"What? Yun Tiandao?!"
"The founder of the ultimate law Yun Tiandao?"
"This... how is this possible?! Yun Tiandao lived so many years ago, are you joking?!"
The words from behind the door stunned everyone except for Zhao Xing.
Especially Yun Ze, the Headmaster of Yun Academy, who couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Hahaha! You must be joking! Why don't you just say you're the Emperor of Xia? Hahaha! Your Majesty, this person is simply talking nonsense."
Yun Tiandao? That was way too ridiculous!
Wang Tianzhi, Ling Tianchen, Kan Qing, Chen Yu, and the others all had the same thought.
Yun Tiandao wasn't just a legendary founder of the Yun Sect—he was also the ancestor of Yun Ze's lineage. On top of that, this person was claiming to be the Grand Shennong of the Xia Dynasty. That made it even more absurd.
How many years had passed since the Xia Dynasty? How could anyone from that era still be alive?! Naturally, their first reaction was disbelief.
Zhao Xing, however, could understand their feelings, especially Yun Ze's.
It was as if you were walking down the street one day, and suddenly, someone came up to you claiming to be Qin Shi Huang. Any rational person would immediately assume it was a scam.
Yet, Yun Tiandao didn't argue. He just stood silently behind the threshold, as if waiting for them to process it themselves.
Yun Ze, who had been laughing just moments ago, glanced at Zhao Xing and Ji Che, then back at the person behind the threshold. His laughter gradually faded. "Grand Shennong… Your Majesty… Could this person really be Yun Tiandao? My… ancestor?" he transmitted his voice, asking Zhao Xing.
"Yes," Zhao Xing nodded.
Ji Che also quickly accepted the fact.
He knew more than most, and had learned a great deal about the universe's laws from Zhao Xing.
Since Qing Yuzi could live for hundreds of thousands of years, Yun Tiandao still being alive wasn't actually that strange.
When you thought about how Daoist Yue Ying from the Xuantian Divine Sect had been revived after twenty or thirty epochs, Yun Tiandao was even more ancient, but not impossible to exist.
Yun Ze and the seven others around him had strange expressions after hearing this, but they quickly recovered. After the initial shock, curiosity replaced their disbelief.
"A living Yun Tiandao… This is too rare!" Wang Tianzhi narrowed his eyes.
"He claims to be the Grand Shennong of the Xia Dynasty? Does this mean the records about the ancient Divine Court's ascension were wrong?" Ling Tianchen speculated.
"Could he provide us with missing pieces of techniques and secret arts?" Lu Xia raised the question.
"He definitely could!" Qing's eyes sparkled with excitement. "If he really is Yun Tiandao, he must know countless secrets."
"Your Majesty, Grand Shennong, if we can capture… ahem, invite him out for questioning, wouldn't we be able to obtain the secret to longevity?" Yun Ze's gaze scanned Yun Tiandao up and down.
Zhao Xing: "…"
Ji Che: "…"
"Headmaster Yun, that's your ancestor," Vice Headmaster Xiao Yun couldn't hold back anymore. It was one thing for others to say that, but Yun Ze was his direct descendant!
Yun Ze, however, didn't care. Ancestor? What ancestor? That was an epoch ago! After so many generations, what difference was there between him and a stranger?
Ji Che glanced at Zhao Xing, who suddenly felt a bit awkward.
Most of these headmasters and vice headmasters, aside from Wang and Ling, were appointed by Zhao Xing himself. As the saying went, like master, like subordinates. Whatever kind of Grand Shennong Zhao Xing was, that's the kind of people he appointed. So the Shennong Monitor had a very practical mindset.
Even when it came to ancestors, Yun Ze categorized them as useful ancestors and useless ancestors.
And if an ancestor was deemed a threat? Then he might even say, Ancestor, please go to your final rest.
All these thoughts were exchanged in an instant through voice transmissions.
Yun Tiandao didn't wait long before Ji Che signaled Zhao Xing to ask the first question. After all, Zhao Xing understood the situation best.
Zhao Xing immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Zhao Xing, Grand Shennong of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Standing before you is the Emperor of Great Zhou, Ji Che. Behind me are the Shennong Priests of the Heaven School, Headmaster Ling Tianchen of Hou Bian Sect, and Headmaster Wang Tianzhi of Lei Academy."
After the brief introduction, a voice came from behind the threshold.
"Zhao Xing, I know of you. Ling Die once mentioned you, and that you inherited Qing Yuzi's legacy."
"I am quite puzzled—back then, before you had even received the inheritance, you seemed to already know many things… including the land of Guixu, and even… my existence."
Zhao Xing didn't explain, remaining calm as he said, "Senior Yun, you have questions, and so do we. Why not exchange answers? Let us begin with my emperor."
In truth, Zhao Xing himself had no real doubts. This was mostly to help Ji Che and the others gain a better understanding.
Yun Tiandao nodded, agreeing to the exchange.
Zhao Xing glanced at Ji Che, who immediately asked, "Senior, did the Xia Dynasty ascend successfully and leave the Xuanhuang Realm?"
Ji Che's biggest concern was the ascension.
According to the Book of Grand Fate and historical records, the ancient Divine Court of Xia had already ascended.
Yet Yun Tiandao, the Grand Shennong of Xia, was standing right here. Ji Che couldn't help but be puzzled—did the Xia Dynasty ascend or not?
"They ascended, but it was not smooth," Yun Tiandao's voice finally came from behind the threshold after a moment of silence.
They were face to face, yet Yun Tiandao neither invited them in nor stepped outside.
It felt as if there was an invisible barrier separating them, dividing two different worlds at the courtyard threshold.
"After defeating the Southern Barbarians, the Xia Dynasty had already suffered heavy losses."
"The era of the Spiritual Qi Rain was nearing its end. In order to seize the window of opportunity to leave the Xuanhuang Realm, they had no choice but to hastily construct a half-completed Boundary Vessel for their departure."
Thanks to Zhao Xing's previous explanations about cosmic timelines, they were able to understand what Yun Tiandao was saying. For instance, how the Spiritual Qi Rain Season was the key to revival, and how Boundary Vessels were necessary to undergo tribulation and leave the Xuanhuang Realm.
Of course, while they could comprehend it, they hadn't truly experienced it. Their understanding was still superficial at best.
"Senior, may I ask another question?" Ji Che extended his hand.
"How did you know about this path?" Yun Tiandao asked. Ji Che immediately turned his gaze to Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing replied, "I once obtained a Realm Star-tier Spirit Qi Dao Soldier from Qing Yuzi. During a deduction of the future conducted by the Grand Fate Official of our dynasty, this path was inadvertently discovered."
The path through Guze Cave-Heaven led to the Land of Guixu. It was originally a secret passage left by Yun Tiandao for Yun Academy, and the construction method of the Cloud Sea Flying Vessel was also designed to align with this passage.
Normally, finding this clue would be extremely difficult. In the past life, players had to complete dozens of prerequisite quests during the Spirit Qi Era to uncover this secret.
But Zhao Xing didn't have to go through all that trouble—he skipped straight to the point, bypassing all the prerequisite steps, directly identifying the location and the necessary tools for passage.
Seeing Yun Tiandao nod, Ji Che proceeded with the second question, "Since you were the Grand Shennong of the Xia Dynasty, why didn't you ascend with them and instead remained in the Land of Guixu?"
"Because it was necessary," Yun Tiandao answered.
"The Four Seas return to Guixu, with Spirit Qi flowing through rivers into the sea, eventually converging in the Land of Guixu."
"It's similar to how Yuan Qi Tides ultimately gather in the Central Divine Continent. The Land of Guixu is the final reservoir of Spirit Qi."
"Someone needed to stay behind to collect and safeguard Spirit Qi during the Primordial Qi Era. Otherwise, it would dissipate into the void beyond this realm."
"Such dissipation might not be noticeable over one or two years, but when viewed on a cosmic scale, it results in terrifying losses."
"If no one remained here to guard it, future dynasties would never experience another Spirit Qi Revival or achieve ascension."
"After completing the final campaign against the Southern Barbarians, the Xia Dynasty had suffered heavy losses."
"In other words, only by me, the Grand Shennong, staying behind could we collect the returning Spirit Qi and prevent its complete dissipation."
Ji Che and the seven Shennong Priests behind him were all moved by these words. The previous casual attitudes vanished, and everyone respectfully bowed toward Yun Tiandao.
After Ji Che finished his questioning, it was Yun Tiandao's turn. "What is the current Spirit Qi Index?"
This was a simple question. Zhao Xing immediately answered, "In the sixty-seventh year of the Xuanhuang Calendar 4418, during the seventy-fifth year of the Great Zhou Yuan Shuo era, our dynasty developed an instrument capable of measuring Spirit Qi—Shang Ling Instrument."
"From Yuan Shuo 75 to Yuan Shuo 95, the average Spirit Qi Index over the past twenty years was 1.2. This year, it has barely reached 1.3."
Yun Tiandao furrowed his brows before shaking his head. "You have come too early. The true Spirit Qi Era has not yet arrived. Your generation will not complete the ascension grand plan—at least, not you, Emperor Ji."
"There is no need to ask further. Ling Die, send them off."
Yun Tiandao's words made Wang Tianzhi and the others frown, but Zhao Xing and Ji Che were unsurprised.
Zhao Xing had already informed Ji Che of this beforehand.
Yun Tiandao turned away from the entrance, seemingly disappointed, but before he could leave, Zhao Xing called out, "Senior, please wait! Hear me out!"
If it were anyone else speaking, Yun Tiandao wouldn't have even acknowledged them.
He had lived for so long that everything was mere fleeting clouds to him. It didn't matter whether one was an emperor or anyone else—no one could influence him. However, he did have some interest in Zhao Xing.
In Yun Tiandao's eyes, Zhao Xing had inherited Qing Yuzi's legacy, which meant he would inevitably live for thousands of years—perhaps far longer. Others might barely break the thousand-year threshold, but only by a few extra centuries at best.
Ji Che, as an emperor of a Spirit Qi Dynasty, might even have a shorter lifespan than some of his officials.
Seeing Yun Tiandao stop, Zhao Xing quickly stepped forward and said, "Senior, the Spirit Qi Index alone does not determine the possibility of ascension. Our generation still has hope."
Yun Tiandao shook his head. "The Spirit Qi Index is too low. In the universe's standards, anything below 1 is considered a barren region. At 1.3, your realm is merely a step above desolation."
"Zhao Xing, you should know—you cannot deceive me."
Zhao Xing nodded. "Yes, Senior Yun. You've spoken with Qing Yuzi before and have some understanding of the cosmos. I cannot fool you. The Spirit Qi Index is indeed too low."
"But—things are determined by human effort. What if the Shennong Priests initiate a Spirit Qi Revival?"
"Senior, you possess a full epoch's worth of accumulated Spirit Qi from the Xuanhuang Realm. I, too, have a large reservoir of Spirit Qi."
"With this foundation, we can preemptively shake the heavenly timing beyond the Xuanhuang Realm, forcing the revival rain of Spring to arrive ahead of schedule. Once it is complete, the cycle will naturally return to its proper rhythm, allowing us to seize control of fate itself!"
Zhao Xing's purpose in coming to the Land of Guixu was precisely to acquire Yun Tiandao's stored Spirit Qi. Without it, the manual Spirit Qi Revival would be impossible.
He proposed his plan, but Yun Tiandao still shook his head.
"I have not only spoken with Qing Yuzi," Yun Tiandao reminisced. "When he came to the Land of Guixu, we debated for a long time. Back then, he also proposed this idea. I refused him and only gave him a Frozen Coffin."
Hearing Yun Tiandao and Zhao Xing's conversation, Wang Tianzhi and Ling Tianchen suddenly realized something.
No wonder in the past, during the Gulu Star Challenge, Ling Die Fairy had always been in the leading group.
It turned out Yun Tiandao and Qing Yuzi knew each other!
Zhao Xing had deduced this based on clues. Qing Yuzi had never mentioned Yun Tiandao in his inheritance.
However, Ling Die Fairy's performance on Gulu Star had been extraordinary—she had even known the core life structure of the Heaven Gulu Beast.
Moreover, among Qing Yuzi's inherited treasures, there had been a Frozen Coffin crafted with techniques from the Xuantian Divine Sect.
All these signs indicated that Yun Tiandao and Qing Yuzi had interacted before.
Yun Tiandao could not leave the Land of Guixu, but Qing Yuzi could come here.
As a powerhouse at the Origin Realm, Qing Yuzi, upon discovering the Land of Guixu, would certainly have come to investigate.
Yet, for some reason, neither of them had ever mentioned the other. Even in his past life, Zhao Xing had never heard Yun Tiandao speak of Qing Yuzi.
Was it simply because Yun Tiandao had refused Qing Yuzi's request back then? Or was it due to some restriction in the Land of Guixu?
Regardless, Zhao Xing had to convince Yun Tiandao. He wasn't going to wait another two thousand years!
"The era in which Qing Yuzi lived was right after the Xia Dynasty's ascension, during the most severe depletion of Spirit Qi in the Xuanhuang Realm," Zhao Xing began to persuade.
He traced a horizontal and vertical axis in the air with his fingers, forming a coordinate plane. A curve then appeared on the graph, fluctuating along the axis.
"Observing the alternation of Spirit Qi and Primordial Qi Eras in the Xuanhuang Realm, the cyclical variations generally follow this pattern."
"From the moment Qing Yuzi descended to his death, the Spirit Qi Index never exceeded 1, and it was even impossible for it to surpass 0.8."
"Even if he possessed unparalleled power, extraordinary vision, and knowledge beyond the Xuanhuang Realm, it was still impossible for him to complete the manual revival plan."
"The failure of the ascension of Yu Dynasty that he established was inevitable."
Yun Tiandao nodded slightly. Back then, he had also tried to persuade Qing Yuzi to give up on his futile efforts.
Zhao Xing continued, "But now, things are different. The Spirit Qi Index has already surpassed 1.3. While the current trend is still at the foothill of the curve, a peak has begun to form. Within the next five hundred years, it will inevitably exceed 2, stabilizing between the range of 2 and 3."
Yun Tiandao countered, "The Spirit Qi I possess can at most raise the value by 1. Even if I give it to you, how do you plan to raise it beyond 5?"
A Spirit Qi Index of 5 was the fundamental threshold for ascension. Anything below 5 meant revival failure, making it impossible to enter the era of Spirit Qi. Yun Tiandao clearly understood these basic conditions, but he had overlooked a few key points.
Zhao Xing continued, "Senior, you hold 1. The Moon Shaman has 0.5. The Spirit Qi from the Ruins of Return and the Holy Mountain of the Southern Barbarians—if we only count these, do you agree with this total?"
Yun Tiandao pondered for a moment before nodding. "I have estimated that the Ruins of Return could at most contribute 1. However, you've slightly underestimated the Moon Shaman's portion. But a total of 1.5 is reasonable. I agree."
Zhao Xing casually extended a finger, and in the air, the glowing point representing the Spirit Qi curve suddenly soared, reaching a value of 4.5.
"Alright, now we have 4.5. Senior, are you aware of the land of the Dragon Court?" Without waiting for Yun Tiandao's response, Zhao Xing continued, "The Dragon Court was the first to discover the characteristics of the Ruins of Return. Generations of Dragon Gods and Dragon Emperors established the ancient land of the Dragon Court in the Eastern Sea to siphon a portion of the Spirit Qi for themselves."
"This also includes the 'Guardian's Duty' of the Ruins of Return."
"Now, I am the Dragon Emperor."
"The Spirit Qi within the ancient land of the Dragon Court accounts for 0.5. Do you think that is unreasonable, Senior?"
Yun Tiandao fell into deep contemplation. Seeing this, Zhao Xing pressed on further.
In the air, he outlined a formula for calculating the planetary Spirit Qi circulation and said, "Everyone can verify this calculation. This is pure mathematics—the conversion formula for Spirit Qi particles into spiritual liquid and spiritual stones. It has nothing to do with fate deduction."
"This is a summary derived from sensing the changes in the strength and weakness of planetary Spirit Qi over time. A Shennong cultivator practicing the Yin-Yang Self Scripture can perceive Five Elements particles. At the Rule Stage, one can perceive the total amount of Spirit Qi within a domain through direct sensing."
Spirit Qi could naturally be quantified, even using the simplest units of weight. Spiritual liquid and spiritual crystals were undeniable proof of this. Zhao Xing then took out a device from his Qiankun Pouch. "This is a device that reverses vital energy into Spirit Qi."
"Verifying my formula is simple. Senior, you can have Fairy Lingdie test it out."
This reversal device was not meant to collect Spirit Qi but rather to convince Yun Tiandao. Its production cost was too high, and its conversion efficiency was too low.
Zhao Xing estimated that even if the entire treasury of the Great Zhou Dynasty were used to produce these devices, in a thousand years, they would still not be able to raise the Spirit Qi Index by 0.05.
Furthermore, Zhao Xing could not afford to wait a thousand years because the peak period of Spirit Qi accumulation would not last long. The ascension window was destined to be brief.
While the reversal device was useful for individual cultivation, its effect on the Spirit Qi required for a world's revival was minuscule.
Therefore, its main purpose was to convince Yun Tiandao.
As the hourglass-like device appeared, and Fairy Lingdie personally conducted the conversion process, Yun Tiandao's eyes flashed with a trace of astonishment. He had not expected Zhao Xing to create such an artifact. This deepened his curiosity about Zhao Xing, prompting him to return to the doorway once more.
With Zhao Xing's formula proving to be valid, the feasibility of the entire plan became apparent.
At last, Yun Tiandao began to seriously consider Zhao Xing's proposal. However, there were still problems to be solved.
"The ancient land of the Dragon Court contains 0.5 Spirit Qi. If we add that in, it looks barely sufficient on paper."
"But in practice, the calculations aren't that simple."
"First, the Spirit Qi in the hands of the Moon Shaman will not be easily handed over to you. To acquire it, you must defeat the Moon Shaman. How do you intend to prove that Great Zhou has the strength to conquer the Southern Barbarians?"
"Second, even if you manage to collect the Spirit Qi and reach a total of 5, summoning cosmic cloud energy to bring down a rain of Spirit Qi still carries the risk of failure."
"Human effort has its limits. Your calculations may not completely align with real-world developments. If you barely reach 5, then even the slightest deviation could pose immense risks."
After listing these two issues, Yun Tiandao stated his position. "Additionally, I need to clarify a few things."
"First, I have lived within the Epoch House of the Ruins of Return for nearly an entire epoch."
"This is a unique place, or perhaps an ancient artifact."
"It most likely originated from the cosmos, brought back by a powerful figure. But its exact historical origins are impossible to verify."
"The Epoch House allows those inside to survive for a maximum of one epoch—one million two hundred thousand years. It freezes my lifespan, ignoring the life limit imposed by the World Star or the Xuanhuang Realm."
"However, once I leave, I must complete my ascension within a short period. Otherwise, I will suffer the backlash of the Xuanhuang Realm's origin. This 'short period' is approximately one hundred and twenty years."
"Second, although I am willing to remain in the Xuanhuang Realm and contribute to future dynasties, that does not mean I am merely a tool for collecting Spirit Qi."
"I have my own needs. I must ascend alongside the new dynasty and seek out the Xia Dynasty and my old friends in the cosmos."
After speaking, Yun Tiandao fixed his gaze on Zhao Xing.
"So tell me, why should I take this risk to help your generation ascend now, rather than waiting one or two more years when the chances of success are higher?"
Upon hearing Yun Tiandao's concerns and statement, the Great Zhou officials fell into a brief silence.
Indeed, just because Yun Tiandao possessed an unyielding spirit did not mean he had no desire to live or be free.
Zhao Xing could afford to take risks. If he failed, he could retreat into the Frozen Coffin of Eternal Cold and wait for the true Spirit Qi Era to arrive.
But Yun Tiandao?
Regardless of success or failure, he only had one hundred and twenty years left. When that time was up, if he remained in the Xuanhuang Realm, he would be doomed.
He had not lived this long by his own strength but had merely borrowed time from the Epoch House in the Ruins of Return, which temporarily froze his lifespan. However, during this period, he could not leave.
Once he stepped outside, he would have no choice but to ascend and leave the Xuanhuang Realm. Otherwise, this method of borrowing lifespan would bring an inevitable and powerful backlash.
According to the normal progression, in the previous timeline, the Spirit Qi Revival Era began 1,500 years after the death of Emperor Wu, when the Spirit Qi Index finally reached 5. Following that, a new dynasty emerged, spending around 800 years to unify the land and conquer the Southern Wilderness.
Yun Tiandao had appeared precisely during that period and ascended together with the new dynasty!
To be honest, Zhao Xing was quite familiar with Yun Tiandao.
Because that new dynasty was established by players. As one of the first batch of ascended players, Zhao Xing had interacted with Yun Tiandao during the cosmic expansion version of the game.
Yun Tiandao was an absolute genius, a legendary figure of the Xia Dynasty, possessing a willpower far beyond normal comprehension.
His time in the Epoch House was not spent in constant slumber; instead, he had to wake up periodically to collect Spirit Qi from the Ruins of Return, or else the Spirit Qi energy would slowly dissipate.
The ratio of wakefulness to slumber was roughly 1 to 2, meaning that in this entire epoch, Yun Tiandao had spent at least 400,000 years awake!
If he had just slept through it all, it might not have been too bad.
But to stay awake, to endure such an unbearable amount of time, unable to leave, without anyone to talk to, without entertainment, without cultivation progress—the mental ordeal he endured was unimaginable.
At that time, the Xia Dynasty was on the verge of ascending.
Yun Tiandao was about to step into a greater realm, obtain a longer lifespan, and witness a broader universe filled with infinite possibilities.
Yet, he chose to abandon everything, enduring 1.2 million years of isolation, becoming the Xuanhuang Realm's lone guardian.
Think about it carefully:
At that time, even high-ranking officials had a lifespan of just 800 years.
Even if the Xia Dynasty met the requirements for ascension, Yun Tiandao's understanding of longevity at the time was merely a few thousand years.
For someone born in an era where the average lifespan was measured in mere centuries, choosing to face a million years of solitude—
How much courage would that take?
How strong must his will have been?
Thus, if Zhao Xing could not resolve Yun Tiandao's concerns, then he could not solve his own problem either.
What did Yun Tiandao want?
Ascension.
To reunite with his family.
To find the Xia Dynasty.
This had always been his unyielding and unwavering goal.
Convincing Yun Tiandao to step out and take risks was definitely not going to be easy.
There were many obstacles—problems that had to be solved one by one.
The first to respond to Yun Tiandao's concerns was Ji Che:
"I was born with abundant vitality, able to connect with the Earth's Spirit Bridge at the age of three, complete my Earth Fiend training by five, integrate Heavenly Gang energy into my body by seven, and by fourteen, I had already surpassed the Pure Essence and Primordial Soul realms, reaching a level where I could project my True Soul outside my body."
"At that time, I was merely a prince, without having inherited my father's legacy."
"After my father officially named me Crown Prince, it took me less than a century to reach the Destiny Palace Realm."
"Since ascending the throne, 215 years have passed, and I have already entered the Dao-Establisment Realm." Ji Che stated confidently.
"The Great Zhou Dynasty currently boasts over 200,000 first-rank powerhouses, with over 300 individuals at the Rule Stage—"
"—including the powerhouses who have sworn allegiance to the Dragon Court."
"Great Zhou has expanded to claim its nineteenth province, establishing its dominance over all territories. Apart from the Four Royal Courts ruled by the Moon God of Sorcery in the Southern Wilderness, we have no rivals."
Ji Che's voice brimmed with unshakable confidence as he looked directly at Yun Tiandao.
"During the Yuan Shou Era, I officially declared my intention for nationwide ascension!"
"I have Zhao Xing as my Grand Shennong, Lord Luo as my Grand Marshal, the treasures left behind by visitors from beyond the sky in the Western Pole Province, the ancient relics of the Dragon Court, and the intellectual enlightenment of the masses through the Grand Dream Academy, all guiding us on the path of a True Holy Emperor."
"Yun Tiandao—how does my Great Zhou Dynasty compare to the Xia Dynasty of Emperor Xia?"
Yun Tiandao clasped his hands in respect.
"Objectively speaking, the Great Zhou Dynasty has already surpassed the Xia Dynasty in terms of strength."
He did not compare Ji Che and Emperor Xia, nor did Ji Che ask for that comparison.
After all, Yun Tiandao was a subject of the Xia Dynasty, not a vassal of Zhou.
Receiving such an answer was already enough.
Ji Che continued:
"As for the Southern Wilderness, the Four Royal Courts—I will say only one thing."
"The Purple Dragon God, one of the Four Great Divine Spirits, was recently slain by Grand Shennong Zhao Xing."
"From this day forward, the Southern Wilderness will no longer have the Purple Dragon God as its totemic deity!"
Yun Tiandao could not help but glance at Zhao Xing once again.
For him, verifying these claims was a simple matter.
Which meant that Ji Che and the others were not lying.
However, for Zhao Xing, as the Grand Shennong, to possess such combat power—that was truly unexpected.
After all, the Purple Dragon God was the totem deity of the Purple Dragon Royal Court!
Once Ji Che finished speaking, the seven Shennongs standing behind him stepped forward in unison.
"I, Ling Dacheng, serve as Junior Chief of Shennong of Great Zhou, Head of the Houyan Academy in Xuantian Academy. I respectfully invite Senior Yun to step forward—I am willing to succeed you as the new Guardian!"
"I, Wang Tianzhi, serve as Junior Chief of Shennong of Great Zhou, Head of the Thunder Academy in Xuantian Academy. I respectfully invite Senior Yun to step forward—I am willing to succeed you as the new Guardian!"
"I, Yun Ze, serve as Junior Chief of Shennong of Great Zhou, Head of the Cloud Academy in Xuantian Academy. I respectfully invite Ancestor Yun to step forward—I am willing to inherit your post as the new Guardian!"
"I, Qing, serve as Junior Chief of Shennong of Great Zhou, and—"
"I, Chen Yu, serve as the Taicang Magistrate of Great Zhou—"
"I, Lu Xia—"
"I, Xiao Yun—"
If Ji Che was presenting facts and logic, then the seven Shennongs were appealing to emotion.
Only Zhao Xing remained silent.
Because he knew—
None of this would work.
Who was Yun Tiandao?
He longed for the Xia Dynasty and his lost loved ones across the universe.
How could he be persuaded by mere words?
As the atmosphere turned stagnant, Zhao Xing finally stepped forward.
"Looks like I have no choice but to cheat a little."
"Yun Tiandao remains completely unmoved. He won't be swayed by words alone. The only way is to make him believe that this is his last chance."
With a plan in mind, Zhao Xing turned to Ji Che for a private conversation.
"Che, I need you and the others to step aside for now."
"There are some things I cannot openly reveal due to my Fate Soul Oath."
"But Yun Tiandao and Qing Yuzi were friends, so he already knows these matters—I can only speak to him alone."
Ji Che nodded and gestured to Fairy Lingdie.
"Fairy, please lead us to a quiet place."
As the others departed, Zhao Xing remained behind.
Yun Tiandao understood.
He silently waited.
This was to be a private conversation between two Grand Shennongs.
"Senior Yun, this is your last chance," Zhao Xing began, wasting no time.
Zhao Xing went straight to the point.
"If one wishes to ascend within the Xuanhuang Realm, the external condition depends on the Great Spring Epoch in the cosmic domain, while the internal condition relies on a unified Spirit Qi Dynasty."
"You've observed the Xuanhuang Realm for so many years, Senior Yun. You should have noticed—the total amount of Spirit Qi is steadily decreasing."
"The cycles of fluctuation and decline tell us something critical—"
"Each time the revival happens, the duration gets shorter, and the total amount of Spirit Qi that can be gathered is less and less. This means that the window of opportunity for ascension is shrinking rapidly."
"Your previous guardian likely did not wait out an entire era, yet you have endured until nearly the very limit of the Era's End. That alone is sufficient proof."
"Because previous dynasties always took away the spiritual energy materials, the waiting period kept growing longer and longer."
"After this, the Xuanhuang Realm will no longer have the Rain of Spiritual Energy Revival. The balance will be completely shattered, and the realm's location will become nothing more than a desolate region in the universe."
"In other words, its decline is inevitable." "I think you understand this better than anyone."
Yun Tiandao gazed at Zhao Xing, then slowly nodded. "Yes, I know."
"Ling Die has observed the Great Zhou for a long time. She even attended your Dao Discourse Assembly."
"The Xuanhuang Realm has only this one last opportunity for ascension. My search for my family and the Xia Dynasty also hinges on this single chance—the final chance."
Zhao Xing nodded. "Waiting comes with enormous risks as well."
"Perhaps things will unfold as predicted, and you may witness that Rain in two thousand years, yet fail to see the rise of a powerful dynasty. Or maybe the Rain will arrive but in a changed form—still insufficient for ascension."
"I am now offering you a high degree of certainty." Zhao Xing pointed toward the spatially projected coordinate curves in the air. "The Shennong Sect fights against the Earth."
"The Shennong of the Heavenly Timing Sect has never sat idly, waiting for the right moment. Instead, we must take the initiative and seize it!"
"So tell me, will you sit and wait for your doom, or will you join us in changing fate?"
"Clap~ Clap~ Clap~"
Suddenly, the sound of applause rang out. Zhao Xing turned to see Yun Tiandao clapping his hands.
With a faint smile, Yun Tiandao said, "Zhao Xing, you truly deserve to be the Grand Shennong who held a Dao Discourse Assembly and won the admiration of billions."
"In all these years, you are the first person who has ever made me waver."
Zhao Xing looked at Yun Tiandao, who stood with his hands behind his back, then silently withdrew the projected spatial curve.
Damn it… he's still not convinced!
After all, Yun Tiandao had observed the Xuanhuang Realm for nearly an entire Era. Even if he spent eighty million years in slumber, he had still been awake for nearly four hundred thousand years.
Four hundred thousand years of witnessing the tides of change.
How steadfast must Yun Tiandao's Dao Heart be?
There were certainly others who had spoken more persuasive words than Zhao Xing, yet Yun Tiandao remained unmoved.
"Like a stubborn ox, Yun Tiandao won't leave unless he sees the Rain with his own eyes," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "It's really hard to persuade him."
Yun Tiandao smiled faintly. "Zhao Xing, this plan you proposed—this is not the first time I have heard of it."
"Do you think I don't know that the Shennong of the Heavenly Timing Sect must fight for the advantage of timing?"
"However, attempting to reverse the heavenly timing of an entire region is extremely difficult."
"If I fail, my life will be lost. Losing my life is one thing."
"But if I fail in my duty as a Guardian, then it would be a true disaster."
"Even if you succeed, what then?"
"The adjustment of the four seasons is not perfect."
"Even in a single county or prefecture, reversing the natural timing will always leave some degree of harm upon this world."
"I guard both the sentient beings of the Xuanhuang Realm, ensuring they have a path to ascend, and the realm itself."
"If you reverse the heavenly timing outside the Xuanhuang Realm, will it not destroy its future chance at a Spiritual Energy Revival?"
"And what if we are both wrong, and the Rain comes as expected—abundant and overflowing? Would I not have then doomed the later generations and our homeland, the Xuanhuang Realm?"
Zhao Xing remained silent.
Yun Tiandao had been the Guardian for nearly an entire Era. He had observed both the Xuanhuang Realm and the universe's natural timing. His emotions toward this realm and its beings had grown profound.
In other words, this was a man of great compassion!
Back in the Xia Dynasty, had they truly failed to cultivate a successor for the Guardian's role?
No, it wasn't that.
It was that Yun Tiandao had voluntarily taken on this responsibility. Over the course of an entire Era, his sense of duty had been ingrained deep within him.
From another perspective, if Yun Tiandao hadn't reinforced his resolve with such unwavering commitment, he would not have endured for so long.
But his unyielding nature made things incredibly difficult for Zhao Xing.
"Old Yun, although we once took risks together in the cosmic trials, and you are a good man, I now have no choice but to break down your psychological defenses. Only by doing so might I convince you."
Zhao Xing silently resolved himself.
Seeing Zhao Xing fall into contemplation, Yun Tiandao thought he was ready to give up. Instead, he offered words of consolation.
"Zhao Xing, you can endure until the Rain arrives."
"You possess the Great Cold Ice-Sealing Coffin. Aside from that emperor of yours, you can preserve the lives of everyone else until that day comes."
"I am even willing to give you the complete method to craft the Great Cold Ice-Sealing Coffin, and I will personally help you break through to the Dao Establishment Realm during this era's tides. Even your emperor could not do this for you."
"I have this feeling, as if we are already well acquainted, like we met in a past life. I believe we could become kindred spirits, walking the same path..."
"Brother Yun." Zhao Xing suddenly flashed a subtle smile. "Do you believe that I am truly your brother, and that I know you well?"
"Oh?" Yun Tiandao raised an eyebrow.
"You probably don't believe it, so let me prove it to you."
Zhao Xing lifted his hand and started drawing in midair.
Suddenly, Yun Tiandao's eyelids twitched, and his expression changed slightly.
Because Zhao Xing had conjured a three-dimensional image.
The first person to emerge in the portrait was Yun Tiandao's wife, his Dao companion—Fairy Nifeng.
Her image was so lifelike, it seemed as though she had truly materialized before them. Even her aura and temperament were replicated flawlessly!
"Stop with these tricks!" Yun Tiandao seemed slightly irritated. "I don't know where you got that painting from, but—"
Yet before he could finish his sentence, Zhao Xing continued drawing, now depicting Yun Tiandao's senior and junior disciples, his mentor, the Xia Emperor, and even his old friends…
One after another.
If he had only drawn one person, Yun Tiandao could still dismiss it as coincidence—perhaps Zhao Xing had obtained some information from that era.
But now, Zhao Xing had illustrated his entire network of relationships.
That was no longer something that could be explained by mere chance!
Year 158 of the Great Xia Shanhai Calendar, Mirror Lake Courtyard—your betrothal. The token of your engagement was the Jade Qingyi.
Year 292 of the Great Xia Shanhai Calendar, "Yun Tiandao" comprehended the Dao at 'Guanshan Dao Field.'
Year 19 of the Great Xia Changyi Calendar, your battle with 'Wang Manyong'—that was the most unforgettable battle in your memory.
Year...
Zhao Xing could visibly see the emotions on Yun Tiandao's face stir. He stopped and asked, "Yun Yuan, do I still need to continue?"
"You… Who exactly are you?!"
For the first time, Yun Tiandao lost his composure. Although he quickly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his tone betrayed his inner shock.
"Step out. Once you walk through this threshold, I will naturally tell you everything."
Zhao Xing spoke in a tone that was both familiar and natural.
Yun Tiandao fell silent for a moment.
"Since you know me so well, why do you have to force me like this?"
Zhao Xing's expression turned serious.
"Brother Yun, your will is too firm. And I understand your nature. If I don't push you like this, you would never agree to step out ahead of time."
"Yes, I could survive using the Grand Cold Seal Coffin, but the future is not guaranteed to be the best era. Moreover, there are many people I care about who cannot be preserved in ice until that time arrives."
"Trust me—I would never harm you. This ascension opportunity—if you join us, success is guaranteed!"
"You have been searching for the Xia Dynasty and your family, haven't you?"
"Do you know why they haven't returned to find you, even after nearly an entire epoch has passed since their ascension?"
"You have waited for so many years. Don't you want to know what really happened?"
"It's not that they don't want to return. It's that something has bound them."
"If you agree to step out, I will tell you everything. You will never regret this decision. If you set out two thousand years earlier to find them, the outcome will be completely different..."
Swoosh—
Before Zhao Xing could finish speaking, he saw a silhouette step forward from behind the threshold. It was as if an invisible web had been broken as the figure passed through.
In the next moment, Yun Tiandao stood before Zhao Xing.