Chapter 379: The Secret of Qingyuzi, Nanluo No.88, The Third Realm Benweipai Tombs

Chapter 16: Qingyuzi's Secret, Naluo 88, and the Burial of a Third-Realm True Self Sect Member!

Naluo Star-Continent 185 is a high-level star-continent, shaped like a spinning top, surrounded by numerous rotating asteroid belts.

A rift opened in the void, space flowed like water, and Zhao Xing's small realm-boat was swept out by the void river.

"Whoosh~" The realm-boat spun erratically, like a drunken strongman, its crooked trajectory heading towards the dense asteroid belt.

"Hum~" After a while, the small realm-boat stabilized and landed on a meteorite.

The cabin door opened, and Zhao Xing stepped out of the realm-boat.

"Almost crashed, my skills are slipping!" Zhao Xing muttered.

The void current on the route to Naluo 185 was too strong. He wasn't a mechanism master, so controlling the realm-boat was a struggle.

"Not buying a sentient artifact spirit to assist with controls, relying solely on manual operation, is still inconvenient!"

Zhao Xing glanced around, then with a wave of his hand, the Star Dao Soldier 'Grand View Realm' flew out.

A small ecosystem, roughly two million square kilometers in size, instantly appeared on the barren meteorite.

Zhao Xing gazed into the void. In the distance, streaks of meteors shot across the sky, representing other adventurers heading to Naluo 185.

"I'll wait here!" Zhao Xing sat down as his Dao Field unfurled.

"Hum~" Two beams of light swept across the asteroid belt, and the Dao Field enveloped over 500 million small meteorites.

"Sizzle, sizzle~" Two forces, one Yin and one Yang, began to strip the surfaces of the meteorites, arranging them according to the techniques of the Eight Cycles of Purple Light.

"That envoy from Du Yun's faction should be able to see this!" Zhao Xing felt a steady and powerful sense of being spied upon, a soul intuition granted by his Three Divine Fate Palace.

Within the chaotic asteroid belt, an orderly band of meteorites appeared, as conspicuous as a crop circle.

However, passing adventurers, upon seeing the Purple God Manor's symbol formed by the meteorites, kept a wide berth.

In less than three days, Zhao Xing detected a second steady and powerful sense of being spied upon.

This was different from the casual glances of those who simply passed by.

"They're here!" Zhao Xing looked in a certain direction. Although he saw nothing, his intuition grew increasingly strong.

In the next moment, a force suddenly appeared within his range of perception.

It was the visual perception of the Minor Divine Ability 'Soul Sky-Sight', not his Dao Field.

"1, 15, 24... A total of fifty-six forces have entered my Dao Field!" Zhao Xing abruptly stood up.

Although his view was obstructed by the asteroid belt and he saw no one, he could sense fifty-six powerful individuals rushing towards him.

"They really think highly of me, sending fifty-six second-realm cultivators to hunt me down?"

They arrived quickly; ten breaths later, they had already reached the edge of his Dao Field.

Zhao Xing's soul perception range was greater than his Dao Field's range.

Once both perceived them, the enemies' forms became clear.

"Stop! This is my territory!" "I am a member of the Purple God Manor, who are you?!" Zhao Xing's Dao Field fluctuated violently, creating an unstable environment, increasing the interference coefficient, and slowing down the enemies' speed.

However, these individuals' speed remained unchanged.

As a blue light flashed, in the next moment, all meteorites around the Dao Field shattered.

Zhao Xing's face paled. His Dao Field vanished, and the surrounding void was now controlled by another Origin Realm cultivator.

With the meteorites cleared, Zhao Xing saw his enemies without obstruction.

"Not fifty-six, but fifty-seven?" "And one I didn't sense, a Third Realm cultivator?" Zhao Xing's expression changed.

A handsome, purple-haired youth stood in the void, blue light rippling around him. Countless void rivers stretched out behind him, like chilling long whips.

With him as the focal point, the entire area where Zhao Xing had deployed his Dao Field and the Eight Cycles of Purple Light was now under his control.

Zhao Xing felt his breath catch. Most of his spells were unusable, and those he could employ would have at least ninety percent of their power diminished.

This was because every inch of void around him had an astonishing chaos index, exceeding 150! None of Zhao Xing's realm-star dao soldiers could function effectively in such an environment.

This was the power of the Third Realm! Pure suppression!

Seeing Zhao Xing struggling on the meteorite, Mo'er was somewhat surprised: "Still moving? It seems the Marquis truly had foresight; only sending Second Realm cultivators might have led to an unexpected failure!" Listening to the voice from the meteorite, Mo'er simply waved his hand, instructing his subordinates to capture Zhao Xing and bring him aboard their ship.

Villains die from talking too much; there was no way he would answer Zhao Xing's questions.

"Swish, swish, swish~" Nine of Mo'er's subordinates rapidly descended along the blue rivers, landing on the meteorite where Zhao Xing was.

However, just then, Zhao Xing's body suddenly turned to ash.

"Suicide?" Mo'er was startled. His mission was to capture Zhao Xing alive, not to kill him.

But in the next moment, he reacted.

"No, it's a clone?" "We've been tricked!" Mo'er sharply looked in a certain direction.

He saw a streak of light rushing towards him at extreme speed.

Within the streak of light was a figure with horns pointing skyward, black wings on its back, a tiger head on a humanoid body, and a body covered in reddish-bronze scales.

"A demonic martial artist? A rare race, Jiuli?" Mo'er immediately understood that he had fallen for a major trap.

"A Jiuli martial artist, and a Third Realm one at that. There's only one on Tigerhead Star-Continent, and that's the demon servant Du Yun subdued!" "Retrieve the target's related items and retreat!" Mo'er made an immediate decision and ordered his subordinates to withdraw.

The nine Second Realm cultivators who had landed immediately cast spells, immobilizing the half-burnt Zhao Xing, and took away his remains and the small realm-boat.

They then boarded their own realm-boats and retreated.

Mo'er, however, did not retreat; instead, he charged towards the Jiuli martial artist.

The scene froze at this moment. Inside the Yuanhai Palace on Tigerhead Star-Continent, Zhao Xing's eyes reflected the clash between Mo'er and the Jiuli's two Third Realm cultivators.

"Something's not right, old Qing has a problem!" Zhao Xing frowned and sat down.

"He was only in the Second Realm back then, so it's normal for the enmity between a member of the Dongyan Ancient Clan and him to continue through me, his direct disciple!" "But deploying fifty-six Second Realm cultivators, and even a Third Realm one, that's not normal!" "Why me? Why send so many people?" "In their eyes, I'm just in the First Realm; they don't know I've entered the Void Realm!" Zhao Xing pondered.

Indeed, after nearly eighty years of accelerated cultivation and consuming precious resource combinations.

He first cultivated the second layer of the Yuanhai Realm, and using that as a foundation, successfully resolved the difficulty of Yin-Yang balance, breaking through to the Second Realm of Origin.

Of course, this was entirely due to Master Zhao's own efforts and had absolutely nothing to do with spending 920 million Yuanhai coins.

"Secondly, they weren't here to kill me at all; they wanted to capture me alive!" "Why capture me alive? I'm just a native!" Zhao Xing frowned.

"Could it be that they want to imprison and torture me to vent their hatred?" After pondering for a while, Zhao Xing sought out Ji Che for a chat.

"Che, I have a friend!" "One day, he was being hunted by an enemy, but the enemy's pursuit force was excessive!" "The enemy is in the Dao Domain Realm, while my friend is only in the Second Realm.

Furthermore, they were trying to kill him secretly, not daring to act openly for fear of others finding out!" "Then one day, my friend was caught by the enemy, but it seemed they didn't intend to kill him, but rather to capture him!" "Che, why do you think this is?"

Ji Che looked at Zhao Xing, his expression a little flustered: "Big Brother, that friend you're talking about, it wouldn't happen to be you, would it?" This was a common phrase Zhao Xing used long ago, for example, he often said things like 'I have a friend who wants to be a Grand Minister of Agriculture'.

"First, answer my question!" Ji Che analyzed: "Most likely, this friend you mentioned possesses something the enemy desires!" "This item is not something that can see the light of day, perhaps it's ill-gotten gains from a dark transaction, or a forbidden item!" "Big Brother... is Qingyuzi's legacy in trouble?" Ji Che was incredibly astute; Zhao Xing's casual remark immediately made him connect the dots.

Their only connection since coming to the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom was Qingyuzi.

He knew what kind of person his Big Brother was; he would never cause trouble recklessly.

If Zhao Xing was indeed being hunted, it must be because of Qingyuzi and his two companions.

"Che, immediately gather all the relics in the national treasury related to Qingyuzi and his two companions, including those that are only at the Star Dao Soldier level!" "Don't worry about what's already been sold!" Zhao Xing instructed.

The Dongyan Ancient Clan must have considered the possibility of Zhao Xing selling things.

Since they were still pursuing him, it proved that the item in question was something he would absolutely not sell.

"Che, have Meng Kun summarize and compile every trading partner of Great Zhou's foreign trade over the years into a booklet and send a copy to me.

Include what transactions occurred, how they were conducted... It must be detailed, missing no single point!" Ji Che listened quietly, tilting his head slightly, seemingly giving instructions.

Finally, Ji Che asked nervously, "Big Brother, what exactly happened? Did we take something we shouldn't have?"

"That's precisely the problem!" Zhao Xing sighed, "I don't know!" "When I met the Purple Moon Manor Lord, I gave him everything to inspect first, precisely to prevent certain troubles!" "Now, for the Dongyan Ancient Clan to go to such great lengths, I truly don't understand!" Zhao Xing also couldn't fathom the Dongyan Ancient Clan's true objective.

He began to doubt his previous analysis.

Could Qingyuzi's enemy really be a twisted psychopath, hating Qingyuzi so much that they simply wanted to capture and torture his disciple?

"Che, you don't need to worry about me; I'm safe for now!" Zhao Xing said, "Control the domestic situation, remind the powerful individuals at home to act cautiously and not to casually interact with strangers!" "I understand!" Ji Che said seriously, "Big Brother, you must be careful. I'll have Meng Kun send you the transaction records immediately!" Ji Che was not one to simply worry; he immediately began taking action.

Hanging up the communication, Zhao Xing pondered deeply.

"Things I wouldn't sell: from Qingyuzi, there's Cangwu Summit Leaf, Grand View Realm, Star Fate Scroll, Tiangu Beast; from Su Wan'er, there's the Escape Soul Ring... No, that doesn't make sense!"

"Even the precious Fate Master treasure, the Star Fate Scroll, I'd sell if I were short on money!" "How could they be so sure I wouldn't sell?"

"If it was hidden among those Star Dao Soldiers, the Purple Moon Manor Lord checked them all. Could a Dao Domain Realm cultivator not see it?"

"If it was on Zigu, Zigu later presented everything to the Heavenly Yuan Manor Lord for inspection, as I instructed!"

"Let's assume there's one treasure whose true value Qingyuzi and his two companions didn't know, so they didn't tell me or the Purple Moon Manor Lord.

But certain individuals in the Dongyan Ancient Clan know!" Zhao Xing's mind raced: "There are only two possibilities now!" "One, this treasure is hidden within those Star Dao Soldiers!" "Two, Qingyuzi and his two companions left it in the Xuanhuang Realm!" "The first possibility is extremely small; the second is the most likely!" Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"A completely overlooked treasure would naturally not be left for the inheritor, nor would it be brought back to the sect!"

"Just like how I casually left the Kunyuan Hoe in the Xuanhuang Realm!"

"Hiss..." Zhao Xing suddenly thought of something, his brow twitching.

"The 'Hidden Break Illusion' of the Xuanhuang Realm perfectly eliminates the second possibility!"

"Only Yun Tiandao, Ji Che, and I know that the Xuanhuang Realm is still intact!"

"Among the people who came from Great Zhou, everyone else only remembers the Xuanhuang Realm exploding and its coordinates being lost!"

"Even if the Purple Moon Manor Lord were to ask people from Great Zhou, he wouldn't get any answers..." Zhao Xing felt his scalp tingle. After going in circles, he had unexpectedly returned to the Xuanhuang Realm as the focal point.

"Is the end of the universe the Xuanhuang Realm?" "What exactly is sealed in my memory palace, that I can't even think about it?" Zhao Xing felt there was a huge pit here. He returned to the depths of his memory; the mountains of rice and noodles, chickens and dogs, and the lanterns in front of the palace gates appeared somewhat eerie, as if harboring a great terror.

"I'm currently in the Second Realm, still not meeting the activation conditions I set back then!" Zhao Xing looked at the large door and ultimately gave up the idea of exploring further.

"In the cosmic version, certain matters do not allow for more insiders. Knowing means exposure. Knowing means entering the game!"

"But haven't I already entered the game? Why am I not allowed to know? Does this mean the Purple Moon Manor Lord and the powerhouses of the Dongyan Ancient Clan are still not considered players?" Zhao Xing moved away from the large door and opened his eyes.

"It's also possible I'm just scaring myself!"

"Qingyuzi's enemy is just a twisted psychopath!" Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"The Xuanhuang Realm has absolutely no connection to this matter; I'm just fighting a battle of wits with thin air!"

"Regardless, I'm still safe for now. Du Yun is stationed on Tigerhead Star-Continent, and the Purple Moon Manor Lord isn't someone to be trifled with!"

"Regarding the 'Hidden Break Illusion' and the Xuanhuang Realm's coordinates, I cannot reveal them. If the Purple Moon Manor Lord or Du Yun asks, I'll only state the facts I know, not my speculations or opinions!" Zhao Xing was no longer anxious about how to explain. Since Qingyuzi and the Purple Moon Manor Lord didn't know, what should a messenger know?

For the next few days, Zhao Xing quietly waited in the Yuanhai Palace, neither asking questions nor seeking information.

In any case, he still had some money, and staying in Yuanhai Palace, under Du Yun's watchful eye, even a Dao Domain Realm enemy could only stare helplessly, let alone merely a Third Realm one. He wasn't worried.

A month later, the artifact spirit Cang Yu suddenly paid a visit.

"Lord Cang Yu." Zhao Xing bowed respectfully, looking like a little obedient child.

"Zhao Xing, the Manor Lord of the Purple God Manor, Du Yun, has summoned you." The artifact spirit Cang Yu spoke with impressive authority, "If you agree, I'll take you over for a stroll."

"Yes, thank you, Lord Cang Yu." How could Zhao Xing disagree? While the Yuanhai Imperial Family offered some protection, they only acted according to the ancient kingdom's laws. If he left the exploration base, the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom's authorities wouldn't care. But the Purple God Manor was different; they could help.

"Hum~" The artifact spirit Cang Yu seized Zhao Xing. The surrounding space began to ripple. The void river reappeared. Cang Yu navigated Zhao Xing through the stable void river as if on a super slide. About two seconds later, Cang Yu tossed Zhao Xing. In the next moment, Zhao Xing's vision blurred, and he appeared above a vast ocean.

"Splash~" Waves surged. The dense spiritual energy ocean intertwined with the dilapidated void, like a strange abstract painting. In the distance stood a magnificent golden palace, encircled by eight void rivers, resembling planetary rings, truly impressive. Zhao Xing looked again, and his vision suddenly zoomed in, making the palace clearer. It turned out he had unknowingly been drawn by a yellow river, which brought him directly before the palace.

"The spiritual energy index is as high as 500, almost comparable to a binary star space, wow. The void is so chaotic, yet the spiritual energy ocean below is incredibly stable, without a ripple." Zhao Xing muttered to himself, "Order amidst chaos—is this the cultivation ground of the Yellow Sand Manor Lord Du Yun? Hey, that's interesting."

As he pondered, the yellow guiding river beneath his feet vanished, and he stood firmly on the ground, appearing at the entrance of a massive palace.

"Zhao Xing pays respects to the Yellow Sand Manor Lord."

This Yellow Sand Manor Lord, Du Yun, was the eighth Manor Lord of the Purple God Manor, and the only one not in the Dao Domain Realm. Originally, it was only logical for a Dao Domain Realm cultivator to be a Manor Lord, but Du Yun's strength and accomplishments were exceptional and commanded respect. Throughout the entire Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, Du Yun was considered a top-tier genius. He possessed five Minor Divine Abilities: "Thousand Stars Fall," "Void Severance," "Purple Light Obscurity," "Wailing Remnant Soul," and "Heart-Crushing Drumbeat." He also cultivated the top-tier method, "Ancestor Void Golden Body." Furthermore, Du Yun's Sunset Cloud Sword and Dusk Armor were famously renowned. These were forged by the Heavenly Qi Manor Lord with immense effort over half an epoch, specifically tailored for Du Yun. Both the sword and armor possessed growth potential and could reach the level of Origin Divine Weapons. And "Yellow Sand Crossing" was Du Yun's Major Divine Ability! It was even a self-created Major Divine Ability! Those who self-created Major Divine Abilities in the Third Realm were rare throughout the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom. The Purple God Manor even had a poem circulating about him: "Golden body blooms as a thousand stars fall, void severs, purple light dims. Wailing remnant souls fill the ears, war drums urge hearts to shatter. Where dusk clouds gather, setting sun casts its glow, a thousand li of yellow sand crossed." This poem was specifically crafted to praise Du Yun.

"Zhao Xing." Du Yun spoke, his body remaining a hundred meters tall, a height he found comfortable. When he spoke, his voice echoed through the hall like thunder. "The people pursuing you are subordinates of Marquis Heyin."

Marquis Heyin? Zhao Xing silently noted the name.

"Marquis Heyin is a Five-Element Dao Domain Realm cultivator," Du Yun stated. "He has no previous dealings with the Purple God Manor, nor any past grievances, so why he sent people to hunt you is still under investigation."

A Five-Element Dao Domain Realm cultivator, yet only a Marquis Heyin? Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised. It seemed this Dao Domain Realm cultivator wasn't doing anything significant in the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom. Any ambitious Dao Domain Realm cultivator would at least be a Duke.

"The investigation falls under the jurisdiction of the Purple Moon Manor. The Purple Moon Manor Lord is not in the country, and when he will summon you is not my concern."

"I merely ensure your safety."

"The Purple Moon Manor Lord and I have discussed it; you now have two options."

"First, you can immediately terminate your mission and return to the Purple Moon Manor's territory, where it's absolutely safe. You can undertake some domestic missions first while awaiting the outcome of this matter."

"Second, continue your adventures here, and I will guarantee your safety."

Zhao Xing didn't even hesitate: "Yellow Sand Manor Lord, I want to know what kind of guarantee I'll receive with the second option."

Du Yun waved his hand, and two items appeared before Zhao Xing. One was an arched bridge made of red crystal, seemingly with blood flowing within it; as it drew near, Zhao Xing even heard a heartbeat. The other item was a strange talisman paper, blank yet covered in stars.

"This item is called 'Thousand Li Yellow Sand Crossing'," Du Yun said. "Drip a drop of your blood into it to bind it. Its purpose thereafter is to shorten the distance between you and me."

"Within the Illusion God Galaxy, my flight towards you, or your flight towards me, will always be a mere thousand li."

Zhao Xing couldn't help but be surprised. Wow, this was a great treasure.

"However, this isn't for you to use casually," Du Yun said calmly. "Since you've chosen adventure, you must be prepared for the possibility of falling."

"I will only deal with cultivators of the Major Divine Ability Realm and above."

"If I arrive and find you're only dealing with minor characters, I will reclaim this item and no longer concern myself with you."

"Yes." Zhao Xing cupped his hands. Du Yun couldn't possibly be his private bodyguard. Granting him this treasure was merely because Marquis Heyin's pursuit of Zhao Xing struck him as odd. He wished to confront Marquis Heyin, and the simplest way to investigate would naturally be to capture the Marquis himself. Du Yun had no time to chase after minor figures; he typically did not concern himself with matters outside of his protective duties.

"The second treasure is the Purple God Star Talisman," Du Yun introduced. "Even with the Thousand Li Yellow Sand Crossing, you might still not have enough time to activate it."

"The Purple God Star Talisman is a Major Divine Ability talisman, and it activates autonomously. If a Major Divine Ability cultivator or a Five-Element Dao Domain Realm cultivator appears near you, it can ensure your safety for a moment, allowing you to immediately activate the Thousand Li Yellow Sand Crossing."

"Remember its activation conditions," Du Yun warned. "You cannot rely on it to explore the Moon Luo Mausoleum."

"Yes, thank you, Manor Lord, I understand." Zhao Xing nodded. The Purple God Star Talisman only triggered when a Third Realm Major Divine Ability cultivator or a Dao Domain Realm cultivator approached. It would not activate for formations. Combined with the first item, if Zhao Xing recklessly blundered into some death traps within the Moon Luo Mausoleum, Du Yun would also not intervene.

Through these two treasures, Zhao Xing finally understood Du Yun's intentions. He wouldn't interfere with normal adventuring, but if powerful individuals from other factions tried to bully the weak, Du Yun, as the guardian of this Moon Luo Mausoleum exploration, would intervene. Simply put: no bullying the young, no elders stepping in. If they didn't listen, Du Yun would come out and confront the rule-breaking old-timer to see whose fist was bigger.

"This junior chooses the second option." Zhao Xing quickly made his decision. The Moon Luo Mausoleum was his first pot of gold; he had only just started extracting golden sand, so how could he leave? He wouldn't depart until he had made a fortune in the Moon Luo Mausoleum. He had mentally prepared before coming: if Du Yun's side offered no guarantee, he would turn to the Yuanhai Imperial Family. He possessed abundant information and decent talent; offering even a small item as leverage, he could still secure protection. Return to the territory? Not only would it be intensely competitive, but there wasn't much profit either. Profitable ventures also carried risks, so given the circumstances, he might as well continue with his original plan.

Du Yun saw Zhao Xing make his choice and was not surprised. Having arrived just over two hundred years ago and already having dug up his first fortune of billions, Zhao Xing certainly had some good luck. It was normal for him to be reluctant to leave.

Just as he was about to send Zhao Xing away, Zhao Xing, unexpectedly, spoke again after accepting the items and expressing his thanks.

"Manor Lord, if this junior makes a significant discovery, may I use 'Thousand Li Yellow Sand Crossing' to invite you to join the exploration?"

Hearing this, Du Yun couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Hahaha~~~"

Du Yun's laughter was truly overwhelming. Sound waves exploded in the palace, almost deafening Zhao Xing. Du Yun clearly looked down on any treasures Zhao Xing might find. It was understandable, considering Zhao Xing's words were like someone with a hundred thousand inviting a billionaire to start a business together.

"Alright, I'll be waiting for you to make me rich," Du Yun said, laughing heartily, clearly taking the remark as pure amusement.

Zhao Xing also understood that Du Yun, as a powerful figure, would not come cheap, and ordinary treasures wouldn't impress him. This meant Zhao Xing would need to evaluate whether he could truly afford to invite him. Without self-awareness, the 'Yellow Sand Crossing' might still be reclaimed.

After leaving Du Yun, Zhao Xing was once again sent back to the Yuanhai Palace by the artifact spirit Cang Yu. He stayed in the Yuanhai Palace for some time, and with no further news, Zhao Xing began planning his next adventure.

"Having broken through to the Void Realm, I can now act independently."

"I'm currently in trouble, and it's not suitable to involve Huazi, Leyao, and Tianqingzi."

Zhao Xing went to the rental district, sent a message to Cen Qionghua, Leyao, and Yu Tianqing, gathered them, and then explained his intentions.

"Folks, I plan to proceed alone from now on," Zhao Xing said.

Cen Qionghua was startled: "Brother Zhao, why are we parting ways?"

"I've encountered some trouble," Zhao Xing said, "and it's not suitable to involve you all."

Leyao puffed out her chest and said, "What do you take Huazi and me for? To share in good times but abandon each other in difficulty?"

"Tell us what the trouble is. My family has some connections; let's work on it together."

"If it's about money, we'll pool it. If it's about connections, we'll find someone."

"Exactly," Cen Qionghua said, "Can we just stand by and watch you bear this alone?"

Yu Tianqing said nothing, but he nodded in agreement.

Zhao Xing felt a warmth in his heart, but still declined their kindness: "I've offended a Dao Domain Realm cultivator."

Cen Qionghua: "..."

Leyao: "..."

Zhao Xing's single sentence silenced all three of them.

"You... you're not joking, are you?" Leyao cautiously asked, looking at Zhao Xing's expression.

"No."

"Big Brother, what in the world have you been doing these past few decades?" Cen Qionghua said with a bitter face, "I told you not to wander around aimlessly. Wouldn't it have been better to visit brothels with me, or explore prisons with Leyao? Offending a Third Realm cultivator, there's still some way to deal with that—spend some money, pull some strings, negotiate; as long as it's not a life-and-death feud, there's always a solution. But offending a Dao Domain Realm cultivator, well, they truly are helpless."

"I cannot discuss this matter, as it involves entanglements between factions," Zhao Xing said. "The investigation results aren't out yet... In any case, I am currently safe, but please don't ask any more questions."

"Brother Yu, Leyao, Huazi." Zhao Xing raised his wine cup and said, "After this drink, we'll go our separate ways. If I survive this ordeal, we shall reunite."

Leyao and Cen Qionghua exchanged glances, then could only raise their wine cups and drink with Zhao Xing.

The three left, but not before transferring a sum of money to Zhao Xing.

"Zhao Xing, don't refuse. Our strength is limited, and since we can't help with much else, we can at least gather some money for your escape," Cen Qionghua said, completely tipsy.

Zhao Xing didn't know whether to laugh or cry; Cen Qionghua thought he was going to flee? Indeed, in the mind of an ordinary person, offending a Dao Domain Realm cultivator absolutely meant it was time to run. Large factions had numerous First and Second Realm members. Powerful individuals couldn't always offer protection. Zhao Xing's situation was special; under normal circumstances, an ordinary member who offended a Dao Domain Realm cultivator would never receive the two precious treasures bestowed by Du Yun. There would be no second option; they would be directly sent back to their home country. And even back home, a Dao Domain Realm cultivator would have a thousand ways to kill a small Void Realm cultivator, making it utterly impossible to fully defend against them.

"Brother Zhao, I'll never forget you, wah~" Cen Qionghua sobbed, hugging Zhao Xing.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Leyao pulled Cen Qionghua away. "It's as if Brother Zhao is about to pass away. Tianqing, quickly, drag him away, he's drunk."

Without a word, Yu Tianqing immediately knocked Cen Qionghua unconscious and carried him out the door.

"Zhao Xing, take care." Leyao bit her lip. "If you truly want to flee, my family has some connections and can help you smuggle yourself into other ancient kingdoms."

"Your family does that too?" Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised. "No wonder you're rich! Alright, I understand. You take care too."

Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, Luozhi Realm Star.

A scene was projected before Marquis Heyin: the dismembered Mo'er, submerged in a medical pod filled with green liquid.

"What happened?" Marquis Heyin asked calmly.

"Marquis, we were discovered by people from the Purple God Manor," Mo'er's deputy reported. "Du Yun sent Jiuli martial artists and set a trap for us."

"Anticipating your moves and still getting outmaneuvered, and Mo'er getting beaten to this state?" Marquis Heyin said, clapping with a smile, "Very impressive, everyone."

Hearing this, his subordinates trembled with fear.

Only the deputy, gritting his teeth, said, "Marquis, the Yuanhai Imperial Family must have interfered in this matter, otherwise our reconnaissance couldn't have been discovered."

"Furthermore, the target had incredibly good luck; in his first exploration, after merely two hundred years, he actually unearthed enough wealth to break through to the Second Realm."

"The target is in the Second Realm?" Marquis Heyin's smile gradually faded.

"That's right, he broke through to the Second Realm, and what emerged was a straw man clone of the True Self Sect."

"Why didn't you discover this beforehand?"

"Well..."

The deputy couldn't argue any further.

Alright, let's continue with this exciting story. Zhao Xing had indeed broken through to the Second Realm. Although his straw man technique was rather rudimentary, thanks to the Minor Divine Ability of the Three Divine Fate Palace, his soul fluctuations were indistinguishable from his true self. Moreover, their team couldn't use causal divination with this Three Divine Fate Palace, which was another reason for the mission's failure. Failing to discern this, they naturally assumed Zhao Xing's clone was his main body. Ultimately, it was the Yuanhai Imperial Family's artifact spirit, Cang Yu, who interfered and reported to Du Yun beforehand.

"So, you gained nothing at all?" Marquis Heyin's tone was very calm, but the calmer he was, the more terrified the deputy became.

"No, Marquis." The deputy waved his hand, and half of the straw man clone appeared beside him. It seemed to be solidified, still in a burning state, but only half a body.

"We brought back half of the target's clone, and the realm-boat he used."

Marquis Heyin's expression improved slightly. It wasn't a complete failure after all. With half of Zhao Xing's clone captured, they could invite a Fate Master to perform divinations. For a Dao Domain Realm cultivator to find a competent Fate Master and divine for a mere Second Realm cultivator, it wouldn't be an issue.

"Bring the items back immediately," Marquis Heyin ordered, "Don't disappoint me again."

"Yes." With a wave of his hand, the projection vanished. Marquis Heyin opened his star-mirror, looked at the messages, and couldn't help but sigh. If he couldn't solve this problem, he'd have to face the trouble of the Purple God Manor.

"All multi-directional probes were cut off, even the over five hundred merchant fleets that regularly traded with that native dynasty were severed."

"I cannot send more people," Marquis Heyin thought to himself. "I must execute the backup plan."

In the Moon Luo Mausoleum, within the void river, a small flying boat was advancing rapidly.

"It is now the 609th year of the Eocene, over six hundred years since the universe version began, and fifty years have passed since the last pursuit." Due to Marquis Heyin's pursuit, Zhao Xing had to postpone his Moon Luo Mausoleum adventure plan. After breaking through to the Void Realm, he had originally intended to immediately seek fortune, but then had to spend more time cultivating.

"Having reached the Void Realm, I can now roam freely in the void rivers."

"With deep control over the spiritual energy origin, I temporarily stopped cultivating my main techniques fifty years ago, focusing instead on improving my spells and plant-based soldiers."

"Origin arts naturally progress to Void arts, and all spells from the Purple God Manor have a Void stage."

"Only my self-created spells—'Fetal Respiration,' 'Folding Clouds,' 'Yin Thunder Star,' and 'Golden Body Corrosion'—require further refinement."

"So I rented an enlightenment space in Yuanhai Palace, first to refine my self-created spells to the Void Art stage, and second, to follow in the footsteps of predecessors and cultivate 'Blood Cloud Realm,' 'Magneto-Thunderstorm,' 'Heavenly Tide,' and 'Purple Wind' to the Void Art stage."

"Fifty years passed. All eight spells are now at the Void Art Fourth-tier level. The Sky-Swallowing Vine has also reached the mid-Second Realm, and my money is completely gone."

"For the Origin Art and Void Art stages, having money helps accelerate progress. But for comprehending Minor and Major Divine Abilities, simply throwing money at it won't work—at least not small sums. It would require at least inviting a Dao Domain Realm scholar."

"Once I've earned enough to hire a Dao Domain Realm scholar, I can consider returning, and moving Great Zhou wouldn't be difficult then," Zhao Xing thought to himself. Third Realm cultivators were considered elites in ancient kingdoms precisely because it was incredibly difficult to advance by simply buying resources with money.

"Even a Third Realm cultivator going bankrupt couldn't simply cultivate another Third Realm cultivator with just money."

"I need to at least excavate several Major Divine Ability tombs." If he had to rely solely on gradual self-cultivation, who knew when he would reach the Third Realm? His plan to safely move Great Zhou out of the Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom was entirely dependent on his strength. To accelerate cultivation, he needed money, and a lot of it!

"Small tombs aren't worth my time. Third Realm tombs are only found in Naluo numbers 1 to 100."

"Once my merit points reach 500,000, I can become a First-Class Viscount of the ancient kingdom, and then access to the top 100 areas will be unlocked."

"First, I'll accumulate some merit and earn a bit of money in the 101-200 range."

As Zhao Xing worked diligently, the Viper Serpent clan suffered greatly. Second Realm tombs usually employed Viper Serpents as grave guardians, hidden in void burrows. Starting from the 609th year of Eocene, Zhao Xing specifically targeted and excavated Second Realm tombs. Under pressure, Zhao Xing's efficiency was astonishing.

In the first decade, Zhao Xing excavated two Second Realm tombs on Naluo 198, slaying 757 Viper Serpents, acquiring 600 million in wealth and 2,858 merit points.

In the second decade, Zhao Xing excavated three more Second Realm tombs on Naluo 198, slaying 925 Viper Serpents, acquiring 900 million in wealth and 4,213 merit points.

In the third decade, Zhao Xing moved to Naluo 173, slaying 1,245 Viper Serpents, excavating three tombs, acquiring 1.2 billion in wealth and 5,314 merit points.

In the sixth decade, Zhao Xing arrived at Naluo 155, slaying 3,905 Viper Serpents, increasing his wealth by 2 billion and his merit points by 11,247.

Time passed. As Zhao Xing stabilized his Second Realm of Origin cultivation, he moved beyond the initial stage and entered the mid-Second Realm. His various Void Arts became increasingly proficient, naturally increasing his efficiency in slaying Viper Serpents and, consequently, his grave-digging efficiency. By the time two hundred years had passed, Zhao Xing finally returned to deliver his mission.

Cang Yu looked at Zhao Xing's efficiency and was astonished.

"In two hundred years, you actually acquired so much treasure?"

"Hmm? Why are there so many Viper Serpents?" Cang Yu watched as Zhao Xing continuously pulled out Viper Serpent venom sacs from his Qiankun bags, an endless stream, as if he intended to fill the entire inspection space. One