Zhao Xing's rapid progress made it difficult for Zhao Yuanzi to justify his position to the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion.
Yet, at the same time, Zhao Xing's meteoric rise also made Zhao Yuanzi wary—he was concerned that Zhao Xing would eventually threaten his authority as the manager of Qingyu Realm Star.
For countless years, Zhao Yuanzi had poured all his efforts into governing the realm.
Back when Qing Yuzi, his martial brother, left, Qingyu Realm Star wasn't even classified as a high-tier realm. It was only under his management that it rose in rank.
In Zhao Yuanzi's mind, he had long seen himself as the rightful master of this planet.
But now, if Zhao Xing continued to perform so exceptionally, would the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion change his mind and hand over Qingyu Realm Star to Zhao Xing instead?
"Very well. Nephew, continue to work hard. Do not slack off." Zhao Yuanzi gave a half-hearted word of encouragement before immediately taking Wu Feng and leaving.
Zhao Xing narrowed his eyes.
"So, in Zhao Yuanzi's eyes… I'm already a threat?"
Previously, he might not have noticed it, but after achieving a Dual-Origin Dao Body in just three hundred years, Zhao Xing could now clearly sense Zhao Yuanzi's wariness toward him.
"Maybe I should find an opportunity to clarify things with him."
But after some thought, Zhao Xing dismissed the idea.
This wasn't a matter that could simply be talked out.
Neither he nor Zhao Yuanzi could decide the fate of Qingyu Realm Star—this was beyond their control.
"Better to focus on making money, strengthen my cultivation, and eventually relocate the entire Great Zhou Dynasty."
To Zhao Xing, Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom was already on the countdown to destruction.
Based on his calculations, the kingdom had less than two thousand years before its demise—and it would likely happen even sooner than expected.
"The first layer of 'Extreme Land' is an opportunity, but I can't rely entirely on cultivating it."
The rules set by Primordial Hill weren't something that could be mastered in a short time.
Even though Zhao Xing had already purchased the first layer of Extreme Land, he had yet to even reach the entry-level stage of the first phase: "Gathering Spirit to Form Veins."
"I must reach the Third Layer of the Origin Stage as quickly as possible, pay the separation fee from Purple Divine Mansion, and migrate to Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom."
In Zhao Xing's long-term plans, both Purple Divine Mansion and Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom were merely stepping stones.
He had no intention of getting involved in the mystery of Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom's destruction.
That was a massive pit—one he had no intention of jumping into.
His goal was simple: to leave as soon as he had the strength.
"Before I leave, I'll give the Lord of Purple Divine Mansion a warning. If he believes me, fine. If not, and thinks I'm just spouting nonsense, that's his problem."
Zhao Xing shook his head, pushed the thoughts aside, and transformed into a streak of purple light, departing from his estate.
Zhao Yuanzi and Wu Feng didn't bother hosting a celebration banquet for him.
However, in the rented realm of Qinglian Realm Star, inside the imperial palace of Great Zhou, a grand feast was being held.
Because—Great Zhou had finally produced a cultivator at the Origin Stage!
Although Yun Tiandao had also reached this stage, he couldn't be considered a true citizen of Great Zhou.
But Zhao Xing was different—he was Great Zhou's Grand Shennong!
Emperor Ji Che personally hosted a grand banquet in Fengjing, the imperial capital, to celebrate.
At the same time, the news was publicly announced through Grand Dream Academy.
Additionally, special vouchers were distributed nationwide, essentially giving all citizens a free meal to celebrate the occasion.
During the banquet, Ji Che raised his cup and asked, "Elder Brother, now that you've broken through to the Origin Stage, do you have new plans for Great Zhou?"
"I do." Zhao Xing nodded. "Great Zhou must accumulate as much wealth as possible and prepare for the second large-scale migration."
As soon as the topic turned serious, Ji Che and the ministers of the Six Ministries set down their drinks and focused their attention on Zhao Xing.
From the very beginning, Great Zhou had never intended to remain dependent on Purple Divine Mansion.
This had been part of their strategy all along.
Back in Xuanhuang Realm, Great Zhou had been a sovereign overlord, with countless vassal states relying on it.
Now that they had stepped into the cosmos, their ambition remained the same.
They sought independence—breaking away from dependency and standing on their own.
But achieving this goal was a long and arduous journey.
After spending three hundred years in Purple Divine Mansion's territory, Ji Che and his ministers were no longer ignorant newcomers.
They understood that breaking away would be extremely difficult.
Ji Che frowned slightly, "Elder Brother, to establish ourselves in Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom and break away from Purple Divine Mansion, we'd need at least one Dao Domain cultivator. Isn't it too early to plan for this?"
Zhao Xing smiled. "Since we're setting a goal, why not aim high?"
"When I say 'migration,' I mean it in two phases."
"First, we break away from Purple Divine Mansion."
"Second, we break away from Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom altogether."
The room fell into deep thought.
Ji Che and his ministers considered the implications of such a bold move.
Zhao Xing continued, "Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom is indeed an ancient nation. Staying within its borders provides a certain level of safety."
"But at the same time, it also limits Great Zhou's potential."
"At best, we'll only ever be one of its feudal states."
"If we want to expand our power and become a dominant force like the Spring and Autumn hegemons of the past, there are only three paths to take."
He then outlined his vision:
"First, explore the unknown cosmos and claim new star systems."
"Second, seek out unclaimed but underdeveloped regions—such as the southeastern part of the Xuanling Star Domain. That area is vast, larger than ten ancient kingdoms combined, but it's only occupied by large imperial dynasties."
"Because it's isolated and has a lower Spirit Qi Index, it hasn't attracted attention. However, in the future, it can be gradually cultivated."
"Third, invade territories occupied by alien species."
Zhao Xing then presented a detailed roadmap for Great Zhou's long-term growth.
"Of course, achieving these goals requires the collective effort of everyone here. It will take thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of years to accomplish."
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, Your Majesty, esteemed ministers. Let our first millennial plan begin—by leaving Purple Divine Mansion."
"Together, let us strive for this goal."
Thus, in the 351st year of the Shixin Era, Zhao Xing achieved the Origin Stage and laid out the blueprint for Great Zhou's future.
In the 352nd year, Zhao Xing began preparing for his next mission—the Moonfall Mausoleum.
Inside the Yuanhai Hall, a mechanical puppet Unit 46 greeted him with a smile.
"Lord Zhao, congratulations on your breakthrough."
"For the past three hundred thousand years, even within Qingyu Realm Star, your breakthrough speed is among the fastest recorded."
Zhao Xing shook his head and replied calmly, "Breaking into the Origin Stage is nothing more than a child learning how to walk. Whether it's fast or slow doesn't matter much."
"Congratulate me when I reach the Dao Domain Realm."
"Lord Zhao, your ambitions are remarkable. As expected from the disciple of Senior Qing Yuzi." Unit 46 praised with a polite smile. "Now that you have reached the Origin Stage, according to the rules of Purple Divine Mansion, you will need to undertake a trial mission. Is there anything Yuanhai Hall can assist you with?"
"We provide custom equipment, advanced secret techniques, loans, and guardian puppets—all of which can be arranged by Yuanhai Hall."
"In recent years, our loan interest rates have dropped significantly. Since you are now an official member of Purple Divine Mansion, you can borrow up to a billion without the need for collateral."
"No need."
Zhao Xing checked his account balance—he still had seventy million.
For a cultivator at the First Stage of Origin, this amount wasn't considered poor, as long as he wasn't focused on rapid cultivation breakthroughs or preparing for the Second Stage of Origin.
However, once cultivation started, money would burn away rapidly.
All kinds of resources would be consumed endlessly.
For now, though, his funds were sufficient.
After all, even the cheapest lower-tier Star-Tier Dao Soldiers cost less than a million.
But loans? Even with low annual interest rates, a debt lasting over a thousand years would still accrue terrifying interest!
There were no short-term loan options for large amounts. A loan started at a thousand years minimum.
And going bankrupt in an Ancient Kingdom was a nightmare.
Every Ancient Kingdom had a set of laws—"The Cultivator Debt Handling Act."
One of its strict regulations stated that if a cultivator went bankrupt, they would lose their freedom and be forced into labor.
The forced labor included but was not limited to missions with high fatality rates.
Zhao Xing recalled Purple Bone's past misfortune—after bankruptcy, he had been forced to work under extreme conditions.
And that was still considered lucky—at least he survived.
Some Ancient Kingdoms had even harsher policies. If a cultivator defaulted on their debt, they would be added to the blacklist of dishonor—which was equivalent to a death sentence.
It didn't matter what they were doing at the moment of being blacklisted.
Once on that list, they would immediately be captured and exploited until death.
Thus, borrowing was out of the question.
Zhao Xing shifted focus to his immediate needs.
"Filter out Star-Tier Dao Soldiers suitable for a Shennong, including one-time consumables, without restrictions on faction," Zhao Xing instructed.
"Prioritize those specializing in escape and defense."
"Any additional requirements?" Unit 46 asked. Even with this filter, the search would still return millions of options.
"I need escape-type that can handle unstable void environments—preferably capable of moving through Void Turbulence with a Chaos Index above 50."
"For defensive types, they must be resistant to soul illusions and soul-based musical spells."
Zhao Xing was targeting specific danger zones in the Moonfall Mausoleum.
In that place, fighting enemies was secondary—the real danger was the Mausoleum itself.
"Also, show me the list of plant-based soldiers for sale."
"Focus on those that can survive in a Pure Yin Origin Environment. Mainly defensive and special types, all at the First Stage of Origin."
The Moonfall Mausoleum was known to have a high danger coefficient.
For a First-Stage cultivator, it was a weak position to be in.
After all, the minimum requirement to explore the Mausoleum was reaching the First Stage.
"I have filtered 85,421 types of Star-Tier Dao Soldiers and 14,722 types of plant-based soldiers."
Unit 46 waved its hand, and Zhao Xing's screen filled with dense lists of names.
Zhao Xing quickly refined the search parameters.
"Filter out anything with a unit price above twenty million and below ten million."
"Exclude upper-tier and supreme-tier Star-Tier Dao Soldiers—except for one-time consumables."
Zhao Xing glanced at his balance—seventy million wouldn't be enough for high-end Star-Tier Dao Soldiers.
The most powerful Star-Tier Dao Soldiers were too expensive—he could only afford a few.
At the same time, buying weak ones was pointless.
Now that he had reached the Origin Stage and possessed a Dual-Origin Dao Body, he could properly wield lower-tier and mid-tier Star-Tier Dao Soldiers.
As for upper-tier and supreme-tier, those were beyond his current abilities.
However, one-time consumables were a different case.
Consumables had fixed power, meaning the user's cultivation didn't matter.
"Understood."
Unit 46 adjusted the filters.
Immediately, the list shrank by more than half.
Zhao Xing felt more confident as he started browsing.
[Heavenly Thunder Staff]
[Grade: Mid-Tier Star-Tier Dao Soldier]
[Description: The core of this staff contains a Thunder Origin extracted from the Thunder Great World. This equates to one-tenth of a standard small Star-Tier Origin. The staff body is made from the branches of a "Giant Divine Elephant Tree." Even in a Void River, it allows the wielder to cast spells.]
[Stability Index: 61]
(This index corresponds to the Chaos Index. It remains highly effective in any environment with a Chaos Index below 61.)
[Spell Effects:]
Enhances all Nascent-Tier Thunder Spells by a factor of 3.8.
Enhances Void-Tier Thunder Spells by a factor of 1.
Cannot enhance divine abilities.
[Additional Effect: 'Heavenly Thunder Slash']
Engraved with a Ninth-Tier Nascent Formation.
Allows casting of 'Heavenly Thunder Slash' through the staff without consuming the user's spiritual energy.
Can be activated fifty consecutive times before requiring a seven-day cooldown.
[Price: 10 million.]
"You get what you pay for," Zhao Xing muttered, inspecting the Heavenly Thunder Staff.
Because the staff's core contained a Thunder Origin, simply holding it increased one's comprehension of Thunder Spells.
A 3.8x boost to Nascent-Tier Thunder Spells—this was a massive advantage.
To put it in perspective:
If two people used the same spell at the same level, but only one had the staff, the difference would be a total suppression of the opponent.
Even Void-Tier Thunder Spells benefited from an increase in power.
Furthermore, the Stability Index of 61 was crucial.
Chaos and Stability Index Explained:
Chaos Index and Stability Index measure how well items function in different void environments.
The higher the Stability Index, the more resistant an item is to external interference.
Back in the Xuanhuang Realm, during the Era of Primordial Qi, what people called "Divine Artifacts" were overpowered in the non-spiritual age but became useless in stronger Spirit Qi environments.
This shift was due to how the environment altered the way artifacts functioned.
Simply put, a high-tier Star-Tier Dao Soldier might become useless in certain chaotic realms.
In extreme cases, it could turn into scrap metal.
This was the principle behind Absolute Realm Isolation—a technique used to disable all weapons and abilities.
"The Xuanling Star Domain is a Spirit Qi domain. With a Stability Index of 61, this staff can function anywhere in the region. That's enough to handle most environments."
Zhao Xing continued scanning the list, looking for the best purchase options.
"More importantly, this staff comes with the spell 'Heavenly Thunder Slash.' Even someone who has never learned this spell can still cast a Ninth-Tier Nascent Spell simply by wielding it. It allows for fifty continuous activations without pause, which is quite rare among First-Stage Origin artifacts."
Nascent Spells correspond to the First Stage of Origin, Void Spells to the Second Stage, and Divine Abilities to the Third Stage.
A Ninth-Tier Nascent Spell was already considered powerful at the First Stage of Origin.
"The difference between a Mid-Tier Star-Tier Dao Soldier and a Lower-Tier Star-Tier Dao Soldier is massive," Zhao Xing mused.
Even though both were Star-Tier Dao Soldiers, some lower-tier ones only contained a fragment of the Origin from a Small World or Star-Tier Dao Domain.
Even a slight increase in power was measured from the perspective of entire worlds or Star Domains, so the difference was astronomical.
"A Star-Tier Dao Soldier priced below one million usually has anti-interference capabilities under 20."
"The amplification coefficient rarely exceeds 1 and hardly ever comes with built-in spells."
"But since I already have the Thunder Law Sword, there's no need to buy the Heavenly Thunder Staff."
After breaking through to the Origin Stage, Zhao Xing had unlocked the second seal on his Thunder Law Sword.
With that, the weapon had instantly ascended to the level of a Mid-Tier Star-Tier Dao Soldier.
Then, Zhao Xing discovered the third seal.
He had to admit—the Xuanhuang Realm was truly extraordinary. He didn't expect to come across such a treasured weapon.
"I haven't tested its anti-interference coefficient yet, but after unlocking the second seal, its amplification coefficient has reached 6.5."
"It even comes with a Thunder Secret Technique—'Heaven-Shaking Thunder.' Back then, it was this sword that resisted the 'Desperate Talisman' handed to Purple Dragon God by Wu Yue Divine Sect, allowing me to execute a counter-kill."
Zhao Xing continued browsing.
[Blood Cloud Realm]
Mid-Tier Star-Tier Dao Soldier
Cloud Spell Amplification: 4.5
Stability Index: 65
A large-scale binding-type Dao Soldier with the spell effect 'Septic Blood Formation.'
Enemies entering the Blood Cloud Realm suffer suppression on their Blood Origin.
Their Golden Body power decreases by 30% to 50% (depending on the opponent's cultivation method; completely ineffective against Void Ancestor Golden Body techniques).
Price: 11 million
[Star-Corrosion Pearl]
Mid-Tier Star-Tier Dao Soldier
Rain Spell Amplification: 3.9
Stability Index: 59
Contains a small Star-Tier Dao Domain-sized pool of Nine Yin Sacred Water.
Possesses powerful corrosive properties capable of completely destroying Small Star-Tier Dao Domains.
Can erode the barriers of Medium-Sized Small Worlds and Star-Tier Dao Domains.
Price: 15 million
Zhao Xing scrolled through the spell-based attack gear for Heavenly Timing Sect's Shennong officers and found himself wanting everything.
Every single Star-Tier Dao Soldier priced above ten million was a high-quality treasure.
These were luxury items even among First-Stage Origin cultivators—an average cultivator at this stage would never have enough money for a ten-million-tier Star-Tier Dao Soldier.
"Forget it, I'll put attack equipment aside for now."
Zhao Xing had limited funds, so he needed to prioritize.
Since he already possessed the Thunder Law Sword, offensive gear could wait.
Defense and survival came first!
"Unit 46, do you have any recommendations for defensive Dao Soldiers?" Zhao Xing asked.
With so many choices, he was getting indecisive, so he decided to consult the expert.
"Of course! You should go for 'Boundary Law Net.'" Unit 46 waved its hand, and a detailed interface appeared.
"This is a Mid-Tier Star-Tier Dao Soldier, rumored to be crafted with the techniques passed down by the God of Mechanisms, Boundary Luo."
"It was designed specifically for Shennong officers."
"Mid-Tier Star-Tier Dao Soldiers of this type are known as 'Four Boundary Flow' craftsmanship."
"It utilizes the four primary elements—Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Cloud—to form a four-layered defense boundary."
"The user is left with a central casting space, functioning like four nested spheres."
"Spells cast from each layer gain an amplification coefficient of 5."
"Its defensive capability reaches Void-Tier levels."
"And most importantly, its Stability Index is an astonishing 85."
"Each layer also comes with a built-in spell—corresponding to Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Cloud."
Zhao Xing had certainly heard of this legendary defensive artifact created by the God of Mechanisms.
Legends spoke of Void Ancestors, Hou Ji, and Boundary Luo—all legendary figures in the divine realms.
But from Unit 46's introduction, Zhao Xing immediately knew—it must be outrageously expensive.
"How much is this Boundary Law Net selling for in Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom?" Zhao Xing asked.
He hadn't seen it on his screen, meaning it must have exceeded his filtered price range.
"80 million." Unit 46 replied.
"For just a few million more, you could acquire a powerful defensive artifact. Since it enhances Shennong's Four Spells, purchasing one is equivalent to buying four separate Star-Tier Dao Soldiers. If you think about it, it's only 20 million per spell enhancement!"
Zhao Xing was speechless.
Unit 46 was truly a top-tier salesman—somehow the conversation had turned into a sales pitch for him to spend more money.
"I still have seventy million in my personal account. If necessary, I could tap into the Grand Zhou National Treasury."
The Boundary Law Net was undeniably one of the best choices—it provided both offense and defense, but more importantly, its defense was top-notch.
Even Second-Stage Origin cultivators would have a hard time breaking through its protection without divine weapons.
"If you're short on funds, you might consider our loan services," Unit 46 suggested, his voice calm and persuasive.
"A genius like you will have no trouble earning money. Repaying won't be a problem at all."
"Of course, if you really don't want to overspend, you can always opt for Three-Boundary Flow or Two-Boundary Flow versions."
"No, I'll take Four-Boundary Flow—but I'm not taking a loan."
Zhao Xing shook his head firmly.
The Boundary Law Net had higher versions such as Six-Boundary Flow, Eight-Boundary Flow, and Twelve-Boundary Flow.
But the best cost-performance ratio was found in Four-Boundary Flow and Twelve-Boundary Flow.
The other variations weren't worth the excessive cost.
As for taking a loan? That was impossible.
Being in debt was unbearable—not to mention, it was incredibly dangerous.
Zhao Xing knew why Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom was about to collapse—and the reason he didn't take a loan was simple:
If he left before the collapse, he would have to clear his debt beforehand—otherwise, he wouldn't be able to escape.
There was no loophole to exploit.
The Grand Zhou Treasury was also in his control, currently holding around 180 million.
Over the years, Ji Si had been an efficient money-maker, single-handedly supporting the entire economy of Grand Zhou.
Zhao Xing sent a message to Ji Che, explaining the purpose of the funds.
Ji Che immediately agreed without hesitation: "Big Brother, if you're taking a risk, it's for Grand Zhou. This money is rightfully yours to spend—just do as you see fit."
"If necessary, we can always sell some special products."
Ji Che trusted him completely, but Zhao Xing didn't intend to overuse the funds.
He still had over seventy million in his own account and only planned to withdraw fifty million from Grand Zhou's treasury—anything more would affect the nation's financial stability.
"Alright, I'll go with Boundary Law Net then." Zhao Xing gritted his teeth and made the decision.
Once he settled on Boundary Law Net, it wasn't long before he spent forty million more to purchase another treasure from the Earthly Advantage Sect.
[Vajra Bracelet]
High-Tier Star-Tier Dao Soldier
Stability Index: 92
Description: This treasure is primarily composed of two Star-Tier Geomantic Veins and supplemented by five secondary Geomantic Veins. The materials consist of 80% Metal Vein and Earth Vein Essence.
No Spell Amplification
Unique Effect: 'Absorption of All Laws'
"This is also a classic Earthly Advantage Sect treasure," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "Its larger version would be the Star Hail Pass' planetary ring fortress."
The Vajra Bracelet was both incredibly durable and extremely heavy.
Since it was forged from Star-Tier Geomantic Veins and compressed into the size of a bracelet, its hardness was unimaginable.
In terms of sheer durability, it could be considered a top-tier treasure. However, a Dao Soldier's worth isn't determined by hardness alone—it also depends on additional spell effects and whether its properties could be fully utilized in combat.
If one simply threw a hard object at the enemy, no matter how sturdy it was, it wouldn't be considered a Dao Soldier—otherwise, everyone would just pick up hard rocks to fight.
The Vajra Bracelet had a powerful Geomantic Attraction Force, and while its hardness was a given, its spell effect perfectly took advantage of this attraction force—it could absorb opponents' weapons!
Thus, it was aptly named 'Absorption of All Laws'!
Its Stability Index was even higher than Boundary Law Net, which was a characteristic of Earthly Advantage Sect treasures.
"In terms of Dao Soldier combat, the Vajra Bracelet is nearly invincible within its tier," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
Both Boundary Law Net and Vajra Bracelet were classic series artifacts. Each had Star-Tier, Solar-Tier, Lunar-Tier, and Origin-Tier versions.
Of course, the version Zhao Xing purchased wasn't the strongest among Star-Tier Dao Soldiers because it only retained its most iconic effect—'Absorption of All Laws.'
If it were a custom model, it could include various additional effects, such as spell amplification.
For example, embedding it in the ground and using it as the foundation for Earth Palace Techniques would yield insane amplification effects.
Zhao Xing had previously experimented with burying the Vajra Bracelet on an asteroid. When enemies passed by, they would suddenly plummet from the sky.
It was like harvesting crops—he just had to wait and collect kills periodically.
This forty-million Vajra Bracelet had no spell amplification—only its inherent hardness, extreme stability, and its absorption effect.
"The Yuanhai Treasury is really dangerous… I've already gone over budget."
After making the purchase, Zhao Xing felt a slight sting in his heart.
One hundred and twenty million—gone just like that.
"I had seventy million, and I withdrew fifty million from Grand Zhou's public funds… and I still haven't even bought my troop types yet."
"...Should I take a loan?"
Zhao Xing finally started to waver.
"I'll be heading to Moonfall Mausoleum soon anyway—I can definitely make the money back."
The Grand Zhou account now had only one hundred and thirty million left. If Zhao Xing withdrew any more, it would leave Grand Zhou struggling financially.
Zhao Xing knew exactly how much Grand Zhou had—if he kept drawing funds, it would harm the nation's growth.
"Fine, I'll borrow some."
In the end, Zhao Xing decided to take a loan from Yuanhai Treasury.
He began browsing [Plant Troop Types].
Zhao Xing already had a clear strategy for Plant Troop Types, so he didn't need Unit 46's recommendations. He quickly selected a few options himself.
"Let's check the Rare-Tier category first."
Plant Troop Type Quality Rankings:
Common
Rare
Spirit Beast
King-Tier
Emperor-Tier
Sovereign-Tier
Legendary-Tier
Divine-Tier
A plant's quality determined its growth potential.
Even the most ordinary species could naturally grow to the First Stage of Origin.
However, once they reached their peak, their realm would become fixed. Advancing further would require significant resources, but Self School techniques could help break past such limits with minimal cost.
A Rare-Tier plant could naturally grow to the Second Stage of Origin without needing any extra investment.
Right now, Zhao Xing was only considering Rare-Tier options.
Anything higher than that, he couldn't afford.
"I already have Cloud-Touching Vine—its quality is King-Tier."
"Even in its seedling stage, it already possesses First-Stage Origin-level combat power. Once it matures to its Peak Stage, it can naturally reach a level comparable to Dao Domain Realm cultivators."
"But it's only for emergencies—I can't use it for every little fight. Void Seeds are incredibly rare, and King-Tier Void Seeds are even rarer."
Zhao Xing needed additional Plant Troop Types for backup forces.
Big Brother was still in its growth stage—if he kept forcing it to fight, it would hinder its development.
"Alright, I'll take these three."
After carefully filtering through the list, Zhao Xing quickly confirmed three selections.
[Heavenly Sound Bamboo] – Rare-Tier
Description:
Heavenly Sound Bamboo has three innate secret techniques. It reaches First-Stage Origin at its Mature Stage and Second-Stage Origin at its Peak Stage.
Secret Techniques:
Origin Resonance
Void Shatter
Soul Symphony
Pricing:
Seedling Stage: 350,000
Growth Stage: 1.5 million
Mature Stage: 15 million (For an additional 2 million, buyers can select a Five Elements Origin Attribute—otherwise, it is random.)
The Peak Stage price was 1.5 billion, and it contained all elemental origins, requiring no additional selection.
Seedlings and seeds were relatively cheap. Given Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom's capabilities, cultivating seedlings and seeds wasn't too costly.
Zhao Xing estimated that from the 350,000 price tag, Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom could earn 300,000 in profit.
The real expense came after the seedling stage—the higher the stage, the steeper the price.
Because these were mass-produced for sale, they couldn't just plant and leave them be—the process required careful cultivation, accelerated growth, soil replacement, and an optimal spirit energy environment. All of this incurred significant costs.
Zhao Xing confirmed that this [Heavenly Sound Bamboo] was specifically chosen for the environment of Moonfall Mausoleum.
"In Moonfall Mausoleum, strange soul-disturbing music can often be heard. Humans can't detect it, but Heavenly Sound Bamboo can sense these attacks and emit a warning. Using it as an early warning system will save me a lot of trouble."
Zhao Xing purchased Heavenly Sound Bamboo primarily for its warning capabilities.
Later, when various ancient nations discovered the incredible effectiveness of Heavenly Sound Bamboo, its price skyrocketed—two to three times its original value.
Zhao Xing even considered stockpiling some for Grand Zhou in the future. But for now, it was still too early for that.
[Nine Yin Demon Vine] – Rare-Tier
Description:
A vine-based Yin-attributed troop type, best suited for Yin-attributed Origin environments.
It possesses two innate secret techniques.
Mature Stage: First-Stage Origin
Peak Stage: Second-Stage Origin
Secret Techniques:
Nine Yin Barrier (Defensive)
Lunar Eclipse (Offensive)
Pricing:
Seedling Stage: 420,000
Growth Stage: 1.8 million
Mature Stage: 18 million
Peak Stage: 2.3 billion
This was another plant troop type intended for Moonfall Mausoleum.
Nine Yin Barrier was a defensive ability, while Lunar Eclipse was an offensive ability.
The combination of the two allowed it to unleash its full potential in Moonfall Mausoleum.
[Illusory Star Mushroom] – Rare-Tier
Description:
A fungus-based Yin-attributed troop type, best suited for Yin-attributed Origin environments.
It possesses four innate secret techniques.
Mature Stage: First-Stage Origin
Peak Stage: Second-Stage Origin
Secret Techniques:
Hallucination
Replication
Camouflage
Toxicity
Pricing:
Seedling Stage: 750,000
Growth Stage: 3 million
Mature Stage: 32 million
Peak Stage: 4.5 billion
"Perfect! Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom has Illusory Star Mushrooms in stock—this is great!"
Zhao Xing was delighted.
The Illusory Star Mushroom was one of his most frequently used plant troop types—because it was incredibly practical!
The Replication ability alone meant that buying a single mushroom was essentially buying an entire planet's worth of mushrooms!
"Just imagine deploying an entire planet's worth of mushroom formations—wouldn't that be terrifying?"
"In the cosmic battlefield, Self School's Shennong profession surpasses the other two factions in sheer power and wealth."
"The Heaven School and Earth School have limits on their spell techniques, but the Self School's troop types have no numerical or power limits."
"If I had enough money, I could mass-produce Second-Stage Origin plant troop types even at First-Stage Origin."
Final Costs
Purchasing all three plant troop types cost 65 million.
Using his status as a Purple Divine Mansion official member, Zhao Xing secured a 100 million loan from Yuanhai Treasury.
The remaining 35 million was further spent:
10 million to buy a [Boundary-Breaking Beast], a mechanized beast specialized in eroding formations—essentially a universal master key.
Several million on survival essentials like spiritual liquids, spirit crystals, and medical supplies.
Final Loan Balance
By the end of it all, Zhao Xing's 100 million loan had only 20 million left.
Annual interest rate: 1%
Minimum repayment term: 500 years
Early repayment allowed, but must be at least 200 million
"Damn, this is daylight robbery."
Zhao Xing looked at the contract and shook his head helplessly.
"I really have turned into Purple Bone True Venerable at this point."
Unit 46 smiled and said, "Your Star-Tier Dao Soldiers are ready for immediate use. However, your three plant troop types need to be transported from other planets, which will take about half a month."
"But don't worry, we will provide all necessary safeguards during the transplantation process, so you won't have to suppress their free will yourself."
Zhao Xing nodded.
Once plant troop types reached Origin Realm, their survival instincts evolved into self-awareness.
However, all plant troop types sold by Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom were pre-treated. Their free will was either erased or suppressed without affecting their combat effectiveness.
Of course, this only applied to Origin Realm troop types. If the plant was higher-tier, the process became far more difficult—even impossible—without external intervention.
Mission Accepted: Moonfall Mausoleum
After leaving Yuanhai Treasury, Zhao Xing immediately opened [Star Mirror].
"Accept the Moonfall Mausoleum mission!"
Shortly after, a message appeared on his Star Mirror.
[Purple Divine Mansion Official Member – Qingyu Realm Star, Zhao Xing: You are about to accept the 'Moonfall Mausoleum' mission.]
[Attention: Upon mission acceptance, you must depart for the mission location within one year. Please plan your time accordingly. Would you like to proceed?]
"Accept."
Zhao Xing confirmed his choice again.
The moment he did, a flood of new information rushed into his personal Star Mirror.
He had just received detailed intelligence about Moonfall Mausoleum.