"What is he saying?" Bamboo Sword Venerable asked.
"I can't understand," Wei Tianchen shook his head. The giant skeleton had spoken using its True Spirit, but the language it used, even Wei Tianchen, who was well-versed in many languages, had never heard of.
"Let's capture him first. Let Zhao Xing ask him," Bamboo Sword Venerable suggested.
Three of Bamboo Sword Venerable's ribs transformed into sword light, piercing into the giant skeleton's skull. The sword tips aimed directly at its True Spirit flame, forcing it into immobility. Bamboo Sword Venerable then looked at Zhao Xing. "You can ask now."
The True Spirit flame of the skeleton giant kept flickering: "Heavens, I've already been invincible in the Yan Fang Territory. How can there be something more terrifying than him...?"
Zhao Xing found it strange when the giant skeleton spoke, because it wasn't speaking any of the languages he knew from the Xuanhuang Realm. However, it had a slight resemblance to Dragon Language, but with a very clumsy feel. It seemed like a half-formed system of Dragon Language.
Dragon Language is used in spells and contains certain powers, capable of breaking through specific Daoic obstructions. However, this giant skeleton seemed to be using its True Spirit flame and White Bone power to speak.
Zhao Xing pondered for a moment, trying to imitate the frequency of the skeleton's True Spirit flame, and then spoke in Dragon Language:
"Who are you? What place is this? Which state does it belong to? You are of the human race, so why are you speaking Dragon Language?"
The giant skeleton seemed stunned after hearing Zhao Xing's words. Zhao Xing thought it might not have understood, so he repeated his question.
This time, Zhao Xing adjusted both the rhythm and the manipulation of White Bone power, making it much closer to the skeleton's mode.
"Junior Bai Junlan. This is the Yan Fang Territory. Yes, I am of the human race, and we naturally speak Dragon Language."
Zhao Xing continued to inquire, "Which state does the Yan Fang Territory belong to? Why should you naturally speak Dragon Language?"
Bai Junlan seemed a bit confused. He didn't seem to understand what Zhao Xing meant.
"Senior, the Yan Fang Territory is part of the Bone Yin Realm."
"Dragon Language is spoken because only two true words can produce a specific sound. One is Dragon Tongue, and the other is White Bone Tongue. Otherwise, we can only communicate through the flame seed of our True Spirit."
"Do you know who holds the Human Emperor Sword and the Book of Destiny in Zhongtu Shenzhou today?"
"Senior, I don't understand." Bai Junlan replied, signaling that he didn't comprehend.
"You've heard of the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty, right?" Zhao Xing began to grow suspicious.
"No." Bai Junlan seemed to have thought deeply: "I really haven't paid attention to it, nor has Nanjianlu."
Zhao Xing's suspicion deepened. Bai Junlan was a Six Tribulation True Spirit, not weak by any means, yet he had never heard of the Great Zhou Dynasty?
"Senior, are you referring to some mortal dynasty from the Yang Realm? Perhaps I just haven't heard of it," Bai Junlan cautiously replied.
"What do you mean?" Zhao Xing suddenly noticed something wrong in Bai Junlan's words. "Yang Realm?"
"Senior, aren't you asking about it?"
"Then what place is this?"
"This is, of course, the Bone Yin Realm."
"Yin Realm?!" Zhao Xing was stunned. He never expected this place to be in the underworld. Does that mean the location of the Boundless White Bone Divine Domain is in the Yin Realm? Does that mean the three of us are dead? This doesn't make sense.
Bai Junlan noticed that these three seemed to know nothing, like some secluded elders who had suddenly arrived here. He patiently began to explain: "Three hundred and forty-two years ago, there was a great change in the world. The southern part of Xuanhuang Mainland was shrouded by an extreme moon. Anyone who saw the extreme moon had their cultivation taken away, and their flesh and blood ceased to exist."
"The light of the Yin Moon merged with the Yin Earth, affecting all living beings. It even fused with the Yin Realm of the southern mainland, which is responsible for the reavatar of living beings. From then on, the living beings of the southern mainland no longer reincarnate; they all took on this form of white bones."
"Moreover, after death, they would at most become spirits, without further annihilation."
"So, the place that belongs exclusively to the southern Xuanhuang mainland is called the Bone Yin Realm."
"However, the memory I possess is limited, so perhaps I have just never heard of the Great Zhou Dynasty..."
Zhao Xing understood part of it. The Yin Realm of Xuanhuang corresponds to the specific location of the Yang Realm. The southern mainland's Yang Realm area has now been refined and merged with the Yin Realm.
The Bone God Yuan had created the Boundless White Bone Divine Domain three hundred and forty-two years ago, but at that time, Bai Junlan seemed unaware of Yuan's existence, attributing the changes to the "Great Change of Heaven and Earth."
If the southern mainland was where the Southern Wastes were located, then where did the Witch and Southern Wastes Sect go?
While Zhao Xing was lost in thought, Bai Junlan cautiously asked, "Senior, have you just entered the Bone Yin Realm?"
"I was originally from the Yang Realm, perhaps my sect's elders had interactions with you."
Zhao Xing snapped out of his thoughts and asked, "Which sect do you belong to?"
"Divine Fire Sect. I am the 39th-generation elder of my sect."
"I've never heard of it."
Bai Junlan seemed a bit embarrassed.
Zhao Xing continued, "From what you said, you actively came to the Bone Yin Realm, and with many others?"
"Yes," Bai Junlan nodded. "Although the entire southern mainland has become the Bone Yin Realm, there are still many benefits here. True Spirits can grow here without having to undergo the Heavenly Tribulation."
"Also, we can absorb Soul Crystals from here or use Bone Spirit Stones to forge our bones. Some rare herbs can be found here as well. There are many advantages."
"I've heard that some people here have ascended to the Divine Realm and eventually had their flesh and blood revived and returned to the Yang Realm."
"I'm approaching a great age and excel in the Fire Law formation, so I was sent here by the Divine Lord to investigate and collect treasures and more secrets."
"Along with me, eight other elder disciples also abandoned their physical bodies and came here."
Zhao Xing looked at a fur pouch at Bai Junlan's feet. Inside, there were many diamond-shaped crystals, which seemed to stir a certain desire in him.
Zhao Xing asked Bai Junlan some more questions before jumping down and returning to Wei Tianchen and Bamboo Sword Venerable's side.
"How did it go?" Wei Tianchen asked, his True Spirit sending out waves of energy.
"He doesn't know much. He only knows that this place is called the Yan Fang Territory, and that the Yan Fang Territory is ruled by a king named 'Emperor Luofu.'" Zhao Xing weighed the crystal core in his hand, noticing that there seemed to be a fire seed pulsating inside it.
"They mainly hunt other White Bone creatures to obtain Soul Crystals."
"Soul Crystals originate from the [Soul Wells], but they can also be obtained from other White Bone creatures."
"It's rumored that by absorbing enough Soul Crystals and Bone Spirit Crystals, one can become a god. Additionally, one can strengthen their True Spirit and bones without going through the tribulation. Eventually, they can resurrect, regenerate their flesh and blood, and leave this place."
Bamboo Sword Venerable didn't comment, but Wei Tianchen, upon hearing this, was clearly shaken. The fire seed in his body flickered continuously.
"The Soul Wells cultivate White Bone life forms, replacing the cycle of life and death."
"Soul Crystals and Bone Spirit Stones replace the need to absorb spiritual energy, without consuming the origins of the Heavenly Dao."
"Without tribulations, the White Bone Divine Domain runs eternally, immortal and indestructible, proving the Dao of the Heavenly Kings. Is this about achieving the Dao of the God-King realm, or has one already become a God-King?"
"Zhao Xing, your homeland truly is extraordinary. No wonder even a character like Qing Yuzi, who seems like a wild chicken, could rise up and become a phoenix. Hahahaha!"
Wei Tianchen had always looked down on Qing Yuzi, seeing him as just a lucky figure in the realm of the Free Gods. But now, having arrived here, he felt even more disdain for Qing Yuzi.
Such a grand opportunity before him, and Qing Yuzi failed to seize it, instead taking a huge risk by relying on the resurrection ritual of the ancient Eastern Extension Clan. It was truly a waste.
Bamboo Sword Venerable also realized the tremendous opportunity here. The tribulation of the True Spirit had always been a great crisis for someone of his level, but here, it seemed unnecessary. The True Spirit could still make great leaps.
The path to godhood he had been searching for so arduously—could it be achieved here?
Zhao Xing, however, wasn't so optimistic. He always felt something odd about the Boundless White Bone Divine Domain. The changes in the Xuanhuang Realm were too great. If achieving godhood was this simple, how powerful must 'Yuan,' who created the Boundless White Bone Divine Domain, be?
He had carefully questioned Bai Junlan and found that what he said were just rumors. No one had actually seen a God-level figure walk out of the Bone Yin Realm.
Perhaps, it was merely a tool or fuel for some powerful beings to prove their Dao!
"What should we do with him?" Bamboo Sword Venerable pointed at Bai Junlan.
"Since we've already asked everything, let's just kill him," Wei Tianchen said indifferently. "Doesn't he still have companions? If there's a God-level being behind his sect, we might as well kill him to avoid future trouble."
Bamboo Sword Venerable didn't act immediately but glanced at Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing didn't expect that Bamboo Sword Venerable would respect his opinion. "I think we should keep him alive. He can lead us, and he's more familiar with this place. Besides, he can use fire formations for teleportation. He's a rare talent."
Although Bai Junlan didn't understand their conversation, he could infer from some subtle gestures and the fluctuations in the fire seed that it was only after Zhao Xing finished speaking that Bamboo Sword Venerable withdrew his sword from his skull.
Bai Junlan then cupped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, senior, for sparing me. Otherwise, I would've been reincarnated in the Soul Merge and lost some of my memories."
In the White Bone Divine Domain, death was not permanent. Even if one died, they would be reborn from the Soul Merge, but they would lose power and memories, depending on the severity of the attack.
Next, Wei Tianchen and Bamboo Sword Venerable discussed and decided that Zhao Xing should absorb the Soul Crystals to verify the truth of Bai Junlan's words.
After Zhao Xing absorbed three hundred third-grade Soul Crystals, a transformation occurred.
[Name: Zhao Xing]
[Occupation: Shennong]
[Realm: Three Tribulation True Spirit (Primordial Soul Fragment, 96x Amplification)]
[Bone Body: Starry Path Bone (3000/10000)]
[White Bone Power: Third-grade (14/1000)]
"Aside from the fact that my internal world is still sealed, my magical power and some spells have returned. However, my magical power now flows through my bones, and the spells have undergone some adjustments." Zhao Xing was surprised. He hadn't gone through the tribulation, yet his True Spirit had grown so much stronger.
Could it really be that absorbing Soul Crystals alone could lead to godhood?
Wei Tianchen and Bamboo Sword Venerable were equally pleased. They could clearly feel that Zhao Xing's True Spirit had become stronger.
Since this method worked, they too might have the chance to break through here!
"Senior, you cannot absorb higher-grade fourth-grade Soul Crystals anymore, because the bone body needs to advance accordingly, and there are no fourth-grade Bone Spirit Stones here."
"The bone body is like a container for the fire seed."
"Whether it's Dao Bone or Golden Body Bone, one must acquire the corresponding bone body," Bai Junlan explained.
Zhao Xing was puzzled. "Both of my subordinates have True Spirits far surpassing their bone bodies, and they don't seem to have any issues."
"Your two subordinates must be feeling a strong suppression," Bai Junlan said respectfully. "Their power cannot be fully expressed."
"I see," Zhao Xing said, understanding.
The current combat power of Wei Tianchen and Bamboo Sword Venerable was far weaker than when they had their physical bodies. The reason for this was becoming clearer now.
"So, you're saying the barren mountain region we arrived in is the boundary between the Bone Yin Realm and the Yang Realm?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Yes," Bai Junlan replied. "That area is a forbidden zone, the Yin Mountain. Only entry is allowed, no exit." He continued, "Heading southeast means giving up the physical body and actively entering the Bone Yin Realm. To return to the Yang Realm, one would need the strength of a God."
Zhao Xing asked, "So, the God Fire Sect sent you here, does that mean it's a one-way trip, no return?"
"Not exactly," Bai Junlan pointed to the fire pit. "The Bone Yin Realm has merged with the Yin Realm, and it bears the characteristics of the Yin Realm."
"Our sect master can send some things here, and we can also send some things back, though the cost is very high. Usually, we only send messages back."
Zhao Xing observed the flames dancing in the fire pit. It seemed that the God Fire Sect was no ordinary sect. With a God-level expert overseeing, they could still break some of the limitations of the Boundless White Bone Divine Domain.
It was similar to the Emperor's Primordial Dao Tower, which helped keep his internal world from collapsing.
"That said, Bone God 'Yuan' has probably not reached the level of the God-King in the Boundless White Bone Divine Domain," Zhao Xing thought to himself. He had learned quite a bit from Wei Tianchen.
Wei Tianchen looked down on Qing Yuzi as a Free God but held immense respect for the True Gods of the Heavenly Dao, especially those who followed the path of Heavenly Dao Proof. Their level of accomplishment was far beyond that of a Free God.
Zhao Xing had asked for a concrete example, and that's when Wei Tianchen brought up Qing Yuzi.
He claimed that even with divine artifacts, he was not afraid of a newly ascended Qing Yuzi, but any random Heavenly Dao True God could nullify the power of divine artifacts.
Free Gods seek to make themselves infinitely powerful, while True Gods pursue unity with heaven and earth, controlling the world.
The former cannot limit the power of divine artifacts, but the latter can.
Most divine artifacts are spiritual tools infused with the aura of divine realms, and they refer specifically to True Gods, not Free Gods. This is because the aura of a Free God doesn't leak out.
"Zhao Xing, have this skeleton lead the way." Wei Tianchen handed over a map, which was provided by Bai Junlan, made from the bones of a massive beast.
"Where to?" Zhao Xing asked.
"To do what they do," Wei Tianchen pointed at the map and smiled lightly. "The Yan Fang Territory is controlled by a king named Luo Fu. His White Bone Kingdom has many other such tribal territories."
"Low-level Soul Crystals are useless for me and Bamboo Sword. Only the high-level ones are useful."
"If I can become a Free God first, perhaps I can find a way to break the seal on Fan Qianrou faster, and we can settle our grievances sooner."
"You can become a Free God first?" Zhao Xing asked, curious.
"Bamboo Sword can't, but I can," Wei Tianchen replied. "The Heavenly Dao Proof and the Self-Proof are two paths. Though there are strict limitations, I have preserved many avatars. I can have one of my avatars ascend and become a Free God while my true self completes the Heavenly Dao Proof."
Zhao Xing silently noted this down, thinking about what he had done in the Yanxing Corridor and the Haitong Ancient Path.
If Wei Tianchen's core Heavenly Dao Proof was based on the poison to slay gods and return the Dao to heaven, then could solving the problem of the Stacked Mountains and reconstructing the Yin-Yang Dual Star Illusion in the Yanxing Corridor be the method for the Shennong Heavenly Dao Proof?
"No wonder my philosophy is taken so seriously, with demigods from the Ancient Hill willing to send some of their own to rescue me," Zhao Xing now understood the true value of his philosophy.
Bamboo Sword Venerable's cultivation does not seek to reach outside; instead, he endlessly improves his control over the sword's Dao origin. This is the martial way of proving the Dao.
Wei Tianchen's method, as a concept, centers around saving the heavens and treating the divine realm as a parasite. Though a bit extreme, it fits his path as a physician.
Could the Shennong be the solution for addressing the wasteland environment as the condition for proving the Dao?
"I'm only at the Three Tribulation True Spirit stage now, not even a demigod. I'm not yet qualified," Zhao Xing quickly dismissed this line of thought. "I'll focus on strengthening my True Spirit first."
"Wei Tianchen and Bamboo Sword need to eliminate other White Bone creatures in the Bone Yin Divine Domain to obtain Soul Crystals and Bone Spirit Stones. This will also be helpful for me."
He acted as a translator, having Bai Junlan lead them to another territory under the control of Emperor Luo Fu, where they could hunt more White Bone creatures.
"Xiao Bai, we're going to rob. Where do you think we should go?"
Bai Junlan replied, "Senior, my fire formation can only lead to the 'Fu Bone Territory.' It's a gathering place with many strong people, and there are quite a few with high-level Soul Crystals. It also has powerful Dao Bones and Golden Bones, but it's a bit dangerous."
Zhao Xing laughed, "I'm not afraid of too many strong people, just too few. You just lead the way. My subordinates are quite capable. If we gain anything, you'll be rewarded."
Bai Junlan reluctantly agreed, then reached out and pointed to the fire pit. His bones turned red, and the flames turned from red to a chilling green. The flames suddenly grew larger, forming a passageway.
"Senior, this is the road to the Fu Bone Territory."