Chapter 1751: All Kinds of Mysteries Are Fully Added to the Body, Technique Dog's Big Meal Is No Longer a Dream

“What about the Time Ancestor?”

“Time and space are eternal… What then is the situation with the Time Ancestor?”

Xu Xiaoshou finally realized he had forgotten to account for the Time Ancestor. No matter how peculiar this one was, they were still the indispensable one-tenth. Peculiar indeed, but reliably stable. At least they wouldn't split into two, nor vanish into nothing.

Dao Qiongcang clearly understood the shock a person would experience upon first hearing that there were only eight Ancestors among the Ten, and immediately explained: “Actually, the best way to count the Ancestral Gods isn't by looking at the Ancestral Gods themselves, nor by whether their powers are polarized between good and evil, but by their Ancestral God Fate.”

That was straight to the point. Those who bonded with an Ancestral God Fate and survived were "deified as Ancestors," regardless of their remaining combat strength.

Xu Xiaoshou waited quietly and then heard Dao Qiongcang utter something astonishing: “The Saint Ancestor achieved Ancestorship twice; the second time they became the Demon Ancestor, using two Ancestral God Fates. The Medicine Ancestor did the same; with the second Ancestral God Fate, they manifested the Ghost Ancestor, also known as the God of Death.”

Is this why, among the Ten Ancestors, there are both Saint Ancestor and Demon Ancestor, and Medicine Ancestor and Ghost Ancestor? Were they deified according to their Ancestral God Fates?

“What about the Technique Ancestor, then?” Xu Xiaoshou thought of another crucial point.

Dao Qiongcang replied, “You’ve probably guessed it: the Technique Ancestor also has two titles, ‘Technique Ancestor’ and ‘Evil God,’ but from beginning to end, they only used one Ancestral God Fate.” He paused, then spoke solemnly: “Perhaps you can understand it this way. The Saint Ancestor and Medicine Ancestor were one entity in their early lives, but in their later lives, they split into another distinct ‘person.’ This ‘person’ also achieved Ancestorship, becoming the Demon Ancestor and Ghost Ancestor, respectively. Afterward, the Technique Ancestor advanced in this path, using the art of outer-body avatars. While still utilizing the same Ancestral God Fate, they manifested a ‘Su Yin.’ Su Yin possesses power equivalent to an Ancestral God, but fundamentally lacks an Ancestral God Fate. Therefore, despite having the name ‘Evil God,’ Su Yin is not among the Ten Ancestors.”

From two, to one…

Xu Xiaoshou was not foolish. Following Dao Qiongcang's line of thought, he quickly wondered if there existed a being who could deify themselves as an Ancestor without using an Ancestral God Fate. Was this "zero"? Was this the method the Saint Ancestor, Medicine Ancestor, Technique Ancestor, and all other reincarnated Ancestors, including the Time Ancestor, were pursuing?

“Zero?” he asked.

“There is no zero,” Dao Qiongcang chuckled, understanding Xu Xiaoshou's implication. “At least not yet. I did, however, have a ‘No. Zero’ in the past…”

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't even crack a smile at that dark joke. Because Dao Qiongcang had not denied the underlying logical structure of his words; he had not rejected the conceptual idea of "from two to one, to zero." This implied… There was no need to ask the Saint Ancestor or Medicine Ancestor why they took the extra step to split and then deify another Ancestor from themselves. Nor was there a need to ask why the Technique Ancestor’s former self was the Technique Ancestor, yet their latter self became Su Yin, the Evil God, the culprit polluting the entire Southern Region Sin Land. Were all their actions aimed at achieving "zero"? —To abandon the "shackles" of Ancestral God Fate and deify themselves as Ancestors using their own power?

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know what "zero" truly was. After all, the Ten Ancestors hadn't yet successfully achieved it. But he seemed to understand what that "single leap" was, which the last Ten Venerable Seats, despite their different choices, all sought to achieve, largely converging on the same goal.

“So, this is the fundamental reason why Eight Trigrams advised me not to use the Half-Saint rank to achieve Sainthood? Because once one embarks on the Spirit Refinement Path, which is the Saint Ancestor’s old path, there’s no turning back?”

Nothing was absolute! Xu Xiaoshou quickly realized that it wasn't a matter of truly being unable to turn back. At least Dao Qiongcang, being so intelligent, had deified himself as a Half-Saint using the Half-Saint rank. This indicated one thing. The path from the Saint Ancestor transforming into the Demon Ancestor, and then taking another step forward, might be difficult. But in Dao Qiongcang’s world, difficulty didn’t mean hopelessness. He did this because he… was superior to the Saint Ancestor. Had more confidence?

A shiver ran down Xu Xiaoshou's spine. This wasn't solely due to Dao Qiongcang; at this moment, recalling Bei Huai's research… He suddenly understood what was strange about his previous feeling that Bei Huai’s research was "to imbue Throne Spirit Refiners with the power of the Great Void." People were inherently selfish. He likely did it only because it was a side benefit. In reality, Bei Huai was also attempting to find the path to deification from one to zero, in a way he believed was correct?

“Bei Huai’s Ghost Beasts, Kui Leihan’s Divine Intent, Dao Qiongcang’s Heavenly Mystery, Eight Trigrams’ Reversal of Extremes…” Some seemed to stand still, yet were making rapid strides on another path…

Eight Trigrams’ reply arrived. He knew quite a bit, and what he said was almost identical to Dao Qiongcang’s. It could be said that the more one delved into the upper echelons, the more terrifying the existence of the "cage theory" became upon closer thought.

“Tsk, truly frightening…”

Xu Xiaoshou refocused his mind and couldn't help but glance at his remaining trump card.

“Passive Points: 101,411,556.”

Over a hundred million! Xu Xiaoshou’s pupils trembled. Counting carefully, it was indeed over a hundred million, right? Rushing the Sword Dao Plate to Super-Dao Transformation had cost him ten million passive points. Theoretically, his inventory should have only had over fifty million left, but during his tribulation breakthrough, and the Sword Dao Plate’s breakthrough, even without deliberately causing trouble, the commotion was considerable. Even though the "leeks" of Yujing City couldn't grow taller, over half a month, passive points steadily accumulated, ultimately increasing instead of decreasing.

“It’s actually over a hundred million…”

“This is vexing; how should I spend it well?”

Super-Dao Transformation was already the upper limit of the Divine Vestige’s rule level. He could try for 91, but from the intuitive guidance provided by the Intent Dao Plate, Xu Xiaoshou knew this was not feasible. Perhaps the Saint Ancestor and Medicine Ancestor split off the Demon Ancestor and Ghost Ancestor precisely because they attempted a breakthrough between ninety percent and a hundred percent?

“In the Saint God Continent, at the level of profundity, there was a risk of Grand Dao transformation. Afterward, upon finding the Divine Vestige, one could directly achieve Super-Dao Transformation without harm. So, for me, the risk doesn’t need to be taken, and seeing an Ancestor through Super-Dao Transformation is also unnecessary. I just need to find a place similar to the Divine Vestige, but with a higher rule level, capable of reaching 100 at its peak, and I can directly rush there. This is the simplest path to deification with zero Ancestral God Fate, for me…”

Xu Xiaoshou pondered. Therefore, the most crucial matter on his cultivation path was no longer simply acquiring more passive points. It was finding that "place"!

“From 90 to 100 on the Sword Dao Plate, it's just ten million passive points, assuming the algorithm doesn’t change. If the Sword Ancestor is truly confirmed to have perished, then without a doubt, deifying oneself as an Ancestor through the paths of Sword, Dragon, War, and Heaven is the safest. After all, the paths have been proven feasible, and there’s no great devil king guarding their ends, which is excellent. But that ‘place’ is hard to find.”

Xu Xiaoshou felt that the only place where the Grand Dao Plate could be pushed close to 100 might be the true "Heavenly Realm." The Divine Vestige was composed of the "Heavenly Realm Triangle," merely three fragments, yet its rule level had already reached Super-Dao Transformation. If the Heavenly Realm still existed, he wouldn't even need to go there. As long as Shen Bailiu guided him, or he cultivated a path of guidance himself. Through this method of cultivating by drawing upon the rule power of the Divine Vestige in the Dead Sea, he could also draw upon the rules of the Heavenly Realm in the Saint God Continent to achieve 100 — deification as an Ancestor! Unfortunately… In the introductory animation upon entering the Ranming Vestige, Xu Xiaoshou had seen that the Heavenly Realm was shattered due to a divine war.

“Too far away.”

Whether it was the Heavenly Realm or not, those were matters for later. The immediate priority was still to spend all his remaining passive points, then enter the tenth layer of the Dead Sea to retrieve Elder Sang. What else was Ai Cangcheng waiting for him with? Xu Xiaoshou was already eager to engage in this battle and verify his new combat power. Matters of Ancestral Gods could be put aside for now! Rushing the Sword Dao Plate meant closing his eyes and opening them half a month later—Xu Xiaoshou hadn't considered this at all, and he no longer wanted to wait that long.

“The rest are minor plates; pushing one from zero to Profundity would, at most, cost six to eight million. If I only push from 80 to 90, it would only require one million. After all, one Dao Seed only costs one hundred thousand… Not expensive!”

Truly not expensive. One could even say it was cheap. Insights from minor plates didn't take much time either. As soon as Xu Xiaoshou finished pondering, he no longer hesitated. He casually redeemed Dao Seeds, bound them to their respective Grand Dao plates, and planted them one by one in the field. Farming makes me happy!

“Space Dao Plate.”“Space Dao Plate.”“Space Dao Plate.”

He stopped there. After his Body, Spirit, and Intent Dao Plates underwent Super-Dao Transformation, and after the baptism of a major plate like the Sword Dao Plate reaching Super-Dao Transformation, Xu Xiaoshou could completely withstand the sense of enhancement and knowledge influx brought by the Space Dao Plate. After a brief moment of dizziness, he recovered and then called a halt. Super-Dao Transformation could reveal an Ancestor. If the Space Dao Plate underwent Super-Dao Transformation and revealed the Time Ancestor, judging by Hua Weiyang’s unmentioned hints, it wouldn’t be good. Xu Xiaoshou kept open the opportunity to meet the Time Ancestor, but he didn’t want to choose the present moment for it. With great effort, Dao Qiongcang had arranged the great Saint Emperors on the Heavenly Ladder, clearing the Saint God Continent as an open battlefield. His own battle was next; if encountering the Time Ancestor led to a regrettable outcome, it would be too great a loss…

“At least I need to figure out Kong Yuhen’s situation first, right? The same applied to the Medicine Ancestor’s matter.”

After a pause and a moment of recovery, Xu Xiaoshou didn't stop rushing the Grand Dao plates; he turned back and continued cultivating.

“Life Dao Plate.”“Life Dao Plate.”“Life Dao Plate.”

Similarly, he stopped when it approached Super-Dao Transformation. Because, most likely, pushing it another percentage point would summon the terrifying Ancestor who coexisted with the two. As before, Xu Xiaoshou still wasn't very confident.

“Two ninety percents, adding up to only one point eight million. Minor plates are so cost-effective.”

He kept the opportunities to meet the Time Ancestor and the Medicine Ancestor. With a large pile of passive points remaining, Xu Xiaoshou quickly set his sights on another Ancestor. He had previously used Dao Seeds to cultivate this Grand Dao plate twice, revealing its basic data. Undoubtedly, the Fire Dao Plate corresponded to the Spirit Refinement Path, which was the Saint Ancestor’s path. Taking this plate to Profundity and then Super-Dao Transformation, showing off to Elder Sang, was secondary. Most importantly, if possible, he could also use it to meet the Saint Ancestor, or perhaps the Demon Ancestor?

“Not expensive.”

Xu Xiaoshou calculated that from 20 to 89, it would only be six point nine million, which he could afford, so the cultivation continued! A single step to heaven! An instant success! Under the accumulation of passive points over months—no, years of effort—Xu Xiaoshou experienced the joy of slow and steady growth finally paying off. The Fire Dao Plate, starting from virtually zero, was directly pushed by him past Elder Sang’s profundity level, reaching the brink of Super-Dao Transformation.

“Minor plates. They’re all minor plates. But now, each only requires an additional one hundred thousand passive points for me to meet the Saint Ancestor, Medicine Ancestor, and Time Ancestor. Or even if I can’t meet them all, at the very least I can see Hua Weiyang again and ask him for some information…”

Xu Xiaoshou paused to reflect. He didn't wait long before continuing his cultivation.

“Since the Saint Ancestor, Medicine Ancestor, and Time Ancestor can be seen, why not Su Yin? Is my Evil God Su Yin not worthy?”

As his thoughts reached this point, horrifying images of the "Technique Hound Feast" flashed through Xu Xiaoshou’s mind, twice in fact. The first time, he remembered vividly: it was the scene of the Heavenly Ancestor’s Eye being torn apart by Su Yin in the Divine Vestige. That was arguably Su Yin’s most decisive moment, completely refusing the Heavenly Ancestor any opportunity for further communication or action. After the Technique Hound Feast, its decisiveness also seemed to have been devoured by the technique hounds; in short, its state plummeted, and the impact it suffered became incredibly severe. And this second Technique Hound Feast, surprisingly, was in the Flower World, where he himself was torn apart by Hua Weiyang? Interesting, Hua Weiyang… Xu Xiaoshou stroked his chin.

“Technique Hound Feast…”“Golden Gate Pilfering Technique…”“Five Decays of Heaven and Man…”

Considering that Ai Cangcheng, who inherited either the true legacy of the Technique Ancestor or Su Yin, had been waiting outside for a long time. With his thoughts reaching this point, Xu Xiaoshou immediately fixed his gaze on the Technique Dao Plate. Even a second of hesitation would be disrespectful to the hundred million points, and to the Technique Ancestor who made epochal progress from two to one!

“Technique Dao Plate.”

The first Dao Seed was placed. The number behind the Technique Dao Plate lit up. Surprisingly, yet reasonably low—Xu Xiaoshou wasn't completely ignorant of the path of techniques; he had at least learned a sound transmission technique. He had learned few techniques, but witnessed many. He had also independently comprehended many "sword techniques," "deceptive arts," and various haphazardly combined "hybrid arts." Perhaps these weren't yet the most advanced techniques, but the emergence of the "thought of technique" might have been the fundamental reason the Technique Dao Plate became one of the Grand Dao Plates.

“Continue.”

Another Dao Seed was placed. Xu Xiaoshou felt his eyes deceive him.

“Technique Dao Plate.”

It was still "16," unchanged. It hadn't increased from a previous "15" to the current "16"; it was already "16" before!

“My dear Su Yin, are you a gluttonous baby too?”

Xu Xiaoshou seemed to understand something and continued placing Dao Seeds until the tenth one was planted, at which point the information bar updated, and he grasped it.

“Technique Dao Plate.”

Ten Dao Seeds made the Technique Dao Plate jump. Without a doubt, this meant the Technique Dao Plate was also a major plate, similar to the Sword Dao Plate. And from 16 to 89, it would normally be seven point three million passive points, but now another zero needed to be added…

“Seventy million.”

“I have over a hundred million passive points.”

No thought was needed. How much was invested yielded how much in return; minor plates were cost-effective, while major plates were powerful. Xu Xiaoshou fully understood this principle. He temporarily halted allocating points to the Technique Dao Plate, shattered his farmer image in the Dao Cultivation Field, and transformed into Xu Ye, the Saint God Continent’s First Sword Immortal. He stood up, walked toward Feng Zhongzui, and chuckled into the preaching mirror:

“Aigou, if I say that in half a month, I’ll slaughter you like a dog, will you give me the chance?”