[Name: Hong Guang]
[Realm: Grand Divine Ability Perfection]
[Dao Field: Lunar Sixth Tier]
[Age: 8,854]
[Divine Ability (Minor): Blood Vine Nine Transformations (Perfection)]
[Divine Ability (Minor): Heartland Method (Seventh Tier)]
[Divine Ability (Minor): Boundary Origin Mountain (Ninth Tier)]
[Divine Ability (Minor): Five Venom Straw Puppet (Ninth Tier)]
"So many divine abilities... and all of them are classic techniques from the School of Self?"
Since the battle was inevitable, Zhao Xing quickly analyzed Hong Guang's combat strength.
"Blood Vine Nine Transformations, derived from the Grand Divine Ability 'Primordial Vine Immortal'... This is a technique that can alter the species of vines."
"No wonder he has so many Mo Yun Vines."
'Primordial Vine Immortal' was regarded as a classic technique because it allowed for mutations within the same plant species.
This technique fell under the category of Mutation Techniques.
For example, within the vine family, Mo Yun Vine was categorized as a Void-type, whereas Water Cloud Vine was a Water-type.
However, 'Primordial Vine Immortal' could turn an ordinary Water Cloud Vine into a Void-type Mo Yun Vine.
This was the mutation method of the School of Self!
Mutation techniques were indispensable for Shennongs from the School of Self to strategize in battle.
Of course, these techniques were extremely difficult to master—without thousands of years of research, it was nearly impossible to achieve success.
Even Hong Guang's Blood Vine Nine Transformations was only a minor divine ability.
The process of altering attributes caused significant aftereffects for plant soldiers.
In Zhao Xing's eyes, the state of the Mo Yun Vines was rather strange.
[Blood Mo Yun Vine (Anomalous)]
[Realm: Grand Divine Ability Perfection]
[Innate Divine Ability: Void Solidification (Eighth Tier)]
[Innate Divine Ability: Life Blood Thorns (Seventh Tier)]
[Remaining Lifespan: 10 years, 4 months]
"Just as I expected—every one of his Mo Yun Vines possesses only a single innate divine ability: Void Solidification."
Under normal circumstances, Mo Yun Vines at this level should have two innate divine abilities.
One was Void Solidification, and the other was Void Strangulation.
The first ability restrained movement, while the second was an offensive strike.
A Mo Yun Vine that possessed both abilities was truly worthy of being classified as a King-level plant soldier.
Without Void Strangulation, its offensive power was significantly weakened.
Zhao Xing estimated that Hong Guang must have used Mutation Techniques on his Blood Mo Yun Vine, which led to a single plant manifesting two divine abilities but at a weakened level—a clear side effect of the spell.
"Imbalanced modifications, and now their lifespan is down to just ten years... That's the price he paid."
"But he still has Five Venom Straw Puppet, Heartland Method, and Boundary Origin Mountain."
"Heartland Method and Boundary Origin Mountain are classic techniques from the School of Self, but Five Venom Straw Puppet... I've never heard of it. Probably a minor divine ability."
Zhao Xing analyzed further.
Heartland Method was a School of Self technique specializing in mental willpower defense, classified under Mind Seed Techniques.
Boundary Origin Mountain, despite having 'mountain' in its name, was not actually a mountain-based ability.
Instead, it was a combat technique based on Origin World Projections, combining the Shennong's Origin Projection with their Dao Field to create powerful effects.
This technique belonged to another category—World Techniques.
Hong Guang's Dao Field level was considerably high. Zhao Xing was at Lunar Fourth Tier, while Hong Guang was at Lunar Sixth Tier.
As soon as Hong Guang attacked, he unleashed his Mo Yun Vines and activated Void Solidification.
Four of his Mo Yun Vines focused on restricting movement, while the other four extended outward, transforming into tens of thousands of blood-colored thorns, all aiming at Zhao Xing.
At the same time, Hong Guang activated Boundary Origin Mountain, merging it with his Lunar Sixth Tier Dao Field.
Instantly, the surrounding space distorted like a flowing river, sweeping forward with overwhelming force.
The fusion of Projection and Dao Field manifested as a Dao Mountain, which pressed down on Heavy Water River—even causing the river to partially collapse, forming a stark gap in the water's surface.
Though Hong Guang claimed to be offering Zhao Xing a chance to surrender, he had actually launched a full-force attack from the start.
After all, if Zhao Xing had the ability to subdue a Special Plant Soldier, he couldn't be weak.
And right now, Zhao Xing was at his most vulnerable—this was the perfect time to strike mercilessly.
Crack—crack—crack!
Zhao Xing's massive frame sank slightly, as the pressure intensified.
Previously, the Heavy Water River had only submerged his knees, but now, the water level rose to his thighs.
Hiss—hiss—hiss—hiss!
Numerous Mo Yun Vine tendrils surged toward him, writhing like venomous serpents, attempting to tear into his colossal body.
Hong Guang smirked coldly.
"Completely suppressed!"
Mo Yun Vine's Void Solidification was among the strongest minor divine abilities, and it drastically slowed Zhao Xing's movements, making it almost impossible for him to dodge.
It was precisely because of these eight powerful Mo Yun Vines that Hong Guang had survived in this perilous small world for so long.
Sizzle—sizzle—sizzle—sizzle!
The blood-colored thorns rained down like a storm of daggers, but the result was... underwhelming.
Zhao Xing's nine layers of Treasure Light rotated in succession, forming layered defenses.
The thorns couldn't even pierce the final three layers, let alone reach his actual body.
Life Blood Thorns?
They couldn't even break his defenses.
Let alone drain his life force—they hadn't even scratched him!
"Huh? What's going on? Is this guy... a Martial Shennong?"
Hong Guang frowned.
After all his attacks, the results were far from what he expected.
Zhao Xing's aura did seem a little drained, but that was merely due to subjugating the Special Plant Soldier.
Compared to before the battle, his energy had barely declined.
"Damn it, that didn't work?"
"Five Venom Straw Puppets, attack!"
Hong Guang decided to end things quickly.
He released a swarm of straw puppet clones, each carrying deadly venom.
Since the Grand Origin Trials prohibited bringing pre-prepared puppets, Hong Guang had crafted these Five Venom Straw Puppets on-site.
Zhao Xing, however, remained completely unfazed.
He didn't even bother reacting to the approaching puppets.
If Life Blood Thorns couldn't pierce his Treasure Light, then poison from the Five Venom Straw Puppets would be just as ineffective.
Zhao Xing's Treasure Mountain Divine Ability had been perfected under Wu Tian's guidance. Having been tempered beneath Five Finger Mountain for five hundred years, the nine layers of Treasure Light he possessed had been personally forged by Wu Tian himself.
It could be said that no technique could penetrate his defenses. If one wished to break through, at the very least, they would need a Grand Divine Ability-level spell.
The true problem, however, was the Void Solidification, the suppression from Boundary Origin Mountain, and the natural pressure of the Heavy Water River.
These three factors drastically slowed Zhao Xing's movements, making it nearly impossible for him to escape the Heavy Water River.
"Under the suppression of his Boundary Origin Mountain, I can't even activate my Origin Projection, meaning I can't summon Juyang Straw Puppet, nor can I release my Mushroom Soldiers." Zhao Xing thought grimly.
Compared to the geniuses of the Red Star Empire, Zhao Xing's Dao Field was at a disadvantage. His School of Self cultivation method, Yuanhai Realm, was far less profound than the techniques cultivated by the Red Star Empire's prodigies.
Zhao Xing had always been aware that this was his weakness, but in his ninety-seven years of training, he had made certain choices, prioritizing the cultivation of Juyang, Five Finger Mountain, and Essence Stripping Divine Abilities.
"I should test his willpower defenses first."
Zhao Xing suddenly lifted his head. His massive pupils reflected a blood-red blade.
"Shhhk!"
The scarlet blade flickered, vanishing instantly and piercing directly into Hong Guang's mind!
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
A thunderous chorus of agonized wails erupted inside Hong Guang's consciousness.
For a moment, his mind fell into disarray—he saw countless vengeful spirits of the turtle race, crawling from mountains of corpses, swarming to devour his soul.
"This is his willpower divine ability... but I've never seen anything like it before."
A sliver of fear crept into Hong Guang's heart, but at the same time, he was bewildered.
"Why so many turtle spirits wailing? What kind of mental illusion is this?"
Hong Guang quickly regained his focus and activated Heartland Method.
"Plant the seed of the mind, and protect me for ten thousand years!"
As soon as Zhao Xing attacked, Hong Guang's Mo Yun Vines slowed, and even Boundary Origin Mountain's pressure weakened.
However, it only lasted for an instant before he recovered.
"So this is Heartland Method... Though it's two tiers lower than my Willpower Divine Ability, I still can't completely break through his mental defenses."
Zhao Xing's eyes gleamed with reflections of a lush green field.
The endless expanse of farmland carried an aura of serenity and tranquility, which even dulled Zhao Xing's killing intent.
"Hong Guang, you can't eliminate me. Just give up!" Zhao Xing shouted.
"Give up?!"
A trace of madness flashed in Hong Guang's eyes.
"Without a Special Plant Soldier, I won't survive the collapse! How can I give up?!"
"Die!"
Hong Guang's chest suddenly split open, revealing a rotating, blood-red star cloud swirling inside his torso.
At the same moment, his Mo Yun Vines went berserk, unleashing a ferocious onslaught!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The intensity of Life Blood Thorns skyrocketed, breaking through Zhao Xing's eighth layer of Treasure Light!
At the same time, the binding force of Void Solidification and the crushing power of Boundary Origin Mountain intensified drastically!
"He's using traces of the Great Dao of Life!"
Zhao Xing immediately realized the source of the change—Hong Guang's Origin Space had begun incorporating traces of the Life Dao, alongside the Five Element Dao.
To put it simply, this was an Innate Dao Characteristic of an Origin Space, allowing Hong Guang to enhance his plant soldiers.
Zhao Xing himself had seven traces of the Great Dao, but they were all left in his Mushroom Body.
He had yet to comprehend them personally, meaning that in Dao comprehension, he was still inferior to Hong Guang.
"Zzzzt! Zzzzt! Zzzzt! Zzzzt! Zzzzt!"
Zhao Xing's Treasure Mountain Divine Ability trembled, its radiance growing dimmer.
The Mo Yun Vine tendrils lashed out frantically, creating a tentacle-like domain, completely engulfing Zhao Xing!
"Even now, he won't die?!"
Hong Guang was shocked.
"I already activated Life Burn, a trace of my Great Dao of Life. It should allow my plant soldiers to surpass their limits instantly!"
"And I still can't break his final layer of Treasure Light?!"
"What kind of divine ability is this?!"
At this moment, Hong Guang wanted to curse.
"Why does this guy have such an unbreakable Mountain Law?! If he's this durable, why didn't he become a Martial Artist instead of a Shennong?!"
Zhao Xing was equally frustrated.
He had just subdued a Special Plant Soldier, leaving him in a weakened state.
Yet of all times, he had to run into Hong Guang!
Hong Guang couldn't break his defenses, but he still insisted on dragging the fight out!
"Damn it!"
Zhao Xing's anger surged, his frustration igniting his mental sea.
"Being suppressed by someone like Wu Tian is one thing... but a mere Origin Realm cultivator like you? You think you can suppress me?!"
The radiance of his Nine-Layered Treasure Light surged, and under this extreme pressure, his body began to move!
Slowly, his hand lifted, rising above his head.
"BOOOOOM!!"
The ground trembled, and the entire Heavy Water River boiled!
Hong Guang's expression changed dramatically—he noticed that the water around Zhao Xing had completely receded, revealing the exposed riverbed.
"What?!"
An uneasy feeling crept into Hong Guang's heart.
This wasn't the effect of his Boundary Origin Mountain suppressing the river.
There was only one possibility—
"No way... Is he..."
Elsewhere, in Er Liang Slope, within an ancient wooden hut, a lone figure meditated beneath a dim oil lamp.
Suddenly, Wu Tian opened his eyes and smiled.
"Not even eight hundred years... impressive. Impressive."
"This world finally has a third person who has mastered Five Finger Mountain. I am no longer alone."
"BOOOOOM!!"
The downstream waters of the Heavy Water River rushed away, while the upstream waters reversed course, surging toward Hong Guang!
The exposed riverbed rose, countless streams of earth energy surged upward, gathering in Zhao Xing's raised palm!
The Nine Layers of Treasure Light that had once protected him suddenly retracted into his body.
Under the pressure of elimination, after years of relentless training, Zhao Xing's Five Finger Mountain finally broke through!
"No... this can't be possible..."
"He actually mastered a Grand Divine Ability under my suppression?!"
"Impossible!!"
Though Hong Guang's mouth denied it, his body had already begun retreating.
Because at this moment—
Zhao Xing had entered the 'Five Extremes' state.
His eyes were half-open, half-closed, exuding no killing intent.
Instead, a calm, sacred aura emanated from his entire being.
A soft glow radiated from every inch of his skin.
Hong Guang suddenly realized the truth.
His face paled, his heart pounded—
"RUN!!!"
Panic overtook him, and he turned to flee with all his might.
"Trying to run now? Isn't it a little too late for that?"
"Suppress!"
Zhao Xing extended his hand, fingers closing in a grasping motion from a distance.
The earth energy gathered between his fingers instantly solidified, detaching from his palm as it descended toward Hong Guang.
"No!"
Hong Guang frantically activated his Dao Field and Plant Soldiers, doing everything in his power to resist.
Countless vines surged upwards, entwining themselves around the descending Five Finger Mountain, covering its surface in a thick layer of green.
Yet, despite their best efforts, the mountain's speed did not slow—it continued its descent, pressing down toward Hong Guang.
"Boom!"
Before Hong Guang could mount a final resistance, his body transformed into a streak of golden light, vanishing completely from the small world.
Hong Guang—eliminated!
"Boom!"
The moment Five Finger Mountain slammed into the Heavy Water River, it forcefully severed the river's flow, cutting it in half.
"Such a powerful Grand Divine Ability!"
"Run!"
"He's a monster! Mushroom King actually knows Dao of Mountain?!"
"Hong Guang was well-known in the Heavy Water River area—his spells, Dao Field, and even his Origin Space were all formidable. And yet, Mushroom King reversed the situation and crushed him?!"
"It's only after participating in the Primordial Assembly that we realize just how many geniuses the empire truly has!"
The surrounding figures who had been lurking in the shadows quickly withdrew.
If the battle had ended in a mutual defeat, some might have attempted to seize the opportunity.
But Zhao Xing had utterly crushed Hong Guang—making the idea of stealing the spoils far less tempting.
"Five Finger Mountain… So this is Five Finger Mountain."
Zhao Xing stood within the river, taking a moment to comprehend the power he had just unleashed.
He looked down at his own hand.
"The Five Finger Mountain, which I had struggled to break through for so long, finally crossed the threshold under the pressure of elimination."
Each Grand Divine Ability was immensely difficult to master.
For an Origin Realm cultivator, grasping a Grand Divine Ability was even more challenging.
"To unleash a Grand Divine Ability at the Origin Realm requires breaking through extreme limits."
"The Body Cultivation path to Grand Divine Ability is about excavating the treasures within one's body. Usually, once a Small Divine Ability is unearthed, there's no further breakthrough. This is the invisible restriction of the Great Dao."
"That's why many Third Realm cultivators fail to reach Grand Divine Ability."
"The Spell Cultivation path works similarly. One must comprehend Grand Divine Ability-level spells. Only those born with an Innate Grand Divine Ability—such as Yu Tianqing—are exceptions. He developed his talents to such an extent that he has already reached that stage."
"If one remains stuck in the Origin Realm, unable to learn a Grand Divine Ability, it means they've hit a Great Dao barrier."
"But now that I've successfully performed a Grand Divine Ability, I've broken through a layer of that restriction—I've opened a doorway."
Zhao Xing understood clearly.
Now that he had grasped a Grand Divine Ability, he could continue accumulating strength in the Origin Realm, using the breakthrough in Mountain Law to strengthen his foundations further.
Of course, Grand Divine Ability practitioners existed in multiple tiers.
Since Zhao Xing had broken through using Mountain Law, he could only use Earth Vein Origin Energy to fortify his foundations.
Someone like Du Yun, however, had reached the Grand Divine Ability Realm comprehensively, excelling in multiple areas.
"At the very least, I can now be considered a Grand Divine Ability practitioner."
Zhao Xing felt his senses toward Earth Veins grow exponentially sharper.
"But this isn't the time to dwell on my new realm—I need to return to the Black Forest first."
How to further strengthen his foundation using Mountain Law was a question for after the competition.
Right now, Zhao Xing needed to protect his Special Plant Soldier and survive the world collapse.
Northern River Star Territory – Lord's Mansion
"He did it!"
"Zhao Xing won!"
"That was close!"
Inside the Lord's Hall, numerous Dao Domain Realm cultivators had been closely watching the battle between Hong Guang and Zhao Xing.
"Mr. Qiao, was that last move by Zhao Xing a spell breakthrough?"
"Yes," Qiao Song nodded.
"Hong Guang's battle record was nearly flawless. Since entering the competition, he has fought over three thousand battles, winning each one. Even when he didn't win, he always managed to escape unscathed."
"He was a genius from the Moon Cry Star System, and his combat skills had already reached the peak of the Small Divine Ability stage."
"But Zhao Xing's final move clearly marked a breakthrough."
One of the Dao Domain Realm cultivators sighed, "Hong Guang had the advantage in Dao Field and had been patiently waiting for the right opportunity. His timing was impeccable—it really was a dangerous situation."
After subduing a Special Plant Soldier, Zhao Xing had been in a weakened state, trapped within the Heavy Water River.
Under such circumstances, everything was against him.
But that was the path to passing the trials.
After all, out of one million Shennongs, only one thousand would advance—they were looking for the one-in-ten-thousand geniuses.
If one wasn't already in the Grand Divine Ability Realm, they had to compensate with exceptional skills, sharp decision-making, and a vast arsenal of techniques just to have a chance at breaking through.
"Mr. Qiao, do you know what Grand Divine Ability Zhao Xing used at the end?"
"It was likely a Mountain Law Grand Divine Ability," Qiao Song replied.
But he wasn't entirely certain—his vision was blocked by the Water Realm, so he could only make an educated guess.
"It was definitely a Mountain Law Grand Divine Ability."
The Lord of Northern River Star finally spoke.
A flicker of appreciation flashed through his gaze.
"And it was a truly formidable one at that."
"To sever the Heavy Water River and forcibly extract five Earth Veins for an attack—this kind of Grand Divine Ability is already worthy of ranking among the Three Thousand Grand Divine Abilities."
"Yet, I have never seen this particular Grand Divine Ability before."
Throughout the Xuanling Star Domain, there existed a ranking of Grand Divine Abilities.
Both Innate and Acquired Divine Abilities were recorded, with three thousand of them recognized as the strongest.
Making it into that ranking was no easy feat.
After all, throughout countless eras, the Xuanling Star Domain had produced an endless stream of talented cultivators—the number of Divine Abilities created was simply immeasurable.
"Even the Lord hasn't seen it before? Could it be self-created?"
The crowd was stunned.
If it was a self-created Grand Divine Ability, that would be an incredible feat.
To create a new Grand Divine Ability and have it be strong enough to rank among the Three Thousand Grand Divine Abilities—that was something only super-geniuses like Du Yun could accomplish.
"Whether it was self-created or not, at least our Northern River Star Territory has finally produced a true Shennong genius."
The Lord of Northern River Star smiled.
"I'm eating!"
Zhao Xing plucked a gray mushroom, roasted it over a small fire, and immediately began feasting to restore his strength.
"I'm starving!"
He let out a sigh of relief—the battle had been intense, but he had survived.
Zhao Xing devoured three giant spirit mushrooms in one go, yet he still felt hungry.
There was no helping it. Subduing a Special Plant Soldier had drained him immensely, and his battle with Hong Guang had left his spiritual energy nearly depleted.
Fortunately, there were plenty of mushrooms in the Black Forest, some of which contained abundant spiritual essence and could serve as auxiliary recovery food.
"Burp~" Zhao Xing let out a belch, exhaling a faint wisp of poisonous gas. "At least I've restored half my spiritual energy."
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Just as Zhao Xing was halfway through his meal, a series of explosions echoed from the outer perimeter of the Black Forest.
"Challengers are here."
Scanning his surroundings, he saw that several hundred Shennongs had gathered at the edge of the Black Forest.
Each of them had unleashed their Origin Projections and was preparing to invade his territory.
"The moment I return, I'm already being swarmed by hundreds of people."
"Holding onto this third-round entry pass really is like holding a burning coal."
Zhao Xing opened his Origin Space and stared at the small silver tree he had acquired. He wondered if it could be of any use.
[Silver Light Earth Star Tree (Derivative Species)]
[Quality: Special]
[State: Maturity]
[Innate Grand Divine Ability: Heaven-Supporting Earth-Stabilizing (Locked)]
[Innate Grand Divine Ability: Taiyi Extreme Light (Sealed)]
"Hmm?" Zhao Xing picked up the small silver tree and shook it. "Hey, get to work! Stop playing dead!"
The silver tree showed no reaction, lying completely still as if pretending to be lifeless.
Frowning, Zhao Xing probed deeper.
Previously, he had only invaded its Consciousness Partition, but now, he wanted to understand its Life Core Partition.
Suddenly, a peculiar scene unfolded before his eyes.
A vast starry sky appeared before him, within which three massive star clusters floated.
One of the star clusters was spinning and radiating light.
The other two were shrouded in gray mist—one of them was tightly bound by countless orderly chains, completely sealed shut.
The last star cluster was also entangled by mysterious chaotic chains, but unlike the first, each chain was inscribed with a series of numbers—a countdown timer that read: 45 days, 6 hours, 32 minutes.
Zhao Xing adjusted his perspective, zooming out to take in a broader view.
He quickly saw three additional star clusters, and within them, three words written in Red Star Empire's script:
"Primordial Realm."
At the center of the glowing star cluster, there was an additional small line of text:
"Guluo River."
Faintly, Zhao Xing could even see a human face emerging from within.
"This is insane..." Zhao Xing's scalp tingled with shock.
In normal plant lifeforms, the Life Core Partition should have billions upon billions of divisions.
But within this one plant, there were only three!
And all of them had been consolidated by someone from the Primordial Realm—a mysterious figure known as Guluo River.
For a plant to survive under such extreme conditions was already a miracle.
Even more terrifying was the fact that its Life Core Partitions had been refined.
The bright star cluster represented its life force, while the gray star clusters were its Divine Ability partitions—one completely sealed, the other on a countdown.
From a microscopic perspective, the Primordial Realm's name and the creator of this derivative species were carved into its very existence.
They could alter the plant's innate abilities, lifespan, and even modify its structure—and yet, on the surface, it looked completely normal.
Without even trying, the Primordial Realm had once again displayed its overwhelming power.
"This is beyond mastery—this is divine craftsmanship." Zhao Xing sighed in admiration.
To achieve this level of control over lifeforms, one had to be at least an Emperor-level Shennong, or possibly even a Half-God who had mastered Divine Patterns.
"A lesser cultivator wouldn't even be able to perceive this power. If I hadn't mastered the Essence Extraction Divine Ability, I would've had no idea what was wrong with this silver tree—I'd have thought it was just defective."
It was obvious—the Silver Light Earth Star Tree was not a combat soldier.
It was only useful for escaping the world's collapse.
"The Grand Dao is truly simple—just three Life Core Partitions, yet subduing it was so unbelievably difficult."
Zhao Xing began his comprehension process.
Essence Extraction Divine Ability—activate!
Tiny golden needles pierced into the silver tree's core.
However, once inside, those golden needles transformed into towering golden pillars—but before they could even approach the three Life Core Partitions, they suddenly disintegrated and were forcefully expelled.
"Can't penetrate it." Zhao Xing quickly gave up.
"Figures. Something created by an ancient powerhouse like this wouldn't be so easily altered by me."
Even if a Reincarnation Realm expert stood before this Silver Light Earth Star Tree, they might be able to destroy it physically, but they would never be able to alter its Life Core Partitions.
"Forget it. I'll just rely on my Mushroom Army."
Right now, casting a Grand Divine Ability was still too draining for Zhao Xing.
He could barely touch the threshold of the Grand Divine Ability Realm, and every time he used it, it left him on the brink of exhaustion.
"Unless it's absolutely necessary, I can't use it."
"Otherwise, I won't survive the next wave of attacks."
"Better get ready."
Zhao Xing began frantically stabbing mushrooms.
Time passed. Explosions in the Black Forest continued endlessly.
Zhao Xing focused solely on throwing wave after wave of fully-grown mushrooms to fend off the challengers.
At this moment, the Black Forest resembled a fortress—outsiders attacked relentlessly, while Zhao Xing defended his stronghold from within.
Starting from Day 45, his Mushroom Soldiers had been consumed at an alarming rate.
But as time passed, fewer and fewer challengers remained.
Day 3 before the collapse.
Zhao Xing activated his Dao Field and used Heavenly Sight of the Soul to scan the area.
"No more challengers."
"Essence Extraction Divine Ability really is amazing—I don't regret spending centuries mastering it."
Counting the time he had spent cultivating in Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom and training in the Red Star Empire,
His longest training period had been stabbing mushrooms with Essence Extraction Divine Needles—even longer than the time he had spent slaughtering turtles.
But the results were worth it.
Now, the Black Forest was only one-tenth of its original size.
And yet, this remaining tenth of the forest, packed with mushrooms, had single-handedly repelled wave after wave of challengers.
It had become an insurmountable barrier.
Final day.
Zhao Xing remained on high alert.
Twelve days ago, all the Special Plants had been discovered.
In other words, there were no more wild entry tickets left.
Now, the only way to advance to the third round was through theft and robbery.
Final half-hour.
Zhao Xing scanned his surroundings and saw that no one was approaching.
A grin spread across his face.
"Looks like no one dares to challenge me anymore."
Zhao Xing glanced at the Grand Divine Ability mushroom standing beside him.
"What a pity, I haven't had the chance to test out this Grand Divine Ability mushroom yet."
Since the competition soldiers couldn't be taken to the next round, he couldn't save them for later use. He might as well see what this mushroom could actually do.
"Rise!"
"Boom!"
Zhao Xing's true body, his clones, and countless mushrooms all lifted into the air, soaring out of the Black Forest.
With only half an hour left, Zhao Xing flew toward a specific location.
He wanted to find a Grand Divine Ability realm expert to spar with!
Tens of thousands of mushrooms, along with the soil beneath them, ripped out of the Black Forest and floated midair.
After his battle with Hong Guang, Zhao Xing had learned his lesson.
To avoid the risk of having his Origin Projection completely suppressed, he lifted the mushrooms with his own spiritual power, keeping them outside the influence of the competition's restrictions.
Of course, this method was incredibly exhausting.
"It's Mushroom King! What is he trying to do?"
"No one is challenging him anymore. Why is he moving?"
"This is our last chance!"
"Mushroom King! Take this strike from me—Peng Feiyun!"
A thunderous voice echoed through the heavens as a figure blocked Zhao Xing's path.
Peng Feiyun stood firm, his fighting spirit blazing as he stared at Zhao Xing.
"Even at the very last moment, even knowing I cannot win, I, Peng Feiyun, will still challenge the strongest!"
"Even if I get eliminated, battling a genius like you will make this journey worthwhile!"
Zhao Xing chuckled—this guy was clearly here to boost his own reputation.
This kid probably realized the tournament was being broadcast live, so he wanted to show off in front of potential recruiters.
"Fine, come at me then."
Zhao Xing didn't mind playing along—as long as it didn't waste too much time.
"Here I come!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Peng Feiyun, along with his soldiers, launched twelve consecutive attacks, hurling them straight at Zhao Xing.
But before the spells could even reach Zhao Xing, they collided with the outermost layer of mushrooms—and were instantly repelled.
The spiritual energy blasts scattered into mist, revealing that not a single mushroom had been harmed.
The only change was that the outermost mushrooms lost their golden glow.
"The hell… those are mushrooms?" Peng Feiyun was dumbfounded.
His full-power attacks, combined with those of his soldiers, had been completely reflected.
He hadn't even managed to break through the outermost layer, let alone touch Zhao Xing.
"How can they be this tough? What's the secret?"
Peng Feiyun bowed slightly, humbly seeking advice.
"I call them Vajra Mushrooms," Zhao Xing said casually. "Their surface structure is similar to a Qi Sect cultivator's Golden Body—extremely resilient."
"As for the secret behind them…"
"Try it for yourself."
Zhao Xing wasn't about to lecture his opponent. Instead, he picked up one of the massive Vajra Mushrooms and hurled it straight at Peng Feiyun.
"Boom!"
The mushroom's stem was small, but its cap was enormous and heavy, resembling a rolling millstone as it crashed through the air, barreling toward Peng Feiyun.
"Just one? You think that's enough to beat me? Mushroom King, don't look down on me!"
"Hold it back!"
Peng Feiyun braced himself, preparing to catch the incoming mushroom.
But the moment he made contact, his expression changed.
He couldn't hold it back at all!
In the end, he had no choice but to call upon his soldiers to help support the weight.
Using every ounce of his strength, he barely managed to hold the Vajra Mushroom above his head.
"Not bad…"
Just as Peng Feiyun was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the Vajra Mushroom suddenly glowed with golden light.
Like a miniature sun, it radiated intense brilliance, shaking violently.
Even the surrounding space began to distort.
"What?! It can explode?!"
"Boom!"
The Vajra Mushroom detonated, resembling a star going supernova.
A devastating explosion engulfed Peng Feiyun, eliminating him on the spot.
"I called it a Vajra Mushroom," Zhao Xing smirked. "I never said it wouldn't explode."
With his recent breakthrough in Five-Finger Mountain, Zhao Xing had gained a deeper understanding of the Dao, allowing him to refine his Essence Extraction Divine Ability further.
By channeling greater amounts of solar energy into the Vajra Mushrooms, he had successfully created an explosive version—Vajra Blast Mushrooms!
For Zhao Xing, this entire tournament was both a trial and a cultivation experience.
The clashes with other Shennong geniuses sparked new insights within him.
Unfortunately, Peng Feiyun was too weak to offer anything valuable.
Final 15 minutes.
Zhao Xing finally arrived at his target location—Wind Thunder Canyon.
A woman named Xilin opened her eyes, gazing at the sky filled with countless mushrooms.
"Mushroom King?" Xilin's expression turned serious. "Why is he coming to me at this time?"
Not far away, a massive divine tortoise also observed Zhao Xing from a distance.
By this point, the entire Minor Small World had fallen into a strange silence.
The final fights were already over, and the ranking had stabilized.
The 1,000 survivors were secure in their advancement.
"Xilin, my friend!"
Zhao Xing's booming voice echoed across the canyon.
"Mushroom King, what do you want?"
"You once attacked me in Wind Thunder Canyon, forcing me back half a step."
"Now, I have come to return the favor!"
"I seek clarity for my heart and a complete cycle of karma!"
"A strike for a strike! Now, take one from me!"
Without waiting for Xilin's response, Zhao Xing hurled 10,000 mushrooms toward her.
Among them, one was a Grand Divine Ability mushroom.
"What?!"
Xilin was stunned—she didn't even remember Zhao Xing.
She had fought so many battles that his encounter had long been forgotten.
But now, at the very end of the tournament, he had come seeking her out.
"So be it! Show me what you've got!"
Xilin's expression turned cold as dozens of towering bamboo stalks rose into the air.
"Hum!"
A total of twelve verdant bamboo poles emerged.
Each one had been meticulously pruned, leaving only the smooth, hollow stalks.
The tops had been cut flat, revealing dark openings at their ends.
The twelve bamboo poles resonated, forming a glowing emerald-green barrier.
Zhao Xing narrowed his eyes.
"Divine Ability—Five Elements Heaven."
"Using twelve Third Realm bamboo stalks as 'Law Bamboos'…"
The connection of spirit and plant life formed a formation, ultimately constructing a perfect array.
"It seems she's following the path of a Life Formation specialist. She has a soul-based Grand Divine Ability, which is indeed suitable for this route," Zhao Xing observed with anticipation.
The Life Formation Path was a branch of the Self School, but its difficulty was incredibly high.
In the Xuanhuang Realm, warriors and soldiers could form Blood Qi Battle Arrays.
Similarly, Shennongs could create formations by manipulating Earth Veins and Origin Energy.
It was only natural that plant life could do the same.
However, getting plant-based troops to reach such a level of coordination was immensely difficult.
Such delicate control was impossible without an incredibly strong soul-based Divine Ability.
One also needed deep research into both 'Life Essence' and 'Life Formation Theory'.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The first wave of attacks was the Vajra Mushrooms—heavy, durable, and explosive.
The emerald-green Life Formation Barrier trembled violently.
Each mushroom detonation released all of its condensed essence in a single, devastating explosion.
Xilin's expression changed instantly.
Even Xiao Xuan, watching from afar, was visibly surprised.
"Plant-based lifeforms are renowned for their immense origin strength. Most Shennongs use them for attacks, not explosions."
"Typically, plant troops are meant to be renewable. Using them for single-use detonations—that's 'Explosive Army Flow'!"
"Explosive Army soldiers are usually weak because they're hard to cultivate. But his mushroom explosions... their power is absurdly high..."
When it came to raw attack power, Zhao Xing's Explosive Army strategy was among the most destructive at the moment of impact.
But not every plant-based lifeform could self-detonate.
The fact that Mushroom King could do it instantly raised his evaluation in Xiao Xuan's mind.
"Still... for some reason, I instinctively dislike this guy. I don't even know why," Xiao Xuan muttered to himself.
Xilin, however, was utterly frustrated.
She realized that her Five Elements Heaven Divine Ability Formation couldn't withstand Zhao Xing's attacks!
"If the explosions continue, my formation will collapse in 30 breaths."
Xilin made a quick judgment.
"Change!"
With a soft command, Xilin's soul power surged, controlling the twelve Formation Bamboos.
Brilliant light flowed from the roots of each bamboo, traveling upward to their tips.
Wisps of yellow smoke began rising.
The once emerald-green formation barrier suddenly transformed into a golden shield.
Now, it looked as if half a sun had descended upon the canyon.
All of the Vajra Mushrooms detonated simultaneously—but the formation remained unshaken.
"Excellent, now this is interesting!"
Zhao Xing's eyes lit up with excitement, focusing on the twelve Formation Bamboos.
"Each bamboo is inserted into the earth at different heights, connecting to the underground ley lines."
"After reinforcing the formation barrier, it has become indestructible."
The formation's defense had been amplified to an absurd degree.
Attacking it was now equivalent to attacking the earth itself.
Unless the incoming attack exceeded a certain threshold, it was impossible to deplete its energy.
"These twelve Formation Bamboos also have offensive capabilities. She likely possesses at least twelve Divine Abilities."
Zhao Xing glanced at Xilin's stats and confirmed his suspicion.
"Boom! Boom!"
More than 10,000 mushrooms exploded, including the Grand Divine Ability mushroom.
Zhao Xing kept his gaze locked on the fiery explosions, carefully analyzing the Dao traces that emerged from the energy bursts.
"Poison? Or Penetration?"
He contemplated deeply, his divine sense working at full speed to deduce the principle behind the explosions.
"One mushroom alone isn't enough. Looks like I'll need to experiment more after this round."
It was impossible to comprehend a Dao imprint from just a single Grand Divine Ability mushroom explosion.
Such breakthroughs required countless trials and the right guidance.
But at least he had caught a glimpse of something—making this mushroom sacrifice worthwhile.
"Crack! Crack!"
Like two suns colliding, a fracture appeared in the formation's surface.
Xilin's breathing became labored—she had been poisoned!
As the toxins spread inside the barrier, her Dao body immediately underwent a drastic transformation.
She swelled up—in just a single breath, she ballooned into an oversized figure.
"You!"
Xilin hurriedly expelled the poison, returning to her normal size.
But she was clearly enraged.
When she caught sight of her reflection, she screamed—her face hadn't recovered!
"Mushroom King!!!"
She immediately retaliated, commanding the twelve Formation Bamboos to unleash a powerful soundwave attack.
The bamboos resonated in sequence, forming a Dao rhythm that struck directly at the hearts of everyone present.
All the Shennongs in the Minor World felt the impact.
"Damn! Why provoke this woman?!"
"Ugh... I feel terrible. Why does she care so much about her looks?!"
"A soul-based Grand Divine Ability amplified by Formation Bamboos... She's about to go berserk!"
Just as Zhao Xing prepared to counterattack—
"Boom!"
The sky changed color.
Xilin's soundwave was suddenly interrupted.
The twelve Formation Bamboos instantly withered.
The formation barrier vanished.
Zhao Xing immediately landed.
The countdown on the Star Mirror had hit zero.
"The collapse has begun."
Zhao Xing hurriedly summoned the Silver Tree.
At this moment, its Grand Divine Ability was finally unlocked.
The small silver tree rapidly grew, transforming into a giant umbrella, emitting a soft glow that shielded Zhao Xing.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
All Shennongs without protection from special plants were instantly teleported away.
After two days, only 1,000 Shennongs remained.
The Star Mirror displayed a new announcement:
[The 1,000 competitors from Minor Small World No. 2436, congratulations on passing the Second Trial.]
[The collapse of this Small World is a rare sight.]
[It will last for two years and six months.]
[Observing the collapse process holds great benefits for cultivation. This is the Primordial Realm's reward for your passage. We wish you all enlightenment and growth. —Primordial Realm]