The surface of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine quivered, its patterns rippling as it emitted an angry roar that sounded like a chorus of dragons.
Compared to the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine, the size of the Moyun Vine was almost negligible. Yet, its mere presence caused the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine to grow agitated and uneasy. The moment the Moyun Vine entered the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine's territory, the latter went berserk, attacking every living thing around it! "Boom—"
The ground churned violently, as if boiling. Countless trees and massive beasts were swept up by the rolling earth, becoming nourishment for the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine.
Within moments, the thousand-mile radius around the vine was reduced to a barren wasteland devoid of life.
"To counter the threat of the Moyun Vine, the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine adopted extreme measures, devouring all life in the surrounding area to strengthen itself while also creating an advantageous battlefield. This massive entity has indeed developed intelligence."
"However, this intelligence wasn't achieved through cultivation. It's a collective consciousness formed by consuming too many sentient beings. From a cultivation perspective, it's entirely malformed. While it may benefit the vine before its ascension, it'll face catastrophic problems during tribulations."
Zhao Xing observed from a distance. In the vast universe, he had encountered such situations many times before. Utilizing special consciousness to "contaminate" an opponent's plant-based soldiers was a secret technique of the Self School.
"This Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine is incredibly close to the Ascension Stage. It's cunning, treacherous, and violent. Among all forms of life, plant-based entities are often the strongest. Even a true Path-Binding cultivator would suffer greatly against it."
Heaven's balance dictated that plant-based life forms had much higher requirements for growth. The resources and time they needed far exceeded other life forms. However, once they matured, invincibility in the same realm was almost guaranteed, and even cross-realm challenges were not uncommon.
This was why practitioners of the Self School who roamed the universe were either exceedingly rare or highly skilled.
"Roar— (What are you?)"
Zhao Xing carefully listened to the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine's roars, realizing it was attempting to communicate in Dragon Tongue. However, its Dragon Tongue was garbled and impure, and Zhao Xing could only make out the gist of it. "Leave! This is my territory."
The Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine thrashed its tentacles wildly. Its main vines numbered thirty-six, with even the thinnest among them exceeding a hundred meters in diameter and capable of extending over ten thousand meters into the sky. They looked like towering mountains swaying in the air.
Its secondary vines were countless, spreading across the ground as if searching for the intruder.
But it couldn't locate the Moyun Vine because, at this moment, the Moyun Vine was hidden in the void.
Zhao Xing could sense the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine's growing anxiety, akin to the frustration of a homeowner discovering an assassin lurking outside their door, armed with a cannon but impossible to locate.
If it were a person, they could flee. Relocation was an option. But for the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine, whose roots stretched deep into the earth, escape was not an option.
"Zzzzz—"
The Moyun Vine seemed displeased with the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine's noisy commotion. Its purple-gold leaves emitted a faint, mysterious mist.
The palm-sized leaf swayed gently, yet it seemed to tug at the fabric of the heavens and earth. "Rip—"
A black rift suddenly appeared, tearing through space! Zhao Xing's eyes reflected an extraordinary sight.
The heavens and earth became a vast canvas, and the Moyun Vine acted like a master tailor. With a simple gesture, the canvas was divided into hundreds of pieces.
It was perfection—a masterpiece. The void rifts aligned perfectly with the patterns on the Moyun Vine's leaves, magnified many times over.
The entire Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine was ensnared. In that instant, countless secondary vines were severed, and even three of its massive main vines were sliced apart. "Splat—"
The severed vines spewed a liquid that resembled fresh blood.
"Void slicing? Wait, big brother, don't kill it!" Zhao Xing shouted urgently. He had summoned the Moyun Vine to suppress the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine, not to kill it outright.
"Use the void-sealing technique—the one you used on the Ice Soul Divine Tree!"
Zhao Xing shouted loudly, relying on this method to convey his intentions. Since his Divine Soldier Art couldn't penetrate the Moyun Vine's internal structure, he had no way to establish effective communication.
He could only use the connection between the Pure Essence Soil and the Moyun Vine to transmit his thoughts.
Fortunately, the Moyun Vine seemed to understand. The void slicing technique dissipated, and the purple-gold aura returned to its left leaf.
Then, the right leaf began to glow.
The patterns on the right leaf were entirely different, turning pitch-black.
The Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine, which had been thrashing violently, suddenly froze, unable to move. All that remained were its fearful howls. "Now's my chance!"
Zhao Xing immediately used his Rule Jump to charge toward the base of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine. "Buzz—"
The Pure Essence Projection expanded to its maximum, completely enveloping the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine's main vines. As for the root network in the surrounding area, it had to be severed.
There was no other choice. While Zhao Xing's Pure Essence Soil was vast, it wasn't enough to transplant the entire Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine, root network and all.
"Cut!"
A golden light flashed within the Pure Essence Soil—a trait of the soil's metallic sharpness.
The roots were severed instantly, and the connection between the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine and the Dragon Court's soil was cut off. In its place, the Pure Essence Soil enveloped it completely.
"Rise!"
With a thunderous shout, Zhao Xing pulled the entire Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine into the Pure Essence Space.
The next step was to follow the standard procedure: using the Spirit Energy Spring to nourish the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine's roots, helping it adapt to the environment of the Pure Essence Soil as quickly as possible.
"The collective consciousness of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine must be eradicated. The Moyun Vine can't suppress it constantly—it's too draining on the Moyun Vine's energy."
Unlike other plant-based life forms, the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine had self-awareness. Its counterattacks weren't instinctual but premeditated.
If it took advantage of the soil to cause chaos and kill the other plants, Zhao Xing wouldn't even have the energy to cry about it. "Divine Soldier Art! Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers!"
Zhao Xing's divine soul and vital energy surged into the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine's body. "The vine's internal structure is like a human's meridians."
"Search for its consciousness and find where its 'Sea of Consciousness' resides."
"Hmm? It has thirty-six collective consciousness nodes?"
Zhao Xing's powerful soul quickly detected thirty-six locations within the vine where soul-like presences existed.
"Buzz—"
Using his multitasking ability, Zhao Xing split his focus into thirty-six parts, following the internal pathways of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine to locate its "Sea of Consciousness."
Inside, the vine resembled a labyrinth. Yet Zhao Xing navigated it smoothly, thanks to the void-sealing effect of the Moyun Vine and the overwhelming superiority of his soul compared to the vine's chaotic consciousness.
Inside the thirty-six vine structures, clusters of red glowing spheres wriggled like blood-colored jellyfish.
"Destroy!" Zhao Xing commanded, simultaneously activating the Soul-Devouring Spear. Several black soul spears materialized. With the fully evolved sixth-tier Soul-Devouring Spear, he effortlessly obliterated the thirty-six strands of consciousness.
"Let's give it another round of refinement," Zhao Xing muttered.
He proceeded to eliminate the chaotic consciousness and used spiritual energy to cleanse the interior of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine.
For plant-based combat entities like the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine, post-battle care was essential to prevent them from growing astray. "Hmm? It seems like it already has the foundation for consciousness formation?"
While refining it, Zhao Xing discovered a cluster of chaotic energy at a certain section of the vine's primary stem.
It was clear that this was the core area where the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine's consciousness would normally emerge. "Let's leave a wisp of divine thought here," Zhao Xing decided, immediately splitting off a portion of his soul energy.
This served two purposes: assisting the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine in accelerating the birth of its self-awareness and ensuring he maintained control over its developing consciousness.
When the vine's self-awareness fully formed, it would automatically acknowledge Zhao Xing as its master.
"Done!" Zhao Xing said with satisfaction.
The Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine had three major innate abilities:
Infinite Extension: The primary stem of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine possessed terrifying elasticity. It could expand and contract, harden or soften, lengthen or shorten at will.
Normally, the thirty-six main vines stretched up to ten thousand meters. With the infinite extension ability, they could reach a maximum of a thousand kilometers. However, at such extended lengths, its defensive strength dropped significantly, making it difficult to retract.
Practically speaking, the extreme extension ability was not very useful in combat. Enemies would have long fled before the vine could stretch out to its full range.
Zhao Xing determined that this ability was most effective against large-scale targets within a range of one hundred kilometers, as it allowed both defense and attack to remain at the Rule Stage level.
Death Barrier: The thirty-six main vines could form a massive encirclement. Within this Death Domain—a variant of the Life Domain—the vine could drain an opponent's vitality and even life force.
Zhao Xing used it as a key support component in the "Four Seasons Divine Splendor," replacing the position originally held by the "Yellow Springs Tree." Its role was to extract the enemy's life force.
Of course, the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine's primary function remained blood energy devouring. It could also emit its own potent blood energy, akin to the blood energy field of martial artists. While this field could break through spell restrictions, it was still distinct from the pure energy field generated by the Yellow Springs Tree.
Dragonbane: The Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine was naturally suppressive toward dragons. Zhao Xing couldn't fully understand why, but the vine seemed particularly fond of devouring dragons. Its primary stem could withstand the majority of dragons' innate abilities.
It almost seemed as though the vine was specifically designed for hunting dragons.
"Could the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine be a species modified by the Abyssal Demons and then abandoned here?" Zhao Xing speculated.
In dragon history, the Abyssal Demons were the primary culprits responsible for the destruction of the dragon race.
Zhao Xing had encountered numerous ancient battlefields in the Young Dragon King City, including even the ruins of exalted dragon nurseries such as those overseen by Dragon Emperor Xie, which had suffered catastrophic devastation.
"Did the Abyssal Demons, an ancient race from the universe, discover the Xuanhuang World and wage a war against the dragons in ancient times?" Zhao Xing pondered. However, the distant past of the ancient Dragon Court was shrouded in mystery and no longer verifiable.
"Forget it. The four divine trees are ready; time to wrap things up." Zhao Xing clapped his hands and approached a flower basket containing the Moyun Vine. Its curled leaves appeared slightly singed.
"Big guy, did you curl your leaves on purpose? When you manifest your consciousness, are you planning to be a blond-haired guy?" Zhao Xing teased.
He reached out to smooth the leaves, but the Moyun Vine playfully snapped back, curling up once again.
"Alright, fine. You want to curl your leaves, then curl them," Zhao Xing relented, encircling the Moyun Vine with his spiritual energy to let it familiarize itself with his soul aura.
Strengthening the bond with this "big brother" was indeed necessary.
"Now that the Four Divine Trees are complete, it won't take long before I can cultivate the 'Four Seasons Divine Splendor.'"
Both the Heaven and Earth Plant Soldier Canon and the Divine Soldier Art could serve as the foundation for cultivating the "Four Seasons Divine Dao Field." This method of ascension, unique to the Self School, relied on four natal plants to achieve spatial transcendence.
In theory, ascension through the Self School was easier compared to the other two schools. If the selected four natal plants achieved breakthroughs, the practitioner's rank as a Shennong would advance accordingly.
With some luck, finding four plants on the verge of breakthroughs could allow for a nearly effortless ascension.
However, transforming a plant into a natal plant required complete mastery of the second level of the Divine Soldier Art or the fifth level of the Heaven and Earth Plant Soldier Canon. Moreover, creating the Four Seasons Divine Splendor Domain—an extension of the Symbiotic Domain—was essential.
The difficulty was still present, but during the Spiritual Qi Era, breakthroughs were relatively more accessible compared to the Heaven and Earth Schools. Strong plant life forms were easier to come by in this era of abundant spiritual energy.
Zhao Xing transformed into a five-clawed golden dragon and flew toward the Central Dragon Court, heading for the Misa Palace of Dragon Emperor Xie to undergo his metamorphosis.
"The Misa Palace is brimming with spiritual energy. In about ten years, I'll be able to refine the Symbiotic Domain. Ten years will also be sufficient for the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine and the Ice Soul Divine Tree to recover."
"A Rule Stage peak Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine and a late Rule Stage Ice Soul Divine Tree. The Dragon Spirit Bamboo and the Lihuo Lotus are at mid-Rule Stage."
"Once I master the Symbiotic Domain, the Four Seasons Divine Splendor will nourish my physical body, enabling me to break through to the Rule Stage without consuming Great Zhou's fortune."
Harvesting the Four Seasons Divine Splendor to achieve a breakthrough was akin to drawing from the essence of the world. The difference was that one method relied on external forces, while the other tapped into the inner universe for creation and transformation.
Zhao Xing's Pure Essence Soil, enriched with spiritual mountains, spiritual springs, the Four Divine Trees, and abundant spiritual energy, was in an ideal state during the current surge of primordial energy. With no restrictions from Heaven and Earth, this breakthrough method became feasible.
In the 42nd year of Yuan Shuo, Zhao Xing entered the ancient grounds of the Dragon Court. During the first decade, he emptied the Dragon Court's treasures, transplanted two divine trees, and guided Yin Xiu in warfare.
For the second decade, Zhao Xing's primary body remained in the Misa Palace for cultivation while keeping a thread of consciousness on Yin Xiu's battles. Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, it was the 62nd year of Yuan Shuo.
According to prior rules, the Dragon Court should have closed by now.
However, the Heavenly Dragon Gate remained open. Although the number of individuals allowed to enter and exit was restricted, the dragons of the ancient land were forbidden from leaving. The upheavals in the Dragon Court attracted immense attention.
Neither the Fangwai Alliance nor Great Zhou withdrew from the Eastern Sea; instead, both sides increased their forces.
Everyone understood that if the restrictions on the Dragon Court's ancient lands were lifted, an overwhelming power capable of overturning the current balance would emerge.
At the heart of the Dragon Court stood the Misa Palace.
Zhao Xing's body continued to expand, and four radiant divine lights swirled around him, cleansing and refining his body.
"My physical body has successfully broken through to the Rule Stage, and the seven souls within me have also been strengthened," Zhao Xing muttered, observing the changes.
"After the baptism of the Four Seasons Divine Splendor, my body can now be considered a Divine Splendor Golden Body." He looked at himself in surprise, marveling, "But this size… it's a bit much."
Zhao Xing's body had grown to a towering height of a hundred meters!
"The transformation of my life level is inevitable. One can't expect such power without some physical growth. Normally, when a Shennong breaks into the Rule Stage, their body size increases to around ten meters. But mine is a hundred meters," he mused.
"That said, a hundred-meter Golden Body isn't uncommon among Rule Stage martial artists. Only the Self School's breakthrough method can barely compare to the physical magnification of martial artists," Zhao Xing analyzed.
As his Divine Splendor Golden Body manifested, intricate life patterns emerged on his skin. These patterns symbolized the power of the Four Seasons Divine Trees within him.
The Lihuo Divine Lotus imprint appeared on his left chest, corresponding to the heart.
The Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine imprint appeared on his upper right abdomen, corresponding to the liver.
The Ice Soul Divine Tree imprint manifested at his waist, corresponding to the kidneys.
Finally, the Dragon Spirit Bamboo imprint emerged on his right chest, corresponding to the lungs.
"This arrangement isn't perfect, but under the constraints of the Xuanhuang Realm, it'll have to do," Zhao Xing muttered. Ideally, there would be five imprints perfectly corresponding to the Five Elements, but he had only the Four Seasons Divine Splendor to work with.
"Breaking into the Rule Stage comes with three transformative changes."
"The first is the transformation of my Pure Essence Soil. It's beginning to evolve into Pure Spiritual Soil. At the same time, the vital energy within me is transitioning to spiritual energy. By the time I reach the Dao Establishment Realm, the transformation will be complete," Zhao Xing explained, examining the changes within himself.
"At that stage, the power of all my techniques will ascend to a whole new level. Even techniques of the ultimate spell tier, when fueled by spiritual energy, will become a hundred times stronger."
Of course, utilizing spiritual energy for spells and upgrading techniques to their full potential required reaching the Dao Establishment Realm—commonly referred to as the Ascension Stage in the universe.
The ability to utilize spiritual energy marked the threshold for spells at the Ascension Stage, while mastering a Dao Field signified mastery of the "Dao" at that level.
"The second transformation is in the nature of my Rule Domain. Now, it can persist even if I leave its range," Zhao Xing remarked.
He pointed toward the sky, and instantly, ten suns appeared above. This was the Great Heat Domain in action.
"In the past, if I left the range of my domain, the ten suns would vanish as the heavens naturally restored balance. But now, even if I leave, the Great Heat Domain can last for about a year," he noted, gazing at the blazing suns.
Previously, domains were fragile constructs, like sandcastles easily toppled by external forces. But upon reaching the Rule Stage, these domains became more solidified, akin to sandcastles compressed into durable structures.
Upon reaching the Ascension Stage, domains would be akin to castles of stone, deeply rooted in the fabric of heaven and earth, with near-permanent existence—unless disrupted by catastrophic events.
"However, under the influence of the primordial energy tides, most of these 'castles' will eventually collapse. The energy tides of the Xuanhuang Realm will erase the majority of Dao Fields," Zhao Xing commented, aware of the limitations even at his current level.
"The third transformation is related to the constraints of lifespan," Zhao Xing noted as he checked his status panel:
[Name: Zhao Xing]
[Realm: Rule Stage – Early Phase]
[Occupation: Shennong]
[Fortune: Derivation Nine]
[Essence Gathering: Level 100]
[Divine Soul: Rule Stage – Mid Phase]
[Remaining Lifespan: 1,850 years]
"In the seventy-first year of Yuan Shou, my remaining lifespan was 1,530 years. Now, a hundred and ten years have passed, and not only has my lifespan not decreased, but it has actually increased. As I continue cultivating, my lifespan will only grow further. So long as I don't become an emperor, I'll live much longer than any ruler," Zhao Xing concluded with a grin.
"And finally, I've reached Level 100!" he exclaimed.
"Let's test the capabilities of the Divine Splendor Body," Zhao Xing said, transforming his right hand into a dragon claw and slashing it to create a deep wound. However, the wound healed instantly, as though it had never existed.
He proceeded to cast multiple spells in rapid succession, draining his vital energy to less than thirty percent. With a mere thought, his dantian instantly replenished his energy reserves.
"The Divine Splendor Body maximizes recovery. As long as the Divine Trees remain intact, I'll always be in peak condition," Zhao Xing mused. "Even if I lose an arm, it'll regenerate instantly. That's the advantage of the Self School's methods."
For the Heaven and Earth Schools, achieving such regenerative capabilities would be unthinkable.
After shrinking his body back to a normal size, Zhao Xing adjusted to his newfound powers. Having broken through the constraints of the Rule Stage, he could now freely manipulate his form.
"It's time to leave seclusion," he declared.
With a single thought, Zhao Xing's avatar in the ancient city of Gucheng summoned Hog. The dragon spirit of Hog bowed low before him.
"Dragon Emperor," Hog addressed reverently.
"Hog, inform Yin Xiu and Yin Li to gather all the Dragon Kings and battle generals. Deploy additional forces to the border of Longyuan Kingdom. Tell them the time has come to face the Purple Dragon God," Zhao Xing commanded.
"As you command!" Hog responded excitedly.
Dragon Emperor Era Year 320, Yuan Shuo Year 62, Autumn.
The Dragon Emperor Zhao initiated the War of Unification.
Using the Dragon Emperor Codex, Zhao Xing issued the Divine Edict, his voice reverberating across the entirety of the ancient Dragon Court.
In the sacred language of dragons, he enumerated the countless crimes of the Purple Dragon God, including colluding with the Abyssal Sea's rogue dragons and the Abyssal Demon Clan, using demonic artifacts to kill Great Dragon Kings and Dragon Kings, and seizing control of the Longyuan and Tianhai Kingdoms.
Finally, Zhao Xing declared the Purple Dragon God a rogue dragon and announced his intent to personally lead an expedition to Longyuan Kingdom.
In the same year, during the winter, Zhao Xing arrived at the Nine-Star Inferno, where he freed seven Great Dragon Kings, including Zhi. He also used his authority as Dragon Emperor to awaken the ancient Great Dragon Kings and Dragon Kings slumbering across various kingdoms.
By the Dragon Emperor Era Year 322, Yuan Shuo Year 64:
The number of Great Dragon Kings who had joined Dragon Emperor Zhao's forces totaled forty-one, and there were over five thousand Dragon Kings. Zhao Xing had successfully rallied the legitimate dragon forces of the Xuanhuang Realm under his banner.
At the same time, the Purple Dragon God was also awakening rogue Dragon Kings and Great Dragon Kings from the Abyssal Sea.
The Purple Dragon God had managed to obtain a fragment of the Dragon Emperor Codex from the Abyssal Sea and, through demonic power and Abyssal Demon energy, corrupted the fragment into what became known as the Rogue Dragon Codex.
However, the Purple Dragon God was unable to corrupt the Abyssal portion of the Dragon Emperor Codex.
This was because Dragon Emperor Xie's body contained the final fragment of the Codex, which suppressed the Abyssal forces. Overall, the Purple Dragon God remained at a disadvantage.
When it came to the number of Dragon Kings and Great Dragon Kings, he could not compare to Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing's ability to gain a third piece of the Dragon Emperor Codex was a long-prepared foundation laid since the first time he entered the Dragon Court. Compared to the Purple Dragon God, Zhao Xing had a 300-year head start and occupied a position of orthodoxy.
If Emperor Jing were still alive, he might finally understand why Zhao Xing had said it was impossible to unify everything back then. Against such terrifying powers, the meager numbers of the human race simply couldn't compete.
Both Zhao Xing and the Purple Dragon God tacitly ordered their human members to exit the Dragon Gate.
In the 335th year of the Dragon Emperor Era, and the 77th year of Yuan Shuo, another 13 years had passed. Both sides were preparing for the ultimate battle.
The reason for the long delay was that the Great Dragon King and the Dragon King needed time to recover their strength after their revival.
At this moment, Zhao Xing stood at the final location of the Dragon Court—Tian Yuan (Abyss of the Sky).
A deafening roar echoed through the atmosphere.
"Roar!"
Fierce winds howled, and a colossal hurricane swirled around an abyss that seemed bottomless. The sound of the gale itself was akin to dragon roars, and the wind was dark and oppressive.
A five-clawed golden dragon emerged, cutting through the layers of the hurricane, arriving at the top of Tian Yuan.
"The fractured boundary wall of the Ancient Land of the Dragon Court," Zhao Xing murmured, gazing silently at the dark, unfathomable abyss below.
"This was the location where the Abyss Demonic Tribe invaded during ancient times."
Around him lay enormous remnants of battle, dragon bones as tall as mountains scattered everywhere. There were also countless weapons resembling the Star Dao Soldiers of legend. However, the passage of time had reduced these artifacts to mere dust, devoid of their former divine luster.
"It feels as though the Xuanhuang Realm was invaded in ancient times, and the dragon race made a desperate resistance."
"But there's far too little left behind to deduce what the so-called 'Abyss Demonic Tribe' was. I can only hope that Dragon Emperor Xie will help uncover the truth."
In his previous life, Zhao Xing had never been to Tian Yuan. When he ascended, there was no need for him to manually revive spiritual energy, nor did he care about unifying the Dragon Court.
Moreover, the requirements to enter this place were incredibly stringent: a cultivation level of at least Level 100, possession of a piece of the Dragon Emperor Codex, and mastery of the ultimate Hou Transformation Technique. Meeting even one of these conditions was a monumental task.
"It is said that Dragon Emperor Xie used his own body to seal the entrance to the abyss and suppressed it with the most critical chapter of the Dragon Emperor Codex, the Divine Power Chapter."
The Dragon Emperor Codex had been split into three parts: Law Chapter, Sea Command Chapter, and Divine Power Chapter.
Zhao Xing had obtained the Law Chapter, which contained the Dragon Emperor's edicts and spells, granting unparalleled power to strip and promote dragons.
The Purple Dragon God possessed the Sea Command Chapter, which governed the seas, including the Abyssal Sea and the outer waters of the Dragon Court Continent. Like the Law Chapter, it also held the power to strip and elevate dragons.
The difference between the two lay in their domains: one ruled the land, the other the sea. Their powers were equivalent in scale and were crucial for suppressing and pardoning rebellious dragons.
As for the Divine Power Chapter, it controlled the Heavenly Dragon Gate, the very source of power, making it the core of the three components.
"Dragon Emperor Xie used the Divine Power Chapter to suppress Tian Yuan. The Purple Dragon God will never gain recognition from it. He can only wait for me to retrieve this component before attempting to kill me to unite all three parts."
"After so many years, the so-called Abyss Demonic Tribe should no longer exist," Zhao Xing thought. The Xuanhuang Realm had no known 'neighbors' in its surroundings.
"Either there used to be neighbors, or some force passed by the Xuanhuang Realm and tried to plunder its resources," he muttered, studying the surrounding ruins. The scars of battle, including mountain-like remnants and fragments of warships, hinted at what had once occurred here.
After much deliberation, Zhao Xing finally made up his mind to descend into Tian Yuan and retrieve the crucial Divine Power Chapter.
From a perspective of strength in both quantity and quality, Zhao Xing held the advantage. The only real obstacle was the Purple Dragon God, a formidable opponent.
Zhao Xing didn't have absolute confidence in defeating the Purple Dragon God. After all, the Moon God had once intended to kill him in the Dragon Court, with the Purple Dragon God acting as the executor. The latter undoubtedly had hidden trump cards. Gaining possession of the Divine Power Chapter would increase his chances of victory.
"Let's go!" Having made his decision, Zhao Xing hesitated no longer.
With a resounding roar, Zhao Xing activated his Ancestral Dragon Transformation and plunged rapidly into the abyss.
For an entire month, he flew through the depths of the earth before reaching his destination.
Amidst a vast expanse of gray mist, a massive dragon over ten thousand li long floated in the haze. It looked as though it were alive—its dragon scales and flesh perfectly intact, each scale imbued with profound mysteries of the Dao.
In its mouth, it clutched a golden stone tablet. Its whiskers floated gently, and its eyes exuded an aura of majesty, as if watching over something in a specific direction.
This was the most lifelike dragon Zhao Xing had ever seen, resembling an Ancestral Dragon to an astonishing degree. Yet, it lacked the faintest trace of a soul.
As Zhao Xing descended further, he encountered a repelling force. A surge of power scanned his body back and forth.
"The power of the Dragon Emperor Dao Field," Zhao Xing murmured.
Without hesitation, he produced the piece of the Dragon Emperor Codex in his possession and fully activated the ultimate Hou Transformation Technique, the Ancestral Dragon Transformation, pushing it to its absolute limit.
After years of cultivation within the Dragon Court, his mastery of the Ancestral Dragon Transformation had reached the level of Sixth Ultimate Transformation, a pinnacle rarely achieved.
Here is the complete translation of the provided text:
"Buzz~"
Suddenly, the binding disappeared, and Zhao Xing descended into the Dragon Emperor Dao Field.
As he approached the body of Dragon Emperor Xie, Zhao Xing suddenly felt a tremor in his heart. Instinctively, he unfolded his Pure Essence Projection, and a dragon egg floated out.
"Roar~"
A dragon roar echoed as a dragon-shaped light shadow emerged from Dragon Emperor Xie's body—a Dao Body Manifestation! The dragon shadow fixed its gaze on Zhao Xing while simultaneously observing the supreme dragon egg.
"(Dragon language) Excellent. You have obtained the Codex, visited the Young Dragon King City, and yet refrained from consuming this supreme dragon egg to enhance your bloodline. You are indeed a qualified inheritor of the Dragon Emperor's legacy."
Zhao Xing froze for a moment. Who would have thought the dragon egg was part of such a test?
To be honest, he had thought about consuming the supreme dragon egg to practice the Hou Transformation Method, but he ultimately gave up.
It wasn't because of any sudden burst of compassion, but rather because his innate talent was already strong enough, and he felt it unnecessary to waste such a precious supreme dragon egg. "The fact that you've reached this place proves you are qualified in every respect."
"I don't know how much time has passed since then, but I will tell you everything that happened. It is up to you to decide whether to retrieve the divine power section of the Codex and lift the Dragon Clan's ancestral land restriction."
Zhao Xing listened quietly.
"The Ancestral Dragon split the heavens, giving life to all things. The Dragon Clan fought in the Xuanyuan Realm, forming the Celestial Court. Long, long ago, our clan, under the leadership of the Ancestral Dragon, ruled over the entire Xuanyuan Realm," Dragon Emperor Xie explained. "According to legend, when the Ancestral Dragon reached the mythical realm, it shattered the void and ascended, leaving the Xuanyuan Realm."
"The Ancestral Dragon left behind a warning: the Xuanyuan Realm is too small. If we don't leave this place, we will devour everything here until the Xuanyuan Realm becomes barren, or we will destroy each other."
"From then on, the Dragon Court was led by the first-generation Dragon Emperor, 'Chi,' who initiated the era of ascension."
"One generation of Dragon Emperors succeeded another, with countless members of our clan ascending and leaving the Xuanyuan Realm to explore the magnificent universe."
"With each ascension, the Dragon Ascension Platform recorded their glorious deeds. Occasionally, the Ancestral Dragon and various generations of Dragon Emperors would return to the Xuanyuan Realm to share stories of the universe with their people. These accounts are preserved in the murals of the ancestral land."
Zhao Xing was startled. The Dragon Emperor and the Ancestral Dragon could return to the Xuanyuan Realm?
"That doesn't make sense. How could they return? Did individual ascensions allow for such movement back then? The Xuanyuan Realm doesn't have anything like the 'Hidden Rift Mirage' now."
Dragon Emperor Xie, being merely a Dao Body Manifestation, couldn't answer Zhao Xing's question. Instead, it continued its narrative: "Later, unforeseen changes occurred."
"The Ancestral Dragon returned for the last time and told us that the Xuanyuan Realm would no longer be habitable and that ascension would become difficult. Ascending alone would be nearly impossible."
"It was during this period that the reigning Dragon Emperor began the mass migration of the entire Dragon Clan, preparing to leave the Xuanyuan Realm together. But it was at this time that the Demon Clan appeared."
A star map unfolded in the Dragon Emperor Dao Field, and three stars were magnified.
The "Three-Star Positioning Method" appeared—a common technique in the universe for determining coordinates. Zhao Xing observed it carefully, and suddenly he realized, "The ruins of the Kasen Clan? Their timeline aligns with that of the Dragon Clan in the Xuanyuan Realm."
The Xuanyuan Realm now lacked neighbors, but that didn't mean it always had. The ruins of the Kasen Clan were the first landmark players encountered after leaving the Xuanyuan Realm.
Back then, some people had investigated the ruins, only to find nothing. Those three celestial stars were completely barren, offering no benefits.
No one paid it much mind, treating it merely as a background for entering the universe.
"The Demon Clan faced the same issue as we did—resource shortages. Thus, they waged war against the Xuanyuan Realm."
"They broke through the boundary wall and created a passage into the Xuanyuan Realm, plundering resources on a massive scale."
"From that moment on, the Dragon Clan entered an era of war."
"About one epoch later, both the Xuanyuan Realm and the Demon Clan's homeland entered the Post-Spiritual Qi Era," Dragon Emperor Xie said with a tinge of desolation in its voice. "The slaughter only grew more intense. During this time, neither the Ancestral Dragon nor successive generations of Dragon Emperors ever returned to the Xuanyuan Realm."
Zhao Xing nodded slightly. It made sense that they never returned, as this aligned with his impression of the Xuanyuan Realm.
"With our ancestors not returning and the spiritual energy vanishing, both sides fell into panic. The slaughter intensified, and eventually, it was no longer just about resources or ascension but survival itself."
"I was born at the end of the seventh Yuan Qi Epoch. The Demon Clan, being stronger than us, forced the fourth Dragon Emperor before me to retreat to the Dragon Court's ancient grounds, where he issued a decree forbidding us from leaving without reason."
"The Demon Clan ravaged the resources of the Xuanyuan Realm, but it wasn't enough for them. To them, our Dragon Clan itself was a resource," Dragon Emperor Xie said, his tone filled with anger.
Zhao Xing couldn't help but sigh. Wars between races were often wars of extinction—neither side would stop until the other was completely annihilated.
"When I became the Dragon Emperor, even the ancient grounds of the Dragon Court were no longer safe. The number of rebellious dragons increased drastically, and the powers left behind by previous Dragon Emperors dwindled. Even the powers left by the Ancestral Dragon had completely vanished."
Zhao Xing immediately thought of the Yuan Qi Tides. The so-called power of the Dragon Emperors and the Ancestral Dragon likely referred to the Dao Field, which had been erased by repeated Yuan Qi Tides.
"For the last shred of dignity for the Dragon Clan, I could only sacrifice myself and use my innate divine abilities to seal the Abyssal Passage."
"Fortunately, the Demon Clan was no longer as powerful as they once were. In the last 5,000 years of my life, I saw them retreat, never returning to the Xuanyuan Realm."
"In my calculations, they too were inevitably entering a decline. However, my observation period was too short—merely 5,000 years. Perhaps one day, they may return in full force."
"So, I leave this information behind."
"Whether to retrieve the Dragon Emperor Codex and pass judgment to the new emperor is your decision," Dragon Emperor Xie said, and with that, the Dao Body Manifestation dissipated. Zhao Xing began organizing the Dragon Emperor's final words.
"Thinking about it carefully, the Xuanyuan Realm was once capable of individual ascension. The Kasen Clan existed during that time, which means the Xuanyuan Realm was once filled with vitality and spiritual energy."
Zhao Xing sighed again. Wars between races were often wars of extinction—neither side would stop until the other was entirely wiped out.
"When I became the Dragon Emperor, even the ancient grounds of the Dragon Court were no longer safe. The number of rebellious dragons increased drastically, and the powers left behind by previous Dragon Emperors dwindled. Even the powers left by the Ancestral Dragon had completely vanished."
Zhao Xing immediately thought of the Primordial Qi Tide. The so-called power of the Dragon Emperor and the Ancestral Dragon was likely derived from their Dao Fields, and the repeated Primordial Qi Tides had gradually erased this power.
"For the final dignity of the Dragon Clan, I could only sacrifice myself, using my innate divine ability to seal the Abyssal Passage."
"Fortunately, the Demon Clan was no longer as strong as it once was. In the five thousand years before my death, I witnessed their retreat, and they never returned to the Xuanhuang Realm."
"In my calculations, their decline was inevitable. However, my observation period was too short—just a mere five thousand years. Perhaps one day, they may rise again."
"That is why I have left this information."
"Whether to take the Dragon Emperor Codex and hand it over to the new emperor for judgment is up to you."
After finishing these words, the Dao Projection of Dragon Emperor Xie dissipated.
Zhao Xing began processing the words left behind by Dragon Emperor Xie.
"Thinking carefully, the Xuanhuang Realm was once capable of individual ascension, and the Kashen Clan also existed during that time. This means that the Xuanhuang Realm was previously full of vitality and spiritual energy, not a desolate region of the cosmos," Zhao Xing mused.
What is a desolate region of the cosmos?
In the universe's classification, regions are determined by the spiritual energy index. Any area with an index lower than 1 is considered a "Cosmic Wasteland."
A vivid image formed in Zhao Xing's mind: the Xuanhuang Realm was once a massive tree within a lush forest.
The inhabitants of the Xuanhuang Realm were akin to the creatures living on the tree.
In the vibrant forest, there were many such trees similar to the Xuanhuang Realm. However, one day, the land began to "desertify," dropping the spiritual energy index below 1.
As a result, the forest withered, leaving only the Xuanhuang Realm and the Kashen Star as the last two standing trees in the desert. The creatures of these trees sought to leave for another forest but found their provisions insufficient.
Thus, they turned their sights on the neighboring tree.
"Cutting down the Xuanhuang Realm would provide enough nutrients to migrate to a more habitable location. And so, the war began."
"However, since the trees themselves were sentient, both the Xuanhuang Realm and the Kashen Star suffered from depleted spiritual energy. Traversing the cosmic regions became increasingly arduous, and phenomena such as 'Illusory Break Anomalies' appeared, causing those who had ascended earlier to lose the ability to find their homeland."
"The longer the conflict dragged on, the weaker both sides became. With the arrival of the Primordial Qi Era, neither side had the capability for ascension."
"The Xuanhuang Realm was slightly sturdier and managed to survive in the wasteland, but the three realm stars of the Kashen Clan completely perished."
"This is the cosmic background familiar to the players—a solitary Xuanhuang Realm standing amidst a cosmic desert. To ascend, one must seize the rare blessing of spiritual rain from the heavens."
"But the intervals between the reviving spiritual rains have grown longer and longer, turning the resurgence of spiritual energy into a mere legend."
As he pondered, Zhao Xing felt that the mysteries of his past life were unraveling. "So, the Dragon Court's instance was part of the cosmic background story."
"The so-called disappearance of the Abyssal Demons and the removal of the Divine Power Chapter of the Dragon Emperor Codex won't have any negative impact." Zhao Xing activated his Soul's Heavenly Sight to observe the surroundings.
He discovered that, after countless years, the boundary wall had already healed on its own. Zhao Xing was unable to see beyond the boundary. If the boundary wall had been weak or had a breach, he would have been able to observe the stars of the outside universe.
Since there were no signs of this, it meant the boundary wall had been repaired by the Xuanhuang Realm's self-healing abilities.
"Retrieve!" Zhao Xing decisively stored away the stone tablet mentioned by Dragon Emperor Xie.
"Buzz~"
The two fragments of the Dragon Emperor Codex automatically fused, releasing a golden radiance that spread throughout the heavens and earth. Even the Dragon Gate over the Eastern Sea began to faintly appear.
"After the fusion, this artifact has been elevated to a top-tier Star-Tier Dao Weapon. If all three fragments are combined, it could ascend to the level of a Realm-Star Dao Weapon, though such weapons are specifically attuned to the Dragon Clan."
Zhao Xing absorbed the completed Dragon Emperor Codex and swiftly flew out of the Abyss.
In the 335th year of the Dragon Emperor Era, during the 77th year of Yuanshuo, Zhao Xing obtained two fragments of the Dragon Emperor Codex. He decisively led an army into the territory of the Longyuan Kingdom, initiating a grand decisive battle.
With the enhanced Dragon Emperor Codex, Zhao Xing was now able to suppress even the Great Dragon Kings. Their power was completely neutralized.
In the 336th year of the Dragon Emperor Era, during the 78th year of Yuanshuo, four of the twelve Great Dragon Kings of the Longyuan Kingdom perished, while the remaining eight fled. The forces under the Purple Dragon God were forced to retreat to the Ancient Kingdom of the Heavenly Sea, relying on the Malevolent Sea for defense.
It took Zhao Xing only a year to annex the Longyuan Kingdom. With this, only one kingdom remained among the Nine Kingdoms—the Heavenly Sea Kingdom.
The difficulty of conquering the Heavenly Sea Kingdom was slightly higher. Zhao Xing spent nine years fighting his way to its capital.
In the 345th year of the Dragon Emperor Era, during the 87th year of Yuanshuo, Zhao Xing finally confronted the Purple Dragon God for the first time. The Purple Dragon God was at the late-stage Rule Realm, wielding the Abyssal Demon artifact Kashen Pearl and the Rebellious Dragon Codex.
After a grueling seven-day battle, the Purple Dragon God was defeated. Forced to abandon the capital, he led his subordinates to retreat toward the Malevolent Sea.
Zhao Xing immediately discerned the Purple Dragon God's true intentions. The retreat was a deliberate ploy to lure Zhao Xing into the Malevolent Sea, where the power of the Dragon Emperor Codex would be diminished.
Nevertheless, Zhao Xing had no choice but to pursue. Only by obtaining the remaining fragment of the Dragon Emperor Codex could he fully unify its power.
"It seems the Purple Dragon God has truly laid his plans in the Malevolent Sea," Zhao Xing remarked as he stood aboard a dragon ship, gazing at the dark waters in the distance.
"The Purple Dragon God's true strength should be at the perfected Rule Realm. He's pretending to be at the late stage, thinking I wouldn't notice. He's holding back, but during our last battle, I didn't use my full power either."
"What hidden methods could he have prepared to kill me? What cards is he still hiding?" Zhao Xing closed his eyes, reflecting on his past life experiences and analyzing the current situation meticulously.
On paper, his chances of victory seemed high.
After all, he hadn't fully utilized the power of his Four Sacred Trees. Only the Dragon Spirit Bamboo and the Lihuo Lotus had been revealed. Still, Zhao Xing deliberated carefully.
A year later, in the 346th year of the Dragon Emperor Era, during the 88th year of Yuanshuo, Zhao Xing finally launched his attack on the Malevolent Sea.