Chapter 354: Dragon Emperor Jie's Last Words, Ancient Past, Unifying the Dragon Court

"Roar!"

The surface patterns of the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine quivered, emitting the roar of a dragon, a sound like a chorus of dragons. Compared to the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine, the Cloud-Climbing Vine's size was negligible, yet it made the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine restless.

As the Cloud-Climbing Vine suddenly appeared in its territory, the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine began to furiously attack all life around it. RUMBLE! The earth churned as if boiling, sweeping countless trees and giant beasts into its depths, transforming them into nutrients for the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine. Soon, within a thousand-mile radius, the land became a barren wasteland, devoid of all life.

"To counter the threat of the Cloud-Climbing Vine, the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine took extreme measures, consuming all surrounding life force to empower itself and create a suitable battlefield… This enormous creature has indeed developed intelligence. However, its intelligence isn't cultivated; it's a collective consciousness formed from devouring too many intelligent beings. From a cultivation perspective, it's grown crooked. This might benefit it before ascension, but it will face significant problems during tribulation." Zhao Xing observed from afar. He frequently encountered such situations in the Cosmic version. Using special consciousness entities to 'corrupt' enemy plant soldiers was a secret art of the Self-Realm Sect.

"This Bloodthirsty Dragonvine is incredibly close to reaching the Path-Establishing Realm. Cunning, sly, and tyrannical, plant life is usually the strongest among all life forms. Even a true Path-Establishing Realm expert would likely suffer if they encountered it." The Heavenly Dao is balanced. Plant life is harder to cultivate, requiring far more nutrients and growth time than other life forms. However, once they mature, invincibility within their realm is basic, and challenging those above their level is not uncommon. Thus, when Self-Realm Sect Farmers venture into the cosmos, they are either unseen, or if they do appear, each possesses formidable skills.

"ROAR (What, are you?)" Zhao Xing listened carefully to the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's roar, realizing it was attempting to communicate in Dragon Tongue. However, the Dragon Tongue was a jumbled mess, impure, and even Zhao Xing could only barely grasp its general meaning. "Leave! This, my territory."

The Bloodthirsty Dragonvine waved its tendrils. It had thirty-six main vines, the thinnest of which exceeded a hundred meters in diameter and could extend over ten thousand meters high, appearing like mountains dancing in the air. Its countless branch vines spread along the ground, seemingly searching for the intruder. But it couldn't find the Cloud-Climbing Vine, which was currently concealed within the void. Zhao Xing could understand the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's agitated state; it was like an assassin had appeared outside its home, aiming a powerful cannon at it, but its location remained unknown. A person could flee or relocate, but while the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's roots could extend, it couldn't escape.

*Sizzle sizzle sizzle* The Cloud-Climbing Vine seemed displeased by the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's commotion. A wisp of mysterious mist emanated from its purple-golden leaves. The palm-sized leaf swayed gently, yet it seemed to affect a whole dimension. *Rip!* A black spatial rift suddenly appeared; space itself tore open! A peculiar scene unfolded before Zhao Xing's eyes. The heavens and earth became a canvas, and the Cloud-Climbing Vine, like a tailor, with a slight movement, sliced this canvas into hundreds of equal parts. It was perfect, like a flawless composition; the void cracks mirrored the patterns on the Cloud-Climbing Vine's leaves, though magnified many times over. It completely enveloped the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine, severing countless branch vines in an instant, and even cutting through three of its main vines. *Splurt!* The three severed main vines immediately sprayed out sap that resembled fresh blood.

"Void Severing? Wait, Big Brother, don't kill it!" Zhao Xing exclaimed anxiously. He had intended for the Cloud-Climbing Vine to suppress, not kill, the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine. "Use that Void Solidification move, the one you used on the Ice Soul Divine Tree before." Zhao Xing shouted loudly; this was the only way he could communicate, as his Divine Soldiering Art couldn't penetrate the Cloud-Climbing Vine's interior, failing to establish effective communication. He could only convey his thoughts through their connection via the Pure Origin Soil.

Fortunately, the Cloud-Climbing Vine seemed to understand; the Void Severing technique instantly dissipated, and the purple-golden aura returned to its left leaf. Then its right leaf glowed. The right leaf revealed completely different patterns, turning completely black. The furiously struggling Bloodthirsty Dragonvine could no longer move, only letting out terrified roars.

"Good opportunity!" Zhao Xing immediately activated "Nigh-Infinite Distance" and rushed beneath the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine. *Buzz!* The Pure Origin Projection immediately expanded to its maximum, fully enveloping the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's main vine section. As for the root systems in the branch areas, they had to be severed. There was no other way; while Zhao Xing's Pure Origin Soil was vast, he couldn't fully transplant all of the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's root systems.

"Sever!" A golden light suddenly illuminated the Pure Origin Soil; this was the "Golden Sharpness" property inherent in the soil. It instantly severed the root system, separating the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's roots from the Dragon Court's soil, and instead, enveloped them in Pure Origin Soil. "Rise!" Zhao Xing roared, completely bringing the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine into his Pure Origin Space.

Next, following the procedure, he moistened the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's roots with the Spirit Qi Spring, helping it quickly adapt to the Pure Origin Soil environment. "The Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's collective consciousness must be erased. The Cloud-Climbing Vine cannot constantly suppress it; it consumes too much of its energy." Unlike other plant life, the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine possessed self-awareness; its counterattacks were not instinctive but premeditated. If it took the opportunity to cause trouble in the soil and kill other plants, Zhao Xing would have nowhere to cry.

"Divine Soldiering Art! All Flora Are Soldiers!" Zhao Xing's divine soul and primal energy surged into the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's body. "The internal meridians of the dragonvine are like a human's meridians. Search for its consciousness, see where its 'Sea of Consciousness' is." "Hmm? There are actually thirty-six collective consciousnesses?" Zhao Xing's soul was still very powerful. The Three Divine Fate Palace was a minor divine ability, and upon entering, he instantly sensed soul-like presences in thirty-six locations.

*Buzz!* Zhao Xing multitasked, dividing into thirty-six parts, following the internal meridians of the dragonvine directly to its 'Sea of Consciousness.' The inside of the dragonvine was like a labyrinth, but Zhao Xing's invasion proceeded smoothly: firstly, because the Cloud-Climbing Vine's Void Solidification was still active, and secondly, his soul level was far stronger than the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's mixed consciousness. Within the thirty-six internal spaces of the vines, clusters of red glowing orbs writhed, resembling bloody jellyfish. "Destroy!" Zhao Xing simultaneously activated the Soul Devouring Spears, launching black soul spears. The ultimate sixth-transformation Soul Devouring Spears effortlessly annihilated the thirty-six consciousnesses.

"Now, let's help it sort itself out." Zhao Xing obliterated these chaotic wills and then used Spirit Qi to sort through the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's interior. For plant soldiers like the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine, care must be provided after battle to prevent them from developing abnormally. "Hmm? It already has the foundation for forming a consciousness?" During the process of sorting, Zhao Xing discovered a chaotic entity in a certain part of its main vine. Clearly, this was where the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's normal consciousness was meant to be born.

"Leave a divine thought here." Zhao Xing immediately separated a portion of his soul power. One purpose was to help the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine accelerate the birth of its self-consciousness, and the other was to control its consciousness. In the future, when this Bloodthirsty Dragonvine develops self-awareness, it will automatically recognize him as its master. "Done!"

The Bloodthirsty Dragonvine possessed three innate secret techniques. First, "Infinite Extension": The Bloodthirsty Dragonvine's main vines had terrifying elasticity; they could be large or small, soft or hard, long or short. Its thirty-six main vines were normally ten thousand meters long, but with Infinite Extension, they could reach a maximum of a thousand kilometers. Of course, extending to such extreme distances greatly reduced its defense, making it difficult to retract. Extreme extension had little practical combat significance; it mainly indicated its potential length. By the time it stretched a thousand kilometers, the enemy would have long fled. Zhao Xing believed this characteristic was still effective against large-bodied enemies within a hundred kilometers, maintaining both defense and offense at the Rule Realm level.

Second, "Death Barrier": Its thirty-six main vines could form a massive encirclement. It possessed a Death Domain (a type of Life Domain), capable of draining the enemy's vital energy and even life force. Zhao Xing intended to use it as a supporting component within the Four Seasons Divine Splendor, replacing the "Yellow Spring Tree" to absorb enemy life force. Of course, the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine primarily devoured vital energy and could also emit a strong vital energy itself, similar to a martial artist's vital energy domain, capable of breaking through spell restrictions. This differed from a pure Yellow Spring Tree's domain.

Third, "Dragon Nemesis": The Bloodthirsty Dragonvine naturally suppressed dragons. Zhao Xing couldn't understand how this characteristic came about; in any case, the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine simply enjoyed consuming dragons, and its main vines could withstand most of their innate secret techniques. It was as if it were born specifically to kill dragons. "Could the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine be a species modified and discarded by the Abyssal Demonic Race?" Zhao Xing considered this possibility. In the history of dragons, the Abyssal Demonic Race was the primary culprit in their destruction. Zhao Xing had seen many ancient battlefields in the Young Dragon Royal City; even supreme dragon nurturing bases like Dragon Emperor Xie's had suffered devastating blows. "The Abyssal Demonic Race was a cosmic race that discovered the Xuanhuang Realm in ancient times and waged a great war with the dragons?" Zhao Xing speculated. However, the ancient Dragon Court was too far in the past to verify.

"Never mind. In any case, I've secured four divine trees; I can call it a day." Zhao Xing clapped his hands. He walked to the flower basket and looked at the slightly curled leaves of the Cloud-Climbing Vine. "Big Brother, why are you perming your hair? When you manifest as a consciousness, you won't turn out blond, will you?" He reached out to smooth the Cloud-Climbing Vine's leaves, but unexpectedly, the Cloud-Climbing Vine flicked slightly, curling back into its original shape. "Alright, alright, Big Brother, perm your hair if you wish." Zhao Xing didn't force it. He simply enveloped the Cloud-Climbing Vine with his consciousness, allowing it to become familiar with his soul aura. Strengthening his communication with Big Brother was essential.

"Now that I have all four divine trees, it won't be long before I can cultivate the 'Four Seasons Divine Splendor.'" Both the Heaven-Earth Seedling Scripture and the Divine Soldiering Art could use this as a foundation to cultivate the "Four Seasons Divine Splendor Dao Field." This was the Self-Realm Sect's method for ascension and establishing a path: ascending through the void by relying on four fated plants. Theoretically, the Self-Realm Sect's ascension difficulty was much easier than the other two sects. If the four chosen fated plants broke through, the Farmer would also break through. If one was lucky enough to find four plants on the verge of breaking through and make them fated plants, ascending would be very easy, requiring no personal effort. Of course, to make them fated plants, one needed to have mastered the second layer of the Divine Soldiering Art or the fifth layer of the Heaven-Earth Seedling Scripture. One also needed to cultivate the Symbiotic Domain within the Four Seasons Divine Splendor Domain, which was a type of Self-Realm Domain. The difficulty still existed, but being in the Spirit Qi Era, it was relatively easier than the breakthroughs of the Heavenly Timing Sect and Geomancy Sect. After all, in the Spirit Qi Era, powerful plant life was not as difficult to find.

*Roar!* Zhao Xing transformed into a five-clawed golden dragon and flew towards the Central Dragon Court. He intended to cultivate in Dragon Emperor Xie's Palace of Mysteries to complete his transformation. "The Palace of Mysteries is abundant in spirit qi. In about ten years, I should be able to cultivate the Symbiotic Domain. Ten years should also be enough for the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine and the Ice Soul Divine Tree to recover. One Bloodthirsty Dragonvine at the peak of the Rule Realm, and one Ice Soul Divine Tree at the late Rule Realm. The Dragon Spirit Bamboo and the Blazing Lotus are at the mid-Rule Realm. Once the Symbiotic Domain is formed, and I use the Four Seasons Divine Splendor to nourish my physical body, I can break through to the Rule Realm myself, without having to consume the Great Zhou's destiny." Using the Four Seasons Divine Splendor to achieve a physical breakthrough was similar to seizing the essence of heaven and earth; the difference was that one broke through via the external world, while the other seized natural wonders from one's internal world. Zhao Xing's Pure Origin Soil possessed the properties of spirit mountains and springs, four divine trees, and ample spirit qi. Now, being in the Primal Energy Tide version with no Heavenly Dao suppression, this breakthrough method was viable.

In the 42nd year of Yuanshuo, Zhao Xing entered the ancient Dragon Court. During the first decade there, he cleared out the Dragon Court's treasures, transplanted two divine trees, and guided Yin Xiu in battle. For the second decade, Zhao Xing's main body cultivated in the Palace of Mysteries, while maintaining a sliver of his consciousness to monitor Yin Xiu's campaigns. Time flowed, and in the blink of an eye, it was the 62nd year of Yuanshuo. According to previous rules, the Dragon Court would close at this time. However, its Heaven-Earth Dragon Gate remained open, though it still restricted the number of people entering and exiting, and prohibited the ancient dragons from leaving the land. The changes in the ancient Dragon Court attracted significant attention. Neither the Outer Alliance nor the Great Zhou withdrew from the East Sea; instead, they both reinforced their troops. Everyone understood that once the restrictions in the ancient Dragon Court were lifted, a powerful force would emerge, capable of overturning the current situation.

Central Dragon Court, Palace of Mysteries. Zhao Xing's body continuously expanded, and four divine lights circulated around him, repeatedly cleansing his physical form. "My physical body has broken through to the Rule Realm, and my seven souls have been strengthened accordingly. My physical body, having been baptized by the Four Seasons Divine Splendor, can be called a Divine Splendor Golden Body. But this is too tall." Zhao Xing looked at his body; he was now a hundred meters tall! "When one's life level changes, it's impossible to grow without increasing in size. A normal Farmer, upon breaking through to the Rule Realm, should have a body around ten meters tall, but I am a hundred meters." However, a hundred-meter golden body size is quite common among Rule Realm martial artists. Only breakthroughs by the Self-Realm Sect could barely compare to a martial artist's giant form. With the appearance of the Divine Splendor Golden Body, life runes also emerged on Zhao Xing's skin! The mark of the Blazing Lotus appeared on his left chest, corresponding to the heart. The mark of the Bloodthirsty Dragonvine appeared on his upper right abdomen, corresponding to the liver. The mark of the Ice Soul Divine Tree appeared on his waist, corresponding to the kidneys. The mark of the Dragon Spirit Bamboo appeared on his right chest, corresponding to the lungs. "Such correspondence isn't perfect, but the Xuanhuang Realm has limited conditions, so I'll make do for now." To achieve perfect correspondence, there should ideally be five life runes, but Zhao Xing could only currently integrate the Four Seasons Divine Splendor, not perfectly align with the Five Elements.

"After breaking through to the Rule Realm, there are three major changes. First, my Pure Origin Soil has begun to transform into Pure Spirit Soil, and the primal energy within my body is also converting into spirit qi. At the Path-Establishing Realm, the transformation will be complete. At that time, the power of my spells will automatically increase by a level. At the same ultimate spell tier, with the same understanding of the Dao, but with spirit qi as the source, the power difference will be about a hundredfold." Of course, utilizing spirit qi for spellcasting and achieving full-version spell upgrades requires reaching the Path-Establishing Realm (Ascension Realm). At the Rule Realm, one can at most possess a portion of 'spirit qi spells.' Only when one's body is entirely filled with spirit qi, and any spell can be cast with spirit qi, at the level of 'law,' can it be called the Path-Establishing Realm, commonly known as the Ascension Realm in the cosmos. The utilization of spirit qi is the standard for measuring the 'law' aspect of the Ascension Realm. Mastering a Dao field is the standard for measuring the 'dao' aspect of the Ascension Realm.

"The second change: my Rule Domain can persist, even if my main body leaves, it will remain active for a period." Zhao Xing pointed at the sky, and instantly, ten suns appeared in the heavens. The Great Heat Domain! "Before, if I left the domain's range, the ten suns would disappear; that was the world's self-resetting. Now, even if I leave, the Great Heat Domain can persist for about a year." Zhao Xing looked at the ten suns. Previous domains were like sandcastles on a beach, collapsing with a mere push. Upon reaching the Rule Realm, the sandcastle became compressed and solid, no longer easily toppled, and capable of persisting longer. At the Ascension Realm (Path-Establishing Realm), the foundation is built with stone, deeply rooted in the world, allowing it to persist for a very long time, so long that it can be considered permanent. "However, under the primal energy tide, most of these 'castles' will collapse. The Xuanhuang Realm's tides will erase most Dao fields."

"The third change: the lifespan constraint." Zhao Xing looked at his status panel.

Name: Zhao XingRealm: Rule Realm (Early Stage)Profession: FarmerDestiny: Derivation NinePrimal Energy Gathering: Level 100Divine Soul: Rule Realm (Mid Stage)Remaining Lifespan: 1850 years

"In the 71st year of Yuanshou, my remaining lifespan was 1530 years. Now, 110 years have passed, and my remaining lifespan has not only not decreased but has increased. As I cultivate, my lifespan will continue to grow. As long as I don't become an emperor, my lifespan will be much longer than an emperor's. And finally, I've reached level one hundred!"

"Let's test the effects of the Divine Splendor Body." Zhao Xing's right hand transformed, turning into a dragon claw, and he scratched a bloody mark on his own right hand. The next moment, the injury on his right hand instantly healed. Zhao Xing then continuously cast spells, rapidly depleting his primal energy to below thirty percent. With a thought, the primal energy within his dantian quickly replenished. "With the Divine Splendor Body, recovery is maximized. As long as the divine trees stand, I will always be in peak condition." "Even if an arm is severed, it can regrow immediately. This is the advantage of the Self-Realm Sect," Zhao Xing thought to himself. For the Heavenly Timing Sect or Geomancy Sect, such a perverse recovery speed would be impossible.

"Smaller, smaller, smaller!" Zhao Xing shrunk his body. Having broken through the rule constraint, he could naturally switch forms. "It's time for me to emerge from seclusion!" With a thought, Zhao Xing's clone in Guting Royal City immediately summoned Hogg. "Dragon Emperor." Hogg's dragon spirit prostrated on the ground. "Hogg, inform Yin Xiu and Yin Li, gather all Dragon King War Generals, and reinforce the borders of the Dragon Abyss Kingdom. Tell them, the time for the decisive battle with the Purple Dragon God has come!" "As you command!" Hogg responded excitedly.

Dragon Emperor Era, 320th year; Yuanshuo, 62nd year, autumn. Dragon Emperor 'Zhao' launched the War of Unification. Zhao Xing used the Dragon Emperor's Codex to issue a Divine Edict of Truth, spreading his voice throughout the ancient Dragon Court. Dragon Tongue echoed through the heavens and earth, enumerating the Purple Dragon God's various crimes, including colluding with Rebellious Dragons from the Sinister Sea and the Abyssal Demonic Race, using demonic artifacts to kill Great Dragon Kings and Dragon Kings, and forcefully occupying the Dragon Abyss and Celestial Sea kingdoms. Finally, Zhao Xing declared the 'Purple Dragon God' a rebellious dragon and announced his personal campaign against the Dragon Abyss Kingdom. In the winter of the same year, Zhao Xing rushed to the Nine-Star Fire Prison and released seven Great Dragon Kings, including 'Zhi'. He then used the Dragon Emperor's command to awaken the ancient, sleeping Great Dragon Kings and Dragon Kings from other nations.

By the 322nd year of the Dragon Emperor Era, Yuanshuo 64th year, a total of forty-one Great Dragon Kings and over five thousand Dragon Kings had joined Dragon Emperor 'Zhao''s faction. All the orthodox dragon forces in the entire Xuanhuang Realm had been awakened by Zhao Xing! Simultaneously, the Purple Dragon God was also awakening the Rebellious Dragon Kings and Rebellious Great Dragon Kings from the Sinister Sea. At the same time, the Purple Dragon God also obtained a component of the Dragon Emperor's Codex from the Sinister Sea and corrupted it with divine power and Abyssal Demonic Qi, transforming this component into the 'Rebellious Dragon Codex.' However, the Purple Dragon God could not touch the Abyssal part of the Dragon Emperor's Codex. This was because Dragon Emperor Xie's body contained the last component of the Codex, suppressing the Abyss. Overall, the Purple Dragon God was at a disadvantage. In terms of the number of Dragon Kings and Great Dragon Kings, he couldn't compare to Zhao Xing. In terms of Codex components, he couldn't obtain the third one, while Zhao Xing had hope. This was the foundation Zhao Xing had laid since his first entry into the Dragon Court; he had developed three hundred years earlier than the Purple Dragon God and held the legitimate position. If Emperor Jing were still alive at this time, he would probably understand why Zhao Xing had said he couldn't unify the world back then. With such terrifying power, the sparse human population simply couldn't participate. Both Zhao Xing and the Purple Dragon God tacitly ordered their respective human members to exit the Dragon Gate.

By the 335th year of the Dragon Emperor Era, Yuanshuo 77th year, another thirteen years had passed, and both sides were preparing for the final battle. This was because the Great Dragon Kings and Dragon Kings needed time to recover their strength after awakening. At this time, Zhao Xing also arrived at the last location in the Dragon Court — the Abyss.

*Roar!* The gale breathed, and a massive hurricane revolved around a bottomless abyss. The sound of the hurricane was entirely dragon roars, and the wind itself was gloomy and dark. A five-clawed golden dragon crossed layers of hurricanes and arrived above the Abyss. "The broken world barrier of the ancient Dragon Court." Zhao Xing silently gazed at the deep and dark Abyss. "This is where the Abyssal Demonic Race invaded during ancient times." There were many gigantic remnants around, with dragon bones as tall as mountains scattered everywhere. There were also many weapons suspected to be Star Dao Soldiers. However, due to the immense passage of time, they had turned to dust, devoid of their divine aura. "It truly seems like the Xuanhuang Realm was invaded in ancient times, and the dragons put up a fierce resistance. However, too little remains to determine which race the 'Abyssal Demonic Race' was. I can only hope Dragon Emperor Xie helps me uncover the secret." In his previous life, Zhao Xing had never been to the Abyss. At that time, his ascension didn't require him to manually initiate spiritual qi recovery, so unifying the Dragon Court was irrelevant. Furthermore, the entry requirements here were stringent: one had to be level 100 or higher, possess the Dragon Emperor's Codex, and have cultivated the Ultimate Marquis Transformation Art to enter. None of these were easily met.

Legend had it that Dragon Emperor Xie used his body to block the Abyssal entrance and suppressed the Abyss with the 'Divine Power Scroll,' the most crucial part of the Dragon Emperor's Codex. The Dragon Emperor's Codex was split into three parts: the Edict Scroll, the Sea Command Scroll, and the Divine Power Scroll. Zhao Xing obtained the Edict Scroll, which contained Dragon Emperor's Edicts and incantations, possessing the great power to strip and promote dragons. The Purple Dragon God obtained the Sea Command Scroll, which governed the seas, including the Sinister Sea and the outer seas of the Dragon Court continent, also possessing the great power to strip and promote dragons. The difference between the two was that one functioned in water, the other on land, but their power levels were equivalent. It was also key to suppressing and absolving rebellious dragons. The Divine Power Scroll controlled the Heaven-Earth Dragon Gate, was the source of power, and served as the core of the three components. "Dragon Emperor Xie used the Divine Power Scroll to suppress the Abyss. The Purple Dragon God would certainly not be recognized. He can only wait for me to obtain this component, then try to kill me, in order to unite all three parts."

"So many years have passed; the so-called Abyssal Demonic Race should no longer exist." Zhao Xing remembered that the Xuanhuang Realm had no 'neighbors' around it. "Either it once had neighbors, or they were passing by the Xuanhuang Realm and wanted to plunder resources for replenishment." Zhao Xing looked at the traces around him, some mountain ranges and large debris. He could discern the shadows of some warships. After much thought, Zhao Xing decided to descend into the Abyss once, to retrieve the most important Divine Power Scroll. In terms of both quantity and quality of powerful individuals, he had an advantage. The only obstacle was the Purple Dragon God, a powerful expert. Zhao Xing wasn't absolutely confident in defeating the Purple Dragon God. After all, the Witch Moon God had intended to kill him in the Dragon Court, and the Purple Dragon God was the executor; the opponent surely had trump cards. Obtaining the Divine Power Scroll would increase his chances. "Down!" Having made his decision, Zhao Xing no longer hesitated.

Zhao Xing activated Ancestral Dragon Transformation and rapidly plunged into the abyss. He flew underground for a full month before reaching his destination. Amidst a vast expanse of grayish mist, a giant dragon over ten thousand li long floated, lifelike, its scales and flesh perfectly intact. Each scale seemed to contain the profound mysteries of the Great Dao. It held a golden stone tablet in its mouth, its dragon whiskers swayed, and its eyes, full of majesty, seemed to gaze in a certain direction. This was the closest to an Ancestral Dragon that Zhao Xing had ever seen among dragons, yet it possessed no soul aura. As Zhao Xing descended to a certain height, he encountered a repulsive force, followed by a power scanning back and forth across his body. "The power of the Dragon Emperor's Dao Field."

Zhao Xing expelled the component of the Dragon Emperor's Codex, then pushed the Ultimate Marquis Transformation Art, "Ancestral Dragon Transformation," to its extreme. His "Ancestral Dragon Transformation" had now reached the sixth transformation level, a result of many years of cultivation in the Dragon Court. *Hum!* Suddenly, the restriction vanished, and Zhao Xing descended into the Dragon Emperor's Dao Field. As he approached Dragon Emperor Xie's body, Zhao Xing suddenly felt a tremor. Then, instinctively, he unfolded his Pure Origin Projection, and a dragon egg floated out. *Roar!* A dragon's roar echoed, and a dragon-shaped light phantom floated out from Dragon Emperor Xie's body. Path-Establishing Dharmakaya! The dragon phantom gazed at Zhao Xing, and at the same time, at the supreme dragon egg. "(Dragon Tongue) Very good. You obtained the Codex, went to the Young Dragon Royal City, yet you did not consume this supreme dragon egg to enhance your bloodline. You are a qualified successor to the Dragon Emperor." Zhao Xing was stunned. So that dragon egg was a test? To be honest, he had indeed thought about eating the supreme dragon egg to cultivate the Marquis Transformation Art, but he had ultimately given up on the idea. It wasn't because of a sudden surge of kindness; it was mainly because his talent was strong enough that he felt there was no need to waste a supreme dragon egg.

"That you could come here proves you are qualified in all aspects. I do not know how much time has passed in later generations, but I will tell you everything that once happened. Then, it will be up to you to decide whether to reclaim the Divine Power Scroll of the Codex and lift the ban on the dragons' steadfast adherence to their ancestral land." Zhao Xing listened quietly.

"The Ancestral Dragon opened the heavens and created all things, the dragons fought in Xuanhuang and established the Divine Court. A very long time ago, our race, led by the Ancestral Dragon, ruled the entire Xuanhuang Realm," Dragon Emperor Xie recounted. "Legend says that when the Ancestral Dragon reached the legendary realm, it broke through the void and ascended, leaving the Xuanhuang Realm. The Ancestral Dragon once left a warning: the Xuanhuang Realm is too small. If we do not leave, then the entire Xuanhuang Realm will be consumed by us, or we will slaughter each other." From then on, the Dragon Court was governed by the first Dragon Emperor, 'Chi,' and the Era of Ascension began. Generation after generation of Dragon Emperors succeeded, and our people ascended in large numbers, leaving the Xuanhuang Realm to explore the magnificent and grand cosmos. Each ascension was recorded on the Dragon Ascension Platform, preserving their glorious deeds. The Ancestral Dragon and successive Dragon Emperors would occasionally return to the Xuanhuang Realm to tell their people stories of the cosmos, all of which were recorded in the murals of the ancestral land. Zhao Xing was startled upon hearing this. Dragon Emperors and Ancestral Dragons could return to the Xuanhuang Realm? "That shouldn't be right. How could they return? Was it possible to ascend individually back then? And the Xuanhuang Realm hadn't experienced 'Hidden Breakage Illusions'." Dragon Emperor Xie, of course, couldn't answer Zhao Xing's questions; it was merely a Path-Establishing Dharmakaya, simply continuing its narration:

"Later, a sudden change occurred. The Ancestral Dragon's last return told us that the Xuanhuang Realm would no longer be suitable for habitation, and ascension would become difficult; it would be hard for individuals to ascend on their own." It was at that time that the Dragon Emperor of that generation began to relocate the entire dragon race, preparing for a collective departure from the Xuanhuang Realm. "However, at this very moment, the Demonic Race appeared." A star map appeared in the Dragon Emperor's Dao Field, and then three stars magnified. "The Three-Star Positioning Method—this is a common way to confirm coordinates in the cosmos." Zhao Xing observed carefully, then suddenly realized, "The Kha’th Race ruins? Their existence actually coincided with the Xuanhuang Realm dragons." The Xuanhuang Realm might not have neighbors now, but that didn't mean it never had. The Kha’th Race ruins were the first landmark players encountered after leaving the Xuanhuang Realm. Some people went to check it out then, but found nothing; those three world-stars were completely dead, yielding no benefits whatsoever. No one took it seriously; they just considered it part of the background for entering the cosmos.

"The Demonic Race faced the same problem as us: resource scarcity. So, they launched a war against the Xuanhuang Realm. The Demonic Race pierced through the world barrier, opening a passage to the Xuanhuang Realm, and entered to wantonly plunder resources. From then on, the dragon race entered an era of war. About one epoch later, both the Xuanhuang Realm and the Demonic Race's dwelling place entered the post-Spirit Qi Era," Dragon Emperor Xie's voice was somewhat desolate. "The fighting grew even more fierce, and at the same time, successive Dragon Emperors and the Ancestral Dragon never returned to the Xuanhuang Realm." Zhao Xing nodded slightly. Not returning was normal; this aligned with his impression of the Xuanhuang Realm. "Our ancestors no longer returned, spirit qi faded, and both sides fell into panic. The fighting grew increasingly fierce, eventually becoming not purely for resources or ascension, but for survival. I was born at the end of the Seventh Primal Energy Epoch. Because the Demonic Race was stronger than us, the fourth generation Dragon Emperor before me could only retreat to the ancient Dragon Court and issued a ban against leaving freely."

"The Demonic Race plundered the Xuanhuang Realm's resources extensively but remained unsatisfied, because we, the dragons, were a resource in ourselves." A trace of anger entered Dragon Emperor Xie's voice. Zhao Xing also sighed. Wars between races were essentially wars of extermination; they wouldn't stop until one side was completely wiped out. "When I became Dragon Emperor, the ancient Dragon Court was no longer safe. Rebellious Dragons increased significantly, the great power left by previous Dragon Emperors was fading, and the power left by the Ancestral Dragon had completely vanished." Zhao Xing immediately thought of the Primal Energy Tides. The so-called power of the Dragon Emperors and Ancestral Dragon must have been Dao fields, and successive Primal Energy Tides had erased these powers. "For the last shred of dragon dignity, I could only sacrifice myself, using my innate divine ability to block the Abyssal passage." "Fortunately, the Demonic Race was no longer as powerful as before. Five thousand years before my death, I saw them retreat and never return to the Xuanhuang Realm." "In my calculations, they also inevitably entered a period of decline. However, my observation period was too short, only a mere five thousand years. Perhaps they will return one day. Therefore, I leave this information. It is for the new Emperor to decide whether to take the Dragon Emperor's Codex." After Dragon Emperor Xie finished speaking, his Path-Establishing Dharmakaya dissipated.

Zhao Xing began to sort through Dragon Emperor Xie's last words. "Thinking carefully, the Xuanhuang Realm used to allow individual ascension, and the Kha’th Race also existed back then. This implies that the Xuanhuang Realm's location was once full of vitality and spirit qi, not part of the desolate regions of the cosmos." What defined the desolate regions of the cosmos? In the Cosmic version, this was determined by the spirit qi index within cosmic territories. If the spirit qi index was below 1, it could be called a cosmic wasteland. A scene immediately emerged in Zhao Xing's mind: the Xuanhuang Realm was originally a large tree in a dense forest. The life forms of the Xuanhuang Realm were the indigenous inhabitants living on this tree. Originally, in the vibrant forest, there were many other trees like the Xuanhuang Realm. But one day, this land began to 'desertify,' meaning its spirit qi value dropped below 1. Consequently, the forest began to die out, and eventually, only the Xuanhuang Realm and the Kha’th Star remained as trees in the desert.

The people on the trees wanted to leave and live in another forest, but found they didn't have enough provisions. So, they set their sights on the neighboring large tree. "Chopping down this Xuanhuang Realm tree would provide enough nutrients to relocate to a habitable place." Thus, war began. However, because the great trees themselves possessed spirituality, whether the Xuanhuang Realm or the Kha’th Star, due to the depletion of spirit qi, travel within cosmic territories became extremely difficult. Simultaneously, special cosmic phenomena like 'Hidden Breakage Illusions' appeared, causing those who had previously ascended to no longer be able to find their home. The more they fought, the weaker both sides became. With the advent of the Primal Energy Era, neither side had any hope of ascension. The Xuanhuang Realm, being a bit sturdier, still survived in the wasteland, but the Kha’th Race's three world-stars had completely perished. This was the Cosmic version familiar to players: a lonely Xuanhuang Realm, standing in a cosmic desert. To ascend, one could only seize the heaven-bestowed spirit qi rain that fell only after very long intervals. And the intervals between these reviving spirit qi rains grew longer and longer, making the revival of spirit qi a legend. Thinking of this, Zhao Xing finally resolved all the doubts from his previous life: "So, the Dragon Court dungeon was actually part of the Cosmic version's background story."

"The so-called disappearance of the Abyssal Demonic Race means taking the Divine Power Scroll of the Dragon Emperor's Codex will have no impact." Zhao Xing activated Soul Heaven-Sight to examine his surroundings. He found that after countless years, the world barrier had long since healed automatically, as Zhao Xing couldn't see anything beyond the barrier. If the barrier were weak or had an 'opening,' he would have been able to observe the cosmic stars outside. Since there was none now, it meant the world barrier had healed, automatically repaired by the Xuanhuang Realm. "Collect!" Zhao Xing took the stone tablet from Dragon Emperor Xie's mouth.

*Hum!* The two parts of the Dragon Emperor's Codex automatically fused. A golden light burst forth, shaking heaven and earth. The Dragon Gate above the East Sea also began to appear faintly. "After two-in-one fusion, this wondrous treasure has advanced to a supreme-grade Star Dao Soldier. If all three are united, it could upgrade to a World-Star Dao Soldier, though such a World-Star Dao Soldier would only be effective against dragons." Zhao Xing absorbed the fused Dragon Emperor's Codex, then rapidly flew out of the Abyss.

In the 335th year of the Dragon Emperor Era, Yuanshuo 77th year, Zhao Xing, having obtained two components of the Dragon Emperor's Codex, boldly mobilized his forces, entered the territory of the Dragon Abyss Kingdom, and actively initiated the decisive battle. The strengthened Dragon Emperor's Codex could now influence the power of Great Dragon Kings, and Dragon Kings were completely suppressed. In the 336th year of the Dragon Emperor Era, Yuanshuo 78th year, four of the twelve Great Dragon Kings of the Dragon Abyss Kingdom were slain, and eight escaped. The Purple Dragon God's forces were forced to retreat to the Celestial Sea Ancient Kingdom, defending with their backs to the Sinister Sea. In just one year, Zhao Xing annexed the Dragon Abyss Kingdom. From then on, only one of the nine kingdoms remained: the Celestial Sea Kingdom. The Celestial Sea Kingdom presented a slightly greater challenge, taking Zhao Xing nine years to reach its royal capital.

Dragon Emperor Era, 345th year; Yuanshuo, 87th year. The Purple Dragon God first clashed with Zhao Xing. The Purple Dragon God was at the late Rule Realm, wielding the Abyssal Demonic Race's divine artifact, the 'Kha’th Orb,' and the Rebellious Dragon Codex. After seven days of fierce battle, he suffered a defeat, abandoned the royal capital, and led his subordinates to flee to the Sinister Sea. Zhao Xing instantly knew the Purple Dragon God was feigning weakness. His true goal was to lure Zhao Xing to fight in the Sinister Sea, because in the Sinister Sea, Zhao Xing's Dragon Emperor's Codex would not be able to exert its full power. But Zhao Xing had no choice but to go, for only by obtaining the remaining part of the Dragon Emperor's Codex could he completely unify it. "It seems the Purple Dragon God's true arrangements are in the Sinister Sea." Zhao Xing stood on a dragon boat, looking at the dark distant waters. "The Purple Dragon God's true strength should be at the peak of the Rule Realm. He pretended to be at the late Rule Realm, thinking I wouldn't know." He had concealed his strength, but in the previous battles, I had also not shown my full power. "After all this effort to lure me there, what other means could he possibly have to kill me?" Zhao Xing closed his eyes, recalling his past life's experiences and combining them with the current situation, pondering continuously. On paper, his chances of victory were high. Because he hadn't fully unleashed all four of his divine trees, only revealing the Dragon Spirit Bamboo and Blazing Lotus, yet he still pondered deeply for a long time. A year later, in the 346th year of the Dragon Emperor Era, Yuanshuo 88th year, Zhao Xing finally began his assault on the Sinister Sea.