"Talent market? How can a prison be a talent market?" Ai Miaomiao's large, stern eyes were full of doubt.
Zhao Xing didn't answer. He followed the boundary wall passage and slowly stepped into the Ice Star Prison.
The ones imprisoned in the Ice Star Prison of the Primordial Realm were, for the most part, former members of the Primordial Realm themselves!
Some had fallen into madness during cultivation, resulting in accidental deaths. Others, obsessed during their research, caused massive losses to the Red Star Empire. Some even led wars that caused severe casualties. In short, this was a group of very unique inmates.
They had once possessed special privileges. But what they did had exceeded the bounds of forgiveness those privileges allowed. While their crimes didn't warrant death, they also couldn't be released. So instead, they were sentenced to extremely long terms—many with indefinite confinement.
Passing through the boundary passage, a perfectly white cube came into view before the two of them.
As Zhao Xing and Ai Miaomiao approached, a smiling face appeared on the side facing them.
"Greetings, Lord Zifang," Zhao Xing and Ai Miaomiao bowed together toward the cube.
This pure white cube was another split form of the Grand Derivation Divine Weapon. Just like Chen Jiu, it was named in relation to the twelve earthly branches—this one being the 'Zi' hour. The soul of this Dao Soldier specialized in entrapment.
The Lord Zifang also usually appeared as a perfectly white cube.
"Please present your authorization," the cube said in a gentle female voice.
"Senior Sister," Zhao Xing turned to Ai Miaomiao. Their authorization had been specially granted by the Five Venom Emperor.
"Oh no, I forgot it. I left it with one of my other clones!" Ai Miaomiao's face changed immediately.
"Without authorization, you're trespassing. The penalty is five thousand years of imprisonment." The pure white cube immediately turned red, the smiling face now twisted in anger.
"What the—Senior Sister, are you serious?" Zhao Xing was stunned. How could you forget something like this? That's way too careless!
"Hurry and get your clone to bring it over!"
"But that clone already left the Primordial Realm. It's heading west."
"You've gotta be kidding me—"
Just then, a mischievous grin spread across Ai Miaomiao's panicked face. She quickly pulled out a small purple-black cube from her robe.
"Ta-da~ I didn't forget!"
"Got you, Junior Brother! Hahaha!"
Zhao Xing: "..."
You lunatic! Damn it!
Lord Zhao really wanted to start cursing—because he'd actually believed Ai Miaomiao was someone who'd forget something this important.
Thinking of all the years Ai Miaomiao and Wei Lan had spent delivering medicine to him, Zhao Xing managed to resist the urge to punch her on the spot.
"Senior Sister, you win. You really scared me just now. If you actually forgot, I would've been stuck in here for five thousand years…"
Ai Miaomiao pressed the small cube into the pure white one. It was quickly spit back out.
"Authorization failed."
Ai Miaomiao looked distressed. "Ah… I might've grabbed the wrong one."
Zhao Xing: "??"
Are you messing with me right now?
"Senior Sister, stop playing. Hurry up and get the right one—"
Ai Miaomiao grinned again. "Kidding. I brought it."
With that, she pulled out another cube and pressed it in.
"Authorization confirmed." The cube turned from red back to white, its face turning back into a smile, then it ejected the authorization token.
Zhao Xing finally let out a long breath.
He was afraid Ai Miaomiao would pull another fakeout and snatch the token first.
"Senior Sister, I better hold onto that."
Ai Miaomiao grinned. "Junior Brother, you're so timid."
"Heh." Zhao Xing replied with a dry laugh.
The white cube split off a small sphere that hovered beside them, acting as a guide.
"You're looking at Ice Star Prison No. 391, which holds prisoners at the Life-Death Dao Domain Realm."
"The entire western hemisphere holds those who signed Life-Death Contracts. They've voluntarily agreed to participate in high-risk spell experiments."
"According to your authorization, you may select ten individuals for cultivation testing. But they must remain within the realm star—they cannot be taken out."
"Remember, the danger goes both ways. You may be injured or killed by the prisoners."
Zhao Xing nodded, indicating he understood the rules.
The Self School was already unhinged, but those locked away in the Ice Star Prison of the Primordial Realm were truly the most insane of the insane.
Some of the prisoners had signed Life-Death Contracts while still lucid, choosing to become magical test subjects to atone for their crimes—and also to seize one last chance.
If they managed to break through and reach the Reincarnation Realm, they would generally regain clarity.
At that point, they might be released, given the chance to redeem themselves through merit.
But the windows of lucidity were brief. Most of the time, they were utterly deranged.
If one of them lost control and killed Zhao Xing or Ai Miaomiao, that would be a pointless death.
Because these prisoners had already received the maximum punishment—they couldn't be punished again.
"Well well, more live ones, huh."
Just as the two and their guide sphere reached the western hemisphere, they saw seven icy mountains below. Each one had a green-skinned giant perched atop it. The giants all had eight arms—and every one of them was picking their feet.
"What the…" Ai Miaomiao murmured in confusion. The seven giants below were grotesquely ugly. From both a physical and an energy perspective, they were repulsive.
Their backs were covered in festering boils, leaking green pus. Two of the rear arms poked the boils open, then slurped up the ooze into their mouths—using the same fingers they'd just used to pick their toes.
Zhao Xing looked at the sphere, which projected a light display forming text:
[Prisoner No. 9462, Name: Hidden]
[Former Coral-level Stage Seven member of the Primordial Realm. Fell into madness while researching straw puppet techniques and thoroughly tore apart his soul, losing all sense of self.]
[Crime: After losing control, secretly killed other cultivators. Was only discovered after slaying 530 trillion individuals. Among them were 130 million Imperial citizens, including his own dao companion and family.]
[Sentenced to indefinite imprisonment.]
[Has signed a Life-Death Contract, voluntarily accepting all forms of experimentation.]
"So terrifying..." Ai Miaomiao was stunned by the 530 trillion figure. "He killed that many before anyone noticed? And even slaughtered his entire family? Why wasn't he executed?"
"A warning from the past, a lesson for the future," Zhao Xing replied. "He was a Coral-level member. His crimes stemmed from a deviation during cultivation, not from rational thought. If he were conscious, he would've been executed a long time ago."
"Keeping him allows further spell research, helping us understand why something like this happens, and providing valuable insight for others who might cultivate such techniques in the future."
"So pitiful," Ai Miaomiao said softly. "Even if he breaks through to the Reincarnation Realm and regains his sanity, realizing he killed his own family and dao companion... he'll probably go insane again."
Zhao Xing didn't dwell on the topic. Instead, he asked Lord Zifang, "My lord, where is Prisoner No. 9462's main body?"
The sphere flickered and pulled up a more detailed record:
[Unable to identify. In fact, each of 9462's clones may be the main body.]
[The Life-Death Contract was signed during a brief moment of clarity by one clone. The remaining six did not agree.]
"So even the Primordial Realm can't tell which is his true self..." Zhao Xing was surprised.
To reach such a level within the Life-Death Dao Domain Realm was truly one of a kind.
This person surely wasn't an unknown figure before his descent into madness. But after his breakdown, all records must've been erased.
"Get lost!" came a bellow from below.
The seven giants below began to fight over a piece of foot skin.
The seven giants broke apart into even more mini clones, their bodies behaving like liquid.
Zhao Xing watched silently, a tinge of sadness flashing through his eyes. He shook his head and walked away.
He himself had hidden dangers with his own clones, but Qing Yuzi had granted him the Soul Secret Technique from the Divine Palace, so for now, he wasn't too worried.
This trip was mainly for practicing the Demon Seed Technique. He wouldn't be studying the straw puppet clone methods for now.
"Let's go."
Along the way, stopping now and then, Zhao Xing saw all kinds of prisoners—some had gone mad, others retained their clarity.
Without exception, they were all at the Life-Death Dao Domain Realm, and all had once been Coral-level members.
Eventually, Zhao Xing stopped in front of a towering mountain that pierced the clouds.
The reason he stopped was simple.
There, a man was endlessly pushing a giant stone sphere uphill. The mountain was rugged and uneven. Every time the stone neared the top, it rolled back down.
And the man? He would run back to the base and start pushing again.
[Prisoner No. 5241]
[Occupation: Mechanist and Formation Master]
[Former Coral-level Stage Eight member of the Primordial Realm. While stationed at the Ao Gu Border, he merged with a forbidden artifact without approval and deployed an unknown formation. The formation backfired, killing 127 Life-Death Dao Domain Realm teammates.]
[Sentenced to indefinite imprisonment.]
[Has signed a Life-Death Contract, voluntarily accepting all forms of experimentation.]
"Ao Gu Border... seems like he's the one," Zhao Xing murmured to himself.
After observing for several days, he turned to the pure white sphere beside him and said, "My lord, I want to select him as my cultivation subject for the Demon Seed Technique."
"Approved. He's currently lucid. You may descend directly." The sphere fired a laser beam, breaking the barrier surrounding the mountain.
Zhao Xing descended right away.
As for Ai Miaomiao, she had already chosen her own prisoner for cultivation.
"5241, I'm Zhao Xing, Coral-level member of the Primordial Realm. I want your cooperation for a spell cultivation."
Boom—the giant boulder rolled down, revealing the man at the summit. His upper body was bare, bronze skin exposed under the sky.
His head was bald, marked with strange, incomplete spell sigils.
Yet his fingers were long, fair, and almost delicate.
"Oh. You can start." The man responded without emotion, calm and composed.
Zhao Xing nodded, then began casting his spell.
The Demon Seed Technique, was considered a forbidden art in most other nations.
To cultivate it required many living test subjects—preferably those with higher spiritual awareness.
And prisoners in this place were nearly impossible to kill. Even at the same realm, they could withstand a beating without dying. They were perfect subjects.
"Swish swish swish swish swish—"
Five barbed vines extended from Zhao Xing's body, piercing into the man's Baihui, Zhongji, Qihai, Guanyuan, Tianzong, and Bingfeng points.
The vines threaded through his shoulder blades and abdomen, penetrating his skull and crown.
The man didn't even make a sound. He might as well have been dead.
"This might hurt a bit," Zhao Xing reminded.
The man still showed no reaction. Whether he didn't care or simply looked down on Zhao Xing's cultivation level was unclear.
From the aura alone, Zhao Xing was only at the third realm of the Origin Path. Logically, someone at the Life-Death Dao Domain Realm could just stand there and let an Origin cultivator attack without dying.
"Drain-and-Transform Spirit Technique!"
As Zhao Xing activated the technique, the barbed tips inside the man instantly split apart into 1,000 thin spikes, then multiplied again into 10,000 strands.
By the third day, Zhao Xing had gained control of nearly ninety percent of the man's body.
He could now make him move however he pleased.
"Yu~"
Zhao Xing activated his Origin Projection, and a small seedling appeared beside the man.
It was the emperor-grade seedling gifted to him by the Five Venom Emperor—the Seven-Region True Spirit Bamboo.
"Boom~"
The stone beneath the man exploded, leaving a deep pit. He was buried under rubble, with only his head—etched with spell runes—still exposed.
"Divide Yin and Yang, rise!"
Zhao Xing formed a hemispherical barrier, enveloping the mountain stones, 5241, and the Seven-Region True Spirit Bamboo.
It created a space devoid of any spiritual energy.
The Seven-Region True Spirit Bamboo instantly became listless and weak.
Though an emperor-grade unit, without spiritual energy to nourish it, the fragile seedling was easily affected.
"Drain-and-Transform Need!"
In that moment, the barbed vines inside 5241's body began to tremble.
A huge surge of spiritual energy was drawn from within him and funneled directly into the Seven-Region True Spirit Bamboo.
After three days, under the flood of spiritual nourishment, the rocky ground around them transformed into fertile black soil.
[You have cultivated Drain-and-Transform Need Technique and gained 1 point of proficiency.]
[You have cultivated Drain-and-Transform Need Technique and gained 1 point of proficiency.]
Half a year later, more and more vegetation sprouted on the mountain. Flowers, grasses, and trees flourished in harmony. The once barren slope had turned into a scenic pastoral landscape.
"Something's off."
Zhao Xing stopped moving as he stared at the unmoving progress panel.
"I've never managed to extract the Need from him. What I've been drawing is just the mana he cultivated."
Spiritual energy transformed into mana. 5241 was like a massive reservoir of spiritual energy.
That was enough to nurture all kinds of seedlings. But it wasn't the result Zhao Xing was looking for.
"The Demon Seed Technique is also known as the Demon Seed Technique because what it extracts is the target's innate Need—something all life possesses at birth. It's not cultivated spiritual energy, and definitely not mana."
"This technique was designed to cope with extreme environments. Even if there's no spiritual energy nearby, you could gather a bunch of low-level mortals and still use them to generate spiritual energy to nurture plant life."
"After plants grow and bear fruit through that life conversion, I can then absorb the spiritual energy stored in the fruit for cultivation."
The definition of Need and spiritual energy differed in Qi theory. Zhao Xing realized he'd hit a bottleneck in his cultivation.
The biggest problem was that Need was incredibly hard to detect, and it was easy to mistake success when none had been achieved.
If not for the system panel verifying his results, Zhao Xing might've believed he had already mastered the technique.
"I'll have to drain all of 5241's spiritual energy first to eliminate the interference."
It would definitely be painful, but Zhao Xing glanced at him—he was still unresponsive.
Aside from that one sentence in the beginning, the man had said nothing at all.
"To drain all his mana will take at least fifty years. His foundation is ridiculously solid," Zhao Xing thought.
Someone at the Dao Domain Realm had virtually limitless mana—and this one was a genius.
Even if he wasn't on Du Yun's level, he had to be among the top ten in the last Primordial Assembly.
"5241, release your mana outward. Don't worry, I won't harm your life," Zhao Xing said.
The man still didn't speak, but he soon cooperated.
A massive number of mana sigils began to flow outward.
They resembled three-dimensional glyphs, each lined with complex currents, like rotating formations in motion.
Each mana sigil, if thrown into a low-tier star with a spiritual index of 10, could instantly boost that index past 100.
Given enough time, it might even allow the star to evolve into a mid-tier one.
That's how terrifying the foundation of a genius at the Life-Death Dao Domain Realm was.
If this person had been in the old Xuanhuang Realm, even his corpse alone could've sustained dozens of ascended dynasties.
"One hundred and eight... a total of 108 mana sigils. Impressive. It's really him," Zhao Xing muttered.
If he were to crush those 108 mana sigils now, the man's cultivation would immediately drop.
He could fall back to the Origin Stage, maybe even further.
"Aren't you afraid of becoming a cripple?" Zhao Xing couldn't help but ask.
"Doesn't matter. Even death doesn't matter," the bald man spoke for the first time. "If someone at the Origin Stage could shake my life essence, then you must be a real genius of the Primordial Realm."
"If this can help your cultivation, being crippled—or even dying—would count as redemption."
Hearing those words, Zhao Xing couldn't help but recall the man's file.
"He accidentally killed over a hundred teammates. Some of them must've been close friends."
"He's been pushing that boulder up the mountain all this time... probably using it to punish himself," Zhao Xing thought.
"5241 was the champion of the Mechanist and Formation Master division in the Primordial Assembly two eras ago. His name was Fan Daoyou."
"His crime originally didn't warrant such a harsh punishment. He insisted on coming to the Ice Star Prison to atone."
"Even now, his master visits him from time to time. I really can't let him die here."
Zhao Xing remembered that Fan Daoyou would soon break through to the Reincarnation Realm and be released. He would then be sent to the Barren Domain to assist in development. His talent in formations was unmatched—especially his skill in deciphering formations from the Middle-White Period. He'd quickly become famous.
But right now, he was still just a criminal—a man who had killed his comrades through arrogance, with no desire for release.
Time passed.
Zhao Xing's cultivation in the Ice Star Prison entered its ninth year.
"Boom—"
Zhao Xing retracted the Five Finger Mountain, revealing Fan Daoyou beneath it. He was barely breathing, his spiritual energy drained, his life flickering like a candle in the wind, as if he might pass at any moment.
"Go!"
Zhao Xing pushed the 108 mana sigils back into Fan Daoyou's body.
His aura quickly strengthened, becoming robust and vigorous once again.
"Shua~" Zhao Xing landed at the bottom of the pit and helped Fan Daoyou up.
"Daoist friend, my cultivation is done for now. Thank you for your cooperation."
"My life is worthless. You don't need to feel guilty," Fan Daoyou replied. By now, he would occasionally answer Zhao Xing's questions and say a few things.
"No, I must be honest with you," Zhao Xing said. "The method I cultivate is the Demon Seed Technique—also known as the Demon Seed Technique. Though it may seem like you weren't harmed, it actually reduces your lifespan. Over the past ten years, you've lost a lot of life expectancy."
"I know," Fan Daoyou said with a bitter laugh. "It was because I studied forbidden techniques that I ended up killing so many people. How could I not know about the Shennong's Demon Seed Technique?"
"My spiritual energy wasn't consumed, yet your Seven-Region True Spirit Bamboo still grew. That means what was consumed... was the Need I was born with."
He rubbed his fingers together and said, "But I don't care. And don't worry, my master won't make things hard for you."
"You're one of the rare people who've treated me like a person. Everyone else who comes in here looks at me like an object."
"Some even intentionally torture me with pointless experiments that have nothing to do with cultivation."
"You're different. From beginning to end, you treated me with respect."
Zhao Xing cupped his hands and didn't continue the topic. Instead, he asked, "Daoist brother, you've been here for two full eras. The world outside has changed a lot. Why not go out and take a look?"
"With your skills, crossing the boundary of life and death should be easy."
"Your master, the Emperor Jin Jue, and many others must be waiting for your return."
Fan Daoyou didn't respond.
Zhao Xing knew their ten years of shared cultivation time had reached its natural end. Saying anything more would be overstepping.
"Daoist brother, I've spoken too much." Zhao Xing bowed again. "Please don't take offense."
"These ten years of cultivation have benefited me greatly. I hope we'll get a chance to drink together someday. Take care."
With the formalities done, Zhao Xing soared into the sky and exited the barrier.
Watching Zhao Xing's fading figure, Fan Daoyou murmured, "My heart is not at peace, how could I dare to be free—"
After leaving the Ice Star Prison, Zhao Xing returned directly to Coral City.
Ai Miaomiao had already left. She had gained nothing during her time in the Ice Star Prison.
She hadn't even managed to grasp the basics of the Demon Seed Technique. Clearly, it wasn't something just anyone could learn.
"With the Demon Seed Technique fully operational, my Hunyuan Realm has now reached five realm unit equivalents, supporting three thousand unit types. All the prep work is just about done."
There were still twenty years left before the designated time, but Zhao Xing had already decided to depart immediately.
Without his true self stepping outside the frontier, many things wouldn't be able to move forward properly.
Take Great Zhou for instance—if they wanted to start developing outside the border, Zhao Xing, as the Maritime Envoy, needed to be present on-site. Otherwise, his authority wouldn't apply, and he wouldn't be able to smooth the way for them even if he wanted to.
"Time to depart."
"My true body is expected to reach the Fourteenth Pass of Jiachen in three years and five months."
In the vast starry sky, a realm vessel sped along the current of the void.
"Your Majesty is leaving the Primordial Realm? Congratulations, Your Majesty! You're one step closer to reclaiming your peak," said Qianhuan Tree, who had transformed into a delicate and youthful boy.
Zhao Xing said, "Qianhuan, we agreed—you'd guard my path for five hundred thousand years, and I'd set you free. Now I'd like to release you early. What do you think?"
Qianhuan Tree panicked. "Your Majesty, how could I accept that? We agreed on five hundred thousand years, and I've only stayed for four thousand! How can you let me go so soon?"
Zhao Xing replied, "You said back then that your lifespan was limited. I figured I might as well release you early so you can aim for the Reincarnation Realm."
Qianhuan Tree's leaves rustled, as if shaking its head. "Your Majesty, I've got plenty of life left. I can still live another seven eras!"
Seeing Qianhuan Tree acting so desperate to stay by his side, Zhao Xing couldn't help but smile.
"Alright then. You can stay with me a while longer."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
When he had first arrived in the Primordial Realm, Zhao Xing had nothing. The most valuable thing he owned was this one Life-Death Dao Domain Realm Qianhuan Tree.
Now Qianhuan Tree was begging to follow him. Zhao Xing was happy to oblige.
After putting the Qianhuan Tree away, Zhao Xing picked up the Star Mirror and glanced at it, sighing with emotion, "Trees ask for help, people do too."
"My true self had barely left the Primordial Realm, and people were already trying to reach me."
Most of them could be ignored, but the first contact request Zhao Xing received came from the Lord of Northern River.
"Zhao Xing, congratulations on becoming the Maritime Envoy." The Lord of Northern River's projection was the first thing to appear, and his first words were congratulations.
"Thank you, my lord." Zhao Xing bowed slightly. "Everything I've achieved today is thanks to your guidance."
Hearing that, a smile formed on the Lord of Northern River's face.
Honestly, with Zhao Xing being so well-known now, he had worried the man wouldn't show him any respect. He feared he might pull a 'returning one hundred steamed buns' kind of move.
If that had happened, there would've been nothing the Lord could do.
But Zhao Xing's current attitude reassured him a bit.
"Zhao Xing, you got where you are by your own ability," the Lord of Northern River said. "I didn't want to bother you, but the Northern River Army is facing some trouble, and I can't step away. I'd like to ask for your help, as Maritime Envoy."