Chapter 448: The Secret of Ascending the Three Realms, Life and Death Moment

On a star land in the Qinghe Realm, shaped like an eagle's head.

"Boom!"

Sword light, like feathers scattering across the void, instantly split a million-mile-wide, bird's nest-like space fortress in two.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Masses of rainbow lights, mixed with screams, began to flee outwards.

Within the rainbow lights were figures of a race with human bodies, a pair of wings, and eagle heads, numbering over a million.

In front of the shattered fortress stood only one person: Zhou Ze, wielding a primordial divine weapon.

"Sir, the Ape-Eagle tribe's defensive fortress has been breached. The Azure Jade Realm has completely surrounded this royal fortress; none of them will escape," Gu Ming reported.

"What a crushing defeat," Yuan Qiusheng remarked. "The Ape-Eagle tribe has a million elites, and a tenth of them are at the Dao Domain realm. We only needed to send Zhou Ze, and he directly crushed them."

Zhao Xing saw it clearly himself, without needing Gu Ming's report. It was indeed effortless!

Regarding the completeness of their Dao, the great Dao of the Primordial Realm is not as complete as that of the universe, and it's much harder to comprehend. This is because it hasn't transitioned to the 'Myriad Forms stage'; the Dao remains in its primordial state, not overtly manifested, making comprehension naturally difficult.

In terms of skill, the various professions in the Profound Spirit Starfield already possess incredibly mature systems. As for tools, Zhao Xing hasn't yet seen any life forms using tools at the level of primordial divine weapons.

It was a complete suppression, simply not on the same level. Therefore, when their World Ark descended upon the star land inhabited by the Ape-Eagle tribe, merely dispatching Zhou Ze, a life-and-death Dao Domain realm expert, was enough to annihilate all armed forces.

"Sir, should we wipe them all out?" Zhou Ze's voice came from the front.

Zhao Xing didn't respond immediately but looked to his side. Scholar Ruan Shuheng immediately offered a suggestion: "Sir, from my observation, the Ape-Eagle tribe's ruling class consists of these golden-winged royals. The royal family possesses their own language and civilization. Once captured, I can learn their communication methods in a very short time, saving us a lot of exploration time."

Zhao Xing nodded and ordered, "Then capture them."

"Yes, sir."

The sword light in Zhou Ze's hand instantly transformed. Dense runic sword energy precisely pierced the wings of all Ape-Eagle tribesmen, rendering them powerless to resist. Immediately after, Gu Ming's Azure Jade Realm surrounded and trapped all million Ape-Eagle tribesmen. The Azure Jade Realm transformed into a spherical barrier, internally divided into a million spaces, where the prisoners were categorized and confined.

"Brother Ruan, they're yours."

"Just two hours," Ruan Shuheng replied, giving Zhao Xing a satisfactory answer.

"Good, you've worked hard."

Zhao Xing waved his hand, and the World Ark descended, signaling the start of free exploration time. Gu Ming dispatched numerous mechanical puppets, while Qiu Zishan began excavating the ground. Yuan Qiusheng's straw effigy clone went to collect indigenous plants from the Ape-Eagle tribe's territory, accompanied by Xu Youling, Tuo Sen, and other Egoist Faction cultivators. As for the martial artists, they also went down to inspect the primitive weapons used by the Ape-Eagle tribe, selecting some as souvenirs.

The entire exploration process would be under the surveillance of the World Ark's artifact spirit, so Zhao Xing wasn't worried about anyone hoarding discoveries. He remained on the World Ark, checking the Star Mirror.

"The Spirit Void Realm database has been updated again."

"In just eight years, more than half of the entire Lower Three Realms has been explored," Zhao Xing mused. "The Lower Three Realms have been named Qinghe Realm, Bo Hai Realm, and Yangshan Realm. This is no different from my previous life. Vast quantities of minerals, intelligent races, and indigenous species have been discovered, with the total number of types exceeding quintillions. However, the types eligible for merit points have greatly decreased. Today, another million types were removed from the list."

Major powers collectively dispatched one million people into the Spirit Void Primordial Realm, an incredibly intensive exploration effort. The database was updated almost constantly, and the list of items exchangeable for merit points was changing wildly.

Initially, anything could earn a reward; even picking up an unfamiliar stone whose composition was unknown outside could yield merit points. However, as the total discovered volume grew immense, items rapidly depreciated, even being completely removed from the reward list.

"Initially, items from the Spirit Void Primordial Realm had high overflow value, but this is slowly disappearing. Soon, the reward amounts will gradually return to the inherent value of the items themselves."

For instance, Five-Element Stones, Yin-Yang Stones, and World Stones have broad uses and exist outside this realm. These items still fetch good prices, and major powers will continue to acquire them no matter how many are discovered.

"The period of quick earnings is about to end." Zhao Xing glanced at his account.

Remaining Merit Points: 652.01 million.

Zhao Xing initially obtained 550 million merit points, spent 220 million to exchange for a Primordial Golden Elixir from Emperor Chen Jiu, leaving him with 330 million. Now, after coming to the Spirit Void Primordial Realm, his points have increased by over 300 million.

With Zhao Xing gaining 300 million, the forty-nine members of his team naturally fared well too; almost everyone received over 50 million merit points. Those who contributed significantly had already exceeded 100 million. It could be said that Zhao Xing's exploration team reaped the largest rewards.

"Once this exploration concludes, it will be time to secure a good opportunity for Ji Si," Zhao Xing mused. "If I'm going to do something, I'll do something big."

He had been planning for Ji Si to have a good teacher and refine her cultivation system. Ji Si, having cultivated both destiny and history up to this point, has already created such powerful spells. If she could receive guidance from a master, her potential would be immeasurable. She could be said to be the most valuable talent for development in the Great Zhou!

"In the entire Red Star Empire, only the Imperial Celestial Master is suitable to be Ji Si's mentor."

Zhao Xing pondered, then his clone, controlling a small World Ark, flew out of the Spirit Void Primordial Realm.

"Whoosh~"

A figure appeared in the enhanced Star Mirror; it was Emperor Five Poisons.

"Master, your disciple has something to ask for your guidance on."

"What is it?" Emperor Five Poisons seemed busy, still with his back turned.

"Your disciple wishes to send a relative to become a disciple."

"Such a trivial matter to bother me with. Why don't you just check the merit point exchange list yourself?"

"Your disciple wishes for him to cultivate under the Imperial Celestial Master, even if only for a short period," Zhao Xing said.

Emperor Five Poisons raised his head and turned around: "Oh? Is your relative cultivating the Dao of Destiny?"

"Yes, Ji Si, he is very talented." Zhao Xing nodded. He knew Emperor Five Poisons could contact the Celestial Master because the Celestial Master had once divined for him after the Layered Realms Mountain incident. At that time, Five Poisons also relayed the Celestial Master's judgment of him: "Future destiny unclear, life and death uncertain."

That mysterious Imperial Celestial Master was also the destiny master who received the first divination from Ten Directions Mountain, and a direct factor in the Imperial Development Bureau's exploration of the Moon Desolate Domain.

"You think too highly of me," Emperor Five Poisons said with a wry smile. "Although I, your master, have some standing, what kind of person is the Celestial Master? How could I possibly invite him? The last time he divined for you, it was purely because you resolved the issue of Layered Realms Mountain, which had far-reaching consequences, so the Celestial Master spared a bit of energy to make a divination for you. I don't usually get to see the Celestial Master. You'd best drop this idea. Besides, even if your relative's talent is outstanding, teaching from an Emperor-level expert would be more than sufficient."

Hearing Emperor Five Poisons say this, Zhao Xing could only give up. According to his conjectures, the Imperial Celestial Master should also be at the Demi-God realm, similar to Gu Luohe. Gu Luohe himself was initially unwilling to take on disciples; he only appeared due to Old Qing, merely providing substitute teaching and not wishing to be involved in karma.

"Master is right. Your disciple was presumptuous."

Emperor Five Poisons waved his hand, intending to cut off communication, but just then, he called out, "Wait a moment!"

"Master, what is your command?" Zhao Xing looked over, puzzled.

Emperor Five Poisons said with a strange expression, "The Celestial Master has agreed."

"Agreed?" Zhao Xing was taken aback. "Master, do you mean—"

"The Celestial Master just said he is willing to allocate some of his energy to teach Ji Si, at the cost of 30 billion merit points."

Zhao Xing's heart immediately skipped a beat. He hadn't even mentioned who he intended to send, yet the Celestial Master had instantly uttered Ji Si's name?

"The Celestial Master also asked me to relay this," Emperor Five Poisons said with a serious expression, "Zhao Xing, it would have been fine if you hadn't asked, but since you have, you cannot stop now. Effective immediately, I will send someone to the Jiachen Fourteenth Pass to pick up Ji Si. Once you have accumulated the full amount, Ji Si's lessons will begin."

Zhao Xing's heart tightened. "Yes, your disciple will certainly fulfill the agreement."

After ending the communication, Zhao Xing realized his palms were sweating, and his heart had unconsciously raced just moments before. "Once brought up, there's no room for negotiation. You have to do it, whether you want to or not. Dealing with a grand master of destiny is truly mysterious—"

Zhao Xing felt as if both he and the Celestial Master were being forced onto a ride. That's why, back in the Ancient Yuan Sea Kingdom, he called for so many helpers but avoided the destiny master profession; that profession was simply too unpredictable.

"But it's also a wish fulfilled," Zhao Xing mused. "Only someone of the Imperial Celestial Master's caliber could disregard Ji Si's unique nature."

Ji Si was able to consciously retain her memories during the Yuan Sea Dharma Assembly incident. Among those with the right to know the Yuan Sea's secrets, Gu Luohe was one, but Zuo Qiyu and Five Poisons were unaware. Therefore, Zhao Xing speculated that the Demi-God realm was the threshold for gaining such knowledge. This is why he insisted on having a Demi-God destiny master teach Ji Si for peace of mind. Otherwise, inviting an Emperor-level teacher might inadvertently expose Ji Si's unique qualities, leading to unnecessary trouble. The Imperial Celestial Master was different; he already knew.

"30 billion merit points? Truly expensive, but completely worth it."

According to the treasury list, 30 billion merit points could buy a decent Reincarnation Dao Weapon, yet now it would only fund an apprenticeship. But Zhao Xing believed it was entirely worth it! Otherwise, Ji Si would have to continue hiding and self-studying.

"The Great Zhou must have its own destiny master to provide protection. If I want to ascend Ten Directions Mountain in the future, it won't do without a destiny master accompanying me."

The Desolate Domain Era 2 ended in just over five thousand World Star years. One of the greatest opportunities in Era 3 was Ten Directions Mountain!

"It's just 30 billion merit points, isn't it?" Zhao Xing was confident he could quickly acquire this fortune.

"Sir, what you asked for has been found." At this moment, Yu Qing, the Time Faction Cultivator, sent a message to Zhao Xing.

"Hmm?" Zhao Xing's eyes lit up. His true body quickly flew out of the World Ark and descended towards the Ape-Eagle tribe's star land.

"Whoosh~" In a few flashes, Zhao Xing located Yu Qing.

This was a small valley within the Ape-Eagle royal tribe's sacred land, surrounded by many towering pagodas built from gemstones. Each colorful pagoda illuminated the valley above, condensing into auspicious multicolored clouds. Above the clouds, a radiant Ape-Eagle tribesman appeared, wielding a halberd-like weapon. Not far away, many injured Ape-Eagle tribesmen knelt on the ground, praying. They were royal family members who had fled here.

"Drip, drip, drip." A light rain began to fall from the sky. As raindrops fell upon them, the Ape-Eagle tribesmen wounded by Zhou Ze's sword energy rapidly recovered, their aura even slightly increasing. They glared furiously at Zhao Xing and Yu Qing, muttering incoherent words as they charged forward with their weapons raised.

"Still!" Yu Qing lightly flicked a finger, and lightning flashed, entering the bodies of all Ape-Eagle tribesmen. All Ape-Eagle tribesmen were paralyzed by the lightning, unable to move.

Zhao Xing ignored the tribesmen and walked towards the sacred land, filled with towering pagodas and clear pools. It was raining in the sky, and it was raining on the ground too. The water was as clear as a mirror, making it almost impossible to distinguish between sky and ground.

"You have entered the Ape-Eagle Sacred Land: Sky Realm! Coordinates: "

Zhao Xing looked at the coordinate display on his panel and immediately smiled. "Eight years, and finally, a complete Sky Realm has been found."

"Collect!"

Zhao Xing pointed a finger, and the eighty-eight warm, jade-like golden gemstones atop the surrounding pagodas were instantly removed.

"Whoosh~" As if losing a source of power, the clouds in the sky and the Ape-Eagle illusory figures dissipated. The clouds dispersed, and the rain ceased.

Zhao Xing gazed at the 88 golden gemstones in his hand. Shaped like grains of millet, they felt exceptionally smooth and warm, not entirely solid. Life force flowed within them, forming seven distinct rivers, and the space encircled by these rivers was infinitely deep, as if harboring a hidden world.

"A total of eighty-eight Seven-Mark Grain Rain Stones."

"This is the greatest treasure in the Lower Three Realms!" Zhao Xing smiled.

Before the Spirit Void Primordial Realm was discovered, the outside star regions were experiencing a spiritual energy rain. The Great Timely shifts simultaneously brought about seasonal changes, cleansing the Spirit Void Primordial Realm for over a hundred million years. Such immense spiritual rain irrigation led to the Spirit Void Primordial Realm being profoundly influenced by the Grand Timely Dao during its formation. The Time Faction has always believed that the universe they inhabit is a Timely Universe. Similarly, there are concepts of a Geographical Universe and an Egoist Universe. Under this theory, minor worlds and world stars are also meticulously categorized. According to the Time Faction's doctrine, any minor world strongly influenced by the universe's great four seasons can be classified as a 'Timely Primordial Realm,' 'Timely Primordial Source Realm,' 'Timely Myriad Forms Realm,' or 'Timely Nirvanic Realm.' This way, theoretically, the Time Faction could again "rub the other two factions' faces in the dirt," and while there aren't any super Time Faction forces in the Profound Spirit Starfield, it's still a kind of spiritual victory.

The Grain Rain Stones collected by Zhao Xing are considered a type of 'World Stone.' Additionally, the Middle Three Realms also contain 'Torrential Rain Stones,' 'Plum Rain Stones,' and 'Cold Rain Stones,' corresponding to the four seasons of the outside world's Great Timely shifts. These were formed by the integration of the hundred-million-year spiritual energy rain with the Spirit Void Primordial Realm's origin.

"All four types of gemstones possess the characteristics of World Stones, but their greatest use isn't for absorption in primordial spaces. Due to its unique environment, the Spirit Void Realm developed a belief in Rain Immortals, attributing this special phenomenon to the blessings of immortals. Collecting enough of the four great World Stones allows one to perform a sacrifice at the junction of the Rain Immortal Realm and the Cloud Immortal Realm. After the sacrifice, the recipient can be imbued with power and transform into the Reincarnation Realm. Most life forms in the Spirit Void Realm achieve the Reincarnation Realm this way, which is also precisely why they are not rejected by the Spirit Void Realm."

Zhao Xing put away the eighty-eight Seven-Mark Grain Rain Stones and then walked out of the valley.

"Yu Qing, notify people to move these eighty-eight stone pagodas."

"Yes, sir." Yu Qing didn't know the use of these gemstones at this time, only that the Primordial Realm offered a high price for them, so he simply regarded them as a type of World Stone.

The eighty-eight pagodas contained hundreds of thousands of Grain Rain Stones in total, but only 88 of them were of the Seven-Mark grade. The Ape-Eagle tribe, being in the Lower Three Realms, found the treasured Sky Realm to perform sacrifices and could also gain some power feedback, though this was far less potent than sacrifices performed in the Rain Immortal Realm.

"Ji Yuan." After boarding the ship, Zhao Xing immediately summoned the priest.

"Sir, what are your orders?" Ji Yuan instantly flew over, standing stiffly at attention.

"Does your cultivated path as a priest involve any knowledge of the Marquis Transformation spell within the Time Faction Cultivator's magic?"

"Reporting, sir, it does," Ji Yuan immediately replied. "However, my Marquis Transformation spell is very rudimentary, merely an entry-level minor divine ability. At most, it's enough to transform for entertainment purposes."

Zhao Xing nodded slightly. Ji Yuan, as a priest, was quite versatile, possessing skills from almost all professions. However, he lacked a true professional core. For example, when casting cultivator spells, he wouldn't genuinely generate 'primordial space,' 'earth veins,' or 'seasonal commands' within his body. When casting mechanical arrays, he also lacked infinite rulers or miniature array stars within his body. He could also use a martial artist's Golden Body, and even generate 'Qin Heart' or 'Sword Guts.' However, these were all temporary. His core was the sacrificial spiritual offering. After the spiritual offering simulated the core of Zuo Qiyu's profession, he could then cultivate and also use spells from other professions. How much he could learn depended entirely on the level of his sacrificial spiritual offering, the number of divine realms and artifacts from various professions, and the amount of spiritual feedback received. The latter limited the development of the priest profession. If one day all the gods or artifacts Ji Yuan worshipped were to collapse and cease to exist, he would become a cripple. Furthermore, in certain regions, like the Desolate Domain, where divine power cannot reach, Ji Yuan's strength would also be significantly reduced, as he would be unable to borrow any divine power.

"Can you learn it? I have a Marquis Transformation spell. If you master it, I can assign you a very important task," Zhao Xing asked.

Ji Yuan, practicing such a niche profession, yet managing to break through countless armies and appear within his sight, was already a genius among geniuses in that profession.

"Yes! I definitely can!" Ji Yuan's eyes lit up.

For eight years, his situation had been awkward. He knew everything, but was surpassed by others in everything. He wasn't needed for fights, nor could he compare in support roles. His presence in the team was minimal; apart from occasionally telling metaphysical jokes, he served no other purpose. Yet, Ji Yuan had gained fifty to sixty million merit points by following Zhao Xing! When others questioned his presence, it was Zhao Xing who constantly suppressed those voices; otherwise, Ji Yuan might have left long ago.

Thus, he genuinely yearned to be put to use and not let down Zhao Xing's trust. Now, with Zhao Xing suddenly mentioning a major task for him, Ji Yuan felt incredibly excited, even experiencing an impulse to die for Zhao Xing. The words escaped him: "No matter the task, I am willing to die for you, sir!"

Zhao Xing smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It's not that serious. You'll be acting with me. If I don't die, you certainly won't either. It's just that you must learn this Marquis Transformation spell now."

With that, Zhao Xing lightly tapped his fingertip, and the perfected 'Spirit Void Turtle Transformation Method,' which had been modified, was transmitted into Ji Yuan's mind.

"Sir, you actually created the Spirit Void Turtle's Marquis Transformation Method in eight years?" Ji Yuan was instantly astonished after sensing it. "Your talent, sir, is truly rarely seen in a lifetime."

Zhao Xing ignored Ji Yuan's flattery and asked directly, "How long will it take you to learn it?"

"To just learn it, about three years should be enough," Ji Yuan said.

"And to perfect it?"

"Only three hundred years!" Ji Yuan said confidently.

"Still three hundred years?" Zhao Xing frowned.

Ji Yuan immediately deflated. He then remembered that the person before him was the strongest genius in the Primordial Realm, even revered as a Saint Son by the Primordial Hill. What was there to be proud of for taking three hundred years to master it?

"I will specifically send a clone to teach you," Zhao Xing said. "You only have fifteen years. If you cannot learn it within fifteen years, I will have to find another solution."

Zhao Xing calculated the time. Before long, the native forces of the Spirit Void Realm would organize their manpower and fully resist the invasion of the Profound Spirit Starfield forces. He had to collect enough of the four types of World Stones within twenty years and then infiltrate the Rain Immortal Realm. And the Marquis Transformation spell was the best disguise magic. If he delayed past this time, once the great war began and the Upper Realm forces sealed the entrance, the difficulty of infiltrating would be too great. However, finding a suitable priest to accompany him in completing the ritual was truly difficult, and Ji Yuan was already the optimal choice.

"I will definitely give my all!" Ji Yuan exclaimed. "Please teach me, sir."

"Good."

"Brother Zhao, with so many Grain Rain Stones, why not sell them and then distribute the money?" Fairy Youling said, reclining on the table, tossing a stone in her hand. "What's the meaning of distributing the stones directly?"

Previously, when spoils of war were obtained, everyone rarely kept them. Instead, unmanned World Arks were dispatched, and Gu Ming's mechanical puppets would send the items outside the realm to be exchanged for merit points, which were then distributed. Currently, there are seven bases surrounding the Spirit Void Primordial Realm, making it very convenient to exchange for merit points. But now Zhao Xing was directly distributing the stones instead of selling them first and then distributing the merit points.

"What's the trick here?" Tuo Sen also asked, curious.

"When Brother Yu and I discovered the Ape-Eagle tribe's sacred land, we found these Grain Rain Stones were used as sacrificial items," Zhao Xing said. "Perhaps these Grain Rain Stones have other uses."

"Do you think it will appreciate in value?" Daoist Miaosong asked, playing with a Three-Mark Grain Rain Stone. "While it's a specialty product, its effectiveness isn't significantly different from various World Stones produced elsewhere. My primordial space absorbed a few, and they all felt about the same."

Currently, items from the Spirit Void Realm rarely appreciate; instead, depreciation is more common. After all, with a million people swarming like locusts, frantically extracting resources, anything that becomes abundant will naturally depreciate.

"Whether it appreciates or not, everyone can judge for themselves. I'm just offering a suggestion."

Secrets are better kept. He couldn't reveal the secrets of the Upper Three Realms now. Zhao Xing could only offer this much of a hint. He was giving his friends an opportunity; whether they could seize it depended on their willingness to listen.

"I'll keep it," Fairy Youling said, catching the tossed stone.

"I'll keep it too. After all, my merit points are currently second only to Zhao Xing's," Tuo Sen also said, accepting the suggestion.

"I'll just sell mine," Daoist Miaosong shook his head. "If I wait a few more years, the price might halve."

"I'll sell mine too," Gu Ming added.

In the subsequent operations, Zhao Xing and his team primarily focused on plundering World Stones. The Lower Three Realms: Bo Hai Realm, Qinghe Realm, and Yangshan Realm, were swiftly fully explored by the twenty-third year after the exploration began. The enormous super-forces, with a million Dao Domain realm experts, possessed incredibly terrifying mobility. In just twenty-three years, the Lower Three Realms held no more secrets.

During these twenty-three years, some chose to sell their World Stones for merit points, while others chose to keep them. Zhao Xing, however, did the opposite, acquiring high-quality Four Great World Stones from forces outside the Red Star Empire. His more than 600 million merit points steadily dwindled until the twenty-fifth year. Zhao Xing had only just over 500,000 merit points left, replaced by over 1,800 stones. The gains gradually diminished. There wasn't much profit left to be extracted from the Lower Three Realms.

On August 19th of the twenty-sixth year, Zhao Xing led his team "accidentally" into a channel vortex. They were the first to discover the space-time channel leading to the Middle Three Realms! Consequently, the Middle Three Realms were also rapidly discovered. They were named 'Volcano Realm,' 'Flying Star Realm,' and 'Four Suns Realm,' respectively. Zhao Xing's team, by being the first to discover the entrance to the Middle Three Realms channel and reporting relevant geographical advantages, timely conditions, and racial intelligence both inside and outside the channel, received 1.2 billion, 1.5 billion, and 2.4 billion merit points respectively.

However, the joy brought by the rewards did not last long. Because a Reincarnation Realm green great turtle, leading a million turtle soldiers, began a pursuit. The turtle tribe alone was not a major concern. According to Gu Ming's detection, four other dominant races, totaling over ten million Dao Domain realm experts, were also involved in the pursuit and encirclement. There were a total of four Reincarnation Realm experts, three of whom possessed comprehensive combat strength comparable to veteran human Reincarnation Realm experts! The green-furred turtle, however, was a Lord-level expert! Second only to a Reincarnation Emperor!

With such combat power and formation, the fifty-person team could not even conceive of resistance.

"Run, run, run! Hurry and run!"

"Gu Ming, quickly activate the realm wall shuttle and return to the Lower Three Realms!"

"Do you think I don't want to shuttle? The Heavenly Origin World Ark needs to switch to its floating ark state to shuttle back, which requires at least three days of preparation! Where do we have that kind of time now?"

"Can you withstand three days of attack from a Reincarnation Lord?"

The martial artist who spoke immediately shut his mouth. Qi Sect martial artists were tough-skinned and robust, but against a Reincarnation Lord, they would die from a single blow. No matter how talented or confident he was, he could at most endure a few attacks from an ordinary Reincarnation Realm expert. Even with advantages in techniques and equipment, it wasn't easy for these geniuses to fight above their cultivation level. Moreover, the green-furred turtle pursuing them was already a Reincarnation Lord-level expert. Their continued escape relied on their equipment advantage—the turtle tribe didn't understand what mechanical World Arks were.

"Don't panic, everyone," Zhao Xing said. Thanks to the prestige he had built over two decades, everyone immediately calmed down the moment he spoke.

"Before we were pursued, the coordinates of the channel entrance, including the map of the Middle Three Realms, had already been sent out. Now, a large contingent of people will surely be rushing towards the realm entrance. The Turtle, Demonic Ape, Fire Elephant, and Stone Dragon tribes cannot possibly focus all their energy on us. Gu Ming, how many more spatial shuttles can the Heavenly Origin Ark perform?" Zhao Xing asked.

The Heavenly Origin Ark was a primordial divine weapon-level, colossal apparatus. It was precisely because of its 'spatial shuttle' function that it had not been caught by the four Reincarnation Realm experts.

"We are well-prepared. We can perform twenty-eight uninterrupted spatial shuttles, or one hundred fifty-seven intermittent shuttles," Gu Ming said.

"Doesn't that mean we can still escape for a long time?" Yuan Qiusheng asked.

"It's not that simple," Gu Ming shook his head. "Turtle-kind life forms that can grow to the Reincarnation Realm are no less intelligent than humans. They simply haven't seen the techniques of the Heavenly Palace, but that doesn't mean they are weak. In the previous eighteen pursuits, the green-furred turtle took less time to close the distance with each attempt. This proves it is rapidly adapting to the Heavenly Origin Ark's sudden disappearances and tracking us through void fluctuations."

"In other words, it's learning?" Tuo Sen said.

"Yes," Gu Ming lightly tapped his wrist, bringing up a table. "Based on repeated simulations by the artifact spirit and me, and considering the green-furred turtle's learning ability, it will catch up to us after the thirteenth shuttle."

"Technological advantages, after all, cannot erase the gap in cultivation realms," Daoist Miaosong sighed.

"What do we do now?" Someone else asked at this moment. The question was back to square one: how to escape this calamity?

"How about we split up? Whoever can escape, escapes!"

"Without relying on the Heavenly Origin World Ark, your individual survival chances won't exceed ten percent," Gu Ming once again offered a chilling prediction. "This is assuming you each possess one to three primordial divine weapons and can activate them to their fullest potential."

Everyone fell silent again. The Heavenly Origin Artifact Spirit, forged by the Primordial Heavenly Palace, might not be comparable to a sub-body of a Grand Evolution Divine Weapon, but its computational ability was beyond doubt. Gu Ming had collected so much data during the previous eighteen pursuits; his predictions wouldn't be far off. By this point, no one was agitated anymore.

Seeing that everyone's state of mind was no longer fluctuating, Zhao Xing immediately said, "Everyone who comes out to make a living has long been prepared to face death. Since the situation is clear, our only option now is to rely on the Heavenly Origin World Ark to escape with our lives. Abandoning the ark and fleeing is not an option, fighting individually is not an option, and we can't defeat them head-on. So, we can only leverage timely and geographical advantages to fight a battle and extinguish that turtle's pursuit. Gu Ming, how much longer until the complete map coordinates of the Volcano Realm are compiled?"

Gu Ming immediately checked his wristband: "It will be completed after three more shuttles."

Zhao Xing closed his eyes, then said, "Good. After three shuttles, input the coordinates I give you into the Heavenly Origin World Ark."

"Please tell me, sir."

Zhao Xing looked at the view outside the porthole: "Sun 45, Taiyin 12, Junmen 55, Lihuo 4. Excluding interference from void rivers, shuttle at Renyin hour."

Gu Ming was somewhat perplexed: "How can we not account for the interference of void turbulences?"

Zhao Xing pointed to a spot on the unedited map: "Because this location has the Middle Three Realms' largest World Volcano, it's impossible for void turbulences to pass through."

Destiny Master Chu Lanxing instinctively pinched his fingers, then said with a strange expression, "My intuition tells me there truly is a World Volcano here. After Lord Zhao made this decision, our chances of survival have increased."

As Gu Ming, who preferred precise data, he originally disliked the vague, metaphysical predictions of destiny masters. He believed Chu Lanxing was simply boosting everyone's confidence at that moment. However, after three shuttles, a detailed map of the Volcano Realm appeared. As the fourth shuttle concluded, Gu Ming also felt an incredible sense of disbelief. Because they had indeed arrived on a volcanic star land!

"H-how did you memorize that?" Gu Ming asked, looking at Zhao Xing in shock, even forgetting to address him by his title. In his view as a mechanical engineer, Zhao Xing had essentially scanned the void and accurately located a certain world star from an an area the size of a needle eye. The Heavenly Origin World Ark's initial rough scan involved a highly exaggerated scale, where a needle-eye-sized area might contain space as large as dozens of realm-unit equivalents. Zhao Xing was simply more outrageous than Chu Lanxing, the fortune teller! Destiny masters like Chu Lanxing could just speak their predictions. If he divined the coordinates, there would be no question; it would be thoroughly mystical! But Zhao Xing was a Cultivator; his coordinates should have a basis! This greatly astonished Gu Ming.

"Did you forget that my master, Gu Luohe, once taught me a unique void positioning method?"

Gu Ming suddenly remembered Zhao Xing saying something similar on the Taoyang Star Land. "Is there really such a magical method?"

Gu Ming was utterly bewildered, feeling something was off but unable to pinpoint it. If Gu Luohe possessed such a miraculous method, it should have been shared with the Grand Evolution Divine Weapon's artifact spirit of the Empire. As a genius of the Primordial Heavenly Palace, he should have heard of this information.

"Don't just stand there gaping," Zhao Xing said, pulling out a Qi Luck Golden Elixir and consuming it. "Immediately use the Azure Jade Realm to lock the Heavenly Origin World Ark at the forty-sixth volcano crater."

"What are we doing?" Gu Ming was baffled again. And what was Zhao Xing eating?

Zhao Xing didn't answer but began assigning tasks: "Qiu Zishan, Gong Xiaoyuan, you two come with me to the first volcano crater. Tuo Sen, Wu Lanchuan, Xu Youling, Yuan Qiusheng, you four find a way to seal off the thirty-five caves surrounding the first volcano crater. Everyone, don't hold back anymore. Whether we escape with our lives or not, success or failure depends on this one action!"