Chapter 330: Ancient Hill, Qingyu Realm Star

Upon entering the ruins through the barrier, ancient buildings were spread out in an organized manner. Some soared into the clouds, their spires piercing the sky like sharp swords, while others were low and rustic, resembling treasures preserved by time. Despite their diverse styles, all these structures radiated an aura of ancientness and mystery.

Zhao Xing hadn't flown far before he spotted a man and a woman. They were adorned with ancient crowns, dressed in Seven-Phase ceremonial robes, carried large chests on their backs, and held ancient texts.

They were digging at the corner of a building, sweeping instruments around with their hands.

“Those are Zhou Yueming and Sima Yu, two Spring and Autumn Historians from the Great Zhou Dynasty.”

Seventeen members of the advance exploration team had already entered. This included those specifically assigned to open the barrier entrance, as well as historians like Zhou Yueming and Sima Yu.

With a shift in thought, Zhao Xing descended. “Sirs.”

“Lord Zhao.”

Sima Yu cupped his hands in greeting. Zhou Yueming, who was operating an instrument and couldn't free his hands, simply nodded in response.

“Have either of you made any discoveries?” Zhao Xing inquired.

Spring and Autumn Historians held a mere Rank-One official position. Compared to other professions, they consumed less of the nation's qi fortune, making them a numerous group.

Sima Yu and Zhou Yueming were both well over four hundred years old. Their entry was purely due to being brought in by the Violet Light Divine Decree.

“We’ve used the Primal Time Instrument to collect sixteen samples,” Sima Yu began. “Based on the inherent decay rules of primal qi in matter, we’ve reached a preliminary conclusion: the earliest construction period dates back over a million years.”

“That’s almost a grand epoch,” Zhao Xing murmured, nodding slightly. He had surmised that this place was created by powerful beings from beyond the heavens, so such an ancient age was entirely normal.

Of course, there was still a possibility that these were ruins left by the ancient Divine Court.

After all, since the Li Dynasty managed to obtain Cloud-Climbing Vine seeds, anything was possible.

Touching upon a different early period, Sima Yu mentioned that some architectural phases dated back 150,000 years. Sima Yu, sifting through some soil and gravel, added, “The exploration is still ongoing; we’re not certain if there are even older or more recent periods of construction.”

“Lord Zhao, do you realize what this signifies? If we can uncover any written records here, it might just rewrite the entire timeline of our history books!”

“I hope your wishes come true,” Zhao Xing chuckled. Currently, the accurate historical records compiled by the historians only span about 500,000 years.

Are there records of periods even further back? Yes, there are. However, those are mostly conjectures and assumptions by historians, and thus wouldn't be considered true historical records.

Time is merciless and decays everything; even many treasure-grade artifacts cannot withstand a million years.

Only peerless treasures can withstand the changes of spiritual qi, primal qi, and the world itself, remaining incorruptible even after more than 1.2 million years.

One point two million years, a grand epoch. The last ascended Divine Court, Xia, also ascended approximately 1.2 million years ago.

“Can you discern the architectural styles from more recent time periods?” Zhao Xing asked. “Is there any area whose style you find distinct from all other places?”

If any profession possessed a comprehensive understanding of architectural styles across the entire Xuanhuang Realm, it would undoubtedly be that of the historians.

“Aside from the ancient temple at the city’s center, the architectural styles in all other areas exhibit traces of customs from various parts of the Xuanhuang Realm.”

“We speculate that a glorious dynasty or tribe once ruled this area,” Zhou Yueming said, rising with a touch of emotion. “It appears the Western Extreme Ice Continent wasn't entirely glaciers before, and perhaps not even ocean.”

“To carve out such a space beneath the glacier, allowing an ancient city to sink and remain preserved for a million years, is enough to shake the historical world.”

Zhao Xing reviewed the historians’ summary, then cupped his hands in farewell and continued flying forward.

“The earliest dates back a million years, and the most recent identifiable period is 150,000 years ago. Does this mean people were still living here 150,000 years ago?” Zhao Xing felt a surge of alertness.

“Was this passed down through generations, or did a single powerful being simply live for hundreds of thousands of years?”

If they were powerful beings from beyond the heavens, they could live for an exceptionally long time, unrestricted by the lifespan rules of the Xuanhuang Realm.

Living for hundreds of thousands of years? Even a person from the Xuanhuang Realm who reaches the Ascension Realm (Establishment Dao Realm) and leaves the Xuanhuang Realm would only possess a lifespan of ten thousand years. To live for hundreds of thousands, or even a million years, would be an exaggeration, implying an alarmingly high cultivation realm.

Whoosh.

After flying for an hour, Zhao Xing saw a colossal automaton flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.

“That’s King Shenluo! Was his Colossal Divine Soldier sent flying?” Zhao Xing, passing by, naturally decided to investigate.

King Shenluo, Luo Tian, broke through to Rank One during the Yongzhi era and is now in the late stage of the Life Palace Realm.

After all, Zhao Xing had already reached Heavenly Fortune Perfection, so the progress of his contemporaries from that period was also significant.

“King Shenluo! What happened to you?”

Zhao Xing stood at the center of the hundred-meter-tall Colossal Divine Soldier, which resembled a broadsword. King Shenluo resided inside, in the core operating cabin.

Not far away stood a bulky Shenluo-Pang Yuan automaton.

King Shenluo's Natal Automaton, the Shenluo-Pang Yuan, initially a low-grade Ninth-tier automaton, had since been upgraded to a top-grade Ninth-tier mechanical puppet. He began crafting it when he was a Rank Three official. The Colossal Divine Soldier, originally a treasure-grade artifact that Zhao Xing had discovered in the Dragon Court, had now become King Shenluo's second Natal Automaton. The former (Pang Yuan) was control-oriented, while the Colossal Divine Soldier focused on offense.

What could possibly send King Shenluo, piloting his Colossal Divine Soldier, flying like that?

“Thump, thump, thump!” Zhao Xing repeatedly pounded on the metal surface, attempting to rouse King Shenluo.

The broadsword-like automaton lay sprawled on the ground, impossible to open from the outside. Protected by the divine artifact, Zhao Xing didn't even know if King Shenluo was alive or dead.

With a mechanical hiss and clank,

The tightly sealed metal surface suddenly split open, forming a three-meter-high, two-meter-wide portal from which hot steam emerged.

“Cough, cough... I’m fine.”

King Shenluo, somewhat disheveled, leaped out. “Zhao Xing? What brings you here?”

The area had not yet been thoroughly explored, and its dangers remained unknown. A talent like Zhao Xing, by rights, shouldn’t have entered so early. The rules here prohibited the use of clone techniques for entry.

This meant Zhao Xing could only enter with his true body. If he were to die, it would be a devastating blow to the Agriculturists, one that even Ji Che would find unacceptable.

“Never mind me,” Zhao Xing said, pulling out a Ground Elemental Fruit from his Pure Essence Space and giving it to King Shenluo. “What happened to you? Why were you suddenly sent flying?” There was nothing unusual in the vicinity.

After all, this was a city. Even if it served as the residence of a powerful being, it couldn’t possibly be entirely filled with treasures; there should also be numerous living and residential areas.

“I was sent flying from the temple in the city center,” King Shenluo explained. “You know, that Violet Light Temple, where Wu Yuan obtained his treasure.”

“Sent flying that far?” Zhao Xing was astonished. He was currently flying at a thousand meters and couldn't even see the Three Gods Plaza in the city center.

“Yes, it’s absurd. My Colossal Divine Soldier is a mid-grade treasure, and this giant automaton possesses five rule domains. I also comprehended two domains myself, completing metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and thunder. Yet, I was sent flying for hundreds of miles... *cough, cough*.”

“What exactly did you do?”

“I attempted to break the temple’s barrier.” Zhao Xing was rendered speechless. This fellow had quite an appetite, attempting to swallow an elephant whole.

However, on second thought, it was normal. An Artificer like King Shenluo, encountering a new type of barrier or an ingenious mechanism, and considering himself quite powerful, would naturally try to breach it. The Artificer School’s purpose for coming here was precisely this.

Great Zhou had always been number one in the world, and Artificer School engineers harbored such pride.

When encountering such ruins, who would want to act according to the rules? Of course, everyone wanted to try and see if they could simply take it away. The result was obvious: King Shenluo’s attempt failed, and he was sent flying.

“Rise!”

With a thought from King Shenluo, the fallen Colossal Divine Soldier sprouted two mechanical tentacles, propping itself up until it resembled a giant sword standing on a tripod.

“Clank, clank, clank!”

The mechanisms turned, and several rope-like beams of light shot out from it. These light beams, like tentacles, passed through King Shenluo’s body. “What is this for?”

“It’s battle soul repositioning; it was displaced by the shock earlier,” Luo Tian explained awkwardly. “As you know, automatons all possess battle souls. In my Shenluo style, the battle soul, my life soul, and the central Shenluo form a trinity.”

“If it isn't repositioned, I can’t unleash the full power of the Colossal Divine Soldier.”

Zhao Xing understood. The Central Shenluo and the Immeasurable Juzi were cultivated through the methods of different Artificer schools, much like the Solar Term Order and Pure Essence Soil within a Diviner of Agriculture.

The Shenluo within an Artificer’s body was located in the central 'po' (one of the three souls in Chinese belief), hence it was called the Central Shenluo.

The Immeasurable Juzi of the Dao Soldier style, contrary to the Shenluo style, permeated every part of the Artificer’s body, much like Five Elements particles. The Shenluo style often boasts greater power and a grander scale, but once injured, it requires time for repair.

The power of the Immeasurable Juzi in the Dao Soldier style resided in unseen places. If a Dao Soldier-style Artificer had been piloting the Colossal Divine Soldier when it was sent flying, they would have been completely unfazed; they would simply stand up and continue fighting.

“Ah, that’s better.”

King Shenluo waved his hand, and the tentacles retracted into the Colossal Divine Soldier. Zhao Xing observed him instantly regaining his vigor.

Even the Colossal Divine Soldier looked significantly brighter, no longer appearing as if it were covered in a layer of dust, as it had moments ago.

“Zhao Xing, let’s go together.”

“Alright.” Zhao Xing, to conserve his primal qi, took a seat inside King Shenluo’s Colossal Divine Soldier.

The Colossal Divine Soldier and the Pang Yuan automaton ascended together, their combined might astonishing. Zhao Xing noticed the Colossal Divine Soldier’s unique flying posture.

It didn’t seem to be flying, but rather wriggling through the air.

The sword tip of the Colossal Divine Soldier would extend forward a segment, then its tail section would contract. Through these expansions and contractions, it had already covered over ten miles.

“Actually, my core can be located anywhere, not necessarily in the middle,” King Shenluo said proudly, discussing his Natal Divine Weapon. “It can be at the sword tip, or at the hilt. Of course, I’m accustomed to it being in the center.”

“It’s impressive that you’ve mastered all seven domains,” Zhao Xing praised.

“Heh heh, thanks to you,” King Shenluo chuckled. “However, my current rule domains vary in power. My personal domain is only at Rank Three, and I can only leverage the rule domains provided by the Colossal Divine Soldier to the extent of a Rank Four domain.”

“King Shenluo truly has grand ambitions,” Zhao Xing remarked, not flattering him in the least.

If King Shenluo had dedicated his time to mastering just one rule domain, the Colossal Divine Soldier’s inherent rule domains would likely have risen by two more ranks. But he wanted to master them all, and he had indeed made some progress in each.

“Shenluo-style Artificers are somewhat influenced by their profession. We’re accustomed to grand scales, and it simply feels off if we’re missing even one rule domain.” He continued, “As mechanical divine weapons grow larger and larger, a missing domain prevents them from truly achieving greatness.”

In just a few moments, Zhao Xing and King Shenluo had already arrived before the Three Gods Plaza within the Violet Light Ruins.

“Boom!”

The Colossal Divine Soldier landed on the ground.

Chen Ju, standing nearby, glanced over and frowned. “Could you keep the noise down?” he asked.

King Shenluo pouted but offered no retort.

In terms of strength, seniority, and status, Chen Ju, the dean of Moxiu Academy, was superior to him. It was simply that the two belonged to different schools of thought.

Chen Ju was currently a Junior Minister of Works, and he naturally had a mission upon entering the ruins.

Zhao Xing observed Chen Ju continuously retrieving flying black spheres. The spheres neither emitted light nor reflected it.

Only those who activated the Heavenly Eye of the Soul could perceive them.

The black spheres vanished into his body one by one. Chen Ju then updated the map on the ground, charting the full layout of the entire ruin. The data he collected served as an important reference for those above to construct the magical arrays.

After all, the area beneath the glacier was too vast; even a slight oversight could allow enemies to slip in from other directions.

“Lord Chen.” Zhao Xing cupped his hands. Chen Ju and he were both Rank Two officials, and their relationship wasn’t particularly close. There had even been some conflicts during the previous bride-snatching incident, so Zhao Xing couldn’t address him by his given name directly.

“Lord Zhao.” Chen Ju returned the greeting, his attitude notably warm, clearly not holding grudges about past events. “This is the latest map; please take a look.”

“Thank you.” Zhao Xing glanced at the map. On it, there were seven gray areas, while the rest glowed faintly.

“The gray areas indicate they cannot be explored, and their appearance can't even be discerned. They are covered by barriers and are likely significant locations.”

“The bright areas are explorable, but they also vary in difficulty.”

Zhao Xing nodded.

The black spheres Chen Ju had just retrieved were of two types: the Eight Directions Rotating Palace Instrument and the Boundary Ruler. Although small, they could penetrate most barriers and mechanical arrays. Of course, the fact that these instruments could enter did not mean people could. This was why the exploration was categorized by difficulty levels.

“Thank you for your hard work, Lord Chen.”

Zhao Xing memorized the map, then returned it to Chen Ju.

He then looked at the Three Gods Plaza and the ancient temple. “What’s the situation here?”

Chen Ju shook his head. “It’s very strange.”

“Everyone can enter the temple and view the murals Lord Zhao mentioned. We’ve also located the murals of the Heavenly Qi Soul Artifact Diagram and the Void Divine Prison.” He continued, “However, the nine individuals who entered experienced three different situations.”

Zhao Xing listened quietly.

“Firstly, with the Violet Light Divine Decree, the holder can remember the murals they have learned but cannot make rubbings of other murals they haven’t mastered.”

“Those brought in by the Violet Light Divine Decree will forget everything inside once they leave, remembering only what they learned. As for how they learned it, how they entered, or how they exited, they won’t remember.”

“Secondly, without the Violet Light Divine Decree, upon entering the temple, the mural corridor will display three paintings, and there will be a viewing time limit.”

“Any of the three paintings follows a ‘read-and-burn’ rule. Those who entered saw and learned them but couldn’t describe what they were.”

“The three people who entered all had experiences of creating their own secret techniques.”

“However, why they created secret techniques inside, or if they encountered any specific rules, remains unknown.”

“Furthermore, once the time limit expired, they automatically reappeared outside.”

“The third situation is for those holding the Violet Light Divine Decree: they won't forget their experiences inside and have no comprehension time limit, but they similarly cannot reveal anything about what happened after entering the temple.”

“Additionally, we have made preliminary progress in identifying a method to enter without the Violet Light Divine Decree.”

Chen Ju continued, “That is the Storm Sea Eye beneath the glacier. It randomly appears in the sea area directly above the ancient city and pulls people in.”

“Of course, not all Storm Sea Eyes can be entered. Only those that produce the ‘Death Ice Pillar’ phenomenon can lead directly to the underground ancient city.” King Shenluo asked doubtfully, “Wouldn’t that mean there’s no need to construct formations above?”

The place was already vast, and constructing formations and deploying troops to guard it would require significant manpower, resources, and finances. Now, with random Storm Sea Eyes capable of teleporting people in, wouldn't it be even harder to defend?

“That’s correct,” Chen Ju said. “The creator must have anticipated this. Otherwise, if entry was impossible without the Violet Light Decree, how would the first person have obtained it?”

“We originally only needed to guard the glaciers and ice layers 200,000 li underground, which was a much smaller area.”

“Now we have to defend against random Sea Eyes, and the corresponding sea area is far too vast,” Zhao Xing mused.

It seemed that Li Boqian had indeed stumbled upon this place by accident back then.

However, he might not have passed some test, as he was teleported out and forgot his experiences inside. Of course, he still remembered the murals he had comprehended and the 'Yuan Feng' technique he had created.

The Violet Light Divine Ruins, which established the underground ancient city, appeared to be conducting some form of selection process.

“Since it’s a selection, it’s impossible for any single force to simply block the way and monopolize the benefits.”

“The Great Zhou Dynasty’s advantage is possessing the Violet Light Divine Decree, which allows for repeated entry,” Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Even if one didn't pass the initial selection, after being sent out, they could still be brought in again via the Violet Light Divine Decree. Without the Violet Light Divine Decree, even if one managed to enter, they would only have one chance.

“I’ll go inside and take a look,” Zhao Xing said.

“Be careful,” Chen Ju cautioned. Although those who were sent out only forgot everything inside, who knew what other rules might exist? Everything here was filled with mystery to them.

From the current exploration, aside from the low-value ordinary living areas, they saw no hope of breaching the core areas' protection.

The Heavenly Realm, the world’s edge.

Terrifying hurricanes emerged from the edge of the Heavenly Realm. In the gray, hazy void, four hurricanes, tens of thousands of li high, suddenly manifested. Their speed was incredibly fast, and in a blink of an eye, they consumed a large portion of the northern Heavenly Realm.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!”

Over a dozen figures appeared in the northern Heavenly Realm, observing the hurricanes from a distance.

“They’re here again, each one larger than the last. If it weren’t for the Life Immortal’s divination, the entire Heavenly Realm would likely be destroyed,” the Flower Immortal said, her eyes full of worry. A grim-faced man carrying three swords looked at the person beside him. “Wind Immortal, this is on you. Finish it quickly.”

“I think we might as well just die,” the slender man, enveloped in a faint green glow, pouted but remained still. Despite such a shocking statement, several others actually agreed.

“Precisely. I came to the Heavenly Realm to be an immortal, but I’m stuck here every day like an ox or horse, constantly managing natural disasters. What’s the point?”

“The Hall Master tricked us into coming here, then just went to sleep himself. What ‘great secret’? It’s clearly a lie.”

“Just die, just die. I’ve lived long enough!”

The group bickered loudly before the hurricane, completely giving up.

The grim-faced man with three swords on his back had veins bulging on his forehead, and killing intent surged from him. “If you wish to die, I’ll grant your wish! But before you do, experience my Three Absolutes Sword Array!” “Alright, stop arguing,” the Flower Fairy ran into the middle of the group. A fragrance emanated from her, and flower petals emerged from her sleeves, forming colorful ribbons.

However, the effect was minimal.

One was filled with immense killing intent, three swords emanating astonishing blood energy, while four or five others looked utterly indifferent to being killed. They even mocked him: “What kind of Killing Immortal? Just because you chopped down tens of thousands of demonic beasts, you call yourself a Killing Immortal?”

“Your sword