War of National Annihilation, Purple Light God's Ruins

"A nation may be vast, but if it loves war, it will surely perish!"

The twenty-one prefectures of West Pole Province had seen no warfare. The fighting was confined to Vesuvian Glacier on the Western Extremity Ice Continent, far from West Pole Province. Now that the four vassal states, under Duke Junyi's leadership, had subdued West Si Country and displayed Great Zhou's might, why did they still need to send more troops on campaign?

"The Western Extremity Ice Continent is a bitterly cold land. Other than ice, there is only more ice. Even if we conquered it, it would be impossible to govern."

"The Right Chancellor is absolutely right! Why would fighting some tiny West Si Country require drawing upon the forces of the feudal states in every province? The seven grotto-heavens and two blessed lands of West Pole Province are more than enough to support a major war!"

"And now you wish to mobilize even more forces, even requisition the divine artifacts of every department, and establish a prefectural administration in West Pole Province... Does Duke Junyi intend to declare himself king in West Pole Province and reenact the old affair of the Liang King?!" "Feng Qian, shut your filthy mouth! You're spouting nothing but shit and utter nonsense! How dare you slander Duke Junyi like this!"

"Fuck your mother, Feng Qian! I've put up with you for a long time!" "Hey, General Ye, don't hit him..."

"Pull them apart!"

"The purpose of ritual is harmony above all... mmph—" "Smack!"

As Ye Yukong climbed onto the table and leaped onto Inspector Feng Qian's head, giving him a vicious beating, the perfectly orderly Six Ministries meeting quickly descended into chaos. Fan Ailin, the Right Chancellor presiding over the meeting, discovered that someone had seized his arm and covered his mouth.

Throughout the assembly hall, some people were pulling others apart while some were fighting. Cups and dishes shattered, people sprawled everywhere, and the scene was exceedingly lively.

Fortunately, the Deliberation Law Hall was equipped with rule formations. Everyone's strength had been weakened, so even when they fought, they could only throw punches like ordinary people. Other than creating a ruckus, no one suffered any substantial injuries.

In the end, the chaos was quelled when the Golden Wu Guard entered to restore order.

Yang Xiong Ying, commander of the Golden Guard and Duke Yang, looked expressionlessly at Ye Yukong sitting atop Feng Qian's head and the group of military officials sprawled on the ground. He waved a hand. "Arrest them all." "Why?!" x2

Neither side was willing to accept that.

Feng Qian protested, "Ye Yukong, Right Vice Minister of War, disrupted the assembly and brutally beat a colleague. He struck first! Duke Yang, you must judge fairly... mmph!!"

Ye Yukong slapped Feng Qian across the mouth, silencing him. Then, breathing slightly heavily, he said, "Words may have no substance, yet they can be as sharp as blades! General Yang, this man has been stabbing an external minister in the back, even comparing Zhao Xing to a rebel king. He is truly a terrible... terrible man!"

"That's right! Terrible! He must be a spy sent by the outsiders. Feng Qian must be thoroughly investigated!" "Ye Yukong, you arrogant military officials beat ministers in public. You have no regard for law or discipline!" "As if you didn't lay a hand on anyone yourself!"

"Get off me!" "..."

Yang Xiong Ying's head throbbed from their shouting. He barked, "Escort these honored ministers out of the main hall. Let them calm down in the side hall." "Yes!"

The Golden Wu Guard, unaffected by the Law Hall, immediately separated the several dozen civil and military officials who had been fighting.

The meeting hall finally quieted down. Yang Xiong Ying walked over to Fan Ailin and asked softly, "Chancellor Fan, are you all right?"

Fan Ailin straightened his robes and shook his head. "I am ashamed. I cannot even preside properly over a small Six Ministries auxiliary meeting. Please inform His Majesty that he should choose another worthy candidate." With that, Fan Ailin removed his official cap and sash and placed them on the table.

Yang Xiong Ying hurriedly stopped him. "Right Chancellor, what are you saying? The weather is dry, and everyone is hot-tempered. Letting them cool down in the side hall will settle things." "His Majesty has entrusted you with a great responsibility. You must not simply walk away."

Yang Xiong Ying was not merely saying that.

Inside the Law Hall, everyone's strength had been suppressed to only slightly above that of ordinary people. They had also been meeting for several hours, so it was normal for them to become irritated and restless.

"This is a new deliberation system established by His Majesty. If you leave, would that not put His Majesty in an awkward position?" Yang Xiong Ying said quietly. "Rest assured, once everyone calms down, this will not happen again." After much persuasion, Fan Ailin finally put his hat back on and sat down again.

The Six Ministries attendees left the Law Hall and went to the side hall to rest. At last, everyone became much calmer.

In the inner court, Ji Che looked at the scene within the earth realm and could not help laughing.

"Big Brother, look at them. Without primordial energy and mighty power empowering them, these civil and military officials are no different from a makeshift troupe." "I heard that during Grand Ancestor's era, ministers would fight while deliberating state affairs. I never expected to see such a scene today."

Zhao Xing pointed into the earth realm. "That man should not be a Ritual Cultivator. He just knocked down two Martial Marquises, yet he himself is completely unharmed." "Oh? That is indeed true. What was his name again? Zheng something?"

"Zheng Shigong," Zhao Xing said.

"Right, Zheng Shigong." Ji Che used his brush to mark a name in the register. Zheng Shigong's name became three-dimensional, then transformed into streams of information that entered Ji Che's mind. "Hahaha, it truly is so. Judging from this man's life, he is indeed more skilled in martial cultivation and the Qi Sect."

Ji Che laughed heartily. "Big Brother, this Law Hall deliberation method you proposed is truly interesting. I never imagined that I could view these civil and military officials from such an angle."

"And discover some new talents as well."

Zhao Xing smiled. "I merely offered a few ideas. The true implementation still depends on Fifth Brother's power."

Ji Che had now truly reached the Rule Realm.

By the end of the second year of the Yuan Hunting Era, he had already absorbed nearly all of the Jing Emperor's Human Emperor Dao, far faster than expected. The Deliberation Law Hall was proof of this.

Ji Che remained in the inner court, yet his rule power could form a Deliberation Law Hall in the outer court. Even after a person left the domain of rules, the rules could remain effective for a long time. That was the Rule Realm! Zhao Xing had another reason for making this suggestion.

The final calamity of the Ten Calamities of Heavenly Witch among the Southern Barbarians, "Sever Heaven and Earth Connection," had already entered the realm of divine abilities.

Its effect was similar to the current Law Hall rules. If they were to attack the Southern Barbarians in the future, this hurdle would be impossible to avoid. It was precisely this hurdle that had blocked the campaigns of countless Dynasties of Fate.

Therefore, Great Zhou's civil and military officials needed to adapt in advance to the process of changing from lofty Experts into ordinary mortals. The Southern Barbarians had such training already. If Great Zhou waited until the moment of battle to adapt, many problems would arise.

"Big Brother, when will your true body return?" Ji Che brought up the reason for this deliberation. "If we mobilize powerful armies and commanders to conquer West Si Country now, there will be great resistance." Without seeing the real thing, no one knew what they were fighting for.

Military morale and fighting spirit were extremely important in a war.

Tyrants and foolish rulers emerged from blindly implementing policies that others could not understand. If the ministers became divided in heart and purpose, the dynasty's fortune would decline as well, and national destruction would not be far off. Zhao Xing said, "The matter is of great importance. I have already returned by the Yin Realm route. In about seven days, I can bring the items back to Abundance Capital."

The method of using the soul tool fragments that contained source rules was called the Tian Qi Soul Diagram. Zhao Xing could only personally teach the method of use. Summoning the Ancient Yin Warship with the Shang Tang Token was the fastest method of travel, without exception.

The Ancient Yin Warship itself was also a divine artifact containing the power of rules.

It took only seven days for him to travel to any place in Central Province. Of course, he could only remain aboard for seven days. If he stayed on the ship after seven days, he would pay a terrifying price. This method was also unsuitable for widespread use, as the Ancient Yin Warship could carry only so many people and objects.

Once it left Central Province, its speed would slow down as well.

"Good. I am somewhat impatient myself." Ji Che's eyes shone brightly...

Yin Realm, Heavenly Official Bureau.

Zhao Xing's true body rode the Ancient Yin Warship through the turbulent currents of the Yin Realm and arrived at the Heavenly Official Bureau. He had stopped by to ask Li Boqian's Yin Spirit about something.

The information obtained from Wu Yuan's mind involved the Storm Sea Eye of Vesuvian Glacier, the Death Ice Pillar, and the three statues in the ancient Divine Temple. Zhao Xing wanted to ask Li Boqian whether his description could help him remember something.

"Oh? Duke Junyi, why have you come to the underworld?" Li Boqian teased. "Teacher..."

"Hey, don't call me Teacher. I am not your teacher." Li Boqian snorted. "How could I dare be your teacher?" Zhao Xing: "..."

He could not understand why Li Boqian had suddenly become so sarcastic. Did people undergo drastic personality changes after dying and becoming Yin Spirits? That made no sense.

He had never heard of such a thing.

Besides, Li Boqian had only recently gained the authority of the Grand Heavenly Official of the Yin Realm. The emotions he had possessed in life could not have faded so quickly. Zhao Xing's eyes shifted as he examined one of the statues in the Heavenly Official Divine Temple, and he immediately understood.

Incense offerings swirled around Heavenly Yang True Lord's statue, but they were all locked away, with not a trace leaking out. The incense Li Boqian received was far inferior to that of Heavenly Yang True Lord.

So that was the problem.

"Teacher, I came specifically to bring you something good." Zhao Xing took out half a ton of Ancient Dragon Saliva Incense from the Pure Yuan Space.

Li Boqian's eyes immediately lit up, but he still affected an air of restraint. "Well, you've come, and you even brought gifts... Don't do this next time, lest some old ghosts gossip." "Who would dare gossip about Teacher? I'll touch him!" Zhao Xing said righteously. "A student giving his teacher a little something is none of anyone else's damn business."

Li Boqian chuckled. "Heavenly Yang True Lord." "..."

Zhao Xing was speechless and could only pretend not to hear. Li Boqian did not make things difficult for him and let him inside. "Hiss~ ha~"

Li Boqian took a small puff and lay back comfortably atop the offering table. "Go on. What do you need from me?"

Zhao Xing flicked his fingers to extinguish the fire, then grinned. "It is nothing major. I saw some things in West Pole Province. You know I have little knowledge, so I came specifically to ask Teacher." Li Boqian immediately became wary. "You've laid the groundwork for so long. It must be something major! I cannot smoke this incense. Take it back!"

Zhao Xing: "..."

When had Old Li become so shrewd?

He was not as easy to coax as Heavenly Yang True Lord.

"Hey, hey, don't." Zhao Xing hurriedly pushed the thick incense back. "Do you remember the journey to Vesuvian Glacier? Teacher once said that the Yuan Seal technique was comprehended in an ancient Divine Temple."

"I told you, my memories are very vague." Li Boqian said, "I am no longer certain whether such a thing truly happened or whether it was merely an illusion."

"Teacher, that place truly exists," Zhao Xing said.

"What?" Li Boqian was instantly shocked. "You found it?"

"Yes. Your student has already roughly determined its location." Through Wu Yuan's memories, Zhao Xing had already determined the approximate area.

The ruins lay too deep, and there could not be many places as deep as Vesuvian Glacier.

Furthermore, the direction and Celestial Timing Institute sensed by Wu Yuan could also serve as supporting evidence.

Of course, determining its location did not mean they could enter it.

The Purple Light Divine Token possessed by the Sith Clan's Great Venerable likely served some sort of unsealing purpose.

Yet Li Boqian's situation was different. He had entered it once, but could not enter again, and he could not even clearly remember whether it had really happened.

The matter was strange, so Zhao Xing had stopped by to ask.

"Teacher, possess me and experience the images I saw," Zhao Xing said.

"All right." Li Boqian became solemn as well. Yuan Seal was the spell he had been proudest of in his life.

If the ancient Divine Temple truly existed, he was very curious which immortal had left it behind.

"Buzz~"

Li Boqian flew into Zhao Xing's body. His soul merged with the flesh, and the Invoking the Gods possession was instantly complete.

Zhao Xing transmitted the images to Li Boqian.

A moment later, Li Boqian flew back out.

"Teacher, what did you remember?"

Li Boqian said blankly, "I remembered nothing."

Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised. "You did not see the two images?"

Li Boqian frowned. "I cannot remember. I truly seemed to see something just now, but when I try to think about it again, I cannot recall it... This place is far too terrifying."

Li Boqian had been the Grand Agriculture Official in life. After death, he had become a Yin Spirit. Even if he had been affected by some spell, it should have been dispelled.

Yet he still could not remember.

What kind of power could have such a far-reaching influence?

Even the Rule Realm would find it difficult to achieve that.

Could it be a method of the Establish Dao Realm?

"How did you obtain information about this place?" Li Boqian asked.

Zhao Xing then explained how he had worked with the Rebirth True Lord, the Rebirth Pool of Soul Heaven Hall, and the Soul Heaven Fruit, then used the Derivation God Art's strongest killing move, Star Shatter, to erase the rule-protection restriction.

Li Boqian immediately gave a bitter laugh after hearing this.

"The things you bring really are not easy to accept."

Since Zhao Xing's method had proven effective, could Li Boqian use the same method to remove that influence?

If such a place truly existed and contained a great treasure, it was absolutely worth trying.

"Teacher, you misunderstand. You are one of us. How could I use such a method on you?" Zhao Xing shook his head. "I estimate that your situation differs from Wu Yuan's. The restrictions imposed on you are greater and cannot be cast off so easily."

Li Boqian smiled. "It would have been one thing if I did not know. But now that I know, this old man must try. Even if I die, I must die understanding!"

"However, the matter is of great importance and must be considered carefully."

"You should first return and report the situation to His Majesty."

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded.

Abundance Capital, imperial inner court, Qianqing Palace.

Since Zhao Xing had returned in secret, Ji Che had summoned only a few important ministers for this inner court meeting.

Liu Tianning, Luo Hou King, Lu Ying, Wei Hong, and Tong Wensheng. These five were the five most powerful figures in Great Zhou. Three high-level meetings had already been held, and the disagreements were immense.

When Zhao Xing entered, every gaze focused on him.

Even within the Ministry of War, many people did not support a distant expedition to West Pole Province.

Unless Zhao Xing truly had made a major discovery.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty and pays respects to all my lords."

Upon entering, Zhao Xing bowed to Ji Che and the five first-rank ministers.

"Rise. A seat is granted."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After sitting down, Zhao Xing cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, this subject has returned urgently because I have an important matter to report."

Ji Che said, "Proceed."

Zhao Xing stood again and took out the black diamond-shaped soul tool.

"Your Majesty, my lords, please look."

"This is the Tian Qi Soul Tool. It was stripped from Wu Yuan, younger brother of Ulik, a venerable-level leader of West Si Country." "Its effect allows a Fate Palace Realm expert to develop a rule domain in an extremely short time."

The moment he said this, the five men immediately understood.

They now knew the true reason Zhao Xing had requested a campaign against the Western Extremity Continent. It was not to glorify the nation's prestige at all, but because he had discovered a treasure.

Of course, they still did not know just how great this treasure was.

"Zhao Xing, is this item's effect similar to that of a divine artifact?" Rahu King asked. "After it is stripped away, will the original owner's rule domain disappear?" Rahu King's question struck directly at the heart of the matter.

If the domain disappeared after the soul tool was stripped away, then it was no different from the divine artifacts they already knew. Great Zhou possessed many divine artifacts that could grant their users rule domains.

For example, Luo King's Ketu Instant Prison Bow, the Ruler Palace wielded by Lu Ying, the Solar Terms Decree of the Grand Agriculture Official, the state artifact Kun Yuan Hoe, and so on. Yet once the wielder no longer possessed the divine artifact, they reverted to their original state.

That was why the Three Shennong Factions had prohibited the use of divine artifacts during their competition.

But if stripping away the soul tool did not cause the domain to disappear, its significance would be completely different. A divine artifact for comprehending the Dao! Its value was immeasurable!

There were countless Fate Palace Realm cultivators, but how many divine artifacts were there?

"It will not disappear," Zhao Xing said. "But stripping it away is difficult, and it can be used continuously. With the secret arts within the ruins, one can keep cultivating upward." "Theoretically, possessing one such soul tool can produce many Fate Palace Realm experts who wield rule domains."

"Of course, relying on one alone would still take a long time. However, Deus, the Great Venerable of West Si Country, possesses many more soul tools like this." "What? There are truly treasures like this in the world?" Lu Ying reacted most strongly upon hearing this.

He rose excitedly. "Your Majesty, Duke Junyi, may I examine it?" Ji Che looked at Zhao Xing.

"You may, but Grand Craftsman Official, please be careful. This item can only be fused within Soul Heaven Hall. It is currently sealed. Once it is unsealed, it must be fused under the protection of a soul-type divine artifact, otherwise it will dissipate and collapse."

"Understood." Lu Ying carefully accepted the Tian Qi Soul Tool.

A phantom of the Juzi appeared above his head. Many threads emerged from his fingertips, while a needle point pierced the edge of the faint glow emitted by the soul tool. Lu Ying stared at it in utter fascination.

Only after a while did he reluctantly look up. "Lord Lu, what do you think?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Truly astounding!" Lu Ying said excitedly. "It is only the size of a thumb, yet my Limitless Compass senses that it contains something like an entire world." "Your Majesty, my lords, what is even more miraculous is that although it can contain the power of rules, its material is extremely fragile!"

"I need only squeeze lightly to destroy it completely." "Such craftsmanship is practically divine!"

"There is absolutely no possibility that others could steal or replicate it."

"Even if I spent my entire life on it, I would struggle to reach one ten-thousandth of this divine craftsman's level!" Zhao Xing smiled faintly upon hearing this. Making the material fragile was naturally for profit.

If a single item could become a family heirloom, indestructible and usable until death... then those divine craftsman factions in the universe would go bankrupt. It had been deliberately designed that way.

As long as Lu Ying could discern even a little, he could understand this item's value.

Seeing Lu Ying's reaction, Liu Tianning, Rahu King, Wei Hong, and Tong Wensheng were all astonished. That evaluation was far too high!

Great Zhou's Grand Craftsman Official, Lu Ying, might not have been the strongest Mechanism Master overall, but in at least one particular direction, he was already the strongest. Yet he had given such an assessment?

Tong Wensheng said, "Duke Junyi, according to what you have said, the Great Venerable of the Sith Clan may well rival a Rule Realm cultivator."

"If he possesses such a treasure and has so many powerful commanders beneath him, conquering West Si Country will not be something we can accomplish casually. If a Rule Realm expert is determined to flee, it will be very difficult for us to capture him."

"Yes. Even if, as Duke Junyi says, Great Zhou has the ability to destroy West Si Country, if Deus escapes, a free Rule Realm expert seeking revenge against Great Zhou could raid the border from time to time and assassinate court ministers. The consequences would be extremely severe."

"Rule Realm experts are very difficult for Fate Officials to predict."

Chancellor Tong Wensheng's opinion represented the thoughts of many people, and Ji Che had no choice but to consider his words. "Your Majesty, Chancellor Tong is mistaken!" Liu Tianning spoke up.

"West Si Country is merely a tiny patch of land. Its Grand Master is not much of a threat for now."

"Looking at their history of rise, it has only been a little over a hundred years. The underground ruins beneath the Western Extremity Glacier cannot possibly have been fully developed by West Si Country."

"They have made such progress in just over a hundred years. They will only become more terrifying in the future."

"If we do not strangle them in the cradle now, are we supposed to leave an even more terrifying enemy for our descendants to deal with?"

"Chancellor Tong's words are nothing but burying his head in the sand and pretending not to see the threat from the west. It is utterly inadvisable."

Tong Wensheng immediately retorted, "Lord Liu, I never said we should do nothing. I merely do not approve of launching a grand campaign. We can proceed gradually." Ji Che turned to Rahu King. "Why has the Grand Commandant not said a word?"

Rahu King cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, I was thinking."

"What if this treasure fell into the hands of the Southern Barbarians, Eastern Ying, or the Sect Realm?"

"West Si Country is too weak to develop it, but the Southern Barbarians, Eastern Ying, and the Sect Realm are fully capable of doing so."

"Everyone, imagine this: one day, the Southern Barbarians lead a million Life Palace cultivators across the Azure Wave River; Eastern Ying crosses the sea and lands with countless rare treasures; the demonic sects come and go freely throughout Great Zhou with divine artifacts in hand. What kind of scene would that be?"

At Rahu King's words, everyone's expressions turned grave.

Though it sounded exaggerated, the Tian Qi Soul Tool was right before them. They had to admit that such a possibility truly existed. The hall fell silent for a time.

Ji Che said, "After thinking it over, we might as well give it a try."

"Grand Commandant, immediately select a military general to absorb this item."

"If its effect truly is as Duke Junyi described, then there will be no need to debate whether to attack West Si Country. We need only discuss how to attack. The ruins beneath the Western Extremity Glacier must never fall into foreign hands! If the effect is too poor, we can discuss it again."

Ji Che made the final decision, ending the argument.

No one left. They waited for Rahu King to choose someone to enter the imperial palace and absorb the Tian Qi Soul Tool. That very night, a martial artist secretly entered the inner palace.

"This subject, Ding Shan, pays respects to Your Majesty."

Ding Shan had arrived abruptly. She had not even changed out of her white training clothes before receiving a sudden order and being brought from her residence to the capital. Nor had she been chosen at random. In terms of status, Ding Shan possessed imperial blood; her great-grandmother had been Wen Emperor's cousin.

In terms of merit, Ding Shan had guarded the Hurricane Minor World, a place with an extremely harsh environment, for more than two hundred years without ever being transferred. She could truly be called diligent and uncomplaining.

She was at the Fate Palace Initial Realm, and her talent was fairly good among first-rank martial artists. If the Tian Qi Soul Tool could not be casually stripped away, allowing her to use it would be quite cost-effective. "General Ding, dispense with the formalities."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ding Shan rose somewhat uneasily.

She had guarded a minor world for more than two hundred years. Now the new emperor had suddenly summoned her, with five high-ranking ministers watching her. She had no idea what was happening.

"Ding Shan, from today onward, you will reside in the imperial palace," Ji Che said. "Duke Zhao will assist you in refining a treasure. The faster, the better."

Ding Shan had originally comprehended a Three Yin-type true intent and cultivated the corresponding technique. If she could comprehend a Shadow Rule Domain, she would become a bona fide Dark Knight. Of course, she had not comprehended a Rule Domain. To test the treasure's effects, they naturally had to find someone who had not comprehended one.

Upon hearing the order, Ding Shan was both startled and flattered.

Refining a treasure? They had summoned me here for this? "I obey."

The Tian Qi Soul Tool was difficult to strip away, but easy to refine.

After Zhao Xing taught Ding Shan the Tian Qi Soul Tool Diagram, she took only one month to complete the refinement. The moment she finished, Ding Shan comprehended a first-stage Rule Domain.

"Duke Zhao, I succeeded."

In the imperial palace martial arts arena, Ding Shan opened her eyes, her face filled with shock. "Oh? What kind of domain is it?" Zhao Xing asked.

"It is the Shadow Rule Domain, evolved from the Jueyin Cold Wind true intent."

Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised. Jueyin Cold Wind barely fell within the category of second-rank, or high-grade, true intent.

This was because Jueyin represented the weakest degree of yin energy among the Three Yin. Yin and yang were the essence, while darkness and light were external manifestations of Rule Domains. A Rule Domain comprehended from Jueyin Cold Wind would most likely only be a mid-grade Rule Domain.

Yet Ding Shan's high-grade Rule Domain was actually the Shadow Rule Domain. That was rather rare among martial artists. "Let's exchange a few moves," Zhao Xing said.

"Yes." Ding Shan nodded.

Then her figure suddenly vanished. She emerged from the shadow behind Zhao Xing and threw a punch at the back of his head. "Shadow Leap. It truly is a Shadow Domain." Zhao Xing praised her.

A martial artist with such a domain would see their value soar at once. His own figure disappeared, then suddenly appeared at the other end of the arena.

Ding Shan's punch struck empty air. She leaped again and reappeared behind Zhao Xing. "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"

Zhao Xing used Inches Away, Ends of Earth, his figure moving without pause.

Like a bone-clinging maggot, Ding Shan kept appearing behind Zhao Xing.

This is a Rule Domain. With spells alone, I will never be able to shake off Ding Shan's attacks, Zhao Xing thought. I can evade her for a while, but not forever.

Although Ding Shan had only just comprehended it and was merely at the first stage, the high-grade Rule Domain's properties were extremely bizarre, rendering many spells ineffective against her. To suppress her and prevent her from using Rule Leap, one either needed an opposing domain of equal quality or a domain of superior quality.

If it were a mid-grade or low-grade Rule Domain, one would need to surpass it by several stages. For example, only a fourth-stage Rule Domain could restrain it. "Buzz—"

Ten suns appeared above Zhao Xing's head. Great Heat was supremely yang, its radiance illuminating the entire martial arts arena. Ding Shan, who had been leaping through the shadows, was immediately exposed.

"What? I'm being suppressed?"

Ding Shan staggered and found herself rooted in place as Zhao Xing appeared opposite her. She realized she could no longer use the Shadow Rule Domain.

The feeling of being suppressed was exceedingly unpleasant. It was like practicing movement techniques atop plum-blossom poles, only for every pole to suddenly vanish. She instantly lost all footing and fell to the ground. The Shadow Rule Domain had been suppressed until it disappeared, as though she had been beaten back to her original form.

"Duke Zhao, could it be that you comprehended a top-grade domain?" Ding Shan looked at Zhao Xing with even greater respect.

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded and dispersed the suns above his head. The surrounding world immediately returned to normal. He had comprehended his Rule Domain through a top-grade true intent and was also one minor stage above Ding Shan, so naturally he could suppress her with ease.

"Continue your comprehension." Zhao Xing recorded Ding Shan's condition in stages, then reported it to Wu Emperor, Rahu King, and the others.

"The Three Yin Divine Appearance Ding Shan cultivates has only just entered the second layer of the Jueyin chapter. At her original level, she was still far from comprehending a Rule Domain."

"Yet she has now mastered a Rule Domain within a single month."

"This is enough to demonstrate the Tian Qi Soul Tool's efficacy."

"It is merely a Soul Tool fragment. Sith Grand Master may very well possess a complete Tian Qi Soul Tool."

"The Void God Prison depicted in the murals of the underground ruins may be a complementary method for comprehending the Tian Qi Soul Tool." At this point, Tong Wensheng had nothing more to say.

A divine artifact that aided comprehension of the Dao carried more than enough benefit.

If Tong Wensheng continued to oppose it, even the peace-loving development-focused forces he represented would not agree. They wanted peace, but they also wanted to develop.

After learning of this, Tong Wensheng had to find a way to persuade those people and unify their position. The matter of attacking West Si Country would be handled entirely by the Grand Commandant!

"I do not wish to hear any more discordant voices." "This matter must remain strictly confidential."

"We must destroy West Si Country in the shortest possible time. In particular, Deus cannot be spared." "At the very least, we must obtain the Purple Light Divine Token in his possession."

Ji Che made the decision on the spot. "As you command!" The five men departed one after another.

They had to keep it secret while advancing this war. There was still much preparation to do...

Preparations began in the twelfth month of the second year of the Yuan Hunting Era. Seven days later, the plan to destroy the country was complete. Starting in the twelfth month, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Works, Military Realm, and the Heavenly God Temple began secret deployments.

To maintain secrecy, thirty-six first-rank military advisors, all ritual cultivators, accompanied the force. As they traveled, they set up the Forget-Worry Grand Formation and cast Silence Spells. Afraid of scaring Deus of West Si Country away, Zhao Xing hurried to Morse Country and ordered the allied armies of the four vassal states to halt their advance in the Vesuvian Glacier region. He also sent Zhang Ning to West Si Country to negotiate peace.

Zhang Ning acted arrogantly, demanding that West Si Country's Grand Master submit to Great Zhou. This matched West Si Country's consistent impression of Great Zhou. The many masters of West Si Country instead believed that Great Zhou had no intention of invading them.

"If Great Zhou truly intended that, its envoy would not be so arrogant." "Indeed. Great Zhou only wants face, nominal suzerainty."

"The new emperor has ascended the throne. He is trying to establish his authority."

"I propose that we submit a national letter, outwardly bow our heads and submit to Great Zhou, and temporarily slow our campaigns against the nations and tribes."

"Once Great Zhou's imperial envoy leaves, we can offer tribute for several years. Then our actions will merely be disputes with the various vassal states, and Great Zhou will only act as a mediator."

"The Western Extremity Continent is of little use to Great Zhou. As long as we remain subjects and offer tribute, taking one territory every ten years and one country every hundred years, without moving too quickly, there should be no problem." "..."

Listening to the masters below discuss the matter, Deus on the throne nodded as well. That was precisely what he thought. Great Zhou would mobilize a powerful army to destroy West Si Country?

No one would think in that direction. What would be the point?

Without sufficient benefits, many within Great Zhou itself would oppose it. As for the secret of the underground ruins being leaked?

Deus was confident that it would not be leaked.

"Ulik, go apologize to Great Zhou's special envoy. Draw up a list of treasures and present them to Great Zhou's new emperor. As for the land we have already conquered, that can be discussed as well. We can cede part of it," Deus said.

They could not cede much land, because many small tribes and small countries had already been completely annexed by West Si Country. Their governments and people were gone. Who could the land be handed over to?

As long as they submitted to Great Zhou and paid tribute, what did it matter whether the land was occupied by West Si Country or another nation? Morse Country had originally been just a tribe as well!

Based on past experience, all of West Si Country, from top to bottom, had completely misjudged the situation.

They had no idea that a terrifying force had already gathered in Xichang Prefecture of West Pole Province. The third year of the Yuan Hunting Era, second month, tenth day—the Spring She Day.

The peace negotiations had ended. Zhang Ning returned, accompanied by one of Deus's sons, who entered West Pole Province with the envoy delegation. Deus's son intended to follow Zhang Ning to Abundance Capital in Tianyong Province, submit to Wu Emperor in Deus's place, and present the national letter.

On Spring She Day, hailed as Great Zhou's most important festival, the secret military bases established around the eight countries surrounding West Si Country began to move as well. "Father, the people of Xichang Prefecture are celebrating. Every place is decorated with lanterns and banners. It is quite lively."

"That emperor's sworn elder brother even hosted a banquet for me yesterday. They have neither imprisoned nor neglected me. It seems Great Zhou has truly accepted our submission and tribute." "Of course, the prince of Morse Country and the people of North Butcher Country still bear considerable hostility toward me..."

Deus's son reported to his father through a secret method. Upon receiving his son's message, Deus was finally reassured.

At the same time, in the Southern Barbarians' Holy Light Royal Court.

Fate Shaman Tiangui suddenly opened his eyes that day and looked down at a mirror before him. "What is going on?"

"Why is Great Zhou deploying troops against West Pole Province? And with such heavy forces?"

Before the operation began, Tiangui had seen nothing unusual. Yet once it began, he sensed a trace of abnormality. Only the Southern Barbarians' shamans possessed such ability.

The citizens of West Si Country still had no idea that disaster was about to descend. "That is... the Ruler Palace?"

"And more than three thousand Earth Piercing Divine Boats?"

"Several thousand Pulao Divine Pillars are being carried aboard those divine boats?"

"Primal Chaos Warships using the Ten Directions Primal Chaos Grand Formation—what are they doing..." Tiangui stared at the scene in the mirror, his eyes growing even more bewildered.

"There is no reason for it. What could the Western Extremity Continent possibly have that would make Great Zhou do this?" Tiangui found the result of this prediction absurd and bizarre.

Even during the Liang King Rebellion, when Liang King was killed in Lüliang Province, the lineup had only been this formidable.

"The first law of a Fate Shaman: no matter how absurd the future may seem, what is seen may happen." Tiangui pondered.

No matter how absurd it was, he had to notify Tuoba Gong and relay the news to the Four Great Royal Courts. It was his duty as a Fate Shaman. Heaven Realm, Heaven Equaling Mountain, Fate Immortal Palace.

"Wow!"

A head poked out from within a black-and-white Daoist robe. "What a huge commotion!"

"The Central Land Dynasty actually mobilized so many experts to attack Deus? Could the entrance beneath the glacier have been discovered?"

"Let me see more clearly."

Fate Immortal's eyes turned white. Suddenly, his eyes bulged as if they were about to burst. Yet the scene within them remained extremely blurry.

"You won't let me see? I insist on seeing!"

Fate Immortal extended a finger and directly dug out one of his eyeballs. "Buzz—"

After being dug out, the eyeball spun rapidly and continuously enlarged. It was as though its resolution had improved, and the view within it slowly became clearer.

In the image, the Ruler Palace flew above West Si Country's royal city.

Treasure-grade warships were hidden in all four directions around the West Si royal city. Farther away, roughly a thousand li out, mountain peaks suddenly rose from the ground.

A Heavenly God Temple stood atop each mountain.

At the foot of the mountains stood Boundary Markers a hundred meters high, each bearing a single carved character: "Abundance." "Wow, wow, wow!"

Fate Immortal cried out repeatedly.

"They even pulled over Abundance's Boundary Markers to set up a grand formation. How deep is the grudge between West Si Country and Great Zhou?" "Ten Thousand Layer Mountain is being used to carry a Heavenly God Temple?"

""

One of Fate Immortal's eyeballs suddenly exploded. A letter enlarged within the eye, seemingly about to break through it and descend into his Fate Immortal palace. "Damn, I cannot keep watching."

Fate Immortal swiftly detonated his other eyeball. After it exploded, black and white auras enveloped the eyeball filled with the letter. "Bang! Bang!"

The two explosions annihilated each other and completely turned into nothingness.

"What a strange spell..."

Fate Immortal's head withdrew into the black-and-white Daoist robe. He needed to lie low for a while. ...

In distant West Si Country, the Creation Disc was like a massive parasol, covering a stretch of heaven and earth. At its center, pillars of light linked heaven and earth, and a figure sat at the center. It was Ji Si. "Tap."

Half of a bloodstained letter appeared before Ji Si. "There is another expert..."

Ji Si was about to pick up the letter when the blood upon it suddenly burst into flames and burned the letter to ash. "What a pity. It was blocked. I did not take the other party's life."

Ji Si felt deeply regretful. This collect-on-delivery Time Letter had ultimately failed to reach its recipient.

The eleventh day of the second month, night.

Twelve stars abruptly appeared above the Sith Royal City. The moment the stars appeared, Deus woke from his dreams. Someone had invaded the heaven and earth under his control.

"How could this be..."

Deus was utterly shocked. His Rule Domain covered an enormous range, nearly encompassing the whole Sith Royal City—an area comparable to an entire prefecture. Yet he had only discovered these twelve stars after they entered the skies above his royal city!

"Buzz—"

The instant Deus noticed the stars, they seemed to realize they had been exposed and immediately blazed with light. The stars instantly grew as enormous as suns. Twelve suns appeared!

The Sith Royal City instantly became daylight. Twelve treasure-grade, high-quality Solar Terms Decrees!

Lesser Agriculture Decree Ling Tianchen and Wang Tianzhi each controlled four, while Cloud Central Institute's director Yun Zheng controlled the other four.

"Twelve divine artifacts? How can this be..."

"Those are Great Zhou's Solar Terms Decrees. My vital energy is draining away!" "Why are scales growing on my body?"

"Heavens, there are more over there!" "..."

The masters staying in West Si Country immediately looked into the sky in terror.

The season within the royal city had suddenly shifted into warm spring, leaving them profoundly uncomfortable.

The masters discovered that no one in the entire royal city could burrow underground, nor could they sense any vital energy or heaven-and-earth rules. Only Deus still retained the strength to fight.

By relying on the Tian Qi Soul Tool's Main Body and the Purple Light Divine Token, he had already fully entered the Rule Realm.

But he only had the strength to fight. Once Deus's domain expanded beyond the royal palace, it could no longer advance. He swiftly pulled all the masters into the palace, and in the next instant—

Boom!

Before they could say anything, the entire outer city of the Sith Royal City vanished.

Only the royal palace district remained! Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!

Outside the royal palace, eighteen Pulao Divine Pillars plunged into the ground and descended around it.

Then their tops emitted red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple light. The seven-colored radiance intertwined, shrouding the entire palace. Rahu King drew his bow and loosed an arrow, shattering the formation around the royal palace.

This exposed a black domain edged in purple, with Deus at its center. "Why?"

"Why?!"

Deus flew into the sky, utterly unable to believe what he was seeing.

He could sense more than a thousand divine artifacts. Among them were no fewer than nine rule powers as powerful as his own.

Rahu King carried a bow and arrows, with seven phantom male deities behind him. There was also the white-robed man with dancing vines behind him. Every one of them made Deus feel threatened. "What has my West Si Country done to deserve being surrounded and slaughtered by such a force?" Deus was completely bewildered.

"The leaders outside the royal city have all been killed." Sensing the deaths of his clansmen, Deus could not help but rage.

"Why?" Deus roared at Rahu King in the sky, "I have clearly surrendered! I have already bowed my head and submitted to Great Zhou! Why are you still attacking me?" He knew perfectly well that these were Great Zhou's elite forces.

Rahu King ignored him completely and merely drew his bow and fired another arrow.

With every arrow fired, a huge hole appeared in the black-and-purple domain. The arrows burned crimson, as though nailed into the opponent's domain. "I understand! I understand!" Deus suddenly realized. "You discovered the Purple Light Divine Miracle."

"But why? Why was the secret leaked?" Deus looked around with a bitter smile.

He was indeed in the Rule Realm, but he had only just entered it. None of the people around him had truly entered the Rule Realm, yet every one of them possessed combat strength comparable to it. Especially the distant mountains, Divine Temples, and warships in the sky—under their layered suppression, he had no chance of turning things around.

Boom!

Another section of the violet-black domain was blasted through. Layer upon layer was carved apart, and the area of heaven and earth under Deus's control grew ever smaller.

Especially that high priest—he was even more terrifying than the martial artist. The divine phantom behind him wielded seven different powers: seductive music disturbed Deus's mind, while soul power attacked his Fate Soul.

When the arrow-firing general tore open Deus's domain and opened a path, this priest possessed by seven gods charged straight in like a god descending upon the world. His aura changed, and his Dragon Elephant Golden Body blazed with light!

At that moment, High Priest Wei Hong was possessed by Martial God Ji Shi! "Priests really are freaks."

Zhao Xing watched silently from afar.

"Even Rahu King dared not approach after breaking open the domain, because he isn't from the Qi Sect. But Wei Hong dared to charge in and brawl with Deus." Once a priest left his country, his power should have dropped greatly.

But Great Zhou had directly moved seven Divine Temples over! The Martial God Temple was one of them.

"Legend has it that Martial God Ji Shuang has cultivated the Dragon Elephant Golden Body to the level of Myriad Laws Repulsion."

"Deus's attacks were nothing more than scratching an itch to Wei Hong after Invoking the Gods. Only the Purple Light Divine Token could make him evade; he took all the other attacks head-on with his fleshly body." Zhao Xing looked below.

It was simply a crushing advance!

There were no other tricks. This was the Qi Sect!

Of course, Wei Hong was merely Invoking the Gods, so he could not compare with a true Martial God. But Deus was not some formidable Rule Realm cultivator either.

From his observations, Deus followed the spellcasting path.

"The Ministers of Agriculture are working together to erode heaven and earth, while the Engineer School destroys every formation in Sith Royal City and constructs a vast cage of heaven and earth."

"The Fengjing Boundary Marker Grand Formation, Ten Thousand Layer Mountain bearing the power of the Divine Temples, and the Pulao Grand Formation pinning down the Earth Veins—there is no path to heaven, no door into the earth. He cannot escape even if he tries." Upon hearing that there was an enlightenment-type divine artifact with such tremendous effects, the Wu Emperor had directly dispatched four major figures.

Rahu King, Wei Hong, Lu Ying, and Liu Tianning had each brought their sect's divine artifact. Frankly, using this sort of force against Deus was complete overkill!

It was only by relying on the Purple Light Divine Token that he had managed to hold on until now.

That was power on the level of an unparalleled treasure. It was not Deus's own power keeping him going. "What does it mean for an innocent man to suffer because he possesses a treasure? This is exactly it." Zhao Xing could not help but sigh. Rumble—

The Ruler Palace above continued pressing down, and the twelve Solar Terms Decrees descended with it.

The royal palace containing Deus sank continuously. Everything around it began to collapse. This signified that they had reached the final stage.

"Quantum Distance-Free! Great Teleportation Technique!" "Collect!"

Lu Ying seized the moment and opened the base of the Ruler Palace. In an instant, the arm of Deus, who held the Purple Light Divine Token, was severed, separated from it by half a meter. "No!"

Deus lunged madly for the Purple Light Divine Token.

Yet that half-meter distance was an enormous, impassable gulf.

Wei Hong sent Deus flying with a single punch, then seized the Purple Light Divine Token. Whoosh!

Rahu King's five arrows shot forth like meteors, piercing Deus's abdomen, hands, feet, and head, nailing him to the ground. "Hahaha!" After being nailed down, Deus instead burst into crazed laughter. "You want to monopolize the Purple Light Divine Miracle? Dream on! I'll tell everyone where the Purple Light Divine Miracle is—Bang!"

Before Deus could finish, the five arrows exploded.

The Soul Shattering Arrows directly ground Deus and his soul into dust. "Done. Wrap it up."

A faint smile appeared on Zhao Xing's face.

As for Deus threatening to tell everyone? There was nothing they could do about that.

Rule Realm cultivators could condense a primordial-energy Dharma body and store it elsewhere, allowing it to persist for a long time. There was simply no way to stop a super-first-rank cultivator from sending out a message.

"Sith Country rose only a little over a hundred years ago. Even if he told other factions, they likely could not explain much in such a short time." "Great Zhou can seal off the area first and seize the initiative."

On February 14, Sith Country was completely destroyed.

Under the crushing advance of Great Zhou's war machine, the Sith Clan vanished directly from the Western Extremity Continent. The entire Western Extremity Continent did not even know what had happened.

It was not until February 20, when the information Deus had sent out began to spread and ferment, that it caused a worldwide uproar. The kings of the Southern Barbarian Holy Mountain and the Four Great Royal Courts had all gathered in a grand hall on the Sacred Mountain.

When Destiny Heavenly Witch Tiangui announced the matter in West Pole Province, the kings of the Four Great Royal Courts all fell silent.

Yet the twisted, surging currents around their thrones exposed their hearts. They were far less calm than they appeared. "Could what Deus of Sith Country said really be true?"

"Even Fate Palace Realm cultivators who comprehend an Ultimate Law might not be able to enter the ruins of the Purple Light God?"

"The Purple Light Divine Token he possessed was an unparalleled divine artifact, yet he claimed it had merely been casually bestowed by the Purple Light God."

"In a hundred years, it cultivated dozens of Fate Palace Realm cultivators who had comprehended Rule Domains. Even Deus himself entered the Rule Realm." "Great Zhou's deployment of such force cannot be faked, and Destiny Heavenly Witch witnessed the attack beforehand as well..."

Thoughts collided incessantly. Soon, the great hall fell quiet.

The king of the Golden Feather Royal Court was the first to state his position. "We cannot allow Great Zhou to obtain such a treasure."

The king of the Purple Dragon Royal Court followed. "Agreed."

A dissenting opinion came from the seat of the Sacred Spirit Royal Court. "Great Zhou has already seized the initiative. I fear we cannot take it from them."

The king of the Blazing Light Royal Court spoke coldly. "Though I hate Great Zhou, with Great Zhou holding the initiative, it will indeed be difficult for us to snatch food from a tiger's mouth." Two supported and two opposed going to West Pole Province to seize the treasure, and they immediately reached a deadlock.

Destiny Heavenly Witch Tiangui said, "Then please return and conduct further probes. Once more detailed intelligence has been obtained—" At that moment, the entire hall suddenly shook.

Hum—

A milky-white light projected into the hall. The radiance, white as moonlight, condensed into a human figure. "Greetings, Witch Moon God."

The four thrones, along with Destiny Heavenly Witch Tiangui, all rose to their feet. This was the supreme god of the Sacred Mountain!

"We cannot allow Great Zhou to smoothly obtain the treasure. At any cost, contend for the Purple Light Ruins." The rulers of the Four Great Royal Courts were all somewhat stunned.

At any cost?

Such an order had never appeared before.

"Tiangui."

"Witch Moon God." Tiangui respectfully stepped forward.

"Take my token to the World of Slumber of the Ten Great Divine Sects and the thirty-six top sects. Invite them to emerge into the world." "Yes." Tiangui respectfully accepted the Witch Moon Token representing the Sacred Mountain's supreme authority.

Heaven Realm, Fate Official Immortal Palace.

The blind Fate Immortal crawled out from his Daoist robe.

He swiftly left his palace and headed toward the highest region of Heaven Equaling Mountain.

Inside Qitian Hall, a Young Man with an icy expression, dressed in tight black clothing, was waiting. "Fate Immortal, how did you end up like this?" the Saint Immortal asked with a frown.

"Deputy Hall Master, this was done by an expert from the Central Zhou Dynasty." The Fate Immortal touched the empty socket of his blind eye. "But it's fine. It will grow back in two or three years." "I'm afraid you will not be able to grow it back for now," the Saint Immortal said flatly. "I need you to calculate whether some information is true, and which faction would bring the greatest gains through an alliance." I already know. The Fate Immortal said, "Is it about Deus claiming there is a treasure beneath the Western Extremity Glacier?"

"Correct," said the Saint Immortal.

"There is no doubt that the information is true," said the Fate Immortal. "But I cannot calculate which faction we should ally with." "Even if every last bit of this paltry flesh of mine fell off, I still could not calculate it.

"Whether we should ally with the Southern Barbarian factions, the sect factions, or Great Zhou." That can only be decided through your deputy hall master's brilliant wisdom and farsighted judgment."

Western Extremity Glacier, underground ice layer. Splash—

A warship floated up from a sea eye, carrying an iceberg atop it. The warship then carried the iceberg off into the distance.

Not long after the warship left, another appeared below, likewise carrying an iceberg. Whoosh—

Liu Tianning's Ten Thousand Laws Hall appeared in the sky above. "Grand Agriculture Official." Qiu Yuanshan immediately flew over. "How is the excavation progressing?" Liu Tianning asked.

"Ten percent of the work has been completed," Qiu Yuanshan said. "Why only ten percent?" Liu Tianning frowned.

"To establish the formation foundations beneath such a vast underground ice layer, progress is relatively slow. We must first excavate the ice. Even with the Works Department's assistance, this is a massive undertaking," Qiu Yuanshan said. "What about the surface defenses?"

"Construction above the ice layer is faster," Qiu Yuanshan said. "I just asked Lord Lu; one-fifth has already been completed." "Too slow," Liu Tianning said. "Send more manpower."

"Grand Agriculture Official, this is already the fastest possible speed..." Qiu Yuanshan said helplessly. "Unless we use the Shennong Hoe to move mountains and fill seas, but the Shennong Hoe cannot leave the national borders..." "I have no such rule!" Liu Tianning snapped. "That was set by Xuan Yuan Qingtian!"

Qiu Yuanshan fell silent.

"Zhao Xing is down there. If something happens to him, how will you explain yourself?" Qiu Yuanshan could only cup his hands and say, "I will go retrieve it immediately."

Beneath the glacier, the bone-piercingly cold ice had been widened considerably. Zhao Xing had arrived at this ruins entrance three days earlier.

Because Deus had leaked the information before his death, Zhao Xing had waited a little while, only descending to explore after the court had set up formations and defensive measures above. Bang!

The strawman body exploded once more.

On a deep-sea water vessel farther away, Zhao Xing's true body frowned. "Still not working?" Liu Tianning asked.

"No." Zhao Xing shook his head. "The rules here prohibit clones from entering. To enter the ruins, one must use the true body."

Exploration work like this had originally suited the master and disciple best. After all, with their Ten Thousand Laws Clones, even danger would not harm their true bodies. But once Zhao Xing arrived, he discovered that clones were prohibited from entering!

Not even while holding the Purple Light Divine Token.

"I used the Four Seasons Divine Splendor Dao Field and projected all four divine trees, yet I still could not defy that rule," Liu Tianning said. "Rahu King and Wei Hong also tried with their respective divine artifacts, but they could not defy this rule either.

"It should be a rule left behind by someone in the Establish Dao Realm." Zhao Xing rose to his feet. "We have now determined that there are three unbreakable rules." "First, clones are forbidden from entering.

"Second, those whose Dao bodies or martial bodies were not condensed from top-tier true intent, and those who have not mastered a Rule Domain and an Ultimate Law, cannot enter."

"Third, those over four hundred years old cannot enter."

Liu Tianning pondered this. "That means there are not many people who can enter." "Indeed." Zhao Xing was helpless.

Those holding the Purple Light Divine Token could bring people who did not meet the second and third requirements into the outer city. But the first requirement could not be bypassed even with the Purple Light Divine Token.

In other words, the place Wu Yuan went to might have been only the outer city area. "No wonder Li Boqian said the Ultimate Law was a selection criterion."

"He had already mastered the Ultimate Law then, yet it was only the threshold for entry." "With such a threshold, there are not many people in all of Great Zhou who qualify."

"There is no other choice. I can only let my true body give it a try," Zhao Xing said.

"I'll go," Liu Tianning said. "If something happens to me, you can still serve as Grand Agriculture Official."

"No, Teacher." Zhao Xing shook his head. "I should go instead. Great Zhou has already sent seventeen people in to explore, and none have encountered any problems yet. The danger should still be relatively low."

Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning were destined to send only one of them in. If both entered and died, it would be too devastating a blow to the Minister of Agriculture faction. It was like how princes in ancient times could not all board the same ship. Zhao Xing chose to take the risk himself mainly because he knew more.

He could already confirm that these ruins had not been left behind by anyone from the Profound Yellow World. If it was something from beyond the heavens, Zhao Xing understood far more about it as well. "Be careful," Liu Tianning said.

"Don't worry. Deus could obtain a treasure inside; could I possibly be weaker than him?" Zhao Xing reassured him.

"Teacher, you need to guard against the risks outside. Deus leaked this information, so Great Zhou will likely face immense external pressure." This was foreign territory, after all. Even supplies were difficult to transport here. If they were surrounded, the situation would be dangerous.

"Don't worry." Liu Tianning nodded. "The court is preparing." Taking a deep breath, Zhao Xing flew out of the deep-sea water vessel.

At the barrier entrance of the underground city, an expert was already waiting.

This person met the entry requirements and held the Purple Light Divine Token, opening the door for Zhao Xing. The Purple Light Divine Token had to remain at this entrance to keep the barrier open so that people could transport supplies from inside.

Quite a few people were already carrying things out, though they had only entered the outer regions. The core region had yet to be explored.

"Minister Zhao, please enter."

"Many thanks." Zhao Xing cupped his hands, then slipped into the barrier.