Key of Inheritance: Devouring Tribulation Nirvana, Good News from the Chasing Light Society!

Qing Yuzi seemed to have fallen into tremendous trouble, but for some reason, seeing this ba elm tree made Zhao Xing want to laugh.

"Divine Venerable, I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush—make it clearer first. What do you want me to help you with?"

Qing Yuzi shook his head and sighed. "You can't help me, at least not as you are now."

"Then I can at least pass on a message for you."

"It's useless." Qing Yuzi sighed. "The place where I'm trapped requires the Key of Inheritance to enter. Only you and I have one—oh, the god-level you, that is. Only the two of us can enter."

"What place is so terrifying? Can't I inform a God King and ask them to save you?"

Qing Yuzi gave a bitter smile. "How could it be that simple? If any God King of the Wilderness Era traced back upstream through the River of Time,

there would be enormous disturbances.

"Even if a God King came, the Bookless Divine King of the Evil God Faction would follow. I'd still die then."

Only then did Zhao Xing remember that Qing Yuzi had become famous throughout endless time and space. Using the Marquis Transformation Art to deceive heaven and cross the sea, he had disguised himself as a Divine General under the Bookless Divine King, stolen intelligence, and warned the Third Era of the Desolate Territory.

This had greatly undermined the Evil God Faction's original attack plan. The Epoch Worms and History Book Worms had originally been able to deal a devastating blow to the Red Star Empire, but after their plans were leaked, their destructive power had been severely reduced.

Just thinking about it made it clear how furious the Bookless Divine King must have been. Qing Yuzi had not only damaged his actual interests, but utterly ruined his reputation as well.

I only passed along a message and received 150 million contribution points! How monumental must Qing Yuzi's merit have been?

There was probably more than one God King with a warrant out for him.

"Where exactly are you trapped?" Zhao Xing could not help asking for the second time. He was truly curious what Lao Qing had encountered.

"I can't tell you." Qing Yuzi said, "You should know about Divine Concealment, right?"

"I do. It's a state where all karma, even one's origin, is drawn in and concealed." Zhao Xing nodded.

"That's right. The place where I'm trapped has the same trait. It is unknowable and unseeable, and cannot be spoken of. Only those who possess the Key of Inheritance can come and go freely." Qing Yuzi smiled bitterly. "Actually, having said this much, you should already know where I'm trapped."

Zhao Xing was suddenly startled and instinctively changed the way he addressed him. "Damn it, Lao Qing, don't tell me you're inside the corpse of a God King?"

The elm tree rustled and shook. "That's right. But I can't tell you his name—I can't say it. Nor can I tell you where it is. I don't even know how to explain how to reach his corpse."

"Even though he is dead, he can still maintain a state of Divine Concealment. That state radiates throughout endless time and space."

"So tell me, how am I supposed to ask the higher-ups of the Wilderness Era to save me? They can't."

Hearing Qing Yuzi's words, Zhao Xing understood.

To have someone rescue you, you first had to tell them where you were and how to get there. But the place where Lao Qing was trapped was inside the corpse of a God King in a state of Divine Concealment. It was impossible to reveal the rescue location; he could not even speak the God King's name.

Then how could anyone save him?

Qing Yuzi had effectively been caught in a Hidden Event. Only people who also possessed the Key of Inheritance had the right to know about it and could speak to each other without restriction.

"Of everyone in our faction, only you and I have one. And I can't ask the Evil God Faction for help—that would only make me die faster. Sigh..."

Life was not easy. The elm tree sighed, and Zhao Xing felt that Qing Yuzi, this Working God, had truly endured countless hardships in the past.

"Then what happened before this event? And when did I become a god? Are you saying I met you in the future? When was that?" Zhao Xing asked several more questions.

"Among the questions you asked, some would affect your destiny. If I answer them, you will gain a great deal of unnecessary karma, lowering your Divine Concealment level."

Zhao Xing had no choice but to suppress his doubts. "All right, then tell me what you can—just treat it as your last words."

Qing Yuzi actually laughed.

He had skipped straight to last words? And even if he was leaving last words, this fellow still wanted to take the chance to make him answer several questions. That was truly outrageous!

Why had he not noticed before that this kid could be so irritating?

Zhao Xing also felt that he might have overlooked Lao Qing's feelings. Mainly because he had always considered Lao Qing the sort of man who faced death without fear.

"Lao Qing, don't be angry. Look, I can't pass on a message for you, and I can't summon reinforcements for you. All I can do is keep you company and chat."

Qing Yuzi unexpectedly found Zhao Xing's words quite reasonable. Having someone to talk to before dying was better than dying alone in solitude.

Besides, his Space-Time Incense Technique could only drift to the fifth Solar Year. It could not continue onward.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Qing Yuzi asked. "Even if I choose what to tell you, once I begin speaking, you will have to pay for that curiosity with additional karmic influence."

"I do. I'm already a god—why should I be scared of this and that? What's the point of being so timid?" Zhao Xing answered boldly.

"Fine." Qing Yuzi stopped hesitating. "Before this Hidden Event, you and I met at a certain space-time node. I can't tell you the time or place, lest the impact be too great."

Zhao Xing nodded.

"At that time, I was hiding from pursuit, while you were... well, you were adventuring, I suppose."

"After we met, we went through some things together, killed or crippled dozens of Divine Generals, and seized the Key of Inheritance—"

"Hold on, killed or crippled dozens of Divine Generals?" Zhao Xing interrupted Qing Yuzi. "Seriously?"

"Would I make something like that up?"

Zhao Xing's expression became rather colorful, while Qing Yuzi continued.

"After that, you and I were pursued together—"

"Hold on, where was my protector?"

"You were already a god. Why would you still have a protector?" Qing Yuzi said. "Once you become a god, you are an expert, no longer a genius in need of protection. Like me, you have to contribute to the Human Race."

"And could you stop interrupting me?"

"Oh, sorry. Go on." Zhao Xing did not ask why he had been pursued. If he became a god and did not betray his faction, the Evil God Faction would certainly hunt him down.

After all, traveling through time to become a god was itself stealing resources from the Evil God Faction.

"Once we obtained the Key of Inheritance, we decided to enter immediately. Since this God King's corpse was in Divine Concealment, you and I could temporarily evade pursuit there."

"But for some reason, just as we were about to enter, you decided to risk returning to the Wilderness Era."

"Oh? So I came back again." Zhao Xing rested his chin on his hand.

"I don't know whether you ultimately succeeded in returning." Qing Yuzi said. "You left, but I had to hide first."

"After entering, I became trapped in a death trap. Now I can only turn into a tree and hide. There are other Evil Gods who obtained the Key of Inheritance, and they're looking for me."

After hearing this, Zhao Xing felt some admiration for Lao Qing.

His talent was not extraordinarily outstanding. Back then, even if Qing Yuzi plotted the East Yan Ancient Clan's sacrifice, he only had a twenty to thirty percent chance of becoming a god.

Wan Ying and Fu Ping, meanwhile, were all demigods and candidates for the Divine Realm. In other words, if Lao Qing cultivated step by step, he would not even have reached their level.

Guluo He had also said that in terms of talent and comprehension, Qing Yuzi was merely ordinary.

But Lao Qing had one advantage: he was incredibly bold and dared to fight and risk his life.

With no hope of becoming a god, he had forcibly used the East Yan Ancient Clan's sacrifice to make himself god-level.

After becoming a god, he had boldly infiltrated a God King's territory, risking death to send intelligence back and earning monumental merit.

And now Zhao Xing had learned that, after becoming a god, he and Lao Qing had killed or crippled dozens of Divine Generals together.

One matter after another—Lao Qing had carved out a place for himself through boldness and meticulousness.

Zhao Xing estimated that Lao Qing should now be at Divine General level.

Qing Yuzi sighed. "They will find me soon. Even if they don't, I'm afraid I won't be able to get out. What a pity I've never returned to the Wilderness Era even once, never returned to the Divine Temple..."

There was no fear of death in Qing Yuzi's words, only regret that he had not returned to the Wilderness Era in glory.

"At a time like this, that's what you're thinking about?" Zhao Xing laughed.

Qing Yuzi's mood improved slightly, and he smiled. "After doing so many things, yet never having the chance to appear in public as a saint—wouldn't that be regrettable?"

"Then tell me about it, and I'll remember it for you. If you truly cannot return, I'll help spread word of your past deeds."

"No need. I still want to try to save myself." The elm tree trembled, and the image seemed to become unstable.

"Zhao Xing, my Space-Time Incense Technique has run out of strength at the fifth Solar Year of the Third Era of the Desolate Territory."

"But I think that since you can receive incense offerings, perhaps you can help me."

Perhaps after talking with Zhao Xing for a while, Qing Yuzi had come up with a way to save himself.

"What should I do?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Have you ever received incense offerings from others? You can absorb a wave of incense power and help sustain me, allowing the prayers produced by my Space-Time Incense Technique to continue flowing onward to the next Solar Year Time Point."

"I can give it a try."

Over the past five thousand years, as he traveled about, more and more people had come to believe in him as the Mountain Head of Ancient Hill of Antiquity.

Most importantly, Spirit Path Departments across various nations and regions had included him among the orthodox gods rather than treating him as a hidden god.

This was also the stalling tactic of the Boundless True God. Once he became an orthodox god, recognized by the Spirit Path Department and able to gather incense, the Evil Gods would influence him more slowly, giving them an excuse to delay.

Rumble—

Zhao Xing unfolded his World Projection. A continent phantom emerged, and the Primal Chaos Dao Tower appeared from within the chaos mist.

Divine power surged forth and entered his Life Palace.

Zhao Xing received vast amounts of incense power, continuously accepting incense offerings from every region.

Whoosh—

An immense amount of incense power condensed into a single wisp of flame.

The True Self Divine Sacrifice contained the Way of Sacrifice. Zhao Xing attempted to send this wisp of flame into the light spot representing Qing Yuzi.

Divine fire burned around the elm tree, and the tree changed from its battered appearance into one that looked refreshed.

"Will it work?" Zhao Xing asked.

Yet the elm tree had already vanished, seizing the opportunity to begin self-rescue.

"Gone..."

"I hope Lao Qing will be all right."

Zhao Xing sensed Qing Yuzi moving farther away from him, until his presence gradually faded, as though he had never existed at all.

"Lao Qing said he wouldn't alter my destiny or add to my karma, but now that I know he is in danger, how can I avoid it in the future?"

Zhao Xing told Bowei about the matter and sought the learned man's opinion.

"What is destined to be yours will eventually be yours. Since Qing Yuzi mentioned something to you, when you travel through time, you will inevitably possess that item and inevitably meet him."

"Time and space, destiny, and karma—the influence of these three Cosmic Laws means that when you travel through time, you are fated to discover certain matters connected to him."

Bowei said, "Qing Yuzi is rather clever. I imagine he did not reveal too much to you, or he himself would have suffered backlash."

After receiving Bowei's analysis, Zhao Xing went to the White Jade Wuling Ship and sought advice from the Boundless True God.

"You contacted Qing Yuzi? Didn't I warn you not to get involved with him?"

"His trouble is immense. Ever since he ruined the Bookless Divine King's plans last time, people have been pursuing him across many time periods." The Boundless True God said, "When you travel through time later, if you meet him, he will certainly be in the midst of being pursued. You will inevitably be implicated."

"Please teach me, True God."

"I fear it cannot be avoided." The Boundless True God shook his head. "The karma between you and Qing Yuzi likely began the moment he transmitted that warning."

"To avoid it, you would have to reverse that major event from its beginning. But that event involved the Three Great Evil God Forces, me, the Master of Cold Food Festival, and events such as the attacks of the Epoch Worms, History Book Worms, and Sky-Pillar Giant Beasts. You would have to completely change the five Solar Years of the Third Era of the Desolate Territory."

"That would be no different from bearing the backlash of the entire River of Time. Even if a God King held the complete Profound Spirit History Book, it would likely be difficult to accomplish."

"I warned you not to contact Qing Yuzi because he was caught up in a Major Event Chronicle of vast time and space. Such events are like how the Moon God Palace Master used part of the Profound Spirit History Book to solidify the history of the Second Era of the Desolate Territory. They have already become predetermined and are difficult to alter."

The Boundless True God's explanation was complicated, but Zhao Xing extracted one core point: his meeting with Lao Qing, including their seizure of the Key of Inheritance, had been determined by a powerful Dao of Destiny.

The matters Lao Qing had participated in were too high-level and involved too broad a scope. They could not be changed; even dealing with the aftermath was difficult.

It was like the East Yan Ancient Clan's sacrifice back then. In the end, they had been unable to twist time and space and return to alter things before the East Yan Ancient Clan's sacrifice,

because too many people and powerful figures had been involved. There had even been the resurrection of an Ancient God.

"Qing Yuzi cannot even hide himself through Divine Concealment. He can only keep fleeing. The fact that he is still alive is practically a miracle. And he even found a way to use the Space-Time Incense Technique to transmit information to the present. This kid truly counts as something of a legend."

As a Divine General who had attained the Dao through heaven and earth, the Boundless True God considered Qing Yuzi a troublemaker, but still had to praise his ability.

There were many people who caused trouble. But causing enormous trouble and still surviving—that was skill.

"If you cannot change the source of the past or avoid meeting him in the future, then you can only let nature take its course." The Boundless True God said. "Before you travel through time, make yourself as strong as possible. This god will also make some arrangements for you."

"Yes, thank you, True God."

"What you need to worry about now is not Qing Yuzi." The Boundless True God said. "You need to guard against the desperate measures of the Three Great Evil God Forces."

"If they cannot influence you for a long time, they will certainly take desperate measures. Ten Directions Mountain may appear at any moment. They will not allow you to become a god smoothly."

Zhao Xing's heart tightened. In truth, he had sensed that over these five thousand years, the Evil God Faction's offerings to him had become increasingly frequent. They had even made requests to meet him or asked for certain things, but he had found excuses to brush them off each time, with the Boundless True God helping to stall.

But there would eventually come a day when they could no longer delay. The Evil God Faction wanted to influence him, and their core purpose was to obtain the Ten Directions Mountain Scripture or win him over into the Evil God Faction.

They had to obtain either the Person and Scripture or Zhao Xing himself.

The true spirit incense offered over the past five thousand years had not been given for nothing.

Every "banquet" had to end eventually. If they still could not obtain the Person and Scripture, then it would be time for a "beheading."

But if he really gave it to them, he would become one of the Evil God Faction. Besides, if he gave it away, what advantage would he have left when ascending Ten Directions Mountain? So he absolutely could not hand it over.

He had protectors, so his own safety was not a concern for now. But what about Great Zhou and all his friends and family?

Zhao Xing told his two protectors about his worries. Palace Master Lu Ya said indifferently, "Don't panic. The Evil God Faction will not target your friends and family."

Zhao Xing was somewhat stunned. "What do you mean, Palace Master?"

"Because they can't be killed." Little Yellow Duck crossed his wings, looking exceedingly smug.

Zhao Xing looked confused. How could they not be killed?

Seeing his expression, Palace Master Lu Ya could not help asking, "What, you don't know? Didn't you obtain a Time Page back then and repeatedly use it at the Profound Spirit Dharma Assembly in the Origin Sea Ancient Kingdom? So you never knew its wonderful use?"

"The Time Page?" Zhao Xing immediately thought of something.

While preening his feathers, Little Yellow Duck explained, "The Moon God Palace Master has already found the Time Page of the Third Era."

"All candidates for the Divine Realm are already recorded on the Time Page. Their friends and family with good causes and good results are likewise recorded in the Ten Tables and Eight Books."

"During the period around your attempt to break into the Divine Realm, your friends and family have already received a layer of protection. Even if accidental death occurs beyond that protection, they can immediately be revived."

"Of course, specific cases require specific analysis. If your friends and family are killed for violating the Strict Legal Conventions, or if they defect and believe in Evil Gods, then they will not be protected."

"If an Evil God comes to kill them, that would be even better." Palace Master Lu Ya's eyes flashed with a fierce gaze. "Then I can apply for a Time Page, reach the scene of the crime, revive your friends and family, and devour the Attacking Evil God at the same time!"

Zhao Xing's eyes lit up. Right—the Time Page was in the Source Origin Heavenly Palace, and back then he had only been in the Source Origin Realm, unable to bring out the Time Page's true power.

"The Profound Spirit History Book is the Wilderness Era's greatest trump card. Whether the Evil Gods can accomplish what they do is not up to them." Palace Master Lu Ya said confidently. "Even if they do manage something, the Palace Master can use the Time Page to reverse it and make their efforts wasted."

"Even damage caused by Divine Beasts like Epoch Worms, History Book Worms, and Sky-Pillar Giant Beasts has been partially reversed."

"It was only because their timing of activation was early. At the very beginning of the Third Era of the Desolate Territory, before the Palace Master had found the Time Page, they made their move. Otherwise, they could never have caused such a great space-time impact."

"Why isn't the Great Emperor in this time and space? That is because—"

"Lu Ya." Yan Ao interrupted just as Little Yellow Duck was chirping away.

Little Yellow Duck immediately stopped talking. "I can't say any more. Saying too much is bad for you."

Zhao Xing nodded. Knowing some things meant becoming contaminated by karma. At the crucial moment of becoming a god, the fewer major events he got involved in, the less karma he would bear and the greater his chance of success.

After all, the Divine Realm required breaking free from the constraints of cosmic law and escaping the River of Time, which naturally included breaking free from countless karma threads.

"Zhao Xing, have you decided when to exchange?" Yan Ao asked. "Once your merit reaches perfection, you may exchange it at the Source Origin Heavenly Palace for the Opportunity to Become a God, then go to the Reincarnation Divine Palace to travel through time."

"Senior Yan, I am not fully prepared yet."

Zhao Xing glanced at the panel.

Fourth layer of Extreme Land: 9999/10000

Third layer of Primal Chaos World: 8512/10000

Second layer of Great Sun Sea: 3465/10000

Compared to five thousand years ago, the fourth layer of Extreme Land was already approaching perfection, and that final tiny bit of progress was the crucial point for attaining divinity.

Zhao Xing already had a hundred percent certainty; as long as he wanted to, he could instantly achieve the perfection of merit and reach the fifth layer.

The reason he did not attain divinity in the Third Era of the Desolate Territory was that the origin Dao of the Wilderness Era was too weak. The foundation of the divine realm also had strengths and weaknesses, and naturally, one should absorb origins from a spacetime where the origins were powerful, thereby creating a divine body that was even more formidable.

As for the Primal Chaos World, although its progress was decent, it was still far from entering the next stage. This was mainly because the inner world opened up by the World Opening Divine Stone back then was too vast, making universal promotion quite difficult.

The Ancient Hill of Antiquity provided many resources for Extreme Land cultivation, but it was impossible for it to continue supplying Zhao Xing for the breakthrough of the True Self Faction's inner world; he still had to earn this money himself.

As for the second layer of the Great Sun Sea, its progress could be described as slow. Five thousand years had passed, and he had only collected one thousand strands of Extreme Star Origin, increasing his progress by one thousand points.

"However, this is not the main reason for my waiting." Zhao Xing reported to the two divine generals, "I cultivated the Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique, and after my soul split, I still have one soul derivative wandering outside. I want to find this soul derivative and merge with it."

Yan Ao asked, "You cannot actively disperse this soul derivative and must find it? Could it be an obstruction to attaining divinity?"

"This junior is not sure either." Zhao Xing shook his head.

Aside from the perfection of merit, another obstacle blocking Zhao Xing's path to attaining divinity was the soul splitting caused by the Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique.

The path of the Straw Man Great Dao had an unclear path ahead, which might be a hidden danger. Although he had been growing stronger all these years, Zhao Xing did not know whether he would be affected when attaining divinity.

He had become a demigod, and Liu Tianning had also become a demigod, but Zuo Qiyu was still an emperor lord; the impact was quite obvious.

If there truly was an impact, he would only be able to find a way to abolish this divine art and discard the soul-multiplier boost brought by the Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique. Regarding this art, Lu Ya and Yan Ao had no right to speak at all, as they simply did not understand such divine arts.

Zhao Xing first asked Bowei.

"The universe's primeval beginning, the Tribulationless True God—this was Gu Tianyang's original intention when creating the art. It sounds like a Heaven and Earth Attainment Method, but it does not display any characteristics of Heaven and Earth Attainment."

"I also don't know whether it will hinder you from attaining divinity." Bowei deduced for a moment, a hint of confusion in his eyes, "Logically speaking, you have been able to continuously improve your realm, and your teacher Liu Tianning can as well, so Zuo Qiyu should also be able to enter the demigod realm."

"Yet Zuo Qiyu is the one trapped in place; this defies common sense."

"An art should not exhibit multiple conflicting characteristics."

Zhao Xing pondered and said, "Elder, do you think Zuo Qiyu could abolish this secret technique by reincarnating and cultivating anew?"

"He probably can." Bowei nodded, "Through the reincarnation world of the Reincarnation Divine Palace, Zuo Qiyu can actively undergo reincarnation. However, he has never done so; perhaps it is because his entire cultivation is built upon this, and he is reluctant to give it up."

Not getting an answer from Bowei, Zhao Xing sought out another expert, Liu Tianning's true self in Void City of the Primordial Beginning Realm. "There is no need to abolish it, nor do you need to wait for the return of your soul derivative. The independence of the soul derivatives in the Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique is precisely what creates its uniqueness."

"My answer is that you can make a direct breakthrough. The only drawback is the impact that your soul splitting has on the mind." Liu Tianning said.

"Why is Teacher so certain?"

"Because over these past few millennia, I have made some progress."

"Oh? What progress has Teacher made?" Zhao Xing asked curiously. "The Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique was modeled after Void Ancestor, and Void Ancestor is one of the divine emperors. The upper limit of this divine art should not merely be at the emperor lord level."

"However, considering that Gu Tianyang created the art during his emperor lord period, it was not entirely refined, so I made some adjustments to it."

"Teacher is able to make adjustments to it?" Zhao Xing was somewhat shocked.

Divine arts were categorized into the exquisite system and the expansion system. Expansion system divine arts, much like the Eight Methods of Layered World Mountain he had created back then, could be continuously improved within the framework of Dao theory.

Therefore, the Dao theory of Layered World Mountain grew stronger, and the might of the divine art increased as well.

Exquisite system divine arts, such as the Straw Man Art, would collapse if even a hair's breadth off; they could neither be increased nor decreased by a single fraction. Once modified, even if they could take form, their effects would change drastically, and they would already be considered a different divine art.

Without a doubt, the Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique was the pinnacle of exquisite system divine arts. Its unique traits of no-distance teleportation, soul splitting, and independent tribulation-suffering were extremely distinct. If the divine art were altered, these effects could not be preserved, and it could no longer be called the Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique.

Old Liu could actually modify it? Was that still the Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique?

"I just said that this art was created by imitating the life Dao diagram of Void Ancestor. I gathered all the Void Ancestor techniques that could possibly be collected."

"For this, I even made a trip to the Source Origin Heavenly Palace and learned the 'Devouring Tribulation Art' that you brought back previously and later completed."

"After modification, the new Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique possesses two innate talents: first, 'Devouring Tribulation'; second, 'Nirvana'."

Liu Tianning said.

"Devouring Tribulation, Nirvana?" Zhao Xing's expression was somewhat startled. Although he did not know what effect Nirvana had, he certainly knew about the Devouring Tribulation Art.

Du Yun was the outstanding martial practitioner who practiced the Devouring Tribulation Art, and Old Liu had actually managed to fuse this art into the Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique?

At this moment, Zuo Qiyu, who had been listening from the side, also opened his eyes, looking at Liu Tianning with a complex expression.

He had not expected that his comprehension of the divine art, which he had studied for many years, still fell short of Liu Tianning's understanding.

Liu Tianning had actually been able to make such massive improvements to it!

"The two of you, don't look at me like that." Liu Tianning smiled. "The names sound very domineering, but they don't possess such overwhelming might; I have only achieved a modest amount of progress."

"The straw man devouring tribulation is not as formidable as a Qi sect martial practitioner who truly cultivates the Devouring Tribulation Art, and as for Nirvana, it still only exists in theory and cannot be passed on to you."

"Even so, Brother Liu is the most formidable grandmaster of the straw man art that I have ever seen." Zuo Qiyu sighed deeply. "You far surpass me."

Following Liu Tianning's discourse, neither Zhao Xing nor Zuo Qiyu managed to learn the new Primordial Beginning Straw Man Technique.

The main reason was that Liu Tianning was still in the midst of drafting the new divine art and had not yet perfected it himself; how could he teach it to others?

At the parting moment, Zhao Xing bid farewell, and Liu Tianning escorted him out of Void City.

"Master, you don't need to see me off any further."

"Disciple, you must be careful." Liu Tianning suddenly transmitted telepathically, "I sense that he is still alive."

Zhao Xing remained calm, likewise transmitting telepathically, "Teacher, you sensed it? Is there any specific intuition regarding where he is?"

"No, it is merely a gut feeling." Liu Tianning said, "An intuition that was born the very moment I modified this art."

"Assuming he is truly still alive, his plotting is likely vast."

"Zuo Qiyu cannot advance, and Jin Yan cannot either, yet you and I are able to continue taking steps forward. If this art is meant to screen for sacrificial offerings, you and I are now the plumpest offerings upon this altar."

"Be careful." Liu Tianning repeated once more.

"I understand, Teacher."

With Liu Tianning's explanation, Zhao Xing had a plan in mind.

"Even if the soul derivative cannot be recovered for a time, there is no need to rush into it right away."

"If I go to the Black Heaven Desolate Territory now, it would be no different from giving opportunities to the Three Great Evil God Forces: the Five Abyss Thunder God Department, the Undying Nether God, and Bookless City."

"If things go poorly, it might even expose the connection between my avatar and Kuang Chuan."

"Actively waiting for the avatar to return is the best choice."

"However, I cannot wait for too long either; I must redeem it within a millennium." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Dragging it out for too long would instead be quite ominous. Moreover, the timing for the appearance of Ten Directions Mountain in the Third Era was also drawing near.

Becoming a Free God first, and then ascending Ten Directions Mountain to seek Heaven and Earth Attainment, was the optimal choice.

"Minister Zhao~"

"Minister Zhao~"

Suddenly, Zhao Xing heard someone calling him again.

At first listen, Zhao Xing thought someone was making a sacrifice to him yet again, but the next moment he realized this sound was not transmitted through the way of the mind, but rather issued genuinely from a nearby sun star.

"Hm? It's a Sun Secret Talisman; someone is transmitting a message to me through the sun star." Zhao Xing felt the Great Sun Sacred Body vibrate. The vibration frequency of the sun star formed a unique signal, continuously calling out to him, and within the sea inside his body, this unique fluctuation was mirrored as well.

"Could it be a reply from the Chasers of Light?"

Whoosh~

Zhao Xing instantly teleported to a super-class star system near the Primordial Beginning Realm, locating the Giant Yang Star of the Manya Star System.

"Hum~"

Zhao Xing decoded a passage of the Sun Secret Talisman, and very quickly, the complete information was revealed.

"It really is a reply from the Chasers of Light. Five thousand years—it truly hasn't been easy!"

Five thousand years ago, he had obtained the contact information of the three leaders of the Chasers of Light from Feng Chen, and sent messages through the Giant Yang Star to the three venerables: Xu Yang, Li Wen, and Caixi.

Accompanied by the endless Giant Yang Radiance continuously spreading toward the depths of the universe, today, five thousand years later, Zhao Xing had finally received a reply.

"Going and returning took twenty-five hundred years. Who knows how far these three flew."

The experts of the Chasers of Light were almost all outside the Spirit Realm, and Zhao Xing estimated that all three of them had already stepped outside the cosmic territory largest ruled during the Five Emperors period.

Originally, he had not pinned any hopes on them, but unexpectedly, he had actually received a reply.

"A round trip meant that karma was connected, but due to the immense distance and the obstruction of many Desolate Territory Belts encountered along the way, even the Dao of Karma would weaken accordingly."

"I don't know whether we can maintain contact in time."

The content of the Sun Secret Talisman was a unique method of karmic communication. Zhao Xing spent three days learning it, and then sat cross-legged right upon this Giant Yang Star.

Hum~

The light vibration frequency of the entire Giant Yang Star changed, and about three months later, Zhao Xing finally sensed a faint karmic connection.

The next moment, a light figure appeared before Zhao Xing.

"Minister Zhao?" The light figure spoke first.

"Venerable Xu Yang?" Zhao Xing also probed tentatively, because this connection was too faint; Zhao Xing could not even be certain who was on the opposite side.

"It is me." The light figure said, "The message was sent twenty-five hundred years ago. It seems Minister Zhao, you captured the Sun Secret Talisman and even learned the Sun Karma Art I sent over."

"Minister Zhao, time is pressing; let's keep it short."

"You want Extreme Star Origin? I have it here."

"Ji Wen, Caixi, and I have collected a great deal of Extreme Star Light ever since we left the Spirit Realm."

"You are the mountain head of the Ancient Hill of Antiquity, and also a person recommended by Elder Feng."

"We can sell some to you at a low price, but we have no plans to return in the near future."

"If you wish to trade, there are only two methods."

"Please speak." Zhao Xing suppressed his pounding heart.

"The first is to wait for our return, and the amount available for trade will also be larger." Venerable Xu Yang said. "The quantity available for sale is twenty to thirty thousand strands of Extreme Star Origin."

Twenty to thirty thousand strands? Zhao Xing was stunned.

The amount he had previously obtained from Hemp Robe Divine Physiognomy was mere twenty strands of Extreme Star Origin, yet relying on those, he had cultivated to the second layer of Great Sun No Sea.

Afterward, through five arduous thousand years, the amount he collected did not exceed one thousand strands.

One had to know that he was already the mountain head of the Ancient Hill of Antiquity, possessed connections within the Primordial Beginning Realm, and was a candidate for the divine realm.

Sitting atop such a massive network of influence and relationships, utilizing vast manpower and resources to gather them, he had only managed to collect that much in five thousand years.

It was evident that Extreme Star Origin was indeed difficult to collect; even if he attained divinity and stayed right here, he would not obtain any more.

Yet Venerable Bei Yang actually said he could sell him twenty to thirty thousand strands of Extreme Star Origin! And at a low price?!

"Venerable Xu Yang, when will you all return?" Zhao Xing's breathing grew hurried.

"I don't know." Venerable Xu Yang shook his head. "We Chasers of Light initially made up our minds not to return, and we never set a return date; after all, a round trip for us takes far too long, and it wastes too much time and energy."

"Many dangerous places can be passed through once, but not necessarily a second time. The risk factor within them is immense, which Minister Zhao can surely understand."

"Indeed." Zhao Xing sighed helplessly. Ever since obtaining the "Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Map", Zhao Xing knew that the vastness of the universe and the abundance of wonders and dangers surpassed imagination. Even divine realm experts could die, let alone the three of them who were merely demigods.

"Please state the second method."

"The second method is for Minister Zhao to make a trip to the headquarters of the Chasers of Light. There, we possess an Aurora Transmission Realm." Venerable Bei Yang said.

"Within this Aurora Transmission Realm, there is a secret magic array whose sole function is to transmit Aurora Origin."

"It allows Aurora Origin to undergo directional transmission, crossing endless spatial distances to appear within the transmission realm in an extremely short time."

"There are two Aurora Magic Arrays: one inside the transmission realm, and one we carry with us."

"Originally, the three of us agreed to transmit a portion of Extreme Star Light back to our old home every ten thousand years for the members of the society to study."

"At the same time, we exchange it for some activity funds for the society."

Zhao Xing understood the operating model of the Chasers of Light. These individuals were completely non-productive and were almost entirely academic-minded talents.

When Bowei integrated the scholars, he couldn't even be bothered to take them in: first, they burned money fiercely; second, they couldn't fight; and third, they produced very few results.

Extreme Star Origin sounded precious, but in reality, only two types of people had a demand for it: first, Tianji faction ministers, but those who could use Extreme Star Origin had to at least cultivate Tianji faction divine arts.

Zhao Xing's Tianji faction divine-level cultivation methods had been obtained unintentionally from the Boundless True God; in this era, almost no second person knew how to use them.

Second were historical scholars, who studied the history mirrored within Extreme Star Origin. However, after the Extreme Star Origin was transmitted back, the history during the transmission process would overwrite a large portion of the previously preserved history, leaving only the pure origin behind, which greatly diminished its research value.

Third, a very small number of other professions used it when cultivating certain secret techniques, such as Qi sect martial practitioners, formation masters, or scholarly research, but the demand was not large, and if he sold it at a high price, people wouldn't buy it.

Good things had to find the right buyer, and the Chasers of Light fell into the category of operating at a loss, even having to rely on members' passion projects to survive.

"The Chasers of Light need to cultivate talent. Supposing that one day the three of us die, there can still be new strong individuals to follow in our footsteps and explore."

"Therefore, for the second trading method, Minister Zhao doesn't even need to pay with divine objects; resources up to the highest demigod level will suffice." Venerable Bei Yang was extremely sincere.

"These resources, on the one hand, serve as a reserve fund for the members of the society, and on the other hand, for some of our friends and family. For the sake of ideals, we have abandoned many things and failed to shoulder the responsibilities of clan leaders, fathers, or even lords of the kingdom, truly failing them."

Zhao Xing felt deeply admired toward this group of explorers and immediately agreed, "Please rest assured, Venerable Xu Yang, I will certainly handle this properly and ensure that this wealth is put to the best use of everything."

"Many thanks, Minister Zhao." Venerable Xu Yang said happily. "Thank you so much."

"No, it is I who should thank you." Zhao Xing said, "The three of you have made tremendous contributions to the human race, and have also paid a heavy price."

After chatting for a while, Venerable Bei Yang finally finalized the trading details with Zhao Xing.

Within a century, they would transmit back at least five thousand strands of Extreme Star Origin in batches.

Because transmission incurred losses, this was already the maximum quantity that could be obtained in the short term.

Zhao Xing, on the other hand, would be responsible for paying the corresponding Five Emperors Coins to the members designated by Venerable Bei Yang.

Once the details were finalized, the karmic avatar also disappeared, and Zhao Xing could no longer sense the presence of Venerable Bei Yang.

A month later, Zhao Xing arrived at the headquarters of the Chasers of Light, stepping into the Aurora Transmission Realm.

Within the transmission realm, Zhao Xing met the person in charge there, and very quickly, the first transmission of Extreme Star Origin began.