Spending one hundred million to purchase the first layer of Extreme Land, Zhao Xing, of course, paid from his own pocket.
Within the next two thousand five hundred years, if he wanted to leave the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, he had to find a proper excuse; otherwise, the Purple Divine Mansion would never let him go.
Learning their divine abilities, joining their ranks, and then leaving as he pleased? Did he think the Purple Divine Mansion was a public market?
However, if he mastered the first layer of Extreme Land, the Purple Divine Mansion wouldn't just let him go—they would even host a grand farewell banquet for him!
Of course, Extreme Land was not easy to cultivate. Throughout an entire era, fewer than ten people in the ancient kingdom had ever mastered it.
In his previous life, Zhao Xing had wandered across the world, completing countless missions to improve his comprehension and aptitude. It wasn't until he reached the peak of the Second Realm that he finally mastered it and was able to join.
"You have quite the boldness," Yuan Forty-Six couldn't help but admire Zhao Xing's decisiveness as he swiftly paid the sum. "Not many cultivators in the Ascension Stage dare to buy Extreme Land."
Zhao Xing shrugged. "I'll take that as a compliment."
He glanced at Chen Shijie and then turned to Yuan Forty-Six. "If I buy two copies, can I get a discount?"
Before Yuan Forty-Six could respond, Chen Shijie interjected, "Don't even think about buying one for me! How wasteful can you be?"
Zhao Xing grinned. "Who wouldn't want a great technique?"
Chen Shijie scoffed, "This challenge is difficult enough for one person—don't drag me into it."
"If you buy Extreme Land for me, I'll be waking up every day thinking about the one hundred million I owe, the pressure would crush me. If Guiniang finds out, she'd cry from shock!"
The hall instantly burst into laughter.
No one knew the exact probability of successfully cultivating Extreme Land, but judging by its sky-high price and the fact that Yuan Forty-Six refused to disclose it, it was obviously an insanely difficult endeavor.
Otherwise, why would they refund the money upon successful cultivation, even covering tuition fees at the Primeval Hill?
Zhao Xing had the financial strength to take the gamble, but Chen Shijie did not.
"That's true," Zhao Xing thought about the technique's difficulty—it was indeed unfair to force Chen Shijie into it.
Even if he wanted to buy it for him, it would be better to wait until Chen Shijie reached the Origin Stage.
"What cultivation methods are available in the five hundred thousand to one million price range for Earth School practitioners?" Zhao Xing asked.
Since he had already exceeded his budget, he might as well go all in. He had purchased techniques for various professions—he couldn't neglect the Shennong arts.
Among cultivators in Great Zhou's Ascension Stage, Shennongs made up a considerable proportion.
Chen Shijie, Qiu Yuanshan, Ling Tianchen, Mist Walker, Liu Tianning—all of them belonged to the Shennong faction. This was an investment phase, and there was no room for stinginess.
"Please take a look."
Yuan Forty-Six filtered out a selection of techniques based on Zhao Xing's price range.
"Treasure Mountain Technique, First Layer, priced at five hundred thousand. This is an Earth School origin method, beginning with the legs. It opens up thirty-six acupuncture points in the feet, absorbing void particles through these points to condense into a mountain. This technique can be cultivated up to the Third Realm."
"Once the First Layer is mastered, the legs will become as sturdy as pillars of heaven, standing firm within a Dao Field. The stability of the Dao Field is greatly enhanced, allowing one to exert immense combat power even in unstable void environments."
"So it's this one?" Zhao Xing immediately smiled.
In the vast cosmos, there were countless cultivation paths, and not all Shennongs were frail. Some had pioneered the Martial Shennong path.
For example, Treasure Mountain Technique not only preserved the Dao Field's strength but also tempered the body, making it immensely sturdy and colossal.
"The First Layer of Treasure Mountain Technique is jokingly referred to as 'Mountain Foot,' the Second Layer as 'Mountain Waist,' and the Third Layer as 'Mountain Peak.'"
"If all three layers are mastered, one can achieve the Treasure Mountain Divine Ability."
"This technique treats the body as a mountain—similar to how we once nurtured mountains in the Xuanhuang Realm."
"But Treasure Mountain Technique eliminates the middleman—instead of cultivating a mountain externally, you become the mountain yourself," Zhao Xing commented with a chuckle.
"To cultivate Treasure Mountain Technique, one must also practice Earth School arts and wield mountain-based Dao Soldiers."
"The standard combat method is simple: activate the Dao Field, summon a massive mountain, and crush everything in the center—a strategy reminiscent of a Heavenly Pillar stomping down on an enemy."
"The Second Layer is Iron Mountain Impact; the Third Layer is Yin-Yang Toppling—all brutal body-based combat techniques."
"If someone reaches the Third Realm, their Treasure Mountain Divine Ability will make their body as massive as a colossal mountain. With a single step into a void river, they could shake out every hidden enemy and astral ship hiding within."
"And if they slam down, even void-traveling warships would be shattered!"
Seeing how well Zhao Xing understood the technique, Yuan Forty-Six simply smiled without saying anything more.
At this moment, Luo Wang asked curiously, "How is this different from a Martial Artist's technique?"
Zhao Xing spread his hands. "No difference—it's a Martial Shennong technique. Just like the Inner Refinement Evolution Method, it's all about toughening the physical body."
"The only difference is that it still preserves the Dao Field, making the combat style more versatile."
"Treasure Mountain Technique actually exists in the Martial Arts path as well, but there it's called Treasure Vessel Technique."
"The original creator realized that it didn't sell well among Martial Artists, so he tweaked it a bit and rebranded it as a Shennong technique instead."
"If you don't believe me, ask Yuan Forty-Six—Treasure Mountain Technique sells way better than Treasure Vessel Technique, doesn't it?"
Yuan Forty-Six nodded approvingly. "You truly are well-versed in cultivation techniques. Treasure Vessel Technique was actually discontinued an era ago because it had poor sales and was no longer listed in Yuanhai Hall's cultivation manuals."
"All thanks to my teacher Qing Yuzi," Zhao Xing casually responded.
Yuan Forty-Six acknowledged his answer with a nod and continued, "Despite their similarities, Treasure Mountain Technique and Treasure Vessel Technique have distinct differences."
"Treasure Vessel Technique follows a Qi-based path, forging the body into a spiritual vessel, allowing it to store vast amounts of Qi. The final divine ability it grants is a single ability—the Primordial Treasure Vessel Technique."
"That sounds like a solid technique. Why was it discontinued?" Dong Ze asked curiously.
Yuan Forty-Six smiled and replied, "That is classified information—you do not have the clearance to know."
Zhao Xing yawned lazily and said, "It's not that much of a secret. The creator was a Dao Domain cultivator who simply plagiarized the Glazed Chapter of Void Ancestor Golden Body, slightly modified it, and then sold it off to various ancient kingdoms."
"Later, the major ancient kingdoms determined that he had infringed on the Void Ancestor Golden Body's copyrights, so they locked him up," Zhao Xing continued.
"But this Dao Domain cultivator wasn't just some scam artist—while imprisoned in the Star Prison, he developed Treasure Mountain Technique, clearing his charges, and was eventually released early, successfully rehabilitating his reputation."
Chen Shijie was speechless. A Dao Domain-level powerhouse resorting to trickery? What was the point?
And yet, he wasn't purely a fraud. Even after getting caught, he created a widely recognized technique, proving his talent.
Yuan Forty-Six was intrigued. "This information has been completely redacted from all national databases. Where did you learn about it?"
Zhao Xing simply smiled.
Realization dawned on Yuan Forty-Six. "Your teacher is truly knowledgeable!"
Zhao Xing ignored the remark and proceeded to purchase Treasure Mountain Technique.
Chen Shijie wasn't interested in brute-force physical techniques, but Qiu Yuanshan and Mi Fu were. Ever since realizing how dangerous the universe was, many Shennongs had changed their mindset.
Survival came first—only the living could talk about anything else!
And Treasure Mountain Technique was clearly a method that increased survivability.
Since each copy cost five hundred thousand, Zhao Xing bought it without hesitation.
He was personally interested in one of the divine abilities associated with it, and besides—this technique was linked to a major quest.
The creator of Treasure Mountain Technique had later been arrested again for another scam and was now locked away in a high-security prison.
If Zhao Xing could break him out, he'd obtain an advanced divine ability—Five-Finger Mountain.
Zhao Xing felt that someday, he might go and try.
That made three copies—one for Mi Fu, Qiu Yuanshan, and himself. Buying three at once granted a ten percent discount, costing a total of one million three hundred fifty thousand.
Chen Shijie, meanwhile, picked a technique called Thirty-Six Celestial Earth Palaces, priced at four hundred fifty thousand.
With that settled, there was only one final selection left—choosing a technique for the Self School.
In six months, Liu Tianning would head to Skywalker Continent for his trial. This technique selection was primarily for him.
"Yuan Forty-Six, filter out some Self School Shennong techniques, priced at one million and above," Zhao Xing instructed.
Liu Tianning hesitated. "Zhao Xing, we've already exceeded our budget by a lot."
They had originally planned to spend one to two million, but by now, they had spent seven million three hundred eighty thousand.
And that didn't even include Extreme Land, since Zhao Xing paid for that himself instead of using Great Zhou's funds.
"It's fine," Zhao Xing waved it off. "For Self School techniques, I'll cover it personally."
Liu Tianning was about to leave, and Skywalker Continent was not safe.
Liu Tianning specialized in Self School techniques, but the Purple Divine Mansion's lineage focused on Heavenly Timing Shennongs.
Even if he had access to some Self School methods, he was still an external member and needed to buy them himself.
Normally, Ascension Stage external disciples were just registered students—they had no teachers, no backing, and couldn't afford premium techniques.
A genius practicing ordinary mainstream methods would eventually become ordinary.
"There aren't many Self School techniques in the million-range," Yuan Forty-Six noted, waving a hand to filter the list. The number of options shrank drastically.
Zhao Xing counted. Compared to the other two schools, the Self School's techniques were less than one-ten-thousandth in quantity.
"Filter out non-combat techniques as well," Zhao Xing added.
"Understood," Yuan Forty-Six responded. With another wave, the list became even smaller.
Techniques suitable for breaking through the early Origin Stage, priced above a million, were already rare—and now, there were even fewer.
"Why do most of these techniques only have the first layer?" Mi Fu asked curiously.
"Because the advanced layers require you to join specific factions to learn them," Yuan Forty-Six explained.
The Self School's techniques were extremely rare because they were tied to agriculture, economy, and life itself.
Most Self School techniques directly targeted the fundamentals of life itself. Even when sold, only the first or second layer was available.
In other words, without joining a faction, a rogue cultivator could only cultivate up to the Second Layer, which corresponded to the Second Realm of the Origin Stage.
Independent cultivators who mastered advanced techniques could disrupt the economy by breaking the locked structure of vital resources.
If someone refused to join a faction, hunting them down became difficult.
Among the three major branches of Shennong cultivation, the Self School had the strictest control over its techniques!
"I'll take the First Layer of Yuanhai Domain," Zhao Xing decided after reviewing the options.
Yuanhai Domain was developed by a royal family member from the Yuanhai Royal Clan. It cultivated pure-element soil essence.
Most cultivation techniques broke through from the outside-in—like Treasure Mountain Technique—but Self School techniques worked from the inside-out, using internal energy to transform the body into its Origin Form.
"You have a sharp eye," Yuan Forty-Six praised. "Yuanhai Domain follows the principle of simplicity at its finest—as long as you establish the Internal World Framework in the First Layer, the rest of cultivation will be effortless, with no bottlenecks at all."
Of course, Yuan Forty-Six was simply providing emotional value—whatever Zhao Xing picked, she would say he had excellent taste.
Liu Tianning read the technique's description and fell silent.
Because Zhao Xing had picked a notoriously expensive method for him.
Yuanhai Domain truly had no bottlenecks, and once the First Layer's Internal World Framework was constructed, further progress required only one thing—constant consumption.
But this wasn't normal consumption—it was about feeding the Internal World with Five Elements spirit energy and materials.
The Yuanhai Royal Clan had designed this method specifically for wealthy nobles who didn't want to train hard but had infinite resources.
It skipped all the boring, tedious training stages—the only downside was that it burned through money like fire.
"That's not a downside—that's our downside," Zhao Xing grinned. "Teacher, once you reach Skywalker Continent, hunt for more resources—you'll be able to keep up."
Back in Qingyu Realm Star, Liu Tianning had limited ways to gather resources, but Skywalker Continent was full of opportunities.
Zhao Xing had no doubt that Liu Tianning would make a name for himself there.
"Maybe by the time you return, you'll have enough to afford the Second Layer," Zhao Xing said. "Once you break through to the Origin Stage, you'll be recognized as an official member, and there won't be any obstacles to buying the Second Layer."
Although Purple Divine Mansion wasn't a stronghold for Self School, it was still a major force within an Ancient Kingdom, meaning that official members qualified to purchase the Second Layer.
Of course, the Second Layer wasn't cheap. The First Layer cost one million, but the Second Layer jumped to ten million. And that was just for the technique itself—cultivation resources were a separate expense, to be purchased separately.
"Looks like I have no choice but to work hard," Liu Tianning sighed.
In the past, it was always Zhao Xing pressuring him, but now, the roles had reversed.
Zhao Xing paid out of pocket and bought three copies of Yuanhai Domain.
One for himself.
One for Mi Fu.
One for Liu Tianning.
By the time they left Yuanhai Hall, everyone was fully stocked up.
Not counting Extreme Land, which Zhao Xing purchased personally, this single shopping spree cost them a total of ten million three hundred eighty thousand.
That much money could have bought ten cheap Realm Star Dao Soldiers!
Expensive? Absolutely. But everyone felt it was worth it—Great Zhou's starting point was destined to be higher than other Ascended Dynasties.
They were all young, and this was the golden period for cultivation—it was time to spend without hesitation.
Qingyu Realm Star, Tianming Capital.
Inside the capital, Zhao Yuanzi was conversing with his disciple, Wu Feng.
As the highest-ranking official in Qingyu Realm Star, Zhao Yuanzi was also a Second Stage Rule Domain expert.
His disciple, Wu Feng, had also reached the Second Stage, but he was only at the early phase.
"Teacher, Zhao Xing and his group just made a massive purchase at Yuanhai Hall. His personal account spent one hundred million three hundred thousand, while Great Zhou's treasury spent seven million three hundred eighty thousand," Wu Feng reported.
Since Wu Feng was the one who handled their account registrations, and the purchases were made within Qingyu Realm Star, tracking these transactions was a simple task.
"Over one hundred million?" Zhao Yuanzi raised an eyebrow. "What did he buy?"
"He bought the First Layer of Extreme Land and three copies of Yuanhai Domain," Wu Feng answered.
"Extreme Land and Yuanhai Domain..." Zhao Yuanzi shook his head.
There was no doubt that Yuanhai Domain was a shortcut technique—as long as one had money, reaching the Third Realm was effortless.
But who was Zhao Xing? Did he really think he could buy his way to the Third Realm? Even if he inherited Qing Yuzi's wealth, it would still be barely enough.
This wasn't a technique for commoners!
Spending one hundred million on Extreme Land made Zhao Yuanzi shake his head even more.
If it was just Yuanhai Domain, he could still understand. After all, with five hundred million in assets, Zhao Xing could still afford the First Layer.
But buying Extreme Land? That was just foolish in his eyes.
"A poor man suddenly rich—reckless and arrogant," Wu Feng commented. "He's trying to take shortcuts with Yuanhai Domain, and buying Extreme Land is just utterly stupid."
"But, Teacher, this actually works in our favor," Wu Feng added with a smile.
Such behavior proved that Zhao Xing posed no real threat—he wouldn't be able to challenge their position.
"Enough," Zhao Yuanzi said indifferently. "You can talk like this in front of me, but don't say this outside. After all, he is still your junior disciple. Keep an eye on him—don't let others use him."
When Lord of Purple Divine Mansion buried Qing Yuzi, Zhao Xing's name was officially registered as a Purple Divine Mansion member, under the title of Qing Yuzi's direct disciple.
At the same time, he was also recorded in the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom's archives, meaning that—legally speaking—he had the right to inherit Qing Yuzi's legacy.
However, the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion later stated that Qing Yuzi's estate would not be distributed, which many interpreted as a decision to deny Zhao Xing any inheritance.
Still, he had the legal right to inherit. If outsiders manipulated him, it could stir up unnecessary trouble.
Zhao Yuanzi did not want to see that happen.
"Understood, Teacher," Wu Feng replied. "I'll keep an eye on him and won't give him any chances to cause trouble."
"My name is Gao Ye. By Wu Feng's orders, I am here to instruct the three of you," the man introduced himself.
Only a few days after purchasing the techniques, Zhao Xing's group found themselves facing a new instructor—a First Stage Origin Shennong named Gao Ye.
Zhao Xing was at a loss for words.
Qing Yuzi's dying wish was for Lord of Purple Divine Mansion to personally oversee his training.
It made sense that the Mansion Lord wouldn't teach personally—he was far too important.
Then the task was passed to Zhao Yuanzi, who was Qing Yuzi's senior brother—still reasonable.
But Zhao Yuanzi handed it off to Wu Feng.
And now Wu Feng had thrown it to his own disciple, Gao Ye.
This was outsourcing at its finest.
Gao Ye cupped his hands in respect. "By seniority, I should be addressing you as Martial Uncle. However, since this is an official Purple Divine Mansion training session, I will address you directly."
Zhao Xing nodded. "That's how it should be."
Seeing Zhao Xing accept it without fuss, Gao Ye wasted no time. He gestured, and three large chests were carried in.
"Liu Tianning," Gao Ye called, "take your technique manual and basic cultivation resources, then return to train on your own."
"In the capital's Qing Yuzi Dao Field, there are public lectures. For the next six months, you are free to audit the lessons and seek out teachers for guidance."
"Yes." Liu Tianning understood that as an external member, he wasn't entitled to any special treatment. So, after collecting his materials, he left on his own.
"Yun Tiandao, Zhao Xing," Gao Ye continued, "you both will only be sent for trials after reaching the Origin Stage. The Mansion Lord has promised you unlimited resources and free access to techniques."
"The Purple Divine Mansion lineage cultivates the techniques Purple Yin and Purple Yang, which primarily absorb the Origin Power of the Lunar Star and Solar Star from the cosmos."
"As for spells, whether it's Heavenly Laws, Origin Laws, or Void Laws, you can learn them all for free. However, before reaching the Origin Stage, I wouldn't recommend spending too much effort on Void Laws."
"If you haven't even reached the Origin Stage, trying to study spells is just a waste of energy and time."
"Focusing on Origin Laws alone is enough," Gao Ye explained.
Yun Tiandao nodded. He understood that Heavenly Laws referred to what was previously known as Ultimate Laws, while Origin Laws focused on better absorbing Origin Power, and Void Laws were associated with the Second Stage, while Divine Abilities corresponded to the Third Stage.
Clearly, Gao Ye had no idea about the true backgrounds of Zhao Xing and Yun Tiandao, as the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion hadn't told Zhao Yuanzi or the others anything.
At this moment, Gao Ye was treating them like country bumpkins, dumping a load of basic information on them and explaining everything in excessive detail.
But this was also because Gao Ye's own understanding wasn't that deep.
For Zhao Xing, listening to Gao Ye's lectures was pure torture.
For Yun Tiandao, however, it was incredibly beneficial. Although he had created his own minor Divine Ability, there were still many gaps in his foundational knowledge.
So, while Gao Ye's teaching was painful for Zhao Xing, it was a lifesaver for Yun Tiandao.
After a full month, even Gao Ye started to notice the difference.
When reporting to Wu Feng, Gao Ye said, "Teacher, that Yun Tiandao has a good talent and comprehension, and he listens carefully to my instructions."
"But Zhao Xing... he has a terrible attitude. He frequently skips my lectures, claiming that he needs time to comprehend and digest my teachings on his own."
"Hah! He barely attends my classes—what the hell is he even digesting?!" Gao Ye scoffed. "He doesn't even go to the capital's Daoist lectures. This man is far too arrogant."
Wu Feng chuckled after hearing the report. "That's how savages from the Barren Domain behave."
Gao Ye was still annoyed. "I really don't understand what Qing Yuzi Grandmaster saw in him."
Wu Feng replied indifferently, "When you're stuck in the Barren Domain, what choices do you even have? You just pick the best among the weak."
"You don't need to worry about him. Just do your job, and let him be. If he refuses to learn now, then when he goes out for trials in the future, he'll die—and it won't be our problem."
"We've already given him resources and provided him with techniques—we've done our part."
"Just don't scold him, and don't make things difficult for him. Many forces in Qingyu Realm Star are watching. We don't want people gossiping about us."
"Let him be," Wu Feng concluded.
"Understood." Gao Ye obediently withdrew.
On a mountaintop, Zhao Xing sat cross-legged, shirtless, as the light of a purple moon bathed the peak, completely enveloping him.
Purple mist surged from the east, continuously eroding his flesh, triggering a complete transformation of every inch of his body.
"Listening to Gao Ye's lectures was a waste of my youth. He doesn't even understand Origin Laws, yet he dares to teach me?"
"If I don't follow his methods, he gets upset—I can't believe this." Zhao Xing muttered as he watched purple radiance flow across his skin.
If Gao Ye actually had some substance, Zhao Xing wouldn't have minded even if he was long-winded.
But this guy was just wasting his time, slowing down his progress—something Zhao Xing absolutely couldn't tolerate. So, he simply skipped class and chose to cultivate on his own.
[Purple Yin Dao Body: 12%]
[Purple Yang Dao Body: 15%]
This was only the first month of training, and Zhao Xing's body had already begun shifting from his old Myriad Laws Dao Body of the Primordial Qi Era to a fully spirit-energy-based Origin Dao Body.
Purple Yin and Purple Yang, the two Heavenly Laws techniques, absorbed the Lunar and Solar Star Powers of the cosmos to evolve his Dao Body, pushing him toward the Origin Stage.
"Gao Ye has mediocre talent. It took him one hundred fifty thousand years just to reach the First Stage of Origin, and he only cultivated Purple Yang without even touching Purple Yin—yet he dares to teach me?"
"No wonder Yun Tiandao still thinks he's decent," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
Of course, he couldn't openly call Gao Ye an incompetent fraud—after all, he was still under the roof of Purple Divine Mansion, and Gao Ye was Zhao Yuanzi's grand-disciple.
Since he was living under someone else's authority, it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble—so Zhao Xing just self-studied instead.
"The Purple Light Academy and Qingyu Daoist Dao Field actually have a few Second Stage experts who give pretty solid lectures."
Zhao Xing opened his Star Mirror, checking the latest lecture schedules for First Stage Origin Shennongs who gave public teachings.
Rather than relying on Gao Ye's subpar tutoring, he might as well watch online lectures instead.
"In the cosmos, the Lunar Star and Solar Star never exist in isolation."
"The most fundamental star system in the universe is the Yin-Yang Star System."
"The Origin Power of every Lunar and Solar Star is the same. Legends say that all Lunar and Solar Stars were originally fragments of the Supreme Yang Star and Supreme Yin Star."
"However, their spiritual energy environments shape unique differences."
"Our cultivation method, The Great Seasonal Qi Command, will also vary across different star systems."
"All of you should summon your previous Realm Star Seasonal Qi Commands and observe them. Once you start condensing an Origin Dao Body, your Seasonal Qi Commands will also begin to change accordingly."
At this moment, Zhao Xing's thoughts moved, and two Great Heat Seasonal Qi Commands shot out from within his body.
One was golden, like the sun, but had a faint purple glow surrounding it.
The other was dark gold, radiating gentle light, but had also begun showing signs of purple transformation.
Even after ascending, his previously cultivated Pure Essence Soil hadn't disappeared, and neither had his Seasonal Qi Commands.
It remained a valid cultivation path, but now, the Seasonal Qi Commands were evolving into new forms with different applications.
The first transformation was splitting—as Zhao Xing started practicing cosmic-based Heavenly Laws, his Seasonal Qi Command divided into one Yin and one Yang.
If he had only cultivated Purple Yin or Purple Yang, this kind of split transformation wouldn't have occurred.
The second transformation was that the Seasonal Qi Command now contained manifestable Origin Power that could be displayed in the Void.
"If I reach the Dao Domain Realm, the Seasonal Qi Command can manifest into a Solar Star or Lunar Star. The radiance and effects it produces would be no different from the real celestial bodies and could even nurture life."
"This is why the Dao Domain Realm can prevent Barren Domain corruption," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
A Shennong at the Dao Domain Realm in the Heavenly Laws Path could create an entire life-bearing star system or extend the lifespan of an existing one.
"The more splits that occur, the stronger the Dao Domain Realm cultivator is."
"The reason why Purple Moon and Purple Yang appear purple is that their spiritual energy index surpasses 100, making it visible to the naked eye. A Dao Body cultivated from this can wield spells with immense vitality and resilience."
"Especially Cloud Qi—when the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion first descended, he arrived walking on a cloud of purple light. His speed was terrifying, and the moment he set foot in Starhail Pass, he immediately took control of the dual Yin-Yang stars governing the region."
Zhao Xing closed his Star Mirror and opened a wooden chest in front of him.
"Glug—glug—"
He uncorked a green bottle and took several large gulps of the treasured liquid known as Heavenly Origin Water.
"Heavenly Origin Water sells for 100,000 coins per bottle in the trade markets. It accelerates Solar and Lunar Power absorption, and I have unlimited access—but only I can drink it."
After downing an entire bottle, the purple glow on Zhao Xing's skin instantly retracted inward, leaving his flesh pristine, smooth, and radiant.
His previous absorption had reached its saturation point, yet now, he felt as if he could absorb even more.
Zhao Xing activated his soul power, circulating spiritual energy through his acupoints and meridians.
"At a microscopic level, the human acupoints resemble a celestial star chart," Zhao Xing observed through internal vision, seeing countless starlike glimmers within his body.
"Normally, one needs to illuminate 2.1 hundred million inner stars to reach the Origin Stage."
"But the techniques of the Purple Divine Mansion are far more advanced. Even just cultivating Purple Yang or Purple Yin doubles that requirement—meaning I need 4.2 hundred million illuminated inner stars to enter the First Stage of Origin."
"Since I'm cultivating both simultaneously, I need 8.4 hundred million to fully complete my Origin Dao Body."
"Each of these inner stars represents a deep-level energy particle transformation within my body's structure."
"Absorb!"
—
Tianming Capital was situated on the twilight boundary of Qingyu Realm Star, meaning Zhao Xing's estate could see both the Purple Moon and Purple Sun simultaneously every day.
During the day, he cultivated Purple Yang.
At night, he cultivated Purple Yin.
Once he reached peak absorption saturation, he would occasionally dabble in Extreme Land. The rest of his time was fully dedicated to training in Treasure Mountain Technique and Primordial Sea Realm.
Meanwhile, Gao Ye grew increasingly irritated with Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing never paid attention in class, yet when it came to claiming cultivation resources, he took three times as much as Yun Tiandao!
—
Three months later, when Zhao Xing once again went to collect resources before heading back to his residence to cultivate, Gao Ye finally snapped.
"Zhao Xing!"
"What?" Zhao Xing stopped, looking confused.
Gao Ye scowled. "Do you even know how much Heavenly Origin Liquid costs per bottle? 100,000 coins! Even though Qingyu Realm Star produces it locally, the production cost alone is still 8,000 per bottle!"
"Wow, that's some serious profit margins."
"???"
Gao Ye was speechless. That's not the point!
I was trying to remind you not to waste resources, and you're just talking about market pricing?!
Ever since their first interaction, Gao Ye and Zhao Xing had been completely unable to communicate properly.
"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving." Zhao Xing had zero interest in wasting time with Gao Ye. He grabbed his resources and left immediately.
"That bastard," Gao Ye cursed in his heart.
—
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, six months had passed.
At this moment, Liu Tianning was preparing to depart.
Zhao Xing paused his cultivation and came to see him off.
At Qingyu Daoist Dao Field, a Realm Ship was docked, and overhead, Zhao Yuanzi was delivering a speech.
"This time, Qingyu Realm Star will be sending 86,000 ascendants to the Skywalker Continent of the Purple Divine Star System for trials."
"This year's Skywalker Trials will have 1.23 billion participants, covering all 13,600 Yin-Yang star systems of the Purple Divine Mansion. Some participants come from affiliated forces, while others are external members of the Purple Divine Mansion itself."
"The Skywalker Trials will last 1,000 years. Anyone who reaches the First Stage of Origin during this period will be granted full member status. Those who perform exceptionally well may even receive personal territory."
Zhao Xing listened silently as the rules of the Skywalker Trials were explained.
He knew that within the Great Ye Dynasty, Nalan De's nephew had been regarded as a genius for breaking through to the First Stage of Origin before turning 10,000 years old.
However, in the Ancient Kingdoms, the Purple Divine Mansion considered someone a genius only if they could break through the First Stage of Origin within two thousand years.
If one performed exceptionally well in the Skywalker Trials, they would be granted personal territory, such as having a state carved out on a Realm Star as private land.
But the Skywalker Trials also carried a high risk of death.
"The Skywalker Continent is only the size of a low-tier Realm Star, yet several billion ascendants are crammed together in fierce competition. The intensity is unimaginable, and the trials last for a full thousand years." Zhao Xing took a deep breath.
"I hope Old Liu can make it out alive."
Since the Skywalker Trials required standardized equipment, Zhao Xing couldn't buy Liu Tianning any additional treasures. Even the plant-based troops had limited quantities allowed, with strict cultivation realm restrictions.
However, if one wanted to rise to prominence, they had no choice but to take the risk.
"Teacher, take care of yourself," Zhao Xing reminded.
"Don't worry." Liu Tianning smiled and nodded. "I have Straw Puppets—my survival ability is quite strong."
"You don't need to send me off."
Liu Tianning glanced at the officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty who had come to see him off. His gaze lingered on Princess You Ruo for a moment.
"Liu Lang, you must come back safely!" Princess You Ruo rushed into Liu Tianning's arms, reluctant to let go.
"Don't worry." Liu Tianning patted her on the shoulder.
After parting with Princess You Ruo, he turned and bowed toward Ji Che. "Your Majesty, I am leaving."
Ji Che said solemnly, "I command you to return safely."
"Your subject obeys."
All around the Daoist Dao Field, ascendants were saying farewell to their loved ones.
As a high-tier Realm Star, Qingyu Realm Star had an overwhelming number of ascendants. For those seeking to make a name for themselves, the Skywalker Trials were the best opportunity.
After brief farewells, the Realm Ship roared as it took off, carrying 86,000 ascendants from Qingyu Realm Star. The ship pierced through the Realm Barrier, heading toward the Skywalker Continent.
Of those departing, only about half would return alive, and among them, only a small fraction would successfully break through.
Liu Tianning's departure also coincided with a major migration for the Great Zhou Dynasty.
That year, the Great Zhou Dynasty was relocated to a new Realm Star, 12 light-years away from Qingyu Realm Star.
The new Realm Star, Qinglian Realm Star, had a spiritual energy index of only 20. Aside from a select few individuals, the citizens of the Great Zhou Dynasty were not permitted to leave freely.
That same year, Ji Che changed the era name to Beginning of Renewal.
At that time, it was the 9901st era in the Xuanling Calendar, also known as the Second Era of the Barren Domain. This was because 2.4 million years ago, the Ancient Kingdom Alliance of the Barren Domain was established, and the Xuanling Star Domain was officially declared part of the Barren Domain Era by major superpowers.
In the second year of the Beginning of Renewal, Great Zhou's officials still resided on Qingyu Realm Star, leveraging their affiliation with Zhao Xing and Yun Tiandao to move freely. Meanwhile, Ji Che remained on Qinglian Realm Star.
After his ascension, Ji Che was no longer limited by lifespan, but his cultivation progress was now bound to the strength of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Population, territory, and the number of powerful cultivators—if these did not increase, then Ji Che's cultivation speed would depend solely on his personal talent, without any additional blessings.
In the tenth year of the Beginning of Renewal, Luo Wang, Dong Ze, Li Hao, Long Xiao, Xia Jing, and Ye Yukong participated in the Heavenly Star Martial Hall's expansion trials on Qingyu Realm Star.
Among them, Luo Wang, Xia Jing, Ye Yukong, and Long Xiao successfully passed.
They became external members of the Heavenly Star Martial Hall, but their range of activity was still restricted to Qingyu Realm Star.
The Heavenly Star Martial Hall was a warrior faction that had friendly relations with the Purple Divine Mansion. The two groups were of equivalent rank, making it a decent place to settle.
However, opportunities like trials weren't available every year. Luo Wang, Xia Jing, Long Xiao, and Ye Yukong had to wait for another chance to further advance.
In the fiftieth year of the Beginning of Renewal, King Shenluo and Lu Ying participated in two recruitment assessments for the Tianyuan Star under the Purple Divine Mansion.
After failing both, they turned instead to another faction based on Qingyu Realm Star, the Wanhe Heavenly Palace.
This faction specialized in Mechanist Techniques and was founded by a royal lineage of the Ancient Yuan Sea Kingdom. Although not as powerful as the Purple Divine Mansion, it still held considerable status.
However, King Shenluo and Lu Ying also had to wait for opportunities, starting as ordinary members and accumulating contribution points on Qingyu Realm Star.
Time passed. In the blink of an eye, it was now the 289th year of the Beginning of Renewal.
Aside from Liu Tianning, not a single person from Great Zhou had managed to leave the Realm Star or secure a great opportunity.
—
Inside Zhao Xing's luxurious estate.
"Whoosh~"
A pillar of purple light suddenly descended from the sky, enveloping Yun Tiandao.
Swish—swish—
Zhao Xing appeared on the grassy field, watching as Yun Tiandao's body was gradually covered in radiance.
"Old Yun has broken through."
"In just 289 years, he's stepped into the First Stage of Origin."
"His talent really is terrifying." Zhao Xing gazed at Yun Tiandao.
"Even if he's only cultivating Purple Yang, his speed is already insanely fast!"