Chapter 1572: Dao Hall Master Visits the Ruins, Six Semi-Saints Fish for Bait

"Has Taizai Ci arrived?"

"Reporting, Lord Li, not yet. But they are tracking the signals we left, so I believe they will find the Temple of Fates soon."

"Still too slow. I told you we didn't need to split up. When it comes to treasure hunting, I'm definitely number one!"

"Of course, Lord Li is the best!"

"No need to flatter me, you know I don't fall for that."

Despite his words, Yue Gongli hummed contentedly, clearly pleased with himself.The tables had turned. After this adventure, he was now firmly in control and no longer feared Xu Xiaoshou's schemes.

Turning his head, he could see a colossal plaque dug out from under the three-hundred-zhang deep trench. Four large, chisel-carved characters read: "Temple of Fates!"

The Temple of Fates, also known as the Temple of Godslaying.Legend had it that the Godslayer Officer Ran Ming sat within this temple, dictating fates and wielding power that overshadowed all ages.Ordinary people naturally knew nothing of these things, but Yue Gongli was well-informed. As a descendant of the Holy Emperor, he understood the meaning of the words "Godslayer Officer" better than anyone.

Regarding Ran Ming's legacy, the power of godslaying might only be attainable after reaching the Three Ascensions realm and discovering the true name.However, when it came to Ran Ming's external possessions, Yue Gongli never believed that only those who truly achieved the Three Ascensions were worthy of everything, leaving others with nothing but scraps.He didn't particularly crave the power of godslaying; after all, he had already acquired three parts of the Ancestral Source Power. Whether Godslayer Officer Ran Ming truly intended to pass down a legacy was debatable. Although he entered this God's Relic passively, his primary goal was to empty out all the lost treasures of Godslayer Officer Ran Ming.

For example…"The Godslaying Axe and the Fiend-Cleaving Axe, two legendary axes that dominated the ancient era.""The Shattered Jun Shield, also one of the nine supreme divine artifacts, seems to have been lost by the Void Clan within the Temple of Fates.""And various divine weapons, divine medicines, and divine artifacts—items only Ancestral Gods could use—all of which could be moved to my Han Palace Emperor Realm to adorn its facade…"

Yue Gongli was an adventurer with a keen sense of exploration, meticulously familiar with the history and whereabouts of all these treasures.As he spoke, he turned to the few who had managed to follow him to the Eighteenth Heaven—thirty-two Grand Void cultivators."Do you know that the Temple of Fates was previously located in the ethereal Thirty-Third Heaven of the Divine Realm?""In other words, its location was equivalent to the five Holy Emperor Secret Realms atop the Divine Continent's Heavenly Ladder.""Such a treasure trove, I initially didn't think it would end up in this God's Relic. But the divine battles everyone witnessed upon entering here made me dismiss some of my initial thoughts…"A smile appeared on Yue Gongli's face, and he hummed, "Since Ran Ming wanted to leave a legacy, and he even manipulated the Divine Realm's Triangle to piece together this relic, and the World Tree has been corrupted…""Then he was likely sincere, and the items he left behind are enough to make even the Ancestral Tree covet them.""Given that, the Temple of Fates must have also been transported here by him!""Furthermore, he likely encountered a divine fall crisis. In such a situation, if you were Ran Ming, what would you do?"

The Grand Void cultivators behind him exchanged bewildered glances.*We aren't even demi-saints; how are we supposed to know an Ancestral God's thoughts?*"If I were to die and wanted to leave a legacy, all the best treasures would be gathered in one place. The trials to obtain them shouldn't be *too* difficult, right?" a white-haired old man tentatively offered.

Yue Gongli snapped his fingers, looking at him with full appreciation, and pointed to the Temple of Fates plaque."You're right. This place is a cornucopia of treasures!""For the Ten Exalted, the most valuable aspect of the God's Relic lies in its rules.""But for common mortals like us, this is the most valuable thing, bar none."

*Common mortals…*The surrounding Grand Void cultivators fell silent, speechless.*We might be called common mortals, but are you, Lord Li, really one?*"Lord Li, you've only found a plaque…" someone hesitantly spoke up.

Yue Gongli snapped his fingers again, a mysterious smile gracing his face. "Do you know how to enter the Temple of Fates?"Immediately, murmurs arose as everyone extended their spiritual senses, probing deeper underground.But forget about the temple's main entrance.They couldn't even find the temple's walls, or even a single brick or tile."No, no, no…"Yue Gongli was amused by the old men's actions and chuckled, "There were originally no yin spirits in the Yin Spirit Coffin, and no gods worshipped the Divine Willow. Who told you that the Temple of Fates could only be a 'temple'?"At these words, everyone present froze.Soon, someone reacted, pointing to the massive plaque in front of them."The Temple of Fates... is *this* thing?"

A profound, enigmatic smile played on Yue Gongli's lips. Just as he was about to explain, an idea struck him, and he shook his head, saying, "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed."

Everyone's bodies trembled in unison.After exchanging glances, their eyes welled with fear, and expressions of disbelief appeared on their faces.Immediately afterward, their faces twisted into wild joy, as if their brains had been eaten by dogs, their eyes darting up and down freely, each looking like a blissful simpleton.

"No, you've misunderstood. I'm not that flashy old Taoist priest!" Yue Gongli was stunned.He had simply realized that he didn't need to explain. This way, he could maintain an enigmatic image, just like Dao Qiongcang.Because the truth was…Back in the Four Symbols Secret Realm, when that flashy old Taoist asked him to guard the Godslaying Token, he didn't fully trust that devious fellow. So, he tampered with the token.After stepping into the Eighteenth Heaven this time, he faintly sensed a weak connection. He searched for days before finding the source of this connection: the plaque hidden three hundred zhang beneath the earth!But with that one sentence…Everyone seemed to have misunderstood something.*The one who's mysterious is me! It's me, Yue Gongli!**Whose name are you thinking about right now, in front of me? I'm not his substitute!*It was useless…At this moment, everyone's gaze toward Yue Gongli held three parts suspicion, three parts adoration, three parts nervousness, and one part longing.It was as if, if Yue Gongli were to open his mouth and say right now:"Indeed, this is Dao Qiongcang."These people would immediately abandon the Holy Mountain and rush into Dao Qiongcang's embrace.

After making that joke, Yue Gongli himself couldn't laugh anymore. He had discovered a terrifying truth:Dao Qiongcang's thirty years in power, his diligent governance wasn't the most terrifying thing, nor was replacing real people with Heavenly Mystery Puppets the most disgusting.The truly horrifying part was that he had successfully brainwashed everyone on Holy Mountain, from top to bottom!Just one name… no, just one sentence, one ambiguous sentence, and these people's brains collectively turned to mush, losing all reason, no different from imbeciles!

"Damn it!" Yue Gongli cursed inwardly.*Aren't you afraid that I'm Xu Xiaoshou in disguise? Are you that easily led astray?*But…Did it matter?It no longer mattered!What truly mattered was, what if Dao Qiongcang really appeared one day and spoke such a sentence to these people?Yue Gongli felt an unprovoked irritation. Even facing the Seedling Saint Plant in the embryonic divine court hadn't agitated his thoughts this much.A coin has only two sides, heads and tails. But when tossed, there's a small probability it could land on its edge.For ordinary people, the probabilities are largely heads, tails, and the third variable of an edge.But for Dao Qiongcang, it's either right or wrong!The variables on Holy Mountain were currently all under his control.And now, he had left Holy Mountain and ventured into the five regions of the continent…

"Lord Li?""Lord Li?""Hall Master Dao!"Yue Gongli was jolted awake by the increasingly clear calls. He looked around and asked, "Has Dao Qiongcang arrived?"The dozens of old men immediately stared at him with suspicion and uncertainty, unsure if he was feigning ignorance or subtly hinting that they shouldn't speak carelessly afterward, lest they reveal heavenly secrets to outsiders.Yue Gongli glanced at the plaque in front of him, his throat bobbing as he swallowed with difficulty. He couldn't joke anymore. Numbly, he asked, "Has Shen Yi been found?""Reporting, Lord... Lord Li, not yet!" The people below spoke with exaggerated emphasis, as if injected with stimulants.*I'm really not Dao Qiongcang…* Yue Gongli nearly slapped them, his mouth twitching as he said, "Then he must have entered some secret realm… No, more likely, he's gone straight to the Thirty-Third Heaven."Everyone nodded vigorously, like pounding garlic, not questioning why the God's Relic hadn't closed or why the trials weren't over."Lord Li is right!"Yue Gongli opened his mouth but couldn't ask any more questions. These people had clearly become human-shaped Heavenly Mystery Puppets. He simply gave his orders numbly:"First, ignore Cao Erzhu.""Second, when Taizai Ci arrives, have him lead the demi-saints to guard this plaque and await Xu Xiaoshou.""Third, after I enter the Temple of Godslaying, contact me after half an hour, and then transmit messages to me every half an hour, but I will not send messages back.""Fourth, tell Hua Yuan to stop his solo action and come see me… During this process, do not make eye contact or converse with him!"As Yue Gongli spoke, he became somewhat exasperated:"Fifth, the Holy Emperor Wangze is not Xu Xiaoshou, and Ba Zun'an does not eat Shen Yi's fish!"Everyone nodded like pecking chicks, indicating they had remembered everything, word for word.Seeing this, Yue Gongli opened his mouth, then looked up at the sky in speechless despair, almost shedding tears.Indeed, they didn't ask why they should ignore Cao Erzhu, why Xu Xiaoshou would definitely come, why he wouldn't reply to messages, or how Hua Yuan could come see him without eye contact or conversation.The most absurd part was…*The Holy Emperor Wangze is not Xu Xiaoshou, and Ba Zun'an does not eat Shen Yi's fish.* What did those even mean? And they weren't even a little curious?*Damn it, I'm super curious myself!**I even want to ask what that sentence means.**You just nod and don't ask questions. Do you trust me that much?**—Dao Qiongcang, you're such a dog!*Wiping his eyes, Yue Gongli couldn't help but transform into a stubborn fish and plunged headfirst into the plaque.

"Buzz!"A dense aura of evil divine power emanated, then receded to nothing as if nothing had happened."Evil divine power?" someone exclaimed in surprise, then relaxed. "Hmm, evil divine power.""This doesn't seem like Lord Li's ability, does it? It feels a bit different…""Does it matter? Once this thing appears, it looks less like the Temple of Godslaying and more like the Temple of Evil Gods!""Indeed, it doesn't matter, haha.""Speaking of which…""Old Zhou, no need to ask. He's finally back. It's enough that Heaven knows, Earth knows, you know, and I know.""But…""Ahem, let me just say it, because I truly can't hold it in anymore… Why isn't the Holy Emperor Wangze Xu Xiaoshou? What would happen if Ba Zun'an ate Shen Yi's fish? What convoluted, bizarre story lies behind all this?""Uh, I don't know, but when he speaks like that, there's definitely a reason. Of course, he anticipated that you wouldn't be able to figure it out, which means he wants precisely this effect.""What if I *did* figure it out?""Then you must have received a special task, known only to you. But if that were the case, you certainly wouldn't say it. Since you've said it, it only proves that you haven't figured it out; you're just a simple fool.""Haha, Old Cheng, you've really grasped some of Dao… Ahem, some of his levels.""Hmph, of course!" Old Cheng put his hands on his hips."Could it simply be a code?""Dismissed. That's too superficial. You're on the first layer.""Then, just a joke?""What level are you at for him to joke with you?""Oh, that's true."

God's Relic, First Heaven."Discerning myself, transcending the Great Dao, ascending to the Three Ascensions, beholding the true name…"Xu Xiaoshou felt that without rounding up, simply by sacrificing his body and discerning his true self, he could ascend to the Eighteenth Heaven. But currently, he didn't wish to "ascend" in that manner.

"Summon!"Ten divine Fate Stars converged, and the Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation descended from the sky.Between the upper and lower parallel heavens, amid rumbling roars and swirling dust, a passable bridge was constructed.Everyone waited.All eyes fell on the sleeveless black-clad youth at the forefront."Ascend and kill them."To Lord Shou, this was an ordinary sentence.But to the ears of the others, it was a symbol, a battle for the Great Dao, and a battle for revenge!Everyone knew that the layout of the God's Relic had been rewritten. Given Yue Gongli's nature, the Eighteenth Heaven must have a massive pit waiting for them.But should they retreat?Shen Yi never retreated.Nor would the Holy Servants!Under the tense anticipation of the multitude, Xu Xiaoshou slowly extended his withered, scorched hand. He knew, of course, that whoever struck the pillar before them would have to withstand a powerful attack of evil divine power.The intensity of this attack had previously been verified by the Holy Divine Hall personnel:Before the Seedling Saint Plant was driven away by Shen Yi, not even demi-saints could withstand it.After the Seedling Saint Plant embarrassingly retreated to the heavens, demi-saints could ascend, and even some powerful Grand Void cultivators could!But now…Everything was uncertain.

"Let me do it," Elder Sang said, after some internal struggle. He felt he couldn't let his beloved disciple take such a risk, even if his disciple's combat power might already surpass his own. He was about to step forward to demonstrate his paternal love.Xu Xiaoshou, with just a glance, glared him back.*A mere Grand Void, how reckless.**Do I need cannon fodder?**I am the toughest tank!*

"Snap."He slapped the pillar. A surge of power seemed to erupt, and everyone simultaneously recoiled; Elder Sang was the fastest to retreat.

"Hum."The Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation lit up.Xu Xiaoshou felt a clear guidance in his spiritual will, which could still be summarized in two words: *one thought, ascend directly!*Xu Xiaoshou frowned. Instead of ascending immediately, he lowered his hand and looked at Elder Sang, who had retreated the farthest."Perhaps he guessed that I had achieved something significant and would certainly withstand the first attack, so he bypassed it, creating the illusion of no attack."He slapped it a few more times, but the Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation showed no further reaction."Someone else try."

*So, it's my turn?*Elder Sang took a deep breath. He didn't refuse, intending to step forward and risk himself.Shuigui raised a hand. "I'll do it."Shuigui believed that a demi-saint elemental body of Water Dao mystery was stronger than a non-ancient martial artist's pure second-generation Perfected Divine Sense sleeveless red-scorched body.Although Perfected Divine Sense was powerful, constrained by the Grand Void realm, it was like a supreme divine artifact in a child's hand, or Ancestral Source Power wielded by an ordinary Throne—its potential was ultimately limited.However, when geniuses were of the same realm, that realm itself became the kingly way!Shuigui, without a word, stepped past everyone and slapped the Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation."Snap."Wave patterns surged in the void, but there was no other abnormality.

Elder Sang laughed. "You two are too suspicious. If you ask me, the Seedling Saint Plant has already been chased by Shen Yi to the Thirty-Third Heaven. Yue Gongli isn't the World Tree after all, so he can't interfere with the Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation…"As he spoke, he casually placed his hand on the Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation and turned to look at everyone."See? Nothing happened, right?"No sooner had he spoken than Elder Sang's head swelled abruptly. As blood burst from his seven orifices, a massive amount of evil divine power simultaneously spewed out. It was as if gas, obstructed by a hard object, could only burst forth from the most vulnerable openings.

"Ugh-aahh-aahh—"Elder Sang clutched his head with one hand, his entire body exploding with boundless purple qi, like a purple version of being shot by an arrow in the Eight Palaces.However, the present was no longer the past."Xu Xiaoshou!" Elder Sang bellowed, his hand clamped tightly to the Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation, refusing to let go.Xu Xiaoshou knew, of course, that the old man wasn't asking him for rescue but was using this opportunity to discern the essence of the Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation and the source of this attack.

"Hold on."He shifted his foot, and the Dao of Intent unfolded, instantly activating Man-Heaven Unity…His brain vibrated.His body and soul seemed to vanish simultaneously.With a 90% Dao of Intent disk, further integrated by the special passive skill Man-Heaven Unity, Xu Xiaoshou was experiencing such a profound realm for the first time.In just an instant!He felt himself detach from his original location.The intentions of billions of living beings in heaven and earth were as if his own doing.The endless guidance of the Great Dao's rules were as if his command.A terrifying thought, one he had never dared to consider before, appeared in his consciousness. Xu Xiaoshou, without hesitation, enacted it:"Go!"He effortlessly separated a wisp of his consciousness, like a demi-saint's will avatar, or perhaps a Holy Emperor's, guiding it across the Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation directly to the Eighteenth Heaven.During this process, this conscious entity clearly perceived the joyful emotions of "mockery," "arrogance," and "triumph" from the evil divine power descending from the sky."Seedling Saint Plant!"

In but a blink, light and shadow shifted, and the conscious entity seemed to break through an unknown barrier, arriving in a new world.Here, gravity was stronger, and spiritual energy was denser.From the distribution of spatial nodes and the density of unowned holy power, it could easily be deduced…The Eighteenth Heaven!The Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation was depicted as a pattern in this heavenly realm, surrounded by six demi-saints.As if sensing something, these six demi-saints rose in unison the moment the conscious entity emerged."A demi-saint's will avatar?""Has Xu Xiaoshou achieved sainthood and come up here?""Summon the Holy Emperor Wangze! Let's strike it down first, don't let the conscious entity carry information back!"*Pop, pop—*An unusual sound.Xu Xiaoshou was already accustomed to suicide. This conscious entity, which others cherished, he regarded as refuse, and it self-immolated on the spot.The Man-Heaven Unity of the Dao of Intent disk was, naturally, not a demi-saint's will avatar.Back at the Heavenly Ascension Pillar of Reincarnation, Xu Xiaoshou almost simultaneously received the information from the upper realm. He turned and said:"Elder Sang can withdraw.""Shuigui, cover the rear. Grand Voids who can fight and gather intelligence can follow. Others, do not get involved.""I'll go up first. You all can come up in half an hour.""Wait…" Shuigui hadn't fully grasped the situation yet and wanted to ask a couple more questions.Xu Xiaoshou waved a hand."Don't worry, there are only six of them."