing revealed. "It was once the secluded cultivation retreat of a powerful figure from antiquity."
"What? Are you saying it's a Dao Field?" Ji Yun asked in astonishment.
"Indeed," Zhao Xing nodded. "However, this Dao Field is incomplete."
He recalled, "For reasons unknown, it was destroyed, becoming a fragmented Dao Field. The profound Dao contained within has faded, and much of the traces left by its powerful owner have vanished."
"The terrain of the Cave-Heaven Micro-World expands and contracts with the ebb and flow of spiritual energy, which explains why the landscape of Jixi Dao fluctuates in size."
"That's where we're headed," Zhao Xing declared.
The King Beichen raised a brow, puzzled by Zhao Xing's level of familiarity. Could it be that even this place had been explored by Qing Yuzi and recorded in his inheritance? If so, Qing Yuzi must have been exceptionally diligent.
Upon entering Southern Hulu Heaven, Zhao Xing, Ye Yukong, Shenluo King, Ji Yun, and Cui Chengzhi paused to rest and prepare at a military base named Beichen Delta, located near Northern Hulu Heaven.
While there, Zhao Xing took the time to brief the group.
"Jixi Dao is a peculiar place," he began.
"When its Dao Field manifested in the world, its incomplete state caused the original principles established by its creator to become warped and distorted."
"What do you mean?" Ye Yukong raised his hand immediately.
"Does everyone recall the Great Ancestor's Dao Vow?"
"'One must not intrude upon land with a rightful owner. Those who are not citizens of our court are forbidden from cultivating within the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty,'" Ji Yun, as a royal descendant, recited almost instinctively.
"Exactly," Zhao Xing agreed. "Or consider examples like True Lord Lihuo borrowing flames to enhance his Dao, with a principle of repaying the borrowed twice over.
"Now, imagine this: in an incomplete Dao Field, certain rules set by its creator become fragmented as well."
"Hypothetically, what if the Great Ancestor's Dao Vow were warped into something absurd, such as 'married men are prohibited from entering'?"
Ji Yun: "…"
Shenluo King: "Cough, cough."
Ye Yukong suddenly understood. "Ah, so that's how the distortion works!"
Cui Chengzhi pondered Zhao Xing's example and became intrigued. "So, does that mean there might be places where only unmarried individuals are allowed to enter?"
"Precisely," Zhao Xing nodded. "That's just an example, though. In reality, an incomplete Dao Field could lead to countless bizarre transformations."
"The unnamed creator of this Dao Field also established many mundane rules. For example, from midnight, all noise is forbidden, and one must sleep. By dawn, everyone must wake to begin cleaning and tidying."
"At the time for the morning meal, specific nourishment must be consumed. During training hours, cultivation is mandatory. At noon, one must bathe and offer worship…"
Ye Yukong was dumbfounded. "This is far too mundane! How bored must that powerful figure have been to establish such rules?"
Cui Chengzhi chuckled. "It's not so strange. If a cultivator who reached the Dao Establishment Realm took in disciples within Jixi Dao, and establishing Dao Vows was relatively simple for them, then creating rules to regulate disciples through those Vows would be highly convenient."
Zhao Xing nodded in agreement. "Lord Cui's analysis is spot on. In the ancient era, when spiritual energy was abundant, establishing a Dao Vow was significantly easier.
"In fact, during the development of a Cave-Heaven Micro-World, erasing or rebuilding Dao Vows was even more convenient."
"Many powerful cultivators have eccentric temperaments. Creating strange and quirky rules isn't uncommon. Of course, certain Dao Vows that go against the natural order are unsustainable in the long term."
Zhao Xing continued to explain, "Hence, Dao Vows are often tied to certain conditions, such as time, environment, seasons, or the fortune of a dynasty."
"For example," he said with a hint of amusement, "let's call this ancient figure the 'Jixi Daoist.' This person's Dao Vow was likely tied to time, setting specific rules for disciples."
"If the Dao Field is incomplete, the Dao Vow becomes disrupted, leading to substantial variations in the rules experienced by those who enter the Dao Field."
Ye Yukong extrapolated, "So, it's possible for night and day to reverse, requiring people to sleep during the day and cultivate at night? Midnight might prohibit noise but instead demand conversation?"
Zhao Xing chuckled. "If it were that simple, it'd be manageable. But what I'm referring to is even more absurd. Do you think that qualifies as bizarre?"
"Huh? It gets worse?" Ye Yukong's mind spun. Could it truly reach the level of barring married men?
"What kind of absurd rules do you know, Grand Shennong?" Ji Yun asked curiously.
"For example," Zhao Xing offered, "rules like sleeping and eating simultaneously, or bathing and worshiping concurrently."
Ji Yun: "..."
Ye Yukong: "..."
King Shenluo: "..."
Sleeping while eating? Strictly speaking, that's impossible. If you're eating, you're obviously not truly asleep.
Clearly, the rules are harsh enough that they can't overlap. The latter examples were even more ridiculous—bathing while worshiping?
Everyone would be bathing together while bowing in worship. Wouldn't that be the ultimate embarrassment and public humiliation?
"What happens if someone breaks the rules?" Cui Chengzhi asked.
"Death," Zhao Xing replied.
"Hiss~"
Everyone gasped audibly.
"No wonder they say exploring incomplete Dao Fields is extremely dangerous," Cui Chengzhi commented, feeling a chill.
It wasn't just dangerous for those at the Rule Domain level. Even cultivators at the pinnacle of the Rule Domain wouldn't necessarily survive the Dao Field's effects.
Take True Lord Lihuo's Dao, for instance. Borrowing fire and repaying it with a walk on foot—if one lacks the appropriate permissions, even Rule Domain cultivators couldn't violate such rules.
"In the Xuanhuang World, incomplete Dao principles are relatively rare," Zhao Xing explained. "Most fragmented Dao principles are found in micro-worlds like Cave-Heavens or Blessed Lands."
"As I mentioned earlier, if a Dao principle is too far removed from the Heavenly Dao's cycle, certain functions of the Dao Field will be erased. That's why we live in an essentially normal world and environment outside these anomalies."
"You won't suddenly find yourself in a wilderness where you're required to perform handstands while urinating—lest you die in a ridiculous way."
"Even Dao Establishment-level Dao must align with the Heavenly Dao cycle. Rules that make survival impossible can't persist," Ji Yun remarked with a helpless tone. "In past discoveries within the Great Zhou's secret realms, some incomplete Dao Fields were indeed unusual, but Jixi Dao is simply outrageous."
Zhao Xing shrugged. "It's not entirely Jixi Dao's fault for being bizarre. The Qi tides play a significant role in this."
"The shift from the Qi Era to the Spiritual Qi Era represents a reconstruction of the natural order. During this transformation, many Dao principles established by Dao Establishment cultivators were cleansed."
"This process is gradual, not instantaneous. As a result, Dao principles left behind by these cultivators became further distorted, to the point of being unrecognizable."
"Zhao Xing, how do you know so much about this?" Ye Yukong asked in amazement. "Did Qing Yuzi visit this place before?"
How did he know? Naturally, it was due to the painful lessons learned by countless revivals.
Qing Yuzi wouldn't have had the leisure to record such trivia, and there was no guarantee he had even been to Hulu Heaven.
"Hmm, he wandered through many parts of the Xuanhuang World," Zhao Xing nodded.
King Shenluo pondered, "Grand Shennong, what should we do if we encounter an unfulfillable rule? Wouldn't that be extremely dangerous?"
Zhao Xing considered this and replied, "The first method of handling such situations is recognizing that some rules allow for a time buffer. We can simply retreat from Jixi Dao within that period and re-enter once it's safe."
"The second method involves finding a safe zone."
"As I mentioned earlier, since it's an incomplete Dao Field, there are areas unaffected by these rules. Even a nearby village might be a safe zone."
Hearing Zhao Xing's explanation, everyone couldn't help but feel the extreme danger of this place. But at the same time, the greater the risk, the higher the chance of breakthroughs!
"The erasure of Dao Establishment-level principles intensifies the primal energy fluctuations caused by Qi tides in these regions."
"This, in turn, significantly increases the probability of breaking through the Rule Domain."
"I have Qing Yuzi's inheritance, which can help you understand many bizarre rules. Moreover, my main body will continually send avatars ahead to test the waters for you."
"How high is the probability?" King Shenluo asked cautiously.
"Out of ten attempts, seven succeed. Do you think that's high?" Zhao Xing replied.
"High! That's insanely high!" Ye Yukong was visibly excited. Seven out of ten? A 70% success rate!
Excluding Ji Che, the Great Zhou only had eight Rule Domain cultivators in total. With such a tempting opportunity before them, how could anyone resist?
"The risk of death is equally high," Zhao Xing added.
"Grand Shennong, if you hadn't warned us, what would the mortality rate in Jixi Dao be?" King Shenluo asked.
Zhao Xing glanced at Ji Yun. She had closed her eyes earlier and now opened them again, her face slightly pale. "Also 70%."
Cui Chengzhi shrugged. "Relax. To seize the fortunes of heaven and earth, how can there be no risk?"
"Cultivation itself is a path that defies the heavens. Dying on this path is completely normal! Don't you agree, Zhao Wang?"
"Haha." Zhao Xing laughed, glancing at Cui Chengzhi. This guy certainly had a fearless attitude, with a "life and death, bring it on" spirit.
It made sense. As a military physician, he had seen his fair share of life and death.
"In truth, even with just a 10% success rate, every major faction would still send people to try their luck," King Shenluo said solemnly.
"If you don't go, but your enemies do, and they succeed in breaking through, it will pose a significant threat. The power imbalance could lead to heavy casualties in future conflicts."
"What's more, the success rate here is exceptionally high, and we have Grand Shennong's guidance."
Ye Yukong asked, "Zhao Xing, can't we bring more people?"
Zhao Xing shook his head. "Numbers won't help. The transformations brought by the Qi tides generate just enough fortune to allow a small number of individuals to break through."
Using weaker cultivators to pile up success was not feasible.
Even though the threshold for breakthroughs in such heaven-sent opportunities was much lower, not just anyone could succeed. At a minimum, one needed to have cultivated a domain and reached perfection in the Destiny Palace Realm to meet the basic conditions.
"Everyone, I've said all I can. Danger and opportunity coexist," Zhao Xing said, sweeping his gaze over the four companions. "You are free to choose whether or not to go. Neither the Emperor nor I will force anyone."
"Choosing not to go doesn't mean you'll be looked down upon. Perhaps staying behind and waiting for future opportunities might allow you to progress even further."
Zhao Xing fell silent, observing the four. This kind of opportunity was naturally reserved for the most talented individuals.
Ye Yukong, King Shenluo, Ji Yun, and Cui Chengzhi—all were unparalleled geniuses. If they broke through, the Great Zhou would greatly benefit.
"I'll go," Ji Yun was the first to speak.
Cui Chengzhi smiled without saying a word—he had already expressed his stance.
King Shenluo nodded. "If I lack the courage to take this step, I don't deserve to advance further."
"I'm the same!" Ye Yukong stood up.
"Good," Zhao Xing said with a smile. "Let's set off."