Chapter 459: Historical Magical Plants

The Dimensional Passage Tower is a crucial location for Zhao Xing's second phase of treatment.

Bo Wei believed that during the Desolate Era, there were no effective methods to completely eradicate the True Spirit Heavenly Toxin. However, historically, many methods could achieve this. Some plants, in particular, became extinct during the Desolate Era, making it impossible to find the ingredients for ancient remedies today. Similarly, many natural treasure lands have vanished as the Desolate Zones expanded. The Star-Moon Spring, once located in the Cerulean Desolate Zone, dried up three eras before the Desolate Era. Its condensed spring water was originally a sacred healing medicine. The Medicine King Realm, which rapidly declined after the Five Emperors Era, once possessed brilliant medical techniques. This includes divine artifacts that have now lost their divinity.

"Not in the Desolate Era," Zhao Xing mused, looking at the list, "but historically, before the Desolate Era, there were many ways to treat my condition." He then asked, "Lord Ji, have you ever heard of the Dimensional Passage Tower during your time at the Celestial Master's Abode?"

Ji Si, who was pushing Zhao Xing's flower-adorned chair, immediately nodded upon hearing the question. "Yes, I've heard of it," she replied. "The Dimensional Passage Tower is a historical divine artifact that embodies both the Grand Dao of Time and Space and the Grand Dao of Karma. Through it, one can travel to past historical periods and even bring back treasures."

Zhao Xing asked curiously, "Doesn't that create a paradox? If I were to take a divine artifact from four eras before the Desolate Era—say, the Great Evolution Divine Weapon of the Scarlet Star Empire—wouldn't that mean the empire would be without it from that point forward?"

Ji Si smiled. "The Grand Minister of Agriculture wants to know if history would be altered as a result?"

Zhao Xing nodded. "Yes. You cultivate both the Grand Daos of Fate Official and Historian. I'd like to hear your perspective on this."

Ji Si pondered, "I've read the Celestial Master's Abode's texts. As I understand it, time-space travel via the Dimensional Passage Tower needs to be discussed under various circumstances. Firstly, there's genuine displacement. We can bring back historical treasures, which proves that we genuinely reach past timelines through the Dimensional Passage Tower. However, it won't allow us to appear at critical historical junctures, such as traveling back to kill the infant form of a divine realm expert—that's impossible. As I just mentioned, the Dimensional Passage Tower is a divine artifact that encompasses both the Grand Daos of Time and Space, and Karma. Being a divine artifact, its power has limits. The Dimensional Passage Tower cannot perform actions beyond its capabilities.

"Furthermore, the 'retrieval' function of the Dimensional Passage Tower operates on the principle of equivalent exchange. That is, whether I bring back a Boundary Star Dao Weapon or a Samsara Dao Weapon from the past, I must provide a Dao Weapon of equivalent rank for replacement. This maintains an unchanging critical value between the present and the past."

Zhao Xing pondered, "Is 'Boundary Value' similar to 'Spiritual Energy Value'? Does the total spiritual energy value of the past and present remain unchanged?"

"You could say that," Ji Si nodded. "The critical value is an assessment by the Dimensional Passage Tower itself, but it's not merely a spiritual energy replacement. I'm not entirely clear on the specifics; the Celestial Master's Abode doesn't have detailed records regarding it."

Following the first scenario, Zhao Xing raised a second question: "Even if spiritual energy and matter remain balanced, information is intangible. Wouldn't our presence in the past via the Dimensional Passage Tower still cause an impact? For instance, telling humanity the outcome of a battle could change the past."

Ji Si replied, "This brings us to the second scenario: the Dimensional Passage Tower's one-way Grand Dao isolation. We can obtain information from the past, but our own information cannot truly manifest in the historical timeline. For example, if I were to travel back and write a cultivation technique for people of the past, I wouldn't be able to leave it there. Because cultivation techniques are manifestations of the Dao, and my Dao cannot surpass the Grand Daos of Time and Space, and Karma that the Dimensional Passage Tower itself embodies. Thus, I cannot cross this Dao barrier. Conversely, if I learn a lost cultivation technique from the past, I can bring it back. My acquisition of that technique would not affect the past in any way."

Zhao Xing asked skeptically, "Is the Dimensional Passage Tower's displacement really that precise? What about ancient herbs I collect, some of which are extinct? Is that also fine?"

Ji Che pondered, "The Grand Daos of Karma and Time and Space that the Dimensional Passage Tower itself embodies should bear the cost and smooth out any historical discrepancies. Theoretically, the treatment plan Bo Wei outlined for the Grand Minister of Agriculture is feasible."

Ji Si's answer lacked complete confidence; after all, he was not a god and had never controlled the Dimensional Passage Tower himself. Zhao Xing, however, felt that the Dimensional Passage Tower couldn't be so perfect. Even as a powerful divine artifact, it seemed impossibly potent and flawless. If it were truly that effective, why didn't the ancestors of Academy City pass it down through generations, instead of keeping it hidden deep within the Eighth Dharma Realm?

However, asking Ji Si now wouldn't provide an answer, and perhaps even Bo Wei couldn't explain it. The trip to the Dimensional Passage Tower was now set. Regardless of his doubts, this was currently the only way to recover, and the treatment fees had already been paid.

Before embarking, extensive preparations were needed, primarily a thorough study of history. Although Ji Si would accompany him on this journey, Zhao Xing's philosophy was always to rely on himself rather than others. He was also diligently reading historical documents.

As a historian, Ji Si's primary professional spells were 'Annals', 'Ancient Clans', and 'Biographies'. These were all related to historical figures, primarily manifesting in combat prowess. The 'Ten Tables', on the other hand, recorded major historical events of the Xuanling Starfield and insights into the Grand Dao of Time. Historians who primarily cultivated the 'Eight Books' held the lowest status due to their lack of combat capability. The 'Eight Books' primarily documented Dao Rites, Music, Acoustics, Star Calendars, Astronomy, and Feudal Discussions.

Zhao Xing mainly focused on books related to the 'Ten Tables' and 'Eight Books', memorizing significant historical changes in celestial and terrestrial environments, shifts in the Xuanling Starfield's territory, and various miscellaneous records.

With a rustle, Zhao Xing casually picked up a copy of the "Tianyou Pinghuai Book." The "Pinghuai Book" is one of the 'Eight Books', and the "Tianyou Pinghuai Book" specifically records the ancient Tianyou Kingdom's historical struggles against Void Rivers and its management of disasters within its territory. Zhao Xing had already reviewed numerous versions, but "Pinghuai Books" from different regions varied in their recording preferences and level of detail, primarily depending on the historian's individual style.

"This volume covers the period from twenty-two eras before the Desolate Era to twenty eras before the Desolate Era, spanning two million four hundred thousand Boundary Star years."

"That's quite a short period for historical records," Zhao Xing noted with interest.

The history of the Xuanling Starfield can be traced back to the Five Emperors Era; ancient kingdoms only emerged after its conclusion. The oldest ancient kingdoms, dating back approximately 400 eras, connected with the Era of Emperor Li, the last generation of the Five Emperors. Before that, the Five Emperors maintained a unified territory, and ancient kingdoms had not yet appeared. The Era of Emperor Li was over four hundred million Boundary Star years ago. Its conclusion marked the beginning of the chaotic and warring Ancient Kingdoms Era. The "Pinghuai Book" only documented two eras, a very brief span. Given its brevity, the details were likely more extensive.

"Tianyou Calendar, Four Yang 1389: The Li Star River experienced a cataclysmic change. A total of three hundred and forty million habitable Boundary Stars and Star Continents were destroyed, and the resulting Void Turbulence disaster impacted three thousand two hundred and fifty near-river star districts of the ancient Tianyou Kingdom."

"Hmm? The Li Star River change swept away over three thousand star districts? That's an enormous disaster," Zhao Xing mused.

Rivers within the Void layer are condensed 'Qi' in liquid form. This 'Qi' can be spiritual energy or toxic gas, a complex mixture. If spiritual energy predominates and the stability coefficient is high, it's called a Void River. If harmful 'Qi' is abundant and the chaos coefficient is high, it's termed Void Turbulence. Generally, the rivers in the Xuanling Starfield are stable; such dramatic changes are rare. The most recent large-scale Void River upheaval was the Moon Luo Mausoleum, which Zhao Xing experienced in the Phantom God Galaxy, swept forth by a Void River. However, in terms of intensity, the Moon Luo Mausoleum incident was far less severe than the Li Star River's upheaval.

"Tianyou Calendar, Four Yang 1390: Forty-six River Generals and Pinghuai Envoys from the river region were executed..."

"Tianyou Calendar, Four Yang 1423: Despite the governance efforts of the Tianyou Ministry of Agriculture, the cataclysmic change in the Li Water Star River persisted, and the source of the upheaval could not be identified..."

The "Pinghuai Book" included corresponding territorial maps. Zhao Xing observed that the southern third of the ancient Tianyou Kingdom's territory map was empty, marked by a vast dark area. This indicated that numerous Boundary Stars and Star Continents had vanished, leaving behind a vacuum zone. Only prominent markers were placed at the edges of the disaster zone: some indicated violent Void Wind Whirlpools, while others were lightning symbols representing terrifying thunder zones. Dim starlight indicated less severely affected territories. This situation showed no improvement until Tianyou Calendar, Four Yang 1550, and in fact, worsened and expanded further.

"I didn't expect the ancient Tianyou Kingdom to have suffered such a massive natural disaster in its history," Zhao Xing remarked. Comparing it with today's map of the Tianyou Kingdom, he found it had shrunk by about a tenth. The missing area in the southern part of the ancient Tianyou Kingdom had become a Desolate Zone, named the Li Water Desolate Zone. Clearly, that disaster was never fully contained or recovered from.

This sparked Zhao Xing's immense curiosity. "The ancient Tianyou Kingdom ranks among the top ten in the Ancient Kingdoms Alliance, yet it couldn't resolve the Li Star River catastrophe."

"What exactly was the cause?" As the Minister of Agriculture, Zhao Xing was particularly curious about natural disasters. The name 'ancient Tianyou Kingdom' especially struck a chord with him. In his modified memories, the previous Xuanling Dharma Assembly had been hosted by the ancient Tianyou Kingdom. Du Yun had also become a genius of the ancient Tianyou Kingdom, and Old Qing's ancestral origin—the Purple God Manor—had also been relocated there before his apotheosis.

With these questions in mind, Zhao Xing continued reading, not finding the answer until he was halfway through the "Pinghuai Book."

"The cataclysmic change of the Li Star River lasted for a full era. It wasn't until the end of the twenty-second era before the Desolate Era that the Minister of Agriculture of the ancient Tianyou Kingdom finally uncovered the cause of this disaster. The source of the Li Star River was located in the twenty-ninth rung of the Dao Manifestation Layer in the northern part of the ancient Tianyou Kingdom. The Grand Minister of Agriculture, Yue Hongdao, discovered a never-before-seen remnant branch of a plant life form at its origin. It branched out, sprawling, with its lower part resting on the Dao Ancient Layer and adventitious roots at its lowest section. Its leaves were opposite, either sessile or with extremely short, stem-clasping petioles. The leaves were oblong to oblong-elliptic, sharply pointed or blunt at the tip, with densely awned serrations along the margin, the tooth edges slightly keratinized, curved, and thickened. Both surfaces were hairless. The racemes were terminal. The flowers were opposite, with short pedicels; bracts lanceolate, pedicels striped and hairless; the calyx was deeply lobed, with lanceolate, pointed, spiny, membranous-edged lobes; the corolla was small, pale purple or white. Upon investigation by the Primal Realm, this unknown plant was confirmed to be the legendary 'Spirit-Devouring Grass', capable of rivaling the combat power of a human demigod upon maturity! It was precisely its continuous consumption of spiritual energy from the deep void of the Li Star River that caused the entire Li Star River to devolve into a chaotic torrent..."

"Hiss, such a terrifying natural disaster was caused by a legendary plant life form?" Zhao Xing was somewhat stunned after reading this. "It actually rivaled a human demigod." Zhao Xing immediately used his Star Mirror to consult ancient texts from the Primal Realm. Unfortunately, the Spirit-Devouring Grass had long been extinct. The last known specimen appeared in the fifth era before the Desolate Era; today, the Primal Realm possesses only its preserved remnants, no living forms.

"Throughout history, countless powerful plants must have emerged, yet regrettably, many have gone extinct," Zhao Xing lamented. Ancient Egoist Ministers of Agriculture may not have possessed as many unique techniques as their modern counterparts, but most of their plant soldiers were exceptionally strong, largely due to the varying difficulty in acquiring them. For example, the highest quality plant Zhao Xing currently possesses is the Emperor-grade Seven Realms True Spirit Bamboo, gifted by the Five Poisons Emperor, though it is merely a seedling. A mature Emperor-grade plant soldier was something even the Five Poisons Emperor couldn't spare; he himself was in short supply. As for legendary plants comparable to demigods, perhaps only the Ancient Luo River possesses them. The Primal Divine Tree, a god-grade plant, isn't a mere plant soldier; it is the fundamental essence of the Primal Realm.

"With the Dimensional Passage Tower opening this time, many Ministers of Agriculture from the Primal Realm will likely visit," Zhao Xing mused. "According to its displacement rules, if one is lucky enough to find an undeveloped legendary seed or seedling, perhaps only a low-grade Samsara Dao Weapon or even a Primordial Divine Weapon would be needed to bring it back. The further back in time one goes, the higher the chance of encountering powerful plant soldiers." After all, according to the Egoist school's cosmology, native species from the Primordial and Primal stages are inherently stronger than those from the Myriad Phenomena stage. The Myriad Phenomena stage is better suited for propagating derivative species.

The reappearance of the Dimensional Passage Tower quickly drew immense attention, even eclipsing the enthusiasm for Desolate Zone development. Many powerful individuals were now planning trips to Scholar City. Not only historians and Ministers of Agriculture were drawn to it, but other professions, especially "underground" ones like musicians and dancers, also felt its allure. Who wouldn't want to acquire lost musical scores and dance compositions? Even the Great Zhou Dynasty dispatched individuals from the Wangliang Star District back to Jiachen Pass.

As Zhao Xing prepared to depart, he learned that Emperor Wu Ji Che, Liu Tianning, and Yun Tiandao were all planning to travel to Scholar City to enter the Dimensional Passage Tower.

"Fifth Brother, are you going too?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Elder Brother, of course, I'm going," Ji Che replied, looking at Zhao Xing in his flower-adorned chair with a touch of sympathy. "Ji Si mentioned that the Dimensional Passage Tower can even lead to the Five Emperors Era. Of course, I want to see how the five generations of Qi Luck Dynasties functioned in the Xuanling Starfield."

"Brother Yun, you are a Heavenly Timing Minister. What are you going for?" Zhao Xing then looked at Yun Tiandao.

"I mainly want to observe the large-scale natural disasters of history," Yun Tiandao said, pulling a book from his robe. "Many terrifying natural disasters are rare within the starfield, occurring perhaps once in many years, but they are quite common when traveling through the Dimensional Passage." He, too, was reading the "Pinghuai Book," his intentions aligning with Zhao Xing's. As for Master Liu Tianning, there was no need to ask; as an Egoist, he likely shared the same goals as most Egoist Ministers of Agriculture.

"Beyond that, I'd also like to see what my homeland looked like in historical times," Yun Tiandao added, tapping a spot on the Xuanling Starfield map. Everyone looked, realizing Yun Tiandao was indicating the Shenluo Desolate Zone. Zhao Xing's heart stirred with immense curiosity. The Shenluo Desolate Zone wasn't always desolate. So, what was the Xuantian Realm truly like in ancient times?