Given Zhao Xing's current cultivation, unlocking the third seal of the Thunder Law Sword wasn't particularly difficult.
Yet, at the critical moment, Zhao Xing hesitated.
Because inside the barrier, Qing Yuzi was struggling violently, like a fierce beast trying to break free from its cage.
"What's wrong with Old Qing? Where's all this strength coming from?" Zhao Xing's hand hovered in the air, watching Qing Yuzi with a mixture of shock and suspicion.
Within moments, a powerful Yin-elemental origin wave erupted from Qing Yuzi, intensifying at a rapid pace.
From the perspective of life force and soul detection, Qing Yuzi was undoubtedly a dead man.
Yet, from the perspective of spiritual energy fluctuations, he was extremely active, and his energy was still increasing.
Zhao Xing immediately pulled his hand back and scrutinized Qing Yuzi from head to toe.
"This is really bizarre. I've never seen anything like this."
"What the hell is going on? Could it be some kind of sacrificial magic? But that doesn't make sense either."
Even sacrificial rituals had basic principles.
Zhao Xing could not detect any traces of external control on Qing Yuzi.
"The fluctuations have stopped increasing..." Zhao Xing suddenly noticed something. He stepped further away from the Thunder Law Sword.
The Thunder Law Sword floated silently. Zhao Xing moved back even more.
The Yin energy surging from Qing Yuzi suddenly stopped increasing and instead began to weaken.
Zhao Xing thought for a moment and then reached out toward the Thunder Law Sword again.
Immediately, Qing Yuzi went into another frenzy, and the Yin energy around him surged once more.
"This fluctuation has already reached the Third Realm! How the hell is a Lunar-origin force manifesting out of thin air?! What happened to the laws of the universe?!"
Zhao Xing had no choice but to step back again.
Qing Yuzi's Yin energy receded.
"Swish—"
Zhao Xing summoned the Thousand Illusions Tree to observe Qing Yuzi's condition.
The Thousand Illusions Tree examined him and was immediately shocked.
"Emperor, what kind of monster is this?"
"No soul, no life force, yet filled with Yin-origin energy—and it can still move?!"
If I knew, would I be asking you...?
Zhao Xing remained silent.
"Yin cannot exist alone, and Yang cannot grow alone." Every cultivator knew this fundamental law.
Even Qi Sect martial artists, who cultivated pure Yang golden bodies, still retained a trace of Yin-origin energy in their bodies.
Similarly, Lunar-origin priests, even at the most extreme levels, still had some Yang energy in their Yin spirits and Yin puppets.
"I've seen the strongest Lunar Star in existence, and even it contained traces of Solar-origin energy. But this thing... it's completely devoid of Yang energy?!"
The Thousand Illusions Tree realized this and was instantly terrified.
"Emperor, this thing is beyond my understanding."
"That's why I summoned you—to broaden your horizons."
Zhao Xing waved dismissively. "Alright, you can go back now."
The Thousand Illusions Tree was filled with newfound respect.
"A man who has reincarnated a hundred lifetimes—Qing Yuzi is indeed extraordinary. I cannot comprehend things at this level."
"You're dismissed. Go back."
"Yes." The Thousand Illusions Tree obediently returned to its core space.
Even Zhao Xing was feeling uneasy now.
The Thousand Illusions Tree had been observing for quite a while, but it hadn't even glanced at the Thunder Law Sword.
Instead, it had only been curious about Qing Yuzi.
If the Thousand Illusions Tree still counted as a living being, then what about Mountain Cat, a mechanical beast? It, too, had only been curious about Qing Yuzi, completely ignoring the Thunder Law Sword.
Zhao Xing sat cross-legged, quietly observing Qing Yuzi.
After multiple tests, he began making bold hypotheses, combining them with his past-life knowledge.
"The only ones capable of disrupting logic and violating fundamental principles—"
"Are the Star Historians and their relics."
"A Star Historian could simply declare that the dead are alive, and it would become true."
"But giving Old Qing the ability to move? That requires a ritual—a pure Lunar-origin force supporting his body's 'motion.'"
"And for him to cross vast distances, avoiding all danger? That falls under the domain of Fate."
"That explains why he could safely pass through the countless deadly traps of the Moonfall Mausoleum and arrive at Luo Yi Realm."
"A fusion of Star Historian, Ritualist, and Fate Officer—creating a 'Living Dead Qing Yuzi.'"
"But why Qing Yuzi?"
Zhao Xing kept reasoning.
"Back then, I used 'Qing Yuzi's' name to craft the 'Qing Yu Token' and lure the Dongyan Ancient Clan into appearing."
"Even my later oath of causality was made under his name."
"I used 'Qing Yuzi's' respected name, with the Qing Yu Token as a medium—could it be that the Dongyan Ancient Clan's plan targeted the wrong person?"
"Did they lock onto 'Qing Yuzi' instead of me, Zhao Xing?"
"If I was never supposed to be in the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, then when the Star Historian distorted past and future, could they have mixed me up with Qing Yuzi?"
"Or was there another factor—like the Dongyan Clan's sacred relic?"
"Wait... Could it be that Old Qing is actually a high-level Reincarnation Realm cultivator, trying to hitch a ride on the Dongyan Ancient Clan's revival plan?!"
At that thought, Zhao Xing's scalp tingled.
Now, everything seemed off.
Even Qing Yuzi's corpse appeared monstrous in his eyes.
"Old Qing was just a mere Second Realm cultivator, yet the Lord of Purple Moon Mansion valued him so highly."
"He even managed to obtain the Dongyan Ancient Clan's sacred relic, causing their revival plan to be delayed by an entire era..."
"How could a tiny Second Realm cultivator pull all that off? Even in the Shenluo Barren Domain, where power was suppressed, this is beyond suspicious."
Zhao Xing involuntarily swallowed.
Even his hands—burning ceremonial paper—were trembling.
"If the Dongyan Ancient Clan's revival violates taboo laws and is not permitted—but Qing Yuzi is merely a 'bystander'..."
"Then what if, during the revival ritual, Qing Yuzi siphoned some power from the Reincarnation Altar to achieve self-revival?"
"If that's the case, then he might not even face punishment—making it a 'free ride to resurrection'..."
"My god..."
"This isn't without precedent!"
A wave of fear washed over Zhao Xing.
Bragging about Qing Yuzi all day long, and now Qing Yuzi had actually come looking for him—and might even be some reincarnated great power? This was way too terrifying!
With trembling hands, Zhao Xing reached into his robe and pulled out a thick stack of Tao Ming Spirit Money.
This type of spirit money was not cheap—each sheet was worth 1 billion Yuanhai Coins.
Originally, Zhao Xing had intended to use it for opening tombs, as it had the ability to appease spirits, dispel grievances, and soothe Yin-origin energy mixed with the thoughts of the deceased.
With a flick, flames ignited, and Zhao Xing began his ritual for Qing Yuzi.
"Old Qing—no, Senior Qing Yuzi!"
"If you are truly a reincarnated great power, please, give me a sign!"
"Even if we have never met, I am still considered your disciple in this life. I have always respected you! Look, I have always been spreading your great name..."
At this point, Zhao Xing had run out of options and resorted to metaphysics.
Muttering under his breath, he burned a massive pile of spirit money before pulling out a set of divination cups.
Casting divination cups was a common ritualistic practice.
In the Xuanling Star Domain, priestly rituals were highly prevalent, and divination cups were not limited to priests—many other professions used them as well.
This method was a way for the living to interact with the dead.
The set of divination cups in Zhao Xing's hands was crafted from fallen meteorites of the Solar Star and Lunar Star.
Since Zhao Xing himself was not proficient in priestly arts, he had invested in high-quality materials.
The set of divination cups had cost him more than 8 billion Red Star Coins—one of the most expensive sets available.
Each cup was shaped like a crescent moon, consisting of two pieces, with one convex and one flat.
The convex side was called "Yin," and the flat side was called "Yang."
If the cups landed with one Yin and one Yang, it was called a "Holy Grail", meaning approval, permission, or success.
If both landed as Yang, it was called a "Laughing Cup", meaning uncertainty, requiring further consultation.
If both landed as Yin, it was called a "Yin Cup", meaning rejection, misfortune, or divine anger.
Normally, divination cups and spirit money were used during tomb openings to determine auspicious or inauspicious signs.
Yet now, Zhao Xing was using them in this bizarre situation—proof that this matter had thoroughly messed with his head.
As the spirit money burned, flickering flames reflected in Qing Yuzi's murky eyes.
It seemed to have a soothing effect on the Yin energy, as Qing Yuzi temporarily calmed down.
Zhao Xing and the Thunder Law Sword were aligned in a straight line.
At a glance, it seemed like Qing Yuzi was looking at both the sword and Zhao Xing at the same time.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Xing whispered:
"Senior Qing Yuzi, if you want me involved, give me a Holy Grail."
"If it's a Yin Cup, I will immediately throw the Thunder Law Sword to you and leave Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom at once."
With both hands clasped, Zhao Xing gripped the divination cups and threw them to the ground.
At that moment, the flames of the spirit money suddenly flared up, synchronizing with the cups.
A flash of light streaked through the air.
The cups landed.
One Yin, One Yang—A Holy Grail!
"Coincidence. This must be a coincidence."
Zhao Xing took a deep breath and picked up the cups again.
For the sake of accuracy, the standard practice was to seek three consecutive Holy Grails.
If three were not obtained, the query had to be reinterpreted and repeated until the conditions were met.
"Senior Qing Yuzi, if you want me involved, give me a Holy Grail."
"If it's a Yin Cup, I will immediately throw the Thunder Law Sword to you and leave Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom at once."
Every divination query had to be repeated verbatim to ensure no errors in interpretation.
With another flick—
"Clatter!"
The fire flashed, and the cups landed again.
Zhao Xing looked down.
His heart skipped a beat.
One Yin, One Yang—Another Holy Grail!
He swore that each throw had been completely random.
The cups, crafted from Lunar and Solar meteorite fragments, were impervious to manipulation.
"Senior Qing Yuzi..."
His hands trembled as he made the third attempt.
"Clack!"
Third throw—Still a Holy Grail!
A chill ran down Zhao Xing's spine.
His entire body tensed up.
The silent space was eerie.
Qing Yuzi stood inside the barrier, in front of the fire pit.
Zhao Xing stood behind the fire pit, in front of the Thunder Law Sword.
At his feet, the Holy Grails lay scattered, and the spirit money burned slowly.
Too quiet.
Way too quiet.
Too chaotic.
Way too chaotic!
Zhao Xing's mind was in complete turmoil.
Even his Will and Divine Abilities felt useless at this moment.
"Meow~"
The mechanical Mountain Cat trotted over and brushed against Zhao Xing's leg.
At that moment, time seemed to move forward again.
Zhao Xing snapped back to reality.
Picking up the mechanical cat, he carried it a few steps away and set it down gently.
Then, he slowly walked back.
Each step steadied his mind a little more.
In just ten steps, he regained his composure.
"Don't panic."
"Maybe I was overthinking it. Maybe I was just scaring myself."
The spirit money continued to burn.
Picking up the divination cups again, Zhao Xing took a deep breath.
"Senior Qing Yuzi..."
"Clack!"
"Qing Yuzi..."
"Clack!"
"Qing..."
"..."
The spirit money burned out completely—leaving no ashes behind.
Qing Yuzi suddenly became restless again.
Staring at the cups in his hand, Zhao Xing felt lost.
He had thrown the cups a total of nine times.
And Qing Yuzi had given him—
Nine Holy Grails!
"This is no coincidence..."
Zhao Xing sighed deeply.
Now, he was certain—he had been dragged into a much bigger scheme.
One that involved both the Dongyan Ancient Clan and Qing Yuzi.
Two separate yet interwoven plots—with a single core focus:
Resurrection.
"Then what does the illusion in Xuanhuang Realm signify?"
Zhao Xing closed his eyes in deep thought.
Somewhere in the depths of his memory, a vision of a palace gate flickered—where a chicken pecked at rice, a dog licked its bowl, and a lamp burned over a locked door.
Moments later, he opened his eyes—still confused.
"Why is the seal even stronger now?"
"I set this seal myself before leaving Xuanhuang Realm. By now, I should have been able to break it easily. So why is it getting stronger instead?"
"No... wait."
Shaking his head, Zhao Xing realized something.
"It's not that the seal is strengthening—it's that every time I enter and look at it, it locks itself again."
His own memory locks followed a strict rule:
If something was unclaimed, he could know it freely.
But if something was connected to a powerful figure, actively being used, then even knowing about it was forbidden.
"Back when I was selecting techniques in Yuanhai Hall, I saw many unfamiliar divine names. Since I didn't know them, and they were publicly listed, I could say them freely."
"Sigh, the cosmic game is full of hidden dangers."
"I probably shouldn't have come to send off Old— No, wait, I should have. I definitely should have. "
Zhao Xing clasped his hands together in a prayer.
Ancient River Domain · Xuanling Star Domain · Shenluo Barren Domain · Xuanhuang Realm · Epoch House
[Xuanhuang Chronicles · Nineteen]
Wang Tianzhi licked the tip of his brush and carefully wrote six large characters on fine Yang Paper.
[Since Yuan Ding Year 80, when the Great Zhou Divine Court ascended, unknowingly, 1,931 years have passed.]
[I, too, am now 2,507 years old.]
[The Grand Shennong once said that within 3,000 years, he would return to Xuanhuang Realm to take me for ascension. Now, more than half that time has passed.]
[Due to the existence of the Epoch House, I almost cannot feel the passage of time. All I can do is continue studying Yun Tiandao's teachings and the ancient texts left behind by the Grand Shennong.]
[Fifteen hundred years ago, I had already gone through all the spell tomes until they were worn out. Only the divine abilities remained unmastered.]
[I began to feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness, yet at the same time, I grew even more in awe of Yun Tiandao's perseverance. He stayed here for a million years without going insane. Such willpower and endurance are simply unparalleled.]
[The Epoch House has a slumber function. A thousand years ago, I tried it once, but afterward, I chose not to sleep again.]
[I, Wang Tianzhi, do not wish to be looked down upon by His Majesty and the Grand Shennong. A mere 3,000 years—how could I waste such time in slumber?]
[If Yun Tiandao could do it, why couldn't I?]
[Fortunately, I found a new way to pass the time. Sixteen hundred years ago, I mastered Yun Tiandao's divine ability, Star Gaze, and began observing the universe beyond Xuanhuang Realm.]
[Before, my cultivation level allowed me to view the outer cosmos, but I could only see a short distance. After learning Yun Tiandao's divine ability, I could finally see the distant stars!]
[Yun Tiandao is truly a genius beyond the ages!]
...
[The Grand Shennong once said this was the Barren Domain. Indeed, the area surrounding Xuanhuang Realm is vast and empty, with nothing but drifting celestial rocks and the dim gray glow of the Solar and Lunar Stars.]
[Before Yuan Ding Year 1605, I could not clearly see the Solar and Lunar Stars. Observing them from space, they were nothing but indistinct blurs, yet within Xuanhuang Realm, the sun and moon appeared perfectly visible. How bizarre!]
[After mastering Star Gaze, my vision improved dramatically. I even saw Ke Shen Star, where Moon God assistant once resided. Of course, that figure had long since become dust in history.]
[Even so, I still could not directly observe the Solar and Lunar Stars. But after mastering Yun Tiandao's ability, they suddenly became unbearably blinding!]
[After Yuan Ding Year 1900, my divine abilities seemed to have improved once again. Thanks to the Four Seas Abyssal Qi Infusion, my resistance to the Solar and Lunar energies grew stronger.]
[I still could not clearly see the Solar Star, but the Lunar Star—I finally began to make out its surface patterns.]
[In Yuan Ding Year 1725, when I first discovered it, it was a dark and dim celestial body. Yet now, it emitted a glowing white radiance. More strangely, there was a dark mass on its surface—completely different from the rest of the terrain!]
[There is something on the Lunar Star? This is far too intriguing. The Grand Shennong once said that there should be nothing on the Lunar Star. Could it be some kind of ancient ruin?]
[Unfortunately, the Lunar Star moves through space, and that dark silhouette quickly rotated out of my view.]
...
[In Yuan Ding Year 1905, my abilities improved yet again. Today, I have decided to observe it once more. Based on my calculations, I should be able to see it again very soon.]
Wang Tianzhi closed his book and ascended to the attic of the Epoch House.
Above him was a circular skylight, designed specifically for celestial observations. Activating Star Gaze, his vision expanded like a wide-angle lens.
Layers of mist dispersed, revealing the boundless cosmic void.
Wang Tianzhi focused his eyes on a dim star, and in an instant, its image enlarged—filling his entire view like a full moon.
And there, he saw the black mass once again.
He zoomed in further, focusing on a specific area.
"What is that?" Wang Tianzhi muttered in shock.
Within his expanded vision, a triangular region emerged—seemingly a mountain, surrounded by a pure white glow.
"Zoom in more."
He adjusted his focus, pushing his divine ability to its limit.
Then, he saw it.
A black pyramid.
No, it was not just one pyramid.
It was an entire pyramid complex.
Wang Tianzhi tried to examine it more closely, but suddenly—his vision blurred.
"Huh? It's gone?"
He blinked, expecting an illusion. But the pyramids had vanished from his field of view.
"How strange!"
Puzzled, Wang Tianzhi withdrew his gaze.
He attempted to look again—but this time, the Solar and Lunar Stars had disappeared entirely.
As if they had never existed.
"Strange… very strange." Wang Tianzhi shook his head and descended from the attic.
...
Unbeknownst to Wang Tianzhi, deep within the Lunar Star of Xuanhuang Realm, something stirred.
The massive black pyramids suddenly activated, their apexes radiating beams of light.
The light merged with the void, intricate patterns illuminating the surface of the black pyramid.
Within the void, ancient symbols flickered in chaotic, unreadable sequences. A distant, ethereal chant resonated through the darkness.
And then—
A giant's foot appeared within the radiance.
Only the sole of the foot was visible—its upper half seemingly nonexistent in this space.
"Hummm~"
The black pyramid shattered instantly, the radiant foot vanishing into the distance.
And then, as if nothing had happened—
The Solar and Lunar Stars reappeared in the sky.
...
Beyond Luo Yi Realm Star, aboard the Mountain Cat interstellar vessel.
"Nine Holy Grails."
Zhao Xing stood by the ship's porthole, letting out a deep sigh.
When he had thrown those divination cups and received nine consecutive Holy Grails, he had nearly lost his mind.
He had barely kept himself together.
"Can I run away now?" Zhao Xing asked himself.
He had already looted most of Luo Yi Realm Star's tombs, amassing nearly 50 trillion in wealth.
If he just called Du Yun, he could leave. Du Yun had promised to ensure his departure in front of Lord of Purple Moon Mansion and Lord of Yuqing Mansion.
"Before, I couldn't leave because there were still loose ends," Zhao Xing reasoned. "Now, I'm only short a few hundred billion Red Star Coins. Once I hit that mark, I can leave. Du Yun wouldn't use Thousand Li Yellow Sand Mansion Crossing to keep an eye on me."
But even as he reassured himself, an unsettling doubt lingered.
"Can I really leave?"
His gaze drifted toward the barrier, where Qing Yuzi stood in eerie stillness. Just beyond him, the Thunder Law Sword hovered, quietly exuding its presence.
"Old Qing, are you really dragging me into this?"
Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom—a place that had been erased from history.
But had there been survivors?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Zhao Xing was unsure.
"Old Qing, how about you just forget about me?" Zhao Xing walked up to Qing Yuzi. "You do your thing, and I'll cheer for you from afar. Sound good?"
He really didn't want to get involved in this mess.
"I'm just a small-time cultivator in the Divine Ability Realm. My body is too fragile for this."
At this moment, Zhao Xing's Mountain Cat interstellar vessel had already left Luo Yi Realm Star and was on its way back.
In the end, Zhao Xing handed over the Thunder Law Sword to Qing Yuzi, wanting to see what would happen.
Qing Yuzi quieted down, but he didn't make any moves either.
The Thunder Law Sword remained the Thunder Law Sword.
"You came here on your own, so you can go back on your own, right?" Zhao Xing slowly approached. "I'll just leave you here. You can leave on your own. Our fate ends here. How about that?"
Qing Yuzi remained motionless, his eyes closed.
"If you don't say anything, I'll take it as a yes."
Zhao Xing ordered the Mechanist Cat to stop the ship on a meteorite. He adjusted the ship's barrier, exited the vessel, and carefully placed Qing Yuzi and the Thunder Law Sword on the meteorite.
Then, Zhao Xing burned Taoist Funeral Paper Money. "This is the last bit I have. All for you."
"From now on, we're even."
After burning the paper money, Zhao Xing turned around and headed back to the ship.
The Mountain Cat shot off into the vast void, speeding away.
But before Zhao Xing could even relax, his whole body stiffened.
Qing Yuzi—still holding the Thunder Law Sword—was standing in front of him again.
He had completely bypassed the ship's defenses, and even the Mechanist Cat hadn't detected anything.
"Brother, what do you want from me?!" Zhao Xing sighed helplessly.
This was the third time he had tried to shake off Qing Yuzi.
And it was also the third time Qing Yuzi had suddenly appeared in front of him again.
"Come on, this is blatant scamming at this point." Zhao Xing felt like crying. "I just took a bit of your inheritance, and now you want me to go after the Dongyan Ancient Clan? You want me to be part of a resurrection ritual of this magnitude?"
"That's like asking me to capture Tang Seng!"
"Alert—"
At that moment, the Mechanist Cat issued a warning.
"Master, an unknown vessel is approaching at high speed!"
"Hmm?"
Zhao Xing frowned.
"Can you determine who they are?"
"Not yet, but it's an upper-tier Lunar-class interstellar vessel."
"This area is too unstable. I don't dare accelerate."
This was already the core region of Moonfall Mausoleum, an extremely hazardous environment filled with cosmic dust, chaotic void currents, and unpredictable dangers. Zhao Xing's ship couldn't afford to fly recklessly.
"Prepare for battle."
Zhao Xing waved his hand, storing Qing Yuzi away.
Was Qing Yuzi truly a powerful figure? Or was he behaving strangely due to the Dongyan Ancient Clan's interference? Zhao Xing still had no way to confirm.
But for now, no one could be allowed to discover Qing Yuzi and the Thunder Law Sword.
…
The last attempt at "releasing" Qing Yuzi had failed. By the time Zhao Xing returned to his ship…
0.5 star sectors away, a Dark Night Interstellar Vessel was stationed.
Kui Jiu had been resting here for over thirty years. Ever since his last Shadow Sanctuary mission, he had developed a taste for exploration. He had even bought an entry pass from Tianyou Ancient Kingdom to venture into Moonfall Mausoleum.
After wandering around, Kui Jiu finally reached the core region of Moonfall Mausoleum.
"My luck these past years has been incredible. I've actually gathered five supreme-grade Lunar Dao Weapons and one lower-grade Solar Dao Weapon."
"No wonder Eighteen Nations locked down the Phantom God Star System." Kui Jiu mused. "There really is a lot of good stuff here."
"But these entry fees are daylight robbery. 10 billion Red Star Coins just for Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm cultivators, and the stronger you are, the more expensive it gets? This is outright extortion!" Kui Jiu cursed.
"Master, there is a situation."
Kui Jiu was drinking when his artifact spirit appeared.
"What is it?" Kui Jiu asked.
"Master, please look."
The artifact spirit—taking the form of a beautiful woman—waved her hand, projecting an image.
"Hmm?" Kui Jiu narrowed his eyes.
"Why does this figure look familiar?"
Then, realization struck.
"It's him?! That Zhao Xing from my last mission!"
Kui Jiu remembered Zhao Xing vividly. After all, the kid had somehow resisted his "Fortune Mirage Curse" for an unusually long time.
And later, for some bizarre reason, Shadow Sanctuary had canceled the mission on Zhao Xing altogether.
"What the hell is he doing here? And with an elite-tier Lunar-class interstellar vessel?" The Mind Curse Master inside the Dark Night Vessel widened his eyes.
"Master, based on energy readings, the person in the image has reached the Third Realm. Preliminary analysis suggests he is at Divine Ability Realm."
"Are there others?"
"No other lifeforms detected."
"Suspicious." Kui Jiu frowned. "Even as a Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm cultivator, I have to tread carefully here. Yet he's freely roaming the core region?"
As soon as Zhao Xing boarded his ship, the Mountain Cat immediately took off.
Clearly, Zhao Xing was the owner of the vessel.
However, Kui Jiu hadn't seen Qing Yuzi or the Thunder Law Sword.
"Follow him." Kui Jiu licked his lips. "Heh, this kid went from an unknown nobody to the Marquis of Wuling, even getting protection from Du Yun. He must be hiding a huge secret."
Too bad Kui Jiu had no medium to cast a curse right now. Otherwise, he could have directly killed Zhao Xing with a curse to test his true strength.
"Master, he has detected us and is accelerating!" The beautiful artifact spirit warned again.
"He can't escape. The environment here is too unstable. How fast can he possibly go?" Kui Jiu sneered.
Navigating in Moonfall Mausoleum's core was like driving on a cliffside road without guardrails—with landslides happening at any moment. Speeding was a death sentence.
"Do not engage. Just follow."
Kui Jiu didn't dare order an attack either. Both he and Zhao Xing had the same problem—they couldn't fly too fast, nor could they recklessly fire attacks.
If either of them got caught in a strong void current, they might get thrown who-knows-where.
"Understood."
…
Zhao Xing's expression turned serious.
"Master, the enemy is still tailing us." The Mechanist Cat reported. "We can't shake them off."
"How much longer until we can enter the Void River?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Approximately three years." The return route is the same as the entry route, and the artifact spirit had already recorded it.
"Keep moving," Zhao Xing ordered.
…
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
"Master, the chaos coefficient has dropped. There's a relatively stable Void River ahead, 2.8 billion li away. We can perform deep navigation there."
"Enter." Zhao Xing was concise.
"Understood."
The Mountain Cat Vessel began flashing with lightning. Its mouth slowly opened, revealing a hazy light.
Once they entered the Flat Void Path, Zhao Xing's supreme-tier Lunar-class interstellar vessel would be able to accelerate and put more distance between them.
"You want to escape?" Kui Jiu snorted coldly. "Not happening."
He gripped a black magic staff, and a series of spell sigils rose from the ground, swirling like a coiling black dragon.
"The Dao follows the heart, Yin and Yang transform!"
Kui Jiu's eyes snapped open, and his vast Dao Domain unfolded.
Right in front of Zhao Xing's interstellar vessel, two celestial bodies—one Lunar Star and one Solar Star—suddenly manifested, blocking the path.
Both celestial bodies were covered in countless talismans, with densely packed runes emitting a dazzling glow.
The vessel's speed immediately dropped.
After waiting three years, Kui Jiu finally made his move.
"If there were a powerful cultivator on that ship, they wouldn't have let me tail them for this long. Kid, you better surrender obediently!" Kui Jiu sneered.
Inside the Mountain Cat Vessel, Zhao Xing heard the voice and was momentarily stunned.
The "Fortune Mirage Curse" he had sensed before also had a voice—even an illusionary image—just like this one.
Zhao Xing's mind froze for a moment. "An assassin from Shadow Sanctuary?"
"But didn't the Dongyan Ancient Clan already cancel my assassination order? I haven't sensed that karma bond being nullified."
"Or… is this just a coincidence?"
"No way. There's no such thing as this many coincidences." Zhao Xing felt a chill run down his spine. "We need to leave. Now."
At this point, Lord Zhao saw everything as a conspiracy.
The two talisman-covered celestial bodies were identified by the Mechanist Cat as the work of a Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm cultivator. He could have just used the Thousand Illusion Tree to counter them. But Zhao Xing chose not to fight.
Ironically, this made Kui Jiu think that Zhao Xing was guilty and trying to flee, which only made Kui Jiu chase even harder.
Boom!
The Mountain Cat Vessel fired a black energy beam, forcibly breaking through the twin talisman stars.
Quality mattered—the difference between high-grade and supreme-grade was glaring.
Kui Jiu realized that even after using his spells, he still couldn't close the distance. Even with his Dao Domain and curse arts, the most he could do was keep pace.
"This brat is just a small Divine Ability Realm cultivator, yet he's using such a top-tier vessel?" Kui Jiu's face turned green with envy. "Even I can't afford a supreme-grade Lunar-class vessel, and he has one?!"
"I need to capture him!"
"Yin-Yang Reversal, Invert Heaven and Earth!"
"Ten Thousand Curse River, go!"
…
A Dao Domain was a transformation of a cultivator's personal Dao Field and had a massive range.
In theory, a Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm cultivator could cover an entire star system with their domain. However, due to the starry sky arrays and the harsh environment of Moonfall Mausoleum, even Reincarnation Realm cultivators couldn't fully extend their domains here.
But to Zhao Xing, Kui Jiu's Dao Domain was still immense.
Even with a supreme-tier Lunar-class vessel, he couldn't completely escape.
Suddenly, a star river appeared in front of him. The river was packed with countless talisman-formed stars and star continents, including multiple Lunar and Solar Stars.
"This… this is the power of a Dao Domain Realm cultivator." Zhao Xing's heart sank. "If this were a martial cultivator, they'd struggle to catch up. But spell cultivators? One thought, and their magic floods the cosmos. Their Dao Field spreads like a star domain, controlling all Five Elements at will."
"If this weren't the Moonfall Mausoleum, in any other place, he could have seized my entire vessel instantly."
No choice—he had to fight.
Zhao Xing immediately formulated multiple contingency plans. "First, use the Thousand Illusion Tree to block him. If necessary, use it as cover to escape."
"My coordinates are being continuously transmitted through my clones to Ji Si. If something happens, she can trace my path back."
As for Du Yun? Zhao Xing didn't even consider him. Du Yun was at best comparable to a Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm cultivator.
If even the Thousand Illusion Tree couldn't stop Kui Jiu, bringing Du Yun here would just be sending him to his death.
His Purple Divine Talisman hadn't been triggered yet, because Kui Jiu was a curse and talisman master.
Inside Kui Jiu's Illusionary Curse Dao Domain, no other talismans could activate—unless it was a Life-and-Death Talisman.
Lord Zhao treated Kui Jiu as a formidable enemy. Without hesitation, he threw out the Thousand Illusion Tree.
…
"Run! Keep running! Hahaha—huh?" Kui Jiu had been laughing as he saw Zhao Xing's vessel slowing down.
But now… he wasn't laughing anymore.
His eyes widened in shock.
On top of the interstellar vessel, a giant tree unfurled its branches, rooting itself onto the ship.
The Mountain Cat Vessel had fused with the earth veins of a mid-tier interstellar star, allowing the Thousand Illusion Tree to anchor itself without exposing its entire form to the Void.
The Thousand Illusion Tree wasn't a Void-born species. Without something to root into, its strength would be weakened.
"Sha—sha—sha—"
Countless leaves unfolded, revealing dark golden eyes—each glistening with eerie brilliance.
"A… A Thousand Illusion Tree?" Kui Jiu's pupils dilated. As a Mind Curse Master, how could he not recognize this tree?
"A Life-and-Death Dao Domain Realm Thousand Illusion Tree?!"
Kui Jiu's heart trembled violently. A billion curse sigils surged around him, forming a spherical barrier.
"Zi—zi—zi—"
His core essence surged frantically. The countless curse sigils spun so fast that they appeared to vanish entirely.
Finally, two ultimate talismans formed.
One was the "Molten Lunar Talisman", the other was the "Universal Solar Talisman".
"Ten Thousand Curses Return, Unshakable as a Mountain!"
Behind Kui Jiu, the phantom of a divine mountain manifested.
In an instant, he had activated his strongest technique and summoned his most powerful treasures.
"Not bad, this is getting interesting. Looks like ordinary means won't be enough to take you down instantly."
"But I can't afford to embarrass myself before the Emperor."
The Thousand Illusion Tree slowly opened its vertical eye on its trunk.
That eye locked onto Kui Jiu, piercing directly through the interstellar vessel, reflecting in his pupils.
A Life-and-Death Dao Domain Realm Thousand Illusion Tree could only be resisted with Solar Dao Weapons or an interstellar vessel with a mental defense system.
A Lunar-class vessel stood no chance.
"Pop—"
Countless curse sigils immediately dimmed and stopped functioning.
The eye of the Thousand Illusion Tree engraved itself onto Kui Jiu's soul origin.
"Buzz—"
In the next moment, the sigils crumbled, and Kui Jiu's head dropped lifelessly.
He only managed to resist for a brief moment. The instant the eye on the tree opened, he was dead.
His final thought was:
"You had a Life-and-Death Realm Thousand Illusion Tree, yet you ran? Why the hell did you run?"
"I can't believe this…"
"Emperor, the problem has been dealt with," the Thousand Illusion Tree reported respectfully.
"It's done?" Zhao Xing was surprised. "How many people were on the ship?"
"Just one. A Mind Curse Master, approximately at mid-Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm."
"Just one?"
"No other experts?"
"Just one, and he dared to chase after me?" Zhao Xing was baffled. "What was he thinking?"
"He was piloting a supreme-tier Lunar-class interstellar vessel, meaning he had the wealth to afford it. How could he not consider that I might have other trump cards?"
"Damn, that scared the hell out of me."
Zhao Xing sighed.
The series of bizarre events lately had left him on edge. He had become paranoid, suspecting everything.
"Capture the interstellar vessel. Store it away," Zhao Xing ordered the Mechanist Cat.
"Understood."
A few days later, Zhao Xing examined Kui Jiu's spoils and was speechless.
"If I count the loot from this guy, the 5 trillion Red Star Coins are finally gathered."
"And right now… it's only the year 1442 of the Shixin Era."
Zhao Xing turned his gaze toward Qing Yuzi, still clutching his sword with closed eyes.
"Whether it's the historians, fate officers, and priests of the Dongyan Ancient Clan interfering…"
"Or if Qing Yuzi himself is working some spell, and regardless of whether the Nine Holy Grails are being orchestrated by someone or not… I at least have to try to escape."
"Not even trying to run and just gambling on survival goes against my principles."
Zhao Xing sighed.
Fighting and killing his way through wasn't his style. Using foreknowledge and information gaps to grow quietly had always been his original goal.
Having reaffirmed his convictions, Zhao Xing now had only one problem left:
"How do I escape?"
"First, I need to deal with this 5 trillion debt."
In the year 1483 of the Shixin Era, Zhao Xing's true self returned to Hui Rui Star Continent.
As soon as he arrived, he activated the Thousand Li Yellow Sand Crossing to contact Du Yun.
"Zhao Xing, where the hell have you been making money lately?" Du Yun greeted him with a wave and directly teleported him back to Yellow Sand Mansion.
By now, Du Yun had already returned to Tiger Head Star Continent, as the exploration of the Southern Luo 21st Star Continent Cluster had concluded.
Zhao Xing didn't say a word. He simply handed a Qiankun Ring over to Du Yun.
"Brother Du, with everything in this ring, plus the money I previously stored with you, can you hire your backers to remove my name from the Reincarnation Palace's Investigation List—at least temporarily?"
The Reincarnation Palace conducted multiple rounds of soul inspections.
Someone like Zhao Xing, an insignificant nobody with neither power nor influence, would be among the first wave to be stripped of divine abilities.
"You…" Du Yun was stunned.
He had joked about Zhao Xing making money, but… Zhao Xing actually did?
"You raided another Dao Domain Realm tomb? Are you some long-lost heir of Moonfall Ancient Kingdom?"
Zhao Xing shook his head. "I have my own secrets, and it's inconvenient to explain. Brother Du, don't force me to lie to you."
His tone was far more direct than before.
He had already encountered Qing Yuzi's 'resurrection'. Why should he still worry about Du Yun's suspicions?
In fact, it was better for Du Yun to notice something unusual about him.
"My bad," Du Yun quickly adjusted his mindset after recalling Zoren's warning.
"Brother Zhao, with everything you've given me—combined with what you stored before—it's definitely enough."
"The first round of the Reincarnation Palace's investigation will erase your name. Even if the second round catches it, that won't happen for at least 100,000 years."
"Thank you. I owe you a favor, Brother Du." Zhao Xing nodded. "But… will this implicate you?"
"It won't." Du Yun shook his head. "If your name is removed from the first-round list, that means the Reincarnation Palace made an internal mistake. It has nothing to do with my Purple Divine Mansion."
"If you're sure, I'll reach out to my contacts immediately."
"I'd appreciate it, Brother Du," Zhao Xing said.
"It's no trouble at all. Karmic debts circulate. Today, I help you. Someday, I might need your help in return." Du Yun laughed. "Don't worry, this won't take long. In at most ten years, you'll have confirmation."
"Good. Then I'll wait for your good news." Zhao Xing nodded.
Du Yun not being tempted by his money was the best outcome.
If Du Yun could ignore 5 trillion Red Star Coins, then Zhao Xing would definitely help him escape from Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom.
If Du Yun were greedy, it wouldn't matter either.
Because Ji Si was already on Tiger Head Star Continent.
"Ji Si."
Zhao Xing arrived at the Marquis of Wuling's Mansion.
"Grand Shennong, you've returned." Ji Si was seated beneath a Dao Tree, meditating.
"Have all the people from Great Zhou left?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Yes. Twenty-five years ago, people from Sparks Unit came and escorted them away."
"Jing Yan left a message, and Yu Tianqing did as well."
Zhao Xing immediately opened the letters, then put them away.
Most of them were farewell notes.
Yu Tianqing's was formal.
Jing Yan's was more casual—even joking about bringing him to the empire to pick out dual-cultivation partners.
"Grand Shennong," Ji Si suddenly spoke, "there's one person who hasn't left."
"Who hasn't left?"
"Yun Tiandao," Ji Si replied.
"Why didn't he leave?" Zhao Xing's expression turned serious. "What's the reason?"
"Yun Tiandao returned from the border in Shixin Era, year 1389. He has now reached the Divine Ability Realm and has been taken as a disciple by a Reincarnation Realm cultivator from Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom."
"What?" Zhao Xing was stunned.
"Yun Tiandao couldn't reach you, but he left a letter." Ji Si took out a stack of letters. "They're all here."
Ever since Zhao Xing had been targeted by Marquis Heyin and Kui Jiu, all letters to him had switched to a primitive method—paper letters.
These were delivered through merchant caravans, encrypted using the security methods Zhao Xing had established.
[To my dear brother Zhao Xing, personally opened: In Shixin Era, year 1389, after returning from the border, I reached the Divine Ability Realm.]
[The military's 'King Taihe' greatly appreciated me and wrote a recommendation letter to 'Duke Ruohai' of Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom.]
[In Shixin Era, year 1405, the Duke's Manor responded, deciding to accept me as a registered disciple. However, Duke Ruohai is currently in seclusion, so I cannot meet him yet...]
[Still, with this opportunity, my emperor and my Dao companion's crisis is no longer a great issue. I wish to remain in Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom and wait for the right moment.]
"Did Yun Tiandao leave anything else?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Yes, he left behind 10 billion Red Star Coins, half of which is meant for you, Grand Shennong," Ji Si said.
Zhao Xing let out a bitter laugh. He had already warned Yun Tiandao that Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom was becoming a dangerous place, that something terrible would happen there.
Originally, Yun Tiandao had agreed to leave. But after becoming a disciple of a Reincarnation Realm cultivator, he changed his mind.
What kind of disaster could a Reincarnation Realm expert not handle?
Yun Tiandao was now residing in Duke Ruohai's Manor, had gained King Taihe's favor, and had a huge opportunity in the war against Cangyue Demon Kingdom.
Zhao Xing couldn't outright reveal everything. He could only warn him about the impending catastrophe with nothing but words. Given the circumstances, Yun Tiandao's decision was completely reasonable.
"For Yun to leave behind this much money, he really does care," Zhao Xing sighed, then handed the letter to Ji Si to burn.
"Grand Shennong, should we try to convince Yun Tiandao to leave?" Ji Si asked.
"Let me think for a moment. By the way, give me that ring first."
"Understood."
Zhao Xing descended underground into his constructed underground palace.
First, he activated the Xuanling Chronicles' Time Page, letting its light shine over him. Only then did he start thinking.
"Another unexpected change. Yun Tiandao was supposed to leave, yet he suddenly became a Reincarnation Realm disciple."
"It feels like something is constantly trying to tie me down—whether it's my safety, friendships, or interests. It's as if an invisible web is wrapping around me."
"Right now, it's Yun Tiandao's situation. What's next?" Zhao Xing rubbed his temples.
If he were cold-hearted, he could simply leave Yun Tiandao here to die and find a way to resurrect him and his wife later.
But would things really be that simple?
"No matter how I look at it, I'm already trapped in this whole resurrection scheme."
Since returning, Zhao Xing had been gathering intelligence about the Purple Moon Star System.
"Qing Yuzi's corpse has been missing for so long, yet the entire Qingyu Realm Star has no idea. They didn't even notice."
"If I rely only on myself, I'll never escape this predicament."
Zhao Xing thought back to Bai Yang wielding the World Repairing Brush, effortlessly manipulating the Transmission World. He had seen it firsthand.
"I'm in the exact same position as the Thousand Illusion Tree was back then. If I want to leave, I need an immensely powerful external force to intervene. And it has to be subtle, without causing too much disruption."
"On top of that, I also have to consider—will the person who saves me end up locking me up too?"
"Swoosh~"
Zhao Xing waved his hand, summoning Qing Yuzi and the Thunder Law Sword.
This time, he didn't hesitate at all. Under the cover of the Time Page, he directly unsealed the third layer of the Thunder Law Sword.
Qing Yuzi's corpse did not resist Zhao Xing's approach.
Perhaps it was because of the Time Page, or maybe Zhao Xing was simply doing the right thing. Either way, the body remained still, entirely lifeless—not even a trace of yin energy left.
"Buzz~"
The Thunder Law Sword shifted from pure violet to a silver-etched pattern, emanating a faint golden glow.
The golden light actually repelled the radiance of the Xuanling Chronicles' Time Page, firmly occupying its own space.
Zhao Xing stared at the Thunder Law Sword, now showing its true form, and sighed.
"After breaking the third seal, it's already a top-tier Reincarnation Dao Weapon. And now, I see a Sacrificial Divine Mark—there's still a fourth layer, an Ancient God Seal."
"Dongyan Ancient Clan, you people are playing way too big."
For an artifact to stand on equal footing with the Time Page, this thing was undoubtedly a divine relic.
Zhao Xing finally understood why Marquis Heyin had hired assassins to kill him, and why, after Zhao Xing threatened them, the elders of Dongyan Ancient Clan immediately forced Marquis Heyin to commit suicide.
"Dongyan Ancient Clan… you're not trying to resurrect a Reincarnation Realm cultivator. You're trying to resurrect a God."
"Of course. Only in that case would Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom completely disappear—used as a sacrificial offering."
"They would drain the entire nation's spiritual energy, absorbing the essence of every living being, merging it all with Shenluo Barren Domain."
"Regardless of success or failure, the Reincarnation Palace will erase all records of history. And the rituals vital to the process will end up weakened as a result."
"That's why, in my previous life, when I reached the 'universal version' of history, the Priest profession was completely useless. But in this life, it's not…"
"Because it was nerfed!"
"Turns out I arrived in this timeline two thousand years early—the background lore of this 'version' isn't even finished yet!"
"Madmen. They're all insane. Every few versions, it's either Scholar Gods descending or some resurrection ritual…"
"And yet, right now, I'm still just at the Origin Stage."
"Fuck this. Fuck everything. Hahaha—!"
Zhao Xing started cursing—then suddenly laughed out loud.