Yun Tiandao had emerged.
He approached.
Zhao Xing got punched.
Yun Tiandao's chest rose and fell as he maintained his stance. A storm seemed to gather in his eyes. He had just delivered a hundred uppercuts to Zhao Xing, but because his speed was so fast, it looked as if he had thrown only one punch.
Why did he hit Zhao Xing? Because Yun Tiandao was furious.
He knew that even if he asked Zhao Xing after coming out, he wouldn't get an answer immediately. Zhao Xing would only speak after he had ascended. He definitely wouldn't reveal anything now, just to scatter Yun Tiandao's focus and continue disturbing his Dao Heart.
Since Zhao Xing refused to speak, Yun Tiandao decided to simply dislocate his jaw and shut him up!
Zhao Xing neither dodged nor resisted. After all, he had to let someone vent their frustration.
So, he simply looked at Yun Tiandao with an apologetic expression.
After Yun Tiandao was done, Zhao Xing rubbed his jaw and snapped it back into place.
"Brother Yun, this fist technique of yours is called 'Lesser Four Seasons Hou Transformation Fist,' right?" Zhao Xing said helplessly. "If you just wanted to test whether what I said was true, you didn't have to throw so many punches. Just one would have been enough for me to name the technique. This is the same set of moves you learned when you were the Grand Shennong of the Xia Dynasty, taught to you by that woman—"
"Enough! No need to bring up old matters!" Yun Tiandao's expression darkened. How the hell did this guy know everything?!
Of course, Zhao Xing knew. In his past life, Yun Tiandao had personally told him about it.
Suppressing his anger and regaining his composure, Yun Tiandao finally calmed down. He stared at Zhao Xing and said coldly, "If you're lying, then congratulations. You've successfully tricked me into coming out, and now I have no other path left."
Zhao Xing's expression turned serious. "Brother Yun, I'm not lying to you. At most, in a hundred years; at the least, fifty years—you will know everything."
Achieving ascension, in Zhao Xing's estimation, would take somewhere between fifty to a hundred years.
With Ji Che establishing the Dao, the timing was already ripe. The conquest of the Southern Barbarians wouldn't take that long.
Yun Tiandao didn't waste any more words. Since he had made a choice, he would follow through to the end, no matter what. "The Epoch House must have a new master before I can completely leave the Ruins of the Return."
"I have now stepped out of the core of the Epoch House. You have about four hours to decide who will take my place."
Hearing this, Zhao Xing nodded. "I won't need that long. I'll find them right now."
Yun Tiandao didn't follow him.
As Zhao Xing went to find Ji Che and the others, Yun Tiandao adjusted his robes at the doorway, even though they had no wrinkles. Then, he took one last look at the courtyard that had trapped him for countless years.
His expression shifted from reluctance, to worry, to confusion. But soon, it turned into excitement and anticipation.
"Zhao Xing," he murmured with a slight smile.
In the end, he became calm once more.
—
When Zhao Xing arrived at the resting area,
Yun Ze was pacing back and forth in the hall. Lu Xia picked up his teacup again, watching the tea leaves swirl.
Kan Qing and Xiao Yun were casually chatting with Lingdie Fairy, while Chen Yu was studying the hanging cloud-and-rain painting on the wall.
Ling Tianchen and Wang Tianzhi sat beside Ji Che, their expressions relaxed, while Ji Che had his eyes closed, meditating.
Seeing this scene, Zhao Xing slowed his steps.
"As expected, only Old Wang and Dean Ling are the best choices."
He had asked Ji Che to have everyone else leave. In reality, it was part of an evaluation process.
Ji Che, by choosing to rest in the same place as Lingdie Fairy, had sent a strong signal to the group—Zhao Xing was definitely going to convince Yun Tiandao.
And if he was definitely going to convince him, that meant the next question was: Who would take Yun Tiandao's place?
Zhao Xing and Ji Che trusted these seven people. They knew that every single one of them would be willing to do it.
But willingness was one thing. Whether they could endure it was another matter entirely.
Becoming the new master of the Epoch House meant becoming a lonely watcher.
This duty wasn't for just one or two years, not even a hundred or two hundred years. It was a million years!
Not everyone was suited for such a task.
"I'm back," Zhao Xing said as he stepped into the hall.
Ji Che opened his eyes and met Zhao Xing's gaze. The two exchanged a silent nod.
The seven Shennong officials immediately quieted down and turned to look at Zhao Xing.
"Your Majesty, Senior Yun has agreed to leave seclusion."
The moment Zhao Xing's words landed, the group erupted in cheers.
"That's great!"
"Hahaha, as expected of the Grand Shennong!"
"Yun Ancestor really is an amazing forefather—"
"Too bad he has a descendant like you, tsk."
"Dean Kan, what nonsense are you spouting? Dean Lu, look at her!"
"Insufferable."
Of all those present, the most shocked was Lingdie Fairy.
She had been Yun Tiandao's disciple for the past thousand years. After her teacher passed away, she became Yun Tiandao's eyes in the Xuanhuang Realm.
She knew this grandmaster far too well. By all logic, he should never have come out mid-way.
His willpower was beyond formidable—he had endured a million years of solitude!
Yet, Zhao Xing had actually convinced him?
"Lord Zhao, is Master really out?"
"Yes. Fairy, you may go see for yourself."
"Alright, excuse me."
Lingdie Fairy bowed and quickly left the room.
With her departure, only the nine of them from Great Zhou remained in the hall.
Ji Che swept his gaze across everyone and slowly said, "Now that Yun Tiandao has come out, in order for him to leave completely, someone must take his place in the Epoch House."
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go."
The seven Shennong officials stepped forward and spoke in unison.
Ji Che raised a hand, signaling them to stop. "I know all of you are capable of taking on this responsibility. But this is a choice that could last a million years—or even one you may never return from."
"If anyone wishes to withdraw, step back now. I swear upon the ancestors of our Great Zhou, there will be no blame. Furthermore, I will erase all memories of this discussion from everyone's minds. No one will ever know of it."
Not a single person stepped back.
However, Zhao Xing keenly sensed that out of the seven, five had the most minute fluctuations in their souls—only two remained as steady as ever.
Ji Che closed his eyes. After a brief silence, he waved his hand. "Wang Tianzhi and Ling Tianchen, you two stay. The rest of you, leave."
The other five looked at each other, then turned to Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing spoke.
"His Majesty is not choosing you five because he thinks less of you, nor does he doubt your courage. This is about choosing the one most suited for the duty of a guardian."
"Now, all of you go wait outside."
Hearing Zhao Xing's words, Lu Xia, Xiao Yun, Kan Qing, Chen Yu, and Yun Ze could only bow and withdraw.
In an instant, only Wang Tianzhi, Ling Tianchen, Ji Che's avatar, and Zhao Xing remained in the hall.
At this point, Ji Che found it difficult to decide.
From the moment they entered the Ruins of the Return until now, both had shown themselves to be suitable for this role. But earlier, Zhao Xing had made it clear—this was the last chance for the Xuanhuang Realm.
That meant the one chosen was essentially being sent to their death.
Not an immediate death, but one that would come after enduring an entire era.
This was a cruel decision. And more than that, they had all known each other since childhood.
Ji Che was an emperor, true. But he was not the cold and ruthless Emperor Jing.
He couldn't make this choice so quickly.
"Your Majesty, I am the more suitable candidate to be the guardian."
Ling Tianchen didn't let the silence drag on too long.
As soon as the five left, he spoke up.
"The Hou Transformation Academy has always upheld this tradition. As its dean, I must take on this duty."
Then, Ling Tianchen turned to Zhao Xing.
"Grand Shennong, the position of dean at Hou Transformation Academy can be passed on to either Hu Yang or Zhang Tianxing. On a personal level, I prefer Zhang Tianxing."
"Hu Yang is still too reckless. He easily offends mechanists. Zhang Tianxing may joke around, but Hu Yang would actually play tricks on them..."
"Hold on, Dean Ling!"
Wang Tianzhi was displeased and immediately interrupted.
"What the hell, you're already making funeral arrangements?! I haven't even agreed to this yet!"
"Your Majesty, Grand Shennong!" Wang Tianzhi raised his voice. "When it comes to the role of guardian, it should be me, Wang Tianzhi!"
"Ling Tianchen excels in the Hou Transformation Method and the Four Techniques of Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Cloud, but I surpass him in this!"
"Gathering spiritual energy in the Ruins of the Return—he is definitely not as skilled as I am."
"And another thing, since when was it your academy's tradition to take on this role? You make it sound like only the Hou Transformation Academy is great in Xuantian Academy!"
"Tianzhi, you—"
"Enough, don't argue with me this time."
Wang Tianzhi cut him off.
"I'm sick of always coming in second. Let me take first place for once, okay?"
"No."
"You bastard."
"Shut up and accept being the eternal number two!"
While the two bickered, Ji Che looked over at Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing thought for a moment, as if rolling dice in his mind.
Finally, his gaze landed on Wang Tianzhi.
Ji Che immediately spoke.
"Dean Ling, you may leave. Wang Tianzhi will stay."
Ling Tianchen's body trembled. His expression darkened.
He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
Wang Tianzhi grinned and waved at Ling Tianchen.
"Dean Ling, safe travels. When you get back, tell my teacher that I, Wang Tianzhi, am about to achieve eternal life! Hahaha!"
Who else in Xuantian Academy could say such things?
Ling Tianchen found himself speechless.
Looking at Wang Tianzhi's silly grin, he genuinely couldn't tell whether Wang Tianzhi truly believed this or if he was just saying it for effect.
After Ling Tianchen left, only three people remained in the hall.
"Dean Wang, do you have any last words?"
Wang Tianzhi thought for a moment.
"Your Majesty, Grand Shennong, I don't have much to say. My only regret is that I won't be able to witness the great feat of Great Zhou's ascension."
"Of course, if I had to make a final request, I do have one small thing... though it might be a little much to ask."
Wang Tianzhi sneaked a glance at Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing rolled his eyes.
"Dean Wang, you don't seriously want to play Grand Shennong for a day before you go, do you?"
"Hahaha! Grand Shennong, you are truly wise!"
Ji Che also chuckled.
He took out a decree from his small universe pouch and quickly wrote something down.
"Wang Tianzhi, listen to my command."
"Your Majesty, I was joking."
Wang Tianzhi froze.
Ji Che ignored him and continued.
"After my ascension, Zhao Xing will eventually step down as the ninth Grand Shennong. You will become the tenth Grand Shennong of Great Zhou."
"The position of the tenth Grand Shennong will remain vacant until we bring you back."
Seeing Wang Tianzhi stunned, Zhao Xing smiled.
"Dean Wang, aren't you going to accept the decree?"
Wang Tianzhi snapped back to his senses.
"I—I accept the decree."
Then, holding the decree in his hands, Wang Tianzhi cautiously asked,
"Your Majesty, Grand Shennong... will I still be alive to see you again?"
Zhao Xing nodded.
"Of course."
Wang Tianzhi fell silent.
"You don't believe me?"
"...I believe you."
"Cut the act, Dean Wang. You don't believe me at all."
"...Fine, I'm still a little doubtful."
Wang Tianzhi spread his hands.
"Didn't Grand Shennong say earlier that this was the last chance for the Xuanhuang Realm to ascend? If spiritual energy revival is no longer happening, how could I possibly see you all again?"
Zhao Xing replied,
"I did say this was the last chance for the Xuanhuang Realm to ascend. But I never said you couldn't ascend, nor did I say we couldn't return to retrieve you."
"You should know that beyond the Ascension Realm lies the Origin Realm."
"The Origin Realm has three stages. If I reach the third stage and wield a Realm Weapon, I can pull you out."
Noticing the doubt in Wang Tianzhi's eyes, Zhao Xing continued.
"Just because other dynasties haven't done it doesn't mean Great Zhou can't."
"Just because others never returned doesn't mean we won't come back."
"The Xuanhuang Realm is fading, but humanity only grows stronger with each generation."
"In the past, there were only seven ultimate laws of Heavenly Timing. But now? There are over a hundred!"
A light flickered in Wang Tianzhi's eyes.
Zhao Xing was not deceiving him.
In his past life, Zhao Xing was part of the first batch of players to ascend, but of course, there were the second batch, the third batch, and many more after that.
However, since the Xuanyang Realm no longer had a chance to undergo spiritual energy revival and was on the path to destruction, how would the later players ascend? The answer was: the first batch of players would return to bring them up.
The first group of ascended players would trigger a large-scale mission called "Saving the Xuanyang Realm." This mission aligned with the interests of major guilds because the number of early ascenders was too small. They were weak and insignificant in the vast universe, but fellow players were the most reliable resources.
Live, die, repeat—players were willing to do all kinds of dirty and exhausting work. Indestructible and unyielding laborers—where else could such people be found?
To complete the "Saving the Xuanyang Realm" mission, one had to accomplish a series of linked quests such as "Unraveling the Illusion," "Confirming the Coordinates," and "Breaking the Origin" in succession.
In his past life, many state-level guilds eventually managed to retrieve people for ascension. Zhao Xing understood all of this perfectly; it was just a matter of whether he wanted to do it or not.
"You are much better than Yuntian Dao. We definitely won't let you wait for an entire era."
"How long will it take?" Ji Che asked.
"Hard to say, at least three thousand years," Zhao Xing pondered. He didn't give a definitive answer because if the time came and Wang Tianzhi saw no results, he would be disappointed. If nothing unexpected happened, Zhao Xing would ascend more than two thousand years ahead of the timeline from his past life.
Ascending this early meant diverging from the familiar plot. It was uncertain how things would develop.
"Only three thousand years?" Wang Tianzhi burst into laughter.
Compared to a million years, three thousand years was merely the blink of an eye.
"Hahaha! Snatching this first place was definitely the right decision!"
On the way to meet Yuntian Dao, Wang Tianzhi was extremely excited, grinning the entire time as if he had gained some immense advantage. Seeing him in such a state, Ling Tianchen and the others felt a mix of emotions.
Even Yuntian Dao couldn't understand.
"What promise did you give him? Why is he so happy?"
It was truly strange. In a situation like this—where one was essentially walking to their doom—remaining neutral, without sorrow or joy, was already a great feat. Yet Wang Tianzhi was grinning like an idiot.
If he were just pretending, that would be understandable. However, Yuntian Dao could tell that Wang Tianzhi wasn't faking it—he was genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.
That was difficult to comprehend.
"Maybe he just remembered something that made him happy."
"What could possibly make him this happy?"
"...Forget it," Zhao Xing shrugged.
Yuntian Dao took a deep breath.
He couldn't believe he had ended up befriending someone like this. Wang Tianzhi always spoke in half-finished sentences, which made it incredibly difficult to resist the urge to hit him.
The road back to the Epoch House felt endlessly long.
But in the end, the path had to be walked.
Soon, Yuntian Dao and the others once again arrived at the front of the house.
"If you want to become the master of the Epoch House, first, you must reach the Rule Stage. Second, you must use the Epoch Key as a medium and take an Oath of Soul Fate.
"Once you take the Oath of Soul Fate, you will instantly refine the house. Afterward, as long as you step inside, you will fully become its master.
"No matter how long you live, your lifespan will become frozen at that moment.
"You can cultivate, sleep... do anything you want inside, but you must follow certain rules, such as waking up at designated times to collect spiritual energy."
Yuntian Dao handed a crystalline orb to Wang Tianzhi.
"This is called a Spiritual Energy Pearl. It is a high-grade version of the Cloud Rain Pearl.
"When it cycles through red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet before returning to transparent, then you will have met the conditions for replacement. Before that, even if you find someone to take your place, they will not be able to swap you out."
"In the Epoch House, you can cultivate up to the realm of Ascension.
"Once you reach that stage, you won't be able to progress any further. However, you can use your time for other pursuits, such as researching spell techniques.
"In theory, there is no limit to learning spells—it all depends on your talent."
"After collecting enough spiritual energy, you can use your Three Souls to influence the outside world. For example, you can take on a disciple and bring them to the Ruins of the Void, but only one. If you exceed this limit, their memories will be erased automatically, and once they leave, they will forget you."
"You can also observe the cosmos from within the Epoch House, though for now, you won't gain much insight. Most of the time, you won't be able to comprehend anything at all."
"There are also notes left behind by past guardians of the Epoch House..." Yuntian Dao explained everything in great detail.
Before Wang Tianzhi stepped through the door, Yuntian Dao made sure to convey all the important information.
As Wang Tianzhi listened, he became more and more excited.
If one ignored the fact that his freedom would be restricted, the Epoch House was basically the perfect place for enlightenment and cultivation!
Moreover, he was certain that Zhao Xing would return to retrieve him. From this perspective, he had practically struck gold!
"Big bro, why do I feel like this Dao Soldier isn't meant for guarding, but more like some kind of cultivation chamber?" Ji Che transmitted his thoughts, voicing his doubts.
"Mm, in reality, it was originally designed to be a kind of cultivation isolation chamber—a place for enforced seclusion. Without meeting certain conditions, one cannot exit.
"The Epoch House is widely used across the universe for this exact purpose. The Xuanyang Realm simply had a customized version of it, which turned out like this."
"In large families and powerful factions, the direct descendants often inherit immense cultivation talent from their parents. However, they rarely need to put in effort, making it hard for them to cultivate diligently.
"This kind of mechanism was created to regulate those talented but lazy individuals," Zhao Xing explained.
"The vast universe truly holds endless wonders," Ji Che sighed in admiration.
With great excitement, Wang Tianzhi stepped into the Ruins of the Void. He didn't even bother with a proper farewell, simply waving his hand before eagerly dashing forward to explore the mysteries of the Epoch House.
His optimism even alleviated some of the negative emotions lingering in Ling Tianchen and the others.
Yuntian Dao boarded the Cloud Sea Airship alongside Lingdie Fairy, embarking on their journey back to the Xuanyang Continent.
On the way back, Yuntian Dao, Zhao Xing, and Ji Che began discussing their Revival Plan and Ascension Plan.
"I'm not taking on the role of a guardian for nothing."
"This is a Spiritual Energy Pearl," Yuntian Dao said as he took out a transparent orb the size of a fist.
"Inside is the spiritual energy I've accumulated over the course of nearly an entire epoch."
Every year, the spiritual energy of the Xuanhuang Realm converges from the Four Seas into the Return to the Abyss, where it is then stored within this pearl. Even during the Era of Primordial Energy, when spiritual energy was scarce, it still existed—just in small quantities.
After accumulating for an entire epoch, the amount of spiritual energy within this pearl has reached an astonishing level.
"This pearl itself is of the supreme-grade Star-tier Dao Weapon rank, but it has only one function—to collect and release spiritual energy."
"Ji Che, from now on, I entrust it to you."
Yun Tiandao handed the pearl over.
"Many thanks, Mr. Yun."
Ji Che did not mind Yun Tiandao's manner of address. After all, Yun Tiandao was a subject of the Xia Dynasty—not his subject. Yun Tiandao would only refer to the Xia Emperor as "Your Majesty." As for Ji Che and Yun Tiandao, they were merely cooperation partners at best.
Out of respect, he could call him "Senior" or "Mister." If he didn't want to lower his own status, he could simply address him as "Daoist Yun"—it made no difference. After all, they both shared the same goal.
"I don't have any other treasures with me," Yun Tiandao said frankly. "Even if I did, they would only be souvenirs."
"No need to bring them out and embarrass myself."
"Mr. Yun himself is the greatest treasure," Ji Che said with a smile. "May I ask, Mr. Yun, how far have you progressed in the Path of Dao Ascension?"
Yun Tiandao replied, "My Dao has already reached its limit in the Xuanhuang Realm. There is no further path to tread."
"In other words, you have achieved Perfection in Ascension Stage."
"Yes."
Neither Zhao Xing nor Ji Che were surprised.
Yun Tiandao was once the Grand Shennong of the Xia Dynasty. As a figure of such great talent, after spending countless years cultivating within the Epoch House, he had essentially become the greatest treasure himself!
Theoretically speaking, he was even stronger than Ji Che!
After all, Ji Che had only just begun the Ascension Stage, while Yun Tiandao had already reached Perfection. However, the actual difference in strength between the two depended on the situation.
If Ji Che was operating outside the territory of Great Zhou, and had to act alone, then he would undoubtedly be weaker than Yun Tiandao.
However, if he was within Great Zhou's borders, or if he personally led a military campaign, fully equipped with the Emperor's Regalia, then he would be stronger than Yun Tiandao.
Of course, within the Xuanhuang Realm, the difference between them was minimal—neither could truly overpower the other. Their strength had already reached the pinnacle of the realm.
If they removed Ji Che's Spirit Qi Dynasty Emperor status and placed both of them outside the Xuanhuang Realm for a battle, then Yun Tiandao would undoubtedly win.
Because his Dao was simply too powerful.
Even if he spent half of his conscious time in cultivation, that still amounted to half of four hundred thousand years!
In the universe, he could easily kill Ji Che the cultivator, but he could never kill Ji Che the Spirit Qi Emperor.
"All of my techniques start at the Ultimate Perfection level."
"The Five Laws of Heavenly Timing in the Path of Shennong—Wind, Rain, Thunder, Clouds, and Seasonal Changes."
"The Four Laws of Earthly Advantage—Earth Palace, Earth Repository, Mysterious Earth, and Spirit Mountain."
"Each of these has multiple Ultimate Laws."
"As for the Four Laws of the Self, I have only created one Ultimate Law of Breaking Limits, but it has also reached Perfection."
"As for various miscellaneous and minor techniques, the lowest level I have achieved is still Ultimate Perfection."
"Additionally, I have four techniques that have reached the level of Minor Divine Abilities."
"Two of them belong to the Dao of Heavenly Timing—one is Cloud, the other is Wind."
"One is a body refinement technique called Star Gaze, which I developed while observing the changes in the universe."
"The last one is a Fate-based technique called Mountain and Sea Great Spirit Qi, used for seeking people."
Even though they were somewhat prepared, Zhao Xing and Ji Che were still shocked by Yun Tiandao's words.
Starting at Ultimate Perfection, and being an all-rounded genius.
Even more astonishing—he had personally created four Minor Divine Abilities!
And take note—Yun Tiandao hadn't learned these abilities from others—he had created them himself!
"With talent like Yun's, he would still be considered a top genius even in the Ancient Kingdoms of the Desolate Domain," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
His talent was even above that of Qing Yuzi!
After all, Yun Tiandao had never systematically studied any cultivation techniques. Yet, simply through self-comprehension within the Xuanhuang Realm, he had managed to create his own Minor Divine Abilities.
Of course, these divine abilities were not as powerful as Three Divinities Destiny Palace or Eight Epochs of Purple Light, but they still qualified as Minor Divine Abilities.
"Mr. Yun is truly a man of great talent. I, Ji Che, deeply admire you."
Ji Che was particularly interested in the two Minor Divine Abilities that Yun Tiandao had created.
Star Gaze, a technique used to observe the universe, showed that Yun Tiandao had always been diligently fulfilling his duties.
Mountain and Sea Great Spirit Qi—"Mountain and Sea Diagram" was created by the Xia Emperor, and was also one of his era names. The Great Spirit Qi Coin was also invented during the Xia Dynasty.
Yun Tiandao, a Grand Shennong, had created this Fate-based Minor Divine Ability out of longing for his missing family and homeland.
Such a loyal subject—it was difficult not to feel a deep respect for him.
"Based on your experience, do you think our dynasty is ready to conquer the Southern Barbarians?" Ji Che asked.
On the journey, he and Zhao Xing had explained the foundation of Great Zhou to Yun Tiandao.
Since they were partners, the details had to be shared. Moreover, the Xia Dynasty had precedent in this matter.
"Great Zhou's conquest of the Southern Barbarians has only one major obstacle—the Grand Divine Ability known as Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection beyond Yinyou Mountain."
"As for all other conditions, I would say they are even better than when we attempted it back then."
Yun Tiandao carefully reviewed the classified reports.
"Is there a way to break Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection?" Ji Che asked.
"There is none."
Yun Tiandao shook his head.
"At most, we can equalize the conditions between both sides. But even that is extremely difficult. As for breaking it? Absolutely impossible."
Ji Che then turned to Zhao Xing, who also nodded. "Indeed, there is no way to break it."
Yun Tiandao continued, "Only a Grand Divine Ability can break another Grand Divine Ability. Once Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection is activated, it will only dissipate when the Era of Spiritual Energy ends."
Ji Che was puzzled. "Doesn't that mean that Moon God is stronger than all of us?"
Yun Tiandao had spent countless years within the Epoch House, yet he had only managed to comprehend Minor Divine Abilities.
His talent and strength were already at the pinnacle of the Xuanhuang Realm.
If even Yun Tiandao couldn't achieve this—how could Moon God?
Ji Che's doubt was only natural.
Yun Tiandao shook his head and said, "No, Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection was not cast by Moon God. The so-called final calamity of the Ten Catastrophes of the Heavenly Shaman actually has nothing to do with the Heavenly Shamans. He merely acted as the medium to activate Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection.
"As for how this great divine ability came to be, we did not fully understand it at the time either. We could only speculate that it might have some kind of connection to the origin of the Xuanhuang Realm."
Ji Che asked, "How did the Xia Dynasty manage to overcome this crisis?"
Inside Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection, everyone else was reduced to ordinary people, and even mechanized formations and arrays lost their effects.
It was as if, in an instant, the world had gone from a realm of high martial arts and sorcery to a world without martial arts or spells. However, in the Southern Barbarians' territory, there were still some individuals who retained part of their strength.
For their enemies, unable to mobilize Yuan Qi or Spiritual Qi, unable to cast martial techniques or spells, this overwhelming disadvantage was utterly despairing.
Yun Tiandao recalled, "Actually, it wasn't as absolute as you think."
"I just said that Moon God was merely a medium—this was not his own power."
"We can think of Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection as an intricate mechanism. Great Zhou does not have access to its permissions and is therefore suppressed by this mechanism."
"This mechanism wasn't even created by Moon God; he could only utilize a portion of its authority."
"So, within Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection, the highest combat strength that can appear will not exceed the Sixth Rank."
"Sixth Rank, Heavenly Gang Stage…" Ji Che murmured.
"What a fated coincidence."
The Nine Ranks of cultivation—Ninth Rank, Essence Gathering; Eighth Rank, Spirit Bridge; Seventh Rank, Earth Fiend; and Sixth Rank, Heavenly Gang.
It just so happened that the highest 'authorized' level permitted within Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection was precisely the Sixth Rank, Heavenly Gang Stage.
Yun Tiandao picked up a memorial from the desk. "Right now, this is a permission token that allows the use of spells and martial techniques." Hua la—
Yun Tiandao swept the documents off the desk, clearing a space before placing the memorial in the south.
"Currently, the Southern Barbarians have many of these tokens. Possessing one allows the bearer to wield power up to the Sixth Rank within the scope of Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection."
"The vast majority of the Southern Barbarians, however, remain restricted and are just ordinary people." Yun Tiandao drew a circle around the memorial.
"When Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection is activated, it must be at a moment when the Southern Barbarians are facing life and death."
"At that time, the Fortune Dynasty of the Central Lands, whether in terms of numbers or logistics, will far surpass the Southern Barbarians."
"Ji Che, I would like to ask you a question."
"Please, sir."
"Is a Sixth Rank cultivator invincible to ordinary people?"
Ji Che nodded. "Yes, absolutely. After undergoing body refinement through the Earth Fiend and Heavenly Gang Stages, even the most physically weak scholar cultivators will have bodies that ordinary weapons cannot harm."
"Even if they were surrounded by ten thousand, a hundred thousand people, they wouldn't be killed—they could still escape."
Ordinary weapons referred to mundane, non-ranked weapons. Only ranked weapons were considered divine weapons.
Yun Tiandao nodded. "What about Ninth Rank?"
Ji Che's eyes lit up in an instant, suddenly understanding. "So that's how it is."
Ninth Rank, Essence Gathering Stage, was no longer invincible against ordinary people. A well-trained army composed of ordinary humans could absolutely overwhelm and kill a Ninth Rank cultivator.
Just think—when Zhao Xing was in the Ninth Rank, what spells did he know? He could summon wind, call down thunder, shift clouds, and bring rain.
He might have been able to kill one mortal, ten mortals, but by the time he reached his hundredth kill, he would surely be exhausted to death.
If facing a disciplined and well-trained elite army, even an Essence Gathering cultivator of the Ninth Rank could not withstand a concentrated barrage of powerful bows and arrows.
Strong bows, trebuchets, ballistae, poison arrows… all these were highly lethal to a Ninth Rank Essence Gathering cultivator.
"The method used by the Xia Dynasty wasn't anything particularly clever."
"We took advantage of our superior population and logistics to wear them down step by step."
"By working together as an army to kill an Essence Gathering cultivator, we gained access to the authority they held."
"As more Essence Gathering cultivators fell, with the army's cooperation, we were able to take down a Spirit Bridge cultivator."
"Step by step, layer by layer, eventually, the Xia Dynasty's number of cultivators surpassed that of the Southern Barbarians."
"And in the end, we achieved victory."
Hearing this, Ji Che frowned. "If that's the case, then Great Zhou's casualties in this war will be enormous."
Using ordinary armies to exhaust cultivators to death—anyone could see how difficult that would be.
And this was only speaking of the battle itself. The most crucial factor was logistics.
Cultivators and mechanized formations were the foundation of military mobility. Once those lost effectiveness within Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection, the vast and desolate lands of the Southern Barbarians would become a logistical nightmare.
"Yes."
Yun Tiandao sighed. "For the soldiers of a Fortune Dynasty, suddenly being reduced to frail ordinary humans… just adapting to that would be incredibly difficult."
"Dying within Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection means truly dying. There isn't even a chance to reincarnate as an Yin Spirit. They will die just like mortals."
"This will be a war of brutality and raw survival. We call it the 'War of Mortals.'"
"The War of Mortals…" Ji Che murmured. "The path to ascension, standing high above all… in the end, it's decided by a group of mere mortals. What an irony."
"I can almost see the mocking expression on Moon God's face."
Ji Che raised his head and looked at Yun Tiandao in confusion. "Sir, I don't understand. Why does the lineage of Moon God insist on preventing the people of the Xuanhuang Realm from ascending?"
"Does he not wish to leave the Xuanhuang Realm? Does he not want to ascend? Is there no room for negotiation? Does the only path forward require us to throw countless lives into the void?"
"If negotiation is possible, if fewer people could die, I would agree to whatever he wants."
Yun Tiandao looked at Ji Che and sighed. "You have the same benevolence as His Majesty, with your heart set on the people."
"But I regret to tell you… we have already tried. And negotiation with Moon God is simply impossible."
"Why?" Ji Che was utterly perplexed.
"I don't know."
Yun Tiandao shook his head. "This is also my biggest confusion. We defeated the Southern Barbarians, yet we couldn't kill the Moon God. Even though historical records contain accounts of its destruction, a new Moon God always seems to emerge from the Southern Barbarians."
"I even suspect that the Moon God itself doesn't know why."
After a brief pause, Yun Tiandao suddenly looked at Zhao Xing, who was deep in thought. "I wonder what insight the Grand Shennong has on this matter?"
Ji Che also turned to look.
Since Yun Tiandao said that even the Moon God itself might not know the reason, then perhaps only his miraculous elder brother could have an answer. Zhao Xing had already convinced Yun Tiandao, the guardian, so Ji Che's trust in him was almost blind faith at this point.
Inside the flying boat, the light flickered momentarily. Just as Zhao Xing was about to speak, the flying boat had already exited the passage and returned to the surface of the Gucheng Cave-Heaven.
Waiting outside, Meng Kun and Qiu Yuanshan wanted to enter to pay their respects and inquire about the emperor's safety, but Ji Che stopped them from coming in.
"Big Brother, don't mind them for now. You hesitated just now—clearly, you have something to say."
"If you stop here without explaining, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight."
"Mr. Yun will probably scold you, or he might even hit you."
Hearing this, Yun Tiandao snorted lightly and flicked his sleeve.
He had indeed recalled something unpleasant just now—thinking back to what Zhao Xing had said when he led him out. Seeing this, Zhao Xing no longer hesitated and sat down again.
"This is a question I also had some speculation about after my journey to the Dragon Court," Zhao Xing said. "Your Majesty, Senior Yun."
"Let me tell you a story."
"Oh, oh! I love listening to Big Brother's stories!" Ji Che immediately sat up straight, adopting a posture of full concentration.
Yun Tiandao was also quite curious about the relationship between Zhao Xing and Ji Che. He and the Xia Emperor were not as close as these two.
"A long, long time ago, in the vast ocean of the First Origin Era, there was an island. On it lived two brothers."
"The elder brother was named 'Wu,' and the younger brother was named 'Huang.' The two of them lived on this island."
Wu was quiet and reserved, skilled at observing the weather and celestial phenomena. Huang, on the other hand, excelled in hunting and combat, was outgoing, and full of curiosity. "Wu held a revered position, and under his guidance, Huang succeeded in every endeavor, always bringing bountiful harvests to the village." Under the leadership of these two brothers, the village prospered.
"But as the population grew, Huang discovered that the island's food supply was becoming scarce." Wu also calculated that if things continued this way, the village would eventually perish.
"The once calm and gentle sea, which had provided abundant food, also changed. It became capricious, frequently unleashing storms, and the food around the island dwindled."
"So, one day, Wu and Huang made a decision—to leave the island, to leave their home, and find a new path for their people's survival."
"Wu was not skilled in combat, but he deeply cared for his younger brother. Because he often observed the weather and the sea, he understood how dangerous such a journey would be."
"Thus, Wu prepared a great deal of supplies for Huang and his group. Among these were strange weapons and ancient stone tablets that, according to Wu's interpretations, could serve as guidance."
"They made thorough preparations and set out with high hopes."
"However, the sea was not only filled with storms but also with dense fog. Lacking experience in seafaring and without other islands in sight, there were no directions to follow."
"And so, after the first generation of Huang ventured out, he never returned."
"The first generation of Wu was heartbroken—not only for his brother but also for the uncertain future of their village."
"Fortunately, after some time, the sea calmed again, returning to its previous state of tranquility. The food around the island increased once more."
"And so, as the tribe's guide, the first Wu left behind a record of this event on his deathbed, warning future generations: 'The sea and distant journeys are dangerous.'"
At this point, Yun Tiandao and Ji Che began to grasp the meaning behind the story, yet doubts still lingered in their hearts.
As attentive listeners, Ji Che and Yun Tiandao remained patient, not interrupting Zhao Xing but instead listening in silence.
"Time passed, and soon, the first generation of Wu passed away, while the first generation of Huang remained missing."
"A new cycle of leadership began in the tribe, and the second generation of Wu and Huang emerged."
"They were still cousins, but their bond was not as close as the first generation of Wu and Huang, who were blood brothers."
"Before long, the second generation of Wu and Huang faced the same predicament as their predecessors."
"The second Huang made the same decision as the first—to venture out into the unknown."
"The second Wu was hesitant, but as time passed, the tribe obtained mysterious totems and stone tablets as guidance, making progress. The second Wu, despite reading the warning left by the first Wu, thought to himself, 'Perhaps the previous generation simply lacked the right techniques or sufficient strength?'"
"And so, despite his hesitation, the second Wu still allowed the adventure to proceed. The second Huang set off again with large amounts of supplies and people."
Zhao Xing paused for a moment and then said thoughtfully, "Clearly, the outcome of both expeditions was the same."
"The second Huang never returned, vanishing into the vast ocean."
"Meanwhile, in the second Wu's calculations, the sea's weather would once again stabilize, the food would once again increase, and the island would become suitable for survival once more."
"This bore a striking resemblance to the records left by the first Wu!"
"And so, recalling the first Wu's warning, the second Wu also left behind his final words before his death: 'The sea and distant journeys are dangerous. The island and the sea will always return to normal. One only needs to wait patiently for the moment of abundance.'"
At this point, Zhao Xing paused again, giving Yun Tiandao and Ji Che time to process the story.
A moment later—
"The story continues. Soon, the island saw the rise of the third, fourth, and fifth generations of Wu and Huang."
"By this time, the blood relations between the later generations of Wu and Huang had grown weaker."
"Only due to the tribe's traditions did Wu and Huang frequently discuss the village's future together."
In reality, a great rift had already formed between them.
At a critical moment, when both the Wu and the Huang faced the same decision, their opinions diverged drastically.
Huang believed that only by venturing outward could they find a way forward.
He continued to receive widespread support, for humans are inherently curious and driven by a deep desire to explore. The Emperor (Huang), as a symbol of martial strength, was far more powerful than the Shaman (Wu).
Thus, he won over many followers.
However, the Shaman was equally revered by the island's inhabitants. This group valued stability, feared the unknown, and dreaded death. After generations of trials and disappointments, the Shaman's followers had compiled numerous survival rules, refining them over time.
To emphasize this knowledge, Zhao Xing carved a few lines into the wooden desk:
1. The vast ocean symbolizes danger and death. No one who has ventured out has ever returned alive.
2. Humans cannot swim in the ocean. Falling in means certain death. Drinking seawater is impossible for survival. Voyages require carrying large amounts of island provisions.
3. The island's food shortages and violent sea winds are temporary. Endurance will eventually lead to prosperity and a bountiful harvest.
4. The Emperor's method of exploration causes immense damage to the island.
Each expedition required stripping away essential island resources—such as soil for growing crops and special timber for shipbuilding that resisted ocean erosion.
Some materials were renewable, but others were not. The mysterious stone slabs and totemic weapons, for example, were irreplaceable.
Relentless exploration and long voyages would cause the island to shrink, generation after generation. Every Shaman had to stop the Emperor's reckless ambitions!
After finishing the inscription, Zhao Xing resumed his explanation.
"Based on these beliefs, during that fateful discussion, the Shaman voiced his strongest opposition yet."
"He issued a dire warning to the Emperor: 'Do not go deeper! Do not explore! Do not explore! You will lead your people to their deaths—and you will doom us all!'"
Ji Che's breathing quickened, and Yun Tiandao's expression grew tense.
Both instinctively placed themselves in the Emperor's perspective. They understood what it meant when two tribal leaders clashed so fiercely.
"Yes," Zhao Xing affirmed as he looked at them. "The Emperor was the Emperor because he refused to yield. Thus, war broke out."
"In the narratives passed down by the Emperor's faction, every generation of the Emperor's lineage set out on their voyages and never perished. They ventured into the deep sea, discovered islands larger than their homeland, and lived far richer lives than those who remained."
"But in the Shaman's version of history, the Emperor's faction was painted as demons of destruction—constantly hollowing out the island's foundation, shattering everything, and extending the period of instability with each reckless act."
"From that moment on, the two brothers, the Shaman and the Emperor, occupied opposite ends of the island. They had irreversibly severed ties in their struggle for survival."
Ji Che and Yun Tiandao fell into deep thought after hearing the story.
"Big Brother, I have a question," Ji Che said, instinctively raising his hand, just as he used to when Zhao Xing told stories in their childhood.
"Go ahead," Zhao Xing encouraged.
Ji Che hesitated before asking, "What are these mysterious stone slabs and totems mentioned in the story? After so many years of exploration, did neither the Emperor nor the Shaman discover any useful patterns to make exploration safer?"
Zhao Xing nodded. "Let me answer your first question first."
"The mysterious stone slabs and totems include remnants of the Dragon Clan, the Kashen Clan, and even those left behind by extraterrestrial visitors."
"I have told you before about the last words of Dragon Emperor Xie. This story takes place after the Dragon Clan retreated to the ancient land of the Dragon Court and after the Kashen Clan had vanished from the Xuanhuang Realm."
"This was a time when the Dragon Court had lost its authority, and the Human Clan was beginning to rise in prominence."
"As for useful patterns? Yes, there were some."
Zhao Xing pondered before continuing.
"Both the Shaman and the Emperor gained valuable knowledge from the mysterious stone slabs and totems."
"For instance, the Emperor's faction believed that the Shaman's second rule was completely wrong. They argued that seawater could be consumed—once they cultivated themselves to a certain level, they could extract survival resources from the dangerous ocean and even swim in it."
"Likewise, the Shaman deciphered many useful pieces of navigational information from the stone slabs and totems—such as potential sailing routes or the possibility of smaller islands along the way that could serve as supply stations."
"But…"
"No matter the outcome of the war between the Shaman and the Emperor, the Shaman's lineage only grew stronger over time. The information they gathered also increased, and with each Emperor's departure, the Shaman ensured that the knowledge remained buried, hidden from any future Emperor."
"Generations later, the divide between them had become so deeply ingrained that it could never be bridged."
"Then, at some point, a certain generation of the Shaman achieved a major breakthrough in power. He deciphered a critical stone slab and used the entire island as a foundation to create a sealed zone."
"For the first time, the Shaman successfully blocked the Emperor's departure. The island had only four major favorable wind ports, and the largest one had fallen under the Shaman's control."
"Over generations, each subsequent Shaman strengthened this power, passing it down and embedding these rules so deeply that they became an unshakable force, permanently etched into their very souls."
"From then on, future Shamans no longer considered leaving the island. Their only thought was to protect it."
Ji Che sighed. "So, the stone slab was essentially a means of severing all connections to the outside world. And the reason the Shamans refuse to negotiate is that their very souls are bound by these inherited laws."
"No wonder each generation of Shamans is so strong, able to wield grand divine powers, yet so stubborn."
But suddenly, Yun Tiandao shook his head.
"No," he said firmly.
Zhao Xing looked up. "What do you mean?"
Yun Tiandao fixed his gaze on Zhao Xing. "In your story, not a single Emperor has ever returned. Why? Over a cosmic timescale, no matter how slim the odds, at least one should have come back!"
"Did the Emperor's lineage really die out completely?"
Zhao Xing understood the true intent behind Yun Tiandao's question.
He was really asking: Did the Xia Dynasty truly perish?
Back in the Ruins of the Abyss, Zhao Xing had made certain claims—were they lies?
Yun Tiandao had waited an entire era, yet no one from the Xia Dynasty had ever returned for him.
It was impossible to imagine how deeply this story had shaken him.
Zhao Xing pondered for a moment before saying, "It's not that no one ever returned. In the time before the Shaman and the Emperor, the Kashen Clan and the Dragon Clan both had powerful individuals who managed to come back. They even left behind methods for guiding ascension. Back then, there was no need to ascend in groups, nor was any tool necessary."
"The ocean was gentle. Even drinking seawater didn't matter. Any life that could leave the island and enter the sea could freely roam. As long as they swam in one direction, they would eventually reach the other shore."
"However, the Shaman's judgment was wrong—the ocean's recovery was limited."
"Let's go back to the discussion on heavenly timing. When a place no longer experiences spring, summer, autumn, or winter, it eventually turns into a desolate region."
"If a place loses its seasonal cycle, changes will naturally occur."
"And from this, two new rules can be derived:"
Zhao Xing carved two more lines onto the wooden desk:
1. The phenomenon of heavenly desolation.
2. The Hidden-Breaking Illusion.
Then, he began explaining the first rule: "When a region in the universe experiences a decline in spiritual energy, celestial bodies and the void undergo changes."
"I previously explained in Theory of Qi the difference between 'spirit' and 'spiritual essence,' so this should be easy to understand."
Yun Tiandao and Ji Che both nodded.
"A drastic drop in spiritual energy affects even cultivators residing in the Xuanhuang Realm. Their cultivation will hit a bottleneck, and they will reach their limits at a lower level. The earth and celestial phenomena will suffer disasters. If such changes occur outside the Xuanhuang Realm, they would be even more severe."
Zhao Xing used seawater turning undrinkable as an analogy for these transformations.
Following this train of thought, Yun Tiandao and Ji Che naturally considered additional changes.
Life-sustaining islands—whether world stars or small worlds—would eventually turn into barren lands, dead stars, or dead worlds. Those who sailed the seas would lose their sources of replenishment.
The storms on the ocean would intensify, and the chances of ships capsizing would increase. This provided a partial explanation for why successive generations of Emperors faced such high mortality rates.
Yet, it still failed to fully answer why no Emperor had ever returned.
So, the two of them turned their attention to the second rule: The Hidden-Breaking Illusion.
Zhao Xing spoke, "I use the sea as a metaphor for the cosmic expanse because the ocean possesses two fundamental characteristics."
"First is fluidity. The position of the Xuanhuang Realm within the cosmic expanse is not fixed. You can think of it as constantly moving."
"Second is the mirage effect. In the cosmic expanse, phenomena akin to mirages occur, misleading returning Emperors and making it nearly impossible for them to find their way back."
"The desolation of the cosmic expanse is far more complex than the ocean. These two characteristics of the sea alone are not enough to fully describe it."
"This falls under the 'Hidden' aspect of the rule."
"The second keyword, 'Breaking.'"
Zhao Xing tapped on the carved word. "This represents destruction."
"Every generation of Emperors, after reaching the 'return distance' from the island, would witness a vision of the Xuanhuang Realm's destruction."
Zhao Xing brought his five fingers together, then suddenly spread them apart.
"Boom!"
"In an instant, the Xuanhuang Realm exploded, erupting in a dazzling burst of light."
"The Emperors who witnessed this illusion lost their concept of 'home' from that moment onward. Naturally, they never attempted to return."
"Following the rule of Hidden-Breaking Illusion, the Emperors who survived either never sought the Xuanhuang Realm because of the 'Breaking Illusion' or were misled by the 'Hidden Illusion' even if they did attempt to return."
"This is why no Emperor has ever come back."
"If no one returns, no matter how many generations of Emperors swear otherwise, the Shaman will never believe them. That is how these four laws were established."
'What?!'
Yun Tiandao and Ji Che were both stunned.
"Hidden and destruction—what kind of logic is this?"
"I have no idea how it was formed either," Zhao Xing shrugged. "Not all small worlds—such as the Xuanhuang Realm—experience this phenomenon. It only appears in the process of desolation transformation."
"In reality, these two rules are both manifestations of desolation."
"But to distinguish between regions that have already undergone desolation and those undergoing desolation, the second rule was named Hidden-Breaking Illusion and listed separately."
"As for why this happens?"
Zhao Xing was speaking fluently, but then he suddenly stopped.
His Three Divinities Destiny Palace trembled with agitation, as if warning him that continuing down this path would provoke something terrifying.
At that moment, his Memory Palace instinctively sealed his thoughts.
The words that had been about to leave his mouth changed.
"Scholars who specialize in desolation studies have proposed various hypotheses, but none have reached a definitive conclusion…"
"Alright, let's end the story here for now."
Zhao Xing muttered, "In any case, the Shaman will never negotiate, but we actually have a way back."
"Che, Senior Yun—our only concern now is when to initiate the Great Southern Barbarian War."
With this, the Xuanhuang Realm arc has only one major conflict left—the Mortal War.