The panel rippled like a water curtain before appearing in front of Zhao Xing in an entirely new format.
[Name: Zhao Xing]
[Occupation: Shennong]
[Fortune: Derivation Nine]
[Physical Body: Mid Ascension Stage]
[Soul: Perfected Ascension Stage]
[Dao Field: Realm Star Third Tier]
[Age: 992]
[Remaining Lifespan: 7008 years]
"So, my physical body is still stuck at Mid Ascension Stage?" Zhao Xing glanced at the new panel and suddenly understood.
After reaching the Ascension Stage, due to the lack of suitable cultivation methods, everyone in Great Zhou—including him—had no idea how to progress further.
Physically, he had felt no changes for a long time. It was as if his body had reached a natural limit, where growth had completely halted.
However, ever since arriving in the Xuanling Star Domain, he had once again started to sense growth—a direct result of the sudden increase in spiritual qi density.
Even without any new cultivation techniques, simply existing in such a richly saturated spiritual qi environment meant he would continue to grow naturally.
As for his soul, it had already reached perfection in the Ascension Stage long ago.
"The Dao Field… this is an important indicator of the spellcaster's path."
"It represents the extent to which I can control spiritual qi's essence, a transformation derived from Rule Domain—and it determines the range of my spellcasting."
Reaching Realm Star First Tier meant his Dao Field could already cover an entire minor world or small-scale realm star.
For instance, back in the Xuanhuang Realm, when Zhao Xing threw out the Kun Yuan Hoe and made his grand Dao proclamation, its effects extended across nearly half of the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Of course, Realm Stars and minor worlds vary greatly in size and strength."
"Reaching Realm Star Third Tier means my comprehension of the Dao has deepened significantly—my spellcasting range in a lower-tier Realm Star is now large enough to cover it completely."
If he had chosen the martial path, the panel would have displayed 'Golden Body' instead of 'Dao Field'.
A Golden Body at Realm Star Third Tier meant the cultivator could fully manifest their true form in lower-tier Realm Stars, ignoring all suppression from the star's natural laws and exerting their full power.
"But if I step into a mid-tier Realm Star, my Dao Field will be greatly compressed."
"Likewise, if a Golden Body Third Tier martial artist enters a mid-tier Realm Star, their thousand-zhang tall Golden Body would be shrunk below that height, and their strength would be weakened accordingly."
"992 years old… I've lived for nearly a thousand years. But half of that was spent inside the Realm Vessel."
"My remaining lifespan is still 7008 years… huh?"
As Zhao Xing breathed in the local spiritual qi, he suddenly noticed—
The lifespan number increased from 7008 to 7009.
"Huh… just one breath, and I gained an extra year of life?"
Zhao Xing chuckled.
This was exactly why territory and environment were crucial for survival.
Right now, they were deep within the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom.
If they secured a place to settle, even without actively cultivating, an Ascension Stage cultivator could easily extend their lifespan by thousands of years.
It was no wonder powerful cultivators were desperate to move into an Ancient Kingdom—who wouldn't want to extend their lifespan?
At the same time, it explained why Ancient Kingdoms heavily restricted outsiders—if too many people came in, the spiritual qi density would eventually decline.
If that happened, wouldn't it mean outsiders were stealing their lifespans?
"The struggle for survival space is literally a life-and-death matter."
Zhao Xing sighed deeply.
He continued scanning the panel and noticed his spell list had also changed significantly.
Even his Ultimate Techniques had undergone a naming transformation—now classified as 'Heavenly Laws' and 'Source Laws'.
But in essence, nothing had really changed.
"It's just a new name for the same thing."
"Heavenly Timing Spells and Earthly Advantage Spells have all reached their ultimate completion, but the four fundamental spells of the Self School haven't even entered the ultimate stage."
Why were Self School spells so difficult to create?
The core reason lay in their connection to the Grand Dao of Life.
Whether it was accelerating plant growth or modifying the life cycle of plants, both challenged the underlying cosmic rules.
That was why they were so hard to cultivate—but once mastered, they were incomparably powerful.
Of course, this only applied to cultivation techniques.
Combat techniques were a different matter entirely.
For instance, 'Soldier of Cloud and Wind' and 'Four Seasons Divine Splendor' weren't altering the fundamental life cycle of plant-based soldiers.
Instead, they simply utilized powerful plant species for combat.
His Divine Abilities still displayed anomalies.
The Three Divinities Destiny Palace functioned normally because it was a passive augmentation ability, meaning it remained active even in unstable voids.
Star Gaze Technique also worked fine since it was based on the special nature of the soul.
However, Eight Epochs of Purple Light—
No matter whether it was in stable or unstable voids—
It still couldn't be used.
Beneath the spell list, there was now a 'Treasure List'.
This section only displayed the treasures Zhao Xing carried with him.
"Some of the treasures I obtained in the Xuanhuang Realm are actually extremely valuable in the cosmic era."
"First, the Thunder Law Sword—after unlocking its first seal, I discovered it's at least a Realm Star Dao Weapon."
"Second, the Cangwu Apex Leaf—a top-tier rare treasure, equivalent in value to a Realm Star Dao Weapon. It has incredible regenerative properties, capable of reconstructing a physical body."
"Third, the Star Fate Codex—a Realm Star Dao Weapon that originally belonged to Qing Yuzi."
"Fourth, the Void Escape Soul Ring—an exceptional Star-Tier Dao Weapon, once owned by Fairy Su Wan. Although it hasn't reached Realm Star Tier, it's an invaluable life-saving artifact for spellcasters."
These were equipment-type treasures.
In addition, he also had two special treasures:
One was the Moyun Vine, and the other was the Heavenly Gulu Beast.
"The Heavenly Gulu Beast is still sealed in ice. Even though it's only at its juvenile stage, it already possesses First-Origin Stage combat power. Once it matures to Second-Origin Stage, it'll be able to use its innate abilities to assist in farming."
Zhao Xing's expression gradually brightened.
The panel's new version had far more functionalities—this was just the beginning.
The Moyun Vine had an even higher potential. Even in its sapling stage, it already possessed First-Origin Stage combat strength!
Moreover, even as a sapling, it had two innate divine abilities.
Even if Nalan De gifted him a hundred pieces of top-tier rare treasures, the total value still wouldn't match what Zhao Xing currently had in his hands.
"Qing Yuzi left behind the Grand View Realm, Sun-Moon Palace, Qiankun Pouch, and Tianyuan Soul Artifact—all of these are Ancient Kingdom craftsmanship and can be sold for a fortune."
Among the treasures brought from Great Zhou, several were still highly valuable—some could even be sold for the price of a Realm Star Dao Weapon.
For example, the Grand Dream Academy, which was large enough to cover an entire world, could obviously fetch a Realm Star Dao Weapon's price.
"In total, at least ten items we brought from Great Zhou could be sold for Realm Star Dao Weapon prices—this is an astronomical fortune."
For an Ascension Stage cultivator to possess so many treasures, anyone who robbed them would instantly strike gold!
After all, Ascension Stage cultivators usually wielded Star-Tier Dao Weapons at most.
A Realm Star Dao Weapon was something that only First-Origin Stage cultivators could fully unleash its power.
"Nalan De carefully selected these hundred top-tier Star-Tier treasures—including equipment, consumables, pills, and talismans. Some of them were even limited edition items."
"If I sell them slowly, I estimate they'll be worth about one and a half lower-grade Realm Star Dao Weapons."
"If I sell them quickly, they would still fetch at least one lower-grade Realm Star Dao Weapon's price," Zhao Xing estimated.
Nalan De had truly been generous.
For a Second-Origin Stage cultivator, a Realm Star Dao Weapon was as essential as a house or car for an ordinary person.
And Nalan De had basically gifted a whole house—that was a significant gesture.
Of course, for Nalan De, it was worth the investment.
If his nephew managed to enter the Purple Divine Mansion, it would be equivalent to enrolling in a top-tier school in an Ancient Kingdom—with the added benefit of guaranteed employment.
The upgraded panel had also introduced two new functions.
Zhao Xing's gaze shifted to the bottom-right corner of the panel.
Detection Function and Map Function.
"In this cosmic version, players now have one active ability and one passive ability—and these two functions significantly enhance survivability."
A smile appeared on Zhao Xing's face.
With a single thought, he activated the Detection Function.
A semi-transparent virtual frame appeared before his eyes.
As his gaze moved, the detection frame followed accordingly.
His eyes landed on Xia Jing.
In the next moment, a series of data immediately appeared on the detection frame.
[Name: Xia Jing]
[Occupation: Qi Sect Cultivator]
[Fortune: Derivation Eight]
[Realm: Mid Ascension Stage]
[Golden Body: Realm Star First Tier]
[Age: 996]
[Remaining Lifespan: 5008 years]
"Xia Jing is a Qi Sect cultivator, meaning his physical body and soul are fused as one—so his soul realm doesn't appear separately."
"His Golden Body is Realm Star First Tier, approximately ten thousand zhang tall, which is the bare minimum threshold."
"His remaining lifespan is still over five thousand years?"
Once cultivators left their small worlds or realm stars and entered a spiritually rich environment, an Ascension Stage cultivator's lifespan would continuously increase.
The specific increase depended entirely on the environment.
Under natural conditions, this lifespan extension was incredibly exaggerated.
Over time, their lifespan could reach the natural cap of one hundred thousand years.
This meant, without doing anything, they could live for one hundred thousand years naturally.
If they wanted to live beyond that, they'd have to rely on non-natural methods.
Either they had to break through—reaching the First-Origin Stage, where they'd gain at least 1.2 million years of natural lifespan.
Or they had to consume longevity-extending pills and treasures—many of which could significantly prolong life.
Alternatively, they could use lifespan-extending artifacts—the classic example being the Epoch House.
However, the Epoch House had major flaws.
Simply staying alive wasn't enough.
True longevity wasn't just about existing—it included active life experiences.
Both the Epoch House and similar cryogenic preservation techniques weren't considered true life extension.
The panel also displayed Xia Jing's martial techniques:
[Heaven-Tier Martial Skills (Ultimate Martial Techniques)]
Rhinoceros God Finger, World-Shaking Emperor Fist, One Qi Primordial Unity, Taotie Devouring Heaven, Star-Plucking Hand, Azure Dragon Manifestation, Martial God Descent.
"The Young Lord's self-created martial techniques are quite impressive," Zhao Xing remarked with amusement.
He then took a glance at Ye Yukong's self-created techniques.
'Ultimate Annihilation Strike', 'Three Swords of World Destruction'…
These names were just way too over-the-top.
But Ye Yukong loved them—he thought they sounded domineering.
Well, everyone had their own preferences.
"The active Detection Function is limited by my rank—the higher the target's cultivation, the less information I can obtain."
"For example, when I target Su Qin or Mu Luo, the only thing displayed is their names—everything else is just question marks."
"As for the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion? Even his name doesn't appear. The detection frame remains completely blank."
"Su Qin and Mu Luo are Third-Origin Stage cultivators. With three realm differences, the information I can get is minimal."
"As for those at the Dao Domain Realm? The function is completely ineffective."
Even though it couldn't detect higher-ranked cultivators, the function was still valuable.
At the very least, Zhao Xing could instantly determine whether someone was far stronger than him.
This feature was incredibly useful—it prevented players from provoking people they shouldn't.
The best part was that this detection ability didn't alert powerful figures.
Zhao Xing had been staring at Mu Luo and Su Qin for a while—
Yet neither of them noticed a thing.
If he had used Heavenly Sight or Star Gaze Technique, they would have immediately sensed it.
And such a direct scan was extremely disrespectful.
If he ever dared to use those techniques on a high-ranking powerhouse, he might hear a cold "What are you looking at?"—
And the next moment, he'd be dead.
This detection function, however, was a perfect 'harmless peeping' tool.
"The active Detection Function is also very effective in combat."
"But it does have some flaws."
First, if the enemy is too fast, and their speed exceeds my reaction time, I might be killed before I even see their information.
Second, it doesn't work on inanimate objects.
So, using it to hunt for bargains at an auction?
Yeah… that's not happening.
The second function was the passive Map Function.
Zhao Xing shifted his gaze to this newly unlocked feature.
[You have entered the Great Ye Dynasty, Tianjing Star, Coordinates: Taiyin 23, Taiyang 34, Junmen 55.]
[You have entered the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, Taoyuan Star, Coordinates: Taiyin 153, Taiyang 248, Tiangou 5.]
[You have entered the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, Majia Star, Coordinates: Taiyin 2, Taiyang 34, Xingdou 155.]
This passive function automatically logged the name and coordinates of any location the user entered.
"Just knowing where you are is already an extremely powerful ability, especially for someone like me," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
Exploring the vast universe, the greatest fear was accidentally wandering into a danger zone and, when seeking help, not even knowing where you are.
With the automatic recording of map coordinates, survival chances would be greatly improved.
"The Mechanists' detectors also have a similar function, but they are nowhere near as powerful as the panel's."
Mechanists' tools couldn't display details such as age, lifespan, or skills.
Most importantly, the panel couldn't be tampered with—
Whereas a Mechanist's tools could be hacked by another Mechanist.
"The Immeasurable Matrix School of Mechanists are basically hackers. Back then, when Purple Bone returned from his undercover mission, he dealt a devastating blow to the Southern Barbarians."
[You have entered the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, Purple Divine Star System, Haimen Star Region, Qingyu Realm Star. (Coordinates attached)]
After traveling for half a month, making several transfers, the Mu Luo Realm Ship finally reached its destination.
One of Qing Yuzi's last wishes was for his remains to be buried in his hometown.
Thus, the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion had first brought them to Qingyu Realm Star, within the Purple Divine Star System.
Through the curved windows of the realm ship, Zhao Xing and the others quickly spotted a familiar celestial body—
And the Purple Moon.
Back when Zhao Xing inherited Qing Yuzi's legacy, he had entered the Dao Comprehension State and had seen Qingyu Star and its Purple Moon.
A Realm Star was called so because it possessed the traits of both a Small World and a Planet.
The first thing Zhao Xing and the others saw was its Small World characteristics—
A faintly blue, gaseous boundary wall, forming a flattened ellipsoid shape, resembling a leaf.
As the realm ship passed through the outer realm barrier, they saw the landscape within.
Qing Yuzi held a high status within the Purple Divine Mansion.
Originally, his hometown realm star was just a low-grade, small-scale Realm Star—
But after many years of development, it had been transformed into a high-grade Realm Star.
The moment Zhao Xing laid eyes on it, a thought flashed through his mind—
"Real estate."
Qing Yuzi's inheritance was not much in terms of personal treasures.
During his final battle, he had detonated his most valuable treasures to escape from his pursuers.
The only significant assets he left in the Xuanhuang Realm were:
The Heavenly Gulu Beast, the Star Fate Codex, and the Cangwu Apex Leaf.
(The realm ship's engine room belonged to Puta.)
Over time, Zhao Xing had learned about Qing Yuzi's life story from Su Qin.
"Qing Yuzi's family all passed away before he reached the Second-Origin Stage," Su Qin explained.
"He had no descendants, because at the time, he was still young. His only remaining relative was his teacher."
Su Qin continued, "Technically speaking, you are the most eligible heir to Qingyu Realm Star."
"Me? Inherit Qing Yuzi's high-grade Realm Star?" Zhao Xing was caught off guard.
"Yes. As a direct disciple, you absolutely have inheritance rights."
"In the cosmic legal system, the master-disciple bond is officially recognized as a legitimate kinship."
"Unlike family, which may pass away over time, the master-disciple relationship often lasts much longer."
"In the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, direct disciples have the legal right to inherit their master's assets—"
"And this inheritance right is ranked highly in priority," Su Qin explained in her ethereal voice.
"If you wish, you can file an application with the appropriate department in Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom."
"Of course, this must be done after Qing Yuzi's death is officially declared."
Zhao Xing had never considered this possibility before.
He had no idea whether Qing Yuzi had any living relatives who might claim Qingyu Realm Star.
But now, he finally understood.
For over a whole epoch, Qing Yuzi had never been officially declared dead.
As a result, Qingyu Realm Star remained in his name—and no one had inherited it.
During Qing Yuzi's long absence, his real estate holdings had been managed by his fellow disciples, under the supervision of the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion.
A massive fortune was about to fall into Zhao Xing's lap.
"Both Qing Yuzi and Wan'er have left behind substantial assets in the Purple Divine Mansion," Su Qin continued.
"Wan'er still has living family members, so it's unclear how much of her wealth can be claimed."
"But Qing Yuzi… he left behind a high-grade Realm Star, over three hundred small-scale Realm Stars, and several Star Continents."
"Over the past epoch, the wealth generated by these assets has been deposited into his accounts."
"All you have to do is file an application—and it's yours."
Su Qin smiled, "Congratulations, Zhao Shizhi."
However, upon hearing this, Zhao Xing immediately became wary.
"I must not show any greed."
"This might be a test from the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion."
"Otherwise, why mention this now, of all times? Why send Su Qin to discuss this with me specifically?"
"Besides, this situation is bound to be complicated."
"If his fellow disciples have been managing Qing Yuzi's wealth for an entire epoch, wouldn't some of them have their own agendas?"
"Qing Yuzi was my dear martial brother."
"Master, how could you just hand over his assets to an outsider?"
Zhao Xing immediately responded, "Shishu, I am young and inexperienced. Being granted my teacher's legacy and a place in the Purple Divine Mansion is already a tremendous blessing."
"I have never thought about these things, nor do I dare to."
Su Qin nodded slightly and said nothing more before walking away.
She entered the meditation chamber aboard the Mu Luo Realm Ship and paid her respects to the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion.
"Shishu, I have spoken to Zhao Xing."
"What did he say?" the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion asked indifferently.
"He said he doesn't want it and doesn't dare to claim it."
Su Qin continued, "However, I have already explained how he could apply for inheritance rights."
"If he is being dishonest and secretly files an application with the Ancient Kingdom, we will immediately know."
"Good." The Lord of Purple Divine Mansion nodded.
"Proceed according to the plan."
"If he can resist temptation for three thousand years, refraining from applying for inheritance rights, and manages to break through to the Second-Origin Stage, then everything shall belong to him."
The Lord of Purple Divine Mansion still had many things to take care of. For instance, the true culprit responsible for Qing Yuzi's death in the Xuanhuang Realm—the Dongyan Ancient Clan. He was determined to uncover the full truth and avenge his disciple.
For someone at the Dao Domain Realm, even a single closed-door cultivation session could last ten thousand years. Once the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion left to handle matters, he would rarely show himself. Thus, he needed to arrange everything in advance.
"If Yu'er planted the seeds of kindness, then I shall ensure he reaps good karma."
"If he neither fights nor competes, then I shall give it to him instead."
"But if he bears ill intentions and lacks the right mindset, then I shall revoke his inheritance of Purple Divine Arts and expel him from the Purple Divine Mansion."
The Lord of Purple Divine Mansion spoke indifferently, "Once the funeral is over, release the news—tell them I have no intention of handing over Yu'er's assets to Zhao Xing."
"As for Wan'er's inheritance, I will discuss it with your master."
"Understood, Master."
Zhao Xing was not the only one aware of his inheritance rights.
Even Purple Bone and several key officials of Great Zhou had caught wind of it.
After all, they had not spent their time idly aboard the Realm Ship. They had been studying, including learning about the inheritance laws of the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom.
"Big brother, I have inheritance rights to Puta's estate!" Purple Bone was visibly excited. "Do you know how many Realm Stars Puta owned?"
Zhao Xing simply watched him in silence.
"Eighty-six!" Purple Bone continued, still thrilled. "A total of eighty-six Realm Stars! Among them, eighty are small-scale Realm Stars, and five are mid-scale Realm Stars!"
"Good heavens, do you have any idea how much wealth this represents?!"
"Puta didn't have any close relatives, and almost no one has the qualifications to challenge me for inheritance rights! Once Puta's death is officially announced, I will—"
"Shut up!"
Zhao Xing cut him off sharply.
"Don't let greed cloud your judgment!"
"Big brother, what… what do you mean?" Purple Bone was stunned.
"Use your brain and think carefully."
"If your own disciple died out there, and one day, a stranger suddenly appeared, claiming to be their successor, asking to inherit all their assets—how would you react?"
Purple Bone tilted his head and said, "Well, if that successor aligns with my expectations, then I'd let them inherit it."
Zhao Xing shook his head.
Purple Bone was too naïve.
"Think deeper. But whatever you do, don't let it show."
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Aside from returning Qing Yuzi's remains, you, me, and the rest of us are nobodies to the Purple Divine Mansion's bigshots. We have no emotional ties with them."
Zhao Xing didn't say much more.
He was worried about being monitored, so he quickly distanced himself from Purple Bone.
As for the people from Great Zhou, Zhao Xing strictly forbade them from discussing inheritance matters.
They were to harbor no desires regarding Qing Yuzi's legacy.
Zhao Xing had no idea what kind of person the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion truly was.
He had never interacted with him before.
But he knew emperors well enough.
And the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion could absolutely be treated like an emperor when it came to inheritance matters.
If Qing Yuzi's inheritance rights were at stake, then the rule was simple—
"What I bestow upon you is yours. You must never demand it yourself, and you must never fight for it."
The people of Great Zhou quickly understood Zhao Xing's warning.
After all, they had all dealt with Emperor Jing before.
The Lord of Purple Divine Mansion was now in the same position as Emperor Jing.
If Purple Bone or Zhao Xing made a move to claim the inheritance by using the laws of the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, then it would be no different from conspiring with feudal lords to force the emperor's hand.
Seen from this perspective, everything became crystal clear.
However, Purple Bone still felt unwilling to let it go.
He sought out Zhao Xing again.
"Big brother, is there really no chance?!"
"So many Realm Stars… so much wealth…!"
Purple Bone was simply too naïve.
Zhao Xing honestly had no idea how he had managed to survive in the White Bone Sect all those years.
Had he burned away his brain cells while refining artifacts?
"Qing Yuzi was family to the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion."
"But I, as his so-called successor, am nothing more than a stray disciple picked up from the outside. There is no emotional connection between us."
"Having a place to settle down is already more than enough."
"Anything more would be wishful thinking."
"The Purple Divine Mansion is a vast organization. Before thinking about profits, we should first consider the risks."
"What risks?"
"The risk is our status—the status of a successor."
"Have you ever seen a prince and a royal uncle fight for power?"
"You haven't? A long time ago, there was a country in the cosmos called the Ming Dynasty. A certain prince named Zhu Yun had an uncle named Zhu Di—"
Purple Bone listened for a while before feeling confused.
"Big brother, in your story, Zhu Yuanzhang was already dead."
"But in our case, the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion is still alive."
"Exactly."
"Which is why you need to be patient," Zhao Xing replied.
"If it's meant to be yours, it will be."
"If it's not yours, don't entertain any schemes."
"Never attempt to apply for inheritance rights."
"And above all—never conspire with outsiders."
"Outsiders?"
"There will be outsiders," Zhao Xing said in a hushed voice.
"Someone will show up, offering to help you claim your inheritance, but only if you leave the Purple Divine Mansion."
Zhao Xing had no idea how Qing Yuzi, Puta, and Su Wan had died.
But if he were the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion, he would definitely suspect that someone within their ranks had colluded with the Dongyan Ancient Clan.
After all, their expedition to the Barren Domain had been highly classified.
How could the Dongyan Ancient Clan have coincidentally found them?
"In short, trust me."
"Do nothing."
"Don't listen to anyone."
"Keep a low profile."
"Focus on cultivation."
"If there are benefits meant for you, you won't miss out."
"If not, no amount of scheming will change it."
The Mu Luo Realm Ship descended upon Qingyu Realm Star's Tianming Capital.
The moment the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion arrived, the powerful figures of the planet swiftly gathered.
The one in charge of managing Qing Yuzi's lands was Zhao Yuan, a Third-Origin Stage Shennong.
"Master."
Zhao Yuan knelt respectfully.
"Your disciple welcomes you."
"Zhao Yuan, notify your fellow disciples and have them come to Qingyu Realm Star," the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion ordered. "Qing Yu'er has died. Have them come and pay their respects."
"What?" Zhao Yuan's face immediately turned sorrowful. "Junior Brother… has fallen?"
The Lord of Purple Divine Mansion carefully observed Zhao Yuan's expression before giving a slight nod. "Go quickly."
"Master, please restrain your grief. I will go at once—"
After Zhao Yuan left, the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion turned his gaze toward Zhao Xing.
"For now, you will stay by my side."
"Understood." Zhao Xing nodded respectfully.
Over the next month, many powerful figures arrived at Qingyu Realm Star.
Most of them were from the Purple Divine Mansion, primarily those from the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion's faction, while a few were close friends of Qing Yuzi.
During this time, Zhao Xing encountered two other Dao Domain Realm experts.
One was Puta's master, the Lord of Tianyuan Mansion.
The other was Su Wan's master, the Lord of Yuqing Mansion.
"These two Dao Domain Realm experts don't seem to have much emotional attachment to their disciples," Zhao Xing observed internally. "At the very least, there isn't any visible sorrow."
His interactions with the Lord of Tianyuan Mansion and the Lord of Yuqing Mansion confirmed this.
First, their relationships with Puta and Su Wan were not as close as the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion's relationship with Qing Yuzi.
Second, Puta and Su Wan had only been at the First-Origin Stage when they left. Their masters had long assumed they had perished in the Barren Domain.
After all, those at the First-Origin Stage were merely in the initial phase of Origin cultivation. At most, they could live a little over one era.
But now, so much time had passed…
Their masters had already accepted their deaths.
Qing Yuzi, however, had been at the Second-Origin Stage when he left. Even after an entire era, his lifespan should have been long enough for survival to be possible.
"So, he's the one who inherited Wan'er's legacy?" The Lord of Yuqing Mansion conversed with the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion. "What is his name?"
"Zhao Xing," the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion replied. "He will remain in Purple Divine Mansion."
"I won't contest it," the Lord of Yuqing Mansion said. "Since he is a Shennong, he should stay with you. However, the Three Divinities Destiny Palace divine ability originates from the Reincarnation Divine Palace. Wan'er had permission to learn it, but now that he has inherited it, this might cause trouble."
"You handle the negotiations," the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion said. "If necessary, he can take the Reincarnation Divine Palace's test to formalize his learning."
"That might take time," the Lord of Yuqing Mansion replied. "The Reincarnation Divine Palace has halted external recruitment and will not be accepting new members in the Ancient Kingdom Alliance anytime soon."
"When did this happen?" The Lord of Purple Divine Mansion frowned. "Why?"
"I heard they lost another piece of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit Tablet—this time in the Xuanling Star Domain. The Reincarnation Divine Palace is furious."
"How do I not know about this?" The Lord of Purple Divine Mansion was surprised.
"It was lost thousands of years ago. They kept it under wraps, but I recently got wind of it through rumors," the Lord of Yuqing Mansion said. "Without the usual channels, Zhao Xing's learning of this divine ability is technically illegitimate. It will have to be revoked."
"There's always a way around it," the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion said. "It's not easy to enforce such a rule. If they really enforce it, are they going to revoke the ability from everyone who has learned it before?"
The Lord of Yuqing Mansion nodded slightly but said nothing more.
"He brought back news of Wan'er, so I should prepare a reward for him," the Lord of Yuqing Mansion added.
"I have already arranged it," the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion said with a dismissive wave. "I have also prepared your portion. Su Qin will hand it to him."
With that, the Lord of Yuqing Mansion had no further objections.
Where Zhao Xing stayed and how he was managed had already been decided by the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion. There was no need for additional involvement.
Six months later, Qing Yuzi's funeral concluded.
Many of the gathered experts began to disperse, including the three Dao Domain Realm masters: the Lord of Tianyuan Mansion, the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion, and the Lord of Yuqing Mansion.
However, before leaving, the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion made arrangements for Zhao Xing.
On the very same day he left, Zhao Yuan, the overseer of Qingyu Realm Star, summoned Zhao Xing, Yun Tiandao, and Liu Tianning.
Zhao Yuan turned to Liu Tianning first.
"Liu Tianning, you are not an official member of the Purple Divine Mansion. Six months from now, you will board the Skywalker Realm Ship and participate in the trial arranged by the Purple Divine Mansion."
"Skywalker Continent is where we refine our registered disciples before they break through to the First-Origin Stage."
"If you reach the First-Origin Stage within ten thousand years, you will become an official member."
"Any additional resources must be earned through Skywalker Continent's challenges. I have nothing to give you—except a breakthrough method to reach the First-Origin Stage."
"Understood," Liu Tianning said, cupping his hands.
After issuing those instructions, Zhao Yuan turned to Yun Tiandao.
"Yun Tiandao, you are now an official member of the Purple Divine Mansion. I will personally oversee your training."
"From today onward, you will cultivate here on Qingyu Realm Star."
"The resources required for your breakthrough to the First-Origin Stage, including secret techniques, pills, and spiritual fluids, will be provided for free by the Purple Divine Mansion. You will not need to venture out for them."
"Understood."
Finally, Zhao Yuan looked at Zhao Xing.
"Zhao Xing, I will also be overseeing your training."
"Your treatment will be the same as Yun Tiandao's. However, as Qing Yuzi's successor, you will receive an additional 5 hundred million Yuanhai coins—as payment for bringing back your fellow disciples' remains."
5 hundred million Yuanhai coins!
This was an incredibly generous reward!
However, compared to Qing Yuzi's vast inheritance, it was merely a drop in the ocean.
"Understood. Many thanks, Uncle Zhao Yuan." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.
"I will also arrange for Great Zhou to be settled on a low-level Realm Star within this Star Sector, where the spiritual energy index is 20," Zhao Yuan continued.
"However, they will not be part of the Purple Divine Mansion—unless they meet the necessary qualifications in the future."
"As for you and Yun Tiandao, your personal cultivation resources are for your own use only. They cannot be given to anyone else."
"That said, your 5 hundred million Yuanhai coins are yours to spend freely. If you wish to help others, you are free to do so."
"Great Zhou will be permitted to reside here for ten thousand years."
"During that period, the Purple Divine Mansion will not collect taxes, but they must still pay taxes to the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom."
"Members of Great Zhou will not be considered 'citizens' of the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom. They are only granted special residence privileges. If they fail to meet the qualifications within ten thousand years, they will be forbidden from relocating to a higher-energy Realm Star."
"Even Qingyu Realm Star is off-limits to them."
"However, both of you have been given 100 additional subordinate spots. The details are outlined in the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom Citizenship Law."
"Keep in mind—these rules are strictly enforced."
"Any violations will result in severe consequences. Make sure you understand."
"Understood," Zhao Xing and Yun Tiandao assured him.
The spiritual energy index of the Qingyu Realm Star System exceeded 100!
Anyone who entered could cultivate at an astonishing speed, and the delicate balance of spiritual energy couldn't be disrupted easily. This made strict population control necessary.
If Great Zhou were allowed to freely absorb spiritual energy, its population could explode a hundredfold in just a thousand years!
Simply living here consumed a massive amount of the star system's spiritual energy resources.
Therefore, unrestricted movement was out of the question—unless one paid a hefty price.
If Great Zhou could generate enough income, its people could eventually qualify for citizenship.
"The population migration of Great Zhou will take place six months from now," Zhao Yuan said, looking at Zhao Xing. "During this period, I will provide you with several options."
"Some of these are high-risk gambling contracts, but I don't recommend taking them."
"Understood, Uncle."
"If you have any questions, come to me," Zhao Yuan instructed. "It's fine if you don't understand at first, but you must be diligent in learning and ask when unsure."
"If you break the rules, the punishment will be severe."
"Understood."
Inside Qinglian Realm Ship - Great Zhou's Temporary Base
By this point, Great Zhou had already undergone three major relocations.
The first relocation was from Xuanhuang Realm Ship to Hope Star.
The second relocation was from Hope Star to Mu Luo Realm Ship.
The third relocation was from Mu Luo Realm Ship to their current location inside Qinglian Realm Ship.
There was no choice.
A low-level dynasty like Great Zhou—along with its citizens—could never be permitted to reside on Qingyu Realm Star itself.
After all, this was a high spiritual energy index star system. The Qingyu Realm Star wouldn't allow so many citizens of Great Zhou to settle there.
At most, they were only permitted to live inside the Realm Ship.
"What?! My Great Zhou can only stay here for ten thousand years?" Ji Che furiously slammed the citizenship contract on the table.
"Not only that, but we can't even move freely within this period?"
"We even have to pay taxes to the Ancient Kingdom for the spiritual energy we use—how is this any different from being livestock in captivity?!"
Raising his head to the heavens, Ji Che let out a long sigh.
"Taxes are calculated per person?" He gritted his teeth.
"Just for existing in this star system, Great Zhou will have to pay 10 million Yuanhai coins every hundred years?"
"My god, and this is after Purple Divine Mansion exempted its own taxes, leaving only the Ancient Kingdom's spiritual energy tax and land tax!"
"We can't even go out on adventures without paying additional fees?!"
Ji Che felt like he was going insane.
"We might as well sell off everything we own at this point!" someone wailed.
"Even just living here is unaffordable!"
Zhao Xing sighed.
"This is why Great Zhou must control its population and reduce expenses while focusing on making money," he explained.
"Only then can we establish ourselves in a star system where the spiritual energy index exceeds 100."
"But we aren't even living on a planet with a spiritual energy index of 100!" Ji Che protested.
"Purple Divine Mansion only assigned us to a Realm Star with a spiritual energy index of 20."
"Yes," Zhao Xing nodded.
"But that Realm Star is still within Purple Moon Star Sector, and under Purple Divine Mansion's jurisdiction."
"In the long run, Great Zhou will inevitably receive various benefits from this arrangement."
"But the money won't be enough!" Ji Che muttered to himself.
"It definitely won't," Zhao Xing sighed.
Right now, he had 500 million Yuanhai coins.
It seemed like a lot, but in reality, it wasn't.
Living in a spiritual energy-rich star system meant spending enormous amounts of money!
Based on the purchasing power of Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom's currency, the cheapest low-grade Star Domain Dao Weapon cost no less than a million Yuanhai coins.
And what about jobs?
An Ascension Stage cultivator could expect to earn barely 10,000 Yuanhai coins a year.
In theory, that meant it would only take a few hundred years for an Ascension Stage cultivator to save up for a Star Domain Dao Weapon.
But that was impossible.
The tax burden was suffocating.
For example, the Ancient Kingdom of Yuanhai imposed a spiritual energy tax.
Taxes varied by cultivation realm.
For an Ascension Stage cultivator, even if they didn't spend money on cultivation, their income would barely cover basic survival costs—let alone allow them to save anything.
Most of the time, they ended up in debt instead.
Saving money? What a joke.
Not interested in living in a high spiritual energy star system?
Fine.
Just move to a low-index planet like the Great Ye Dynasty did.
"But why is an Ascension Stage cultivator's salary so low?" Tong Wenzhuo frowned.
"Even First-Origin Stage cultivators don't earn much."
"Because mechanized puppets are more efficient," Zhao Xing explained.
"The mechanist techniques of the Ancient Kingdom have advanced to the point where most jobs are fully automated."
"Anything an Ascension Stage cultivator can do, a mechanized puppet can do better—and at lower cost."
"But that's not entirely true," Liu Tianning interjected.
"Mechanized puppets can't replace Shennongs."
"I read through many records recently. It's clear that mechanized puppets cannot perform Shennong techniques."
"Correct," Zhao Xing nodded.
"But if Great Zhou wants to make money through agriculture, it needs three things:
"First, high-quality land.
"Second, high-quality seeds.
"Third, Shennong-exclusive techniques."
"Wait," Liu Tianning narrowed his eyes.
"Are there hidden pitfalls here too?"
"Of course." Zhao Xing nodded.
"Land with a high spiritual energy index is unaffordable."
"That means premium crops are out of the question—they wouldn't be profitable because the costs couldn't be recovered."
"The second issue is seeds," Zhao Xing continued.
"We need to buy a new batch of seeds every year."
"That alone is a recurring expense—"
"Hold on," Mi Fu interrupted.
"Grand Shennong, I don't get it. Why do we have to keep buying seeds?"
"If we purchase the first batch, shouldn't we be able to grow and reproduce our own afterward?"
Zhao Xing shook his head helplessly.
"Remember the second trial that Qing Yuzi designed?"
"Yes," Liu Tianning nodded.
"It involved studying the life structure of the Heavenly Gulu Beast and unlocking its secrets to pass."
"Exactly," Zhao Xing said.
"The Ancient Kingdom's merchant guilds lock the life structure of every seed they sell."
"They genetically modify them so they only produce one generation of crops—after which they lose the ability to reproduce."
"Take Qingyu Tree as an example," Zhao Xing continued.
"It's the most valuable commercial crop on Qingyu Realm Star."
"If you buy Qingyu Tree seeds or saplings, nurture them with great effort, and successfully grow them to maturity… they will only bear fruit once."
"Once harvested, the tree never produces again."
"Couldn't we just unlock the genetic restriction and secretly cultivate our own?" Ji Si asked cautiously.
"You could," Zhao Xing replied flatly.
"But that would be illegal."
"If you mass-produce and flood the market, expect a powerful faction to come and eliminate you."
"This is insane…!"
Ji Si felt like she was suffocating.