Chapter 485: Two New Troops, Unexpected Split, Birth of the Evil Soul?

Zhao Xing was not surprised to hear that the first challenge was a test of willpower.

Plant life cultivated from seedling or seed stages naturally forms a strong bond with its owner, easily achieving spiritual alignment and mutual understanding. However, subduing plant soldiers that have reached maturity or their peak requires confronting the sentient impact of the plant life itself. If one attempts to forcibly subdue a plant without meeting the necessary criteria, either the Sigu (agricultural official/cultivator) or the plant life will suffer.

Of course, there are exceptions. If a plant possessed extremely high intelligence and understood how to compromise for survival, and if there was external assistance—like the 'Water Essence Dharma Pact' used to subdue the Thousand Illusions Tree, which was implanted into Zhao Xing's consciousness—then it could be forcibly controlled. In other circumstances, without a sufficiently strong mind, it's impossible to subdue wild plant soldiers; they would only cause destruction if kept within one's inner world. The assessments at the original Primeval Assembly had frequently tested these two elements: mental willpower and soul strength.

Zhao Xing wasn't very confident about the willpower test, especially since the artifact spirit, Xuan Yue, had stated that only an Emperor-level will could pass. His True Spirit was at the late Lord stage. While mental willpower didn't directly correlate with True Spirit strength, he presumed his hadn't reached the Emperor level. The willpower cultivation he gained from slaying turtles and the Heartfield Dharma he currently possessed were far from reaching the Emperor level.

"Perhaps the artifact spirit's standard is lower than the empire's," Zhao Xing mused. "But to be safe, I should first cultivate a Samsara-level willpower secret art."

Where would a Samsara-level willpower secret art come from? Zhao Xing's gaze fell upon Feng Chen. Scholars were like mobile libraries of secret arts, and a Six Realms Scholar like Feng Chen, who matched the Emperor level, surely possessed willpower-related secret arts.

"Elder," Zhao Xing began, expressing his thoughts, "I've just broken through to the Samsara Realm and haven't yet learned the corresponding willpower secret arts. I wonder if I might purchase one from you?"

"Sharpening your spear only when the battle is upon you, eh?" Feng Chen chuckled. "Zhao Xing, it's not that I won't sell it to you, but I'm afraid it's too late for you now. You've just entered the Samsara Realm, and your True Spirit isn't strong enough. Even if I taught you a Samsara-level willpower secret art, you couldn't instantly cultivate it to the Emperor level."

A scholar's direct transmission of knowledge wasn't omnipotent; it still adhered to fundamental laws. In Feng Chen's view, Zhao Xing was far from meeting the artifact spirit's requirements. Even if he expended his cultivation to directly transmit the art, it would be impossible to elevate Zhao Xing's willpower to the Emperor level.

"Elder, how will we know if we don't try?" Zhao Xing retorted with newfound confidence, emboldened by his wealth. "We're just waiting here anyway. Just name your price!"

Feng Chen, being soft-hearted, saw he couldn't dissuade Zhao Xing and opened the Enlightenment Realm, allowing Zhao Xing to enter.

"I have three Samsara-level willpower secret arts," Feng Chen stated. "The first is the Mirror Heart Art. It makes the mind like a bright mirror, reflecting all illusions. This secret art is attached to the Scholarly City's divine artifact, the All-Encompassing Mirror, and is primarily defensive. The second is the Profound Spirit Divine Incantation, created by 'Xuan Zhuo', the God of Souls in the Samsara Divine Palace. It offers both offense and defense. However, to learn this art, you must begin by chanting the Yin-Yang Spirit Heart Incantation one hundred thirty million times and receive a response from that great being. The third is the Great Dark Heaven, which aims to temper the mind through slaughter. I copied this art from the Imperial Netherstone Tablet; it's said to have been created by a Shura demigod based on their race's innate talents. It uses offense as its primary defense."

"All three secret arts are difficult to learn. And for the second one, direct transmission of knowledge cannot be used to accelerate your progress."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xing immediately asked, "Elder Feng, I once obtained a Shura willpower divine ability, also taught by a scholar, called 'Slaughtering Thought Blade'. Is this art derived from the Great Dark Heaven?"

Feng Chen nodded. "Precisely. Four epochs ago in the Barren Realm, the Scholarly City organized an excavation of the Asura ruins, and many scholars entered to preserve information about the Asura race. The Slaughtering Thought Blade is indeed a derivative of the Great Dark Heaven. Approximately 47,825 scholars learned it back then."

Feng Chen was meticulous, knowing even how many scholars had learned which spell back then. It was precisely his rigorous work ethic and reliability that led Bo Wei to entrust him with everything, from escorting Zhao Xing for treatment to working full-time at the Star Dharma Assembly.

After hearing the introduction, Zhao Xing fell into contemplation. Undoubtedly, the Mirror Heart Art was Feng Chen's most proficient and highest-level art. If he requested this one, the direct transmission would grant him a higher-level spell. As for the Profound Spirit Divine Incantation, Zhao Xing had heard of it before and had no desire to get involved with the divine realms of the Samsara Divine Palace then, nor did he now. His priority was loyalty to the Empire!

"Elder, I choose the Great Dark Heaven," Zhao Xing stated his preference. "What price must I pay?"

"If you only wish to learn it, I can gift it to you for free. Without you, Emperor Fuzhi and I would have struggled to excavate those boundary stones on our journey. Just don't spread it outside."

"If you want me to directly transmit the knowledge, it would cost me a hundred thousand years of cultivation. That would be… that would be—" Feng Chen seemed conflicted, apparently hesitant to name too high a price.

"Elder, please speak plainly," Zhao Xing urged.

"Eight thousand Xuanling Ancient Coins," Feng Chen said, holding up eight fingers.

Master Zhao was stunned. He had expected Feng Chen to name an astonishing sum, but it was merely eight thousand Xuanling Ancient Coins. Zhao Xing, along with the Great Zhou treasury, had received 4.02 million Xuanling Ancient Coins in the last dividend distribution. He kept 3 million for himself, and the rest went into the national treasury. From the current Demigod Abode, selling just 10 spots had generated about 200,000, and they had shared 15,000 from excavating boundary stones on the way. Feng Chen, who would expend a hundred thousand years of cultivation to transmit the art, only asked for eight thousand—he was incredibly generous, and yet he still felt embarrassed about that amount! What a good person.

Master Zhao was moved. He sincerely grasped Feng Chen's hand and said, "Elder Feng, I'll pay ten thousand. Please, you must accept it."

"This... that's too much," Feng Chen said, looking rather embarrassed.

"It's worth it. It's settled then."

"Ah, alright," Feng Chen sighed. "I'll do my best, but how much you learn will still depend on you."

"Thank you, Elder Feng."

The two then said no more. One performed the transmission, the other received and comprehended the art.

As the transmission began, the scenery of the Enlightenment Realm transformed. Above the bright, fragrant garden filled with birdsong, a black dot appeared. As it emerged, the sky quickly darkened, and all things began to wither. Initially, Zhao Xing merely felt the light dim, but eventually, it became completely dark. The black dot drew closer, forming a human-like figure. It had three heads and six arms, was tall and imposing, with bluish-black skin. Its six arms were in various postures: one held hands together, the second held fire, the three left hands held blades and staffs, and the three right hands held yis. Of its three heads, one was fiercely majestic, another cold and ruthless, and the third scorned all living beings.

As it appeared, the vitality around it ceased, as if the Great Dao of Life had retreated, and even the Six Energies stopped flowing. It swung a blade towards Zhao Xing, its terrifying killing intent causing an instinctive panic in Zhao Xing, who couldn't help but flee in all directions. Immediately after, flames erupted, not physical fire, but wrath born from the heart—a fury so intense that even draining all four seas couldn't extinguish it.

"Ah—" Zhao Xing cried out and woke up.

He found himself still within Feng Chen's Enlightenment Realm, surrounded by the same bright, fragrant garden filled with birdsong, yet Zhao Xing felt his hands and feet turn cold, his heart trembling as he lay motionless on the ground. The illusion had vanished, but the previous scene was indelible, its lingering effects still terrifying him. Feng Chen had truly exerted himself, demonstrating power incredibly close to that of the Asura demigod. Zhao Xing's receptivity was also too high. With the direct transmission, the profound meaning was deeply ingrained, and this transmission had truly scared him.

"Zhao Xing, are you alright?" Feng Chen asked with concern.

"Elder, I... I'm fine."

Fear, killing intent, and rage receded like a tide. As his thoughts coalesced, an ethereal Asura figure emerged in Zhao Xing's mind. Feng Chen looked at Zhao Xing's distorted face, where faint patterns appeared, revealing the form of the Shura demigod. He was somewhat shocked: "You actually absorbed more than 80% of 'A Single Thought of Shura' in this transmission?!"

"You are the most efficient recipient in my entire career of transmitting knowledge."

The willpower secret art, Great Dark Heaven, had a total of three forms: Great Dark Heaven, A Single Thought of Shura, and Immovable Wisdom King. Great Dark Heaven was a mental domain formed by the intertwining of dark, negative emotions. A Single Thought of Shura was a killing intent construct born from this mental domain. Immovable Wisdom King, on the other hand, established supremacy through willpower, achieving a demigod-level will. Zhao Xing's reception of the direct transmission of his cultivation broke Feng Chen's previous record. No one had ever been able to directly learn 'A Single Thought of Shura' while receiving the 'Great Dark Heaven' secret art.

"Are you really alright?" Feng Chen asked again, seeing Zhao Xing still lying on the ground for a long time.

Zhao Xing sat up. "I feel a bit off, but I can't pinpoint what's wrong." However, checking his system panel, he found that he had indeed learned a new spell: Great Dark Heaven, a Samsara-level Secret Art, with a progress of Tier 6 (12/1000).

"What I displayed was the original Dao essence of the Imperial Netherstone Tablet. You might have been a bit startled," Feng Chen said.

"I apologize for my reaction, Elder," Zhao Xing said, shaking his head and not dwelling on it further.

After resting for about three months, Zhao Xing could skillfully cast Great Dark Heaven and A Single Thought of Shura. Confidently, he stepped onto the eastern staircase. Feng Chen followed closely, while the artifact spirit, Xuan Yue, said something to Zhao Xing. Through Feng Chen's translation, Zhao Xing learned that the spirit had said, "Your life and death are your own responsibility."

"Be careful," Feng Chen added.

"Mm," Zhao Xing took a deep breath and looked down at his feet. The steps were made of white jade, twelve in total, subtly embodying the musical principles of the five tones and twelve pitch pipes.

Upon stepping onto the first stair, Zhao Xing heard the sound of flowing water beside his ear. It was faint at first, but as he stabilized his footing, it rapidly amplified, roaring like a surging torrent. Before Zhao Xing's eyes, what seemed like real floodwaters surged down from the upper stairs, crashing into him.

"The sensation is real, so is the water real too? That can't be right."

The great waters rose past his knees, as if to push Zhao Xing away. The realistic sensation originating from his soul made Zhao Xing wary of underestimating the Five Tones Illusion. At this moment, one of his split souls was observing from outside the staircase, clearly seeing that no water was actually flowing down the steps. Evidently, this "reality" was due to his main body's mental willpower being deceived by the Five Tones Illusion.

Zhao Xing lifted his foot again, ascending two more steps. *Whoosh!* The floodwaters became overwhelming, directly submerging Zhao Xing's waist, abdomen, and head. When Zhao Xing enlarged his body, the floodwaters also rose, always keeping one step ahead of him. Realizing this was a deception, Zhao Xing returned to his normal size, and sure enough, the floodwaters also diminished accordingly.

"The flood is nothing to fear; what's fake is ultimately fake." Zhao Xing's mental domain expanded, and as expected, the impact force significantly decreased. He firmly stabilized himself on the third step. Feeling he still had strength, he stepped onto the fourth stair.

*Wooooooo!* Low horn blasts resounded beside the river. Zhao Xing saw the palace above the staircase suddenly vanish, replaced by countless heavenly soldiers and generals filling the sky. Banners stood tall, clouds hung thick, and an aura of solemn slaughter spread, making people dare not approach. Zhao Xing glanced back and found that the scenery behind him had also changed. He seemed to be standing on a riverbank, with a vast, oppressive black cloud in the distance, as if a war was about to erupt.

"Another step!" Zhao Xing endured the pressure and ascended two more steps. Standing on the sixth step, the heavy atmosphere and chilling aura of slaughter choked him slightly. As he ascended higher, he saw more detailed scenes: the figures of the divine soldiers and generals seemed more solidified, their blades and armor glinting with cold light, making it impossible to look directly at them.

*Thump-thump-thump!* Upon stepping onto the seventh stair, drumbeats first entered his ears. Then, a massive drum made of ten thousand li of oxhide appeared, its sound waves spreading across heaven and earth, as if to make one's heart leap out. Even his Great Dark Heaven mental domain trembled slightly. Standing on the ninth step, the drums thundered, and lightning flashed and thunder roared in the sky. As the drumming intensified, it felt as though a great battle was imminent. On the opposite riverbank, a terrifying presence seemed to loom. Zhao Xing felt a stinging sensation throughout his body, and countless thoughts were consumed by the urge to flee.

*Swoosh!* Within his mental domain, a three-headed, six-armed Shura appeared. One thought infected another; the thoughts of fleeing were defeated and transformed into nourishment for the Shura. Zhao Xing firmly stood on the tenth stair. Relying on his mental secret art, he also successfully stabilized himself on the eleventh stair.

At this point, Zhao Xing reached the final step of the Five Tones Illusion. A giant clad in golden demigod armor furiously hammered a large drum with bone mallets. The sound of those mallets felt as if they were directly striking Zhao Xing's heart, causing every inch of his muscles to tremble uncontrollably. Zhao Xing had no choice but to unleash both arts simultaneously, pushing his mental domain and A Single Thought of Shura to their limits before daring to take the final step.

"My mental domain is woven from dark emotions. By first immersing myself in darkness, illusions cannot sway my mind. The Shura body emerges from the darkness, powered primarily by killing intent and supplemented by other malevolent thoughts, to break through all illusions!"

*Thump!* After stepping onto the twelfth stair, the final drumbeat fell, and all sounds abruptly ceased. Zhao Xing experienced a brief moment of tranquility, and the world fell into a deathly silence.

The next moment— "Kill!!!" Overwhelming killing intent emanated from the army formation. The floodwaters became even more ferocious. The entire army on his side of the riverbank surged forward, and the black mist shrouding the opposite bank was now close at hand. In an instant, Zhao Xing was swept up by the surging battle intent and killing intent, charging with the army towards the opposite bank.

*Thump!* The intertwined killing intent, battle intent, and drum music of countless powerhouses instantly shook Zhao Xing off the twelfth stair. Freed from the illusion, his mind naturally cleared.

"I failed?" Zhao Xing clutched his chest, feeling unwell. However, Feng Chen, standing nearby, looked ahead with some shock. Zhao Xing looked up and saw himself still standing on the twelfth stair. His head turned, revealing half a face with a sinister, charming smile.

"What? This is—" Zhao Xing immediately realized what had happened. He had indeed fallen, but what had fallen was his main body's soul. On that last step, he had been shaken so hard that his soul left his body! Yet, he had also truly passed. His main body, on the twelfth stair, had unknowingly completed its 101st great soul split due to the excessive use of his mental domain and A Single Thought of Shura! This split was completely different from previous ones; it wasn't something Zhao Xing had actively initiated, and the connection was extremely faint, as if his Primordial clone had been separated from him for many years. Furthermore, it was incredibly dark! It felt like another, evil version of himself!

"Oh no, I've become a clone?" His main body had lost its dharma body and had been shaken out by the Five Tones Illusion. Without the support of negative emotions, his main body's soul, even if it could cast Great Dark Heaven, couldn't pass the twelve-stair illusion. Was he destined to watch his dark-sided split soul occupy his physical body?

"Zhao Xing, the after-effects of this split seem quite significant," Scholar Feng Chen also noticed something was amiss. This was because the split soul completely disregarded his main body's soul that had been shaken out below, heading straight for the large tree outside the eastern palace gate.

"It is a bit significant," Zhao Xing said with a wry smile. "Now I understand why I felt 'off' earlier. It turns out the 101st split was imminent, and because I cultivated the Great Dark Heaven, what's now inside my dharma body and physical body is a dark split soul."

"In other words, you've suffered qi deviation?" Feng Chen exclaimed, his face paling.

"Not exactly," Zhao Xing shook his head. "There's still a way to remedy it." The Primordial clone he had left behind earlier now proved extremely useful. Zhao Xing's main body soul immediately leaped into the Primordial clone observing from below the stairs. He then activated the Unbound Transmission.

*Swoosh!* The next moment, his main body's soul returned to his physical body on the stairs. When Zhao Xing returned to his Fate Palace and Sea of Consciousness, he saw a Shura fiercely devouring the remaining ninety split souls. The Shura's face had transformed into Zhao Xing's likeness, and it was rapidly growing stronger.

Zhao Xing's expression changed, and he immediately roared, "Stop!"

The dark split soul remained silent, simply continuing to devour. It was as if a voice within his mind was consuming all other voices, and the thoughts of his other split souls were gradually being assimilated by the evil of the dark split soul. Even Zhao Xing's main body soul was affected, feeling an uncontrollable urge to kill.

*Boom!* His main body immediately acted. Within his Fate Palace and Sea of Consciousness, a golden Five-Finger Mountain descended, attempting to suppress the dark split soul. The main body's soul was stronger than the split soul. In such a pure confrontation, it should logically be easily extinguished. However, the Great Dark Heaven was more powerful in the hands of the dark soul, and his main body's soul couldn't suppress it for a moment.

"Samsara!" Finally, Zhao Xing remembered the Samsara soul secret art gifted by Qing Yuzi. A black hole appeared in the chest of his main body's soul, and the situation instantly became one-sided, forcibly absorbing the dark split soul.

"Thankfully, my main body's soul cultivated Samsara, fusing the Fate Soul with the Earth and Heaven Souls, which allowed it to transcend all other soul bodies. Also, all split souls had memory partitions; they only retained memories of Azure Flower mana, not Red Lotus mana." After the absorption, Zhao Xing breathed a sigh of relief. The flaws of the Primordial Straw Effigy art were clear, so during the initial splits, the main body's soul was prioritized precisely to guard against such accidents.

"Good, good. It seems I should use scholars' direct transmissions and Great Dark Heaven-type secret arts less in the future." If not for the scholar's direct transmission, the Great Dark Heaven secret art wouldn't have instantly possessed such immense power. If he had cultivated it slowly, Zhao Xing would never have split off a dark clone.

"Zhao Xing, are you alright?" Feng Chen called from below.

"I'm fine now," Zhao Xing replied.

"Why don't you come down first and let me check on you?"

"Elder Feng! I said I'm fine, I'm fine!" Zhao Xing, annoyed by his nagging, walked directly to the large tree. Below, Feng Chen looked at Zhao Xing's retreating back, a flicker of worry in his eyes.

"The great soul split of the Primordial Straw Effigy ripped out his dark side. How can he say he's fine after suffering qi deviation? Ah, it's all my fault; I shouldn't have transmitted that art to him."

*Thump-thump-thump!* The broad, curled leaves of the tree rustled in the wind, producing drum-like beats, as if a thousand armies were charging forth to prevent Zhao Xing from approaching. Zhao Xing was unafraid. He looked directly at the tree and received its information:

Glassine Sound Tree (Mutated Species)Status: Peak StageQuality: Emperor-levelTrue Spirit: Emperor-level PeakSecret Arts: Scarlet Blossom Immortal, Glassine Sound Talisman, Myriad Sound DomainDescription: Having listened to the celestial music of the Demigod Musician for many years, its intelligence greatly expanded. Its acquired learning merged with its innate secret arts, significantly increasing its power.Remaining Lifespan: 4.3 Epochs

*Chirp-chirp—* The Glassine Sound Tree's bark rippled, forming a human face that seemed to be speaking. Without Feng Chen's translation, Zhao Xing understood that the creature did not want to go with him. Beings with highly developed intelligence and wisdom possessed strong free will. Who would willingly become another's slave? However, Master Zhao had gone to such great lengths to ascend; there was no way he would let it go. He'd subdue it first, then deal with the rest.

"World Projection!" His inner world unfolded, its projected pressure instantly enveloping the entire Glassine Sound Tree. The tree's leaves unfurled, lighting up like countless talismans. But before they could fully unfurl, they froze. This was because Zhao Xing had chosen to forcibly subdue it, using the power of the Primordial Dao Pagoda to suppress it. If it could suppress the legendary Spirit-Devouring Grass, how much more so the Glassine Sound Tree? Even if its strength rivaled an Emperor-level peak, it could not withstand a divine artifact forged by a Great Emperor.

*Swoosh!* The Glassine Sound Tree was uprooted. Zhao Xing then leaped down.

Feng Chen came forward, staring intently at Zhao Xing. "You should leave immediately and find someone to examine you."

"Elder Feng, do you think I've suffered qi deviation?"

"I don't know, but something is definitely off with you."

"What makes you say that?"

"That large tree said that since you had passed the artifact spirit's promised trial, she was willing to acknowledge you as her master and display her abilities. Why did you suppress her without a second thought?"

Zhao Xing was speechless. The creature had already intended to pledge loyalty, yet he had insisted on beating it up. That was truly... too much!

"Elder Feng, why didn't you say something earlier?" Zhao Xing asked, a hint of displeasure in his voice.

"How was I to know you'd act so quickly?"

"Never mind," Zhao Xing said indifferently. "Perhaps a good beating works better."

"Elder Feng, what's the second trial?"

Feng Chen didn't answer. Clearly, he believed Zhao Xing should go see a physician rather than continue with the trials. At this point, Zhao Xing also realized Feng Chen was stubborn; no matter how he tried to persuade him, he refused to translate anymore.

"Very well. If Elder Feng is unwilling, I'll do it myself." Zhao Xing cupped his hands. "Still, thank you for your previous assistance, Elder Feng."

With that, Zhao Xing dispatched dozens of Primordial clones to the previous ruins area to study the inscriptions on the buildings. Instead of relying on others, he thought, he would rely on himself; he refused to believe he couldn't master a language. Watching Zhao Xing act independently, Feng Chen couldn't help but shake his head.

It took him three years, but Zhao Xing mastered the language of this place. After mastering it, he immediately attempted to converse with the artifact spirit, Xuan Yue.

"Fairy Xuan Yue, I have already passed the first trial. What is the second trial?"

The artifact spirit, Xuan Yue, had been standing motionless at the palace gate, like a statue, seemingly oblivious to the arguments between Feng Chen and Zhao Xing, and even to Zhao Xing's accident. But upon hearing Zhao Xing speak, she reacted.

"The World Trial," the artifact spirit Xuan Yue said, pointing south. "If your inner world can withstand the pressure of the Boundary Stairway, it proves you have the ability to take the Sun-Moon Vine."

The World Trial? Zhao Xing smiled upon hearing this. He immediately flew south and ascended the steps. The south also had twelve steps, each generating an extremely powerful spatial pressure. Zhao Xing had to endure the pressure while expanding his inner world and ascending. Reaching the top would mean passing the trial. It sounded simple, but the initial pressure was equivalent to an early Emperor-level, and the pressure increased with each step. By the twelfth step, the projection of his inner world, even when expanded, was compressed to about a hundred meters in radius.

"The pressure now is equivalent to an Emperor-level peak, yet I can still project my inner world to about a hundred meters."

"An inner world created by two divine artifacts is truly extraordinary."

Zhao Xing calmly passed this trial, successfully acquiring the second type of plant soldier:

Sun-Moon Vine (Mutated Species)Status: Peak StageQuality: Emperor-levelTrue Spirit: Emperor-level Late StageSecret Arts: Eight Subtle Sun Wheels, Moonlit Feather Light Array, Commerce RealmDescription: Having listened to the celestial music of the Demigod Musician for many years, its intelligence greatly expanded. Its acquired learning merged with its innate secret arts, significantly increasing its power.Remaining Lifespan: 7.6 Epochs

Most vine-type innate secret arts are for containment. The Sun-Moon Vine feeds on the sun and moon, its innate abilities are linked to the Dao of Yin and Yang, and combined with the Five Divine Scales, its containment capabilities are further amplified; it can even form arrays! Plant soldiers capable of forming arrays are an unusual development. Even Emperor-level experts of this era would find it difficult to immediately break free if trapped.

"Fairy Xuan Yue, what is the third trial?"

Xuan Yue looked to the west, where four flowers, red with black edges, were planted. Three had already withered and perished, and the remaining one was closed.

"The third trial is a test of the Musical Dao," Fairy Xuan Yue said, looking at the closed flower with a hint of sadness. "The 'Void Bloom' is a descendant of the Flower God Clan and was the master's beloved possession. Since the master's death, it has also fallen into slumber. Only by acquiring the 'Eight Tones Divine Art' from within the palace and playing it on a guqin can it be awakened."

A Musical Dao trial? Zhao Xing couldn't help but frown. Among the three living plants, the 'Void Bloom' was the one he valued most. Though it only possessed Emperor-level strength, its bloodline was very noble. Perhaps he could extract the life template of the Flower God Clan from it. One of the paths to godhood for a Sigu of the Ego Sect involved extracting plant divine patterns. Even if this hope was slim, this possibility alone made the Void Bloom more valuable than the previous two. But with a Musical Dao trial, Zhao Xing could only stare helplessly.

"I'll just have to wait for Emperor Qianyin or Emperor Fuzhi to emerge and ask for their help," Zhao Xing mused.

With nothing else to do, Zhao Xing started chatting with the artifact spirit again, asking about the bare golden bamboo pole standing prominently to the north. But Xuan Yue seemed impatient. "If you're not going to attempt the trial, then stay quiet. Where do you get so many questions?" Zhao Xing didn't know why she suddenly changed her attitude. Being rebuked like that, an unnamed anger surged within him, but he dared not show it on his face. He merely cupped his hands and sat to the side, waiting.

Time slowly passed. Approximately eight years after their arrival, a second group of people soon reached the Lingluo Abode. Two mechanists and one martial artist arrived here. The martial artist was Emperor Chimei, but Zhao Xing didn't recognize the two mechanists. Listening to their conversation with Feng Chen, he learned that the other two demigod abodes had entered their final stages of contention. Knowing they wouldn't gain much there, they had come to the Musician's Abode to try their luck.

"Elder Feng," Emperor Chimei asked as soon as he arrived, "can that flower outside the palace, and that golden bamboo pole, be taken away?" Clearly, Zhao Xing wasn't the only one who recognized the value of these items. Even if they didn't recognize their value, it was a case of "a goose passing by losing its feathers"—they'd take them first, regardless of whether they were valuable.

"Emperor Chimei, you must not act rashly," Feng Chen explained. "If you wish to move them, you must wait until the inheritance of the Lingluo Palace concludes."

"Alright," Emperor Chimei said, his eyes shifting to Zhao Xing nearby. "Sigu Zhao, do you perhaps know what kind of flower this is?"

"I don't recognize it," Zhao Xing replied coldly.

After another five years, there was finally movement within the Lingluo Palace. A clear, resonant sound filled heaven and earth, and a divine manifestation of an ancient guqin appeared above the palace roof. It had nine strings of various colors, surrounded by ethereal auspicious beasts, appearing extraordinarily divine. Zhao Xing's expression changed, for by the sheer scale of the phenomenon, it was undoubtedly a power that could only be unleashed by a divine artifact! Unexpectedly, while the other two martial artist abodes hadn't yielded divine artifacts, a divine artifact had appeared in the Musician's Abode? Indeed, Wei Tianchen possessed multiple divine artifacts; the probability of a demigod-level abode having a divine artifact was quite high!

Unfortunately, this was a musical abode. Zhao Xing and the others could only watch; seizing it was impossible. It wasn't that they didn't want to, but that they couldn't. Assuming either Emperor Qianyin or Emperor Fuzhi inherited it and wielded a divine artifact, who could possibly defeat them?

"I wonder if any of the seven abodes belong to a Sigu. Since this was a trans-domain migration of a race, there couldn't have been no demigod Sigu, could there?"

"If I were to clash head-on with an Emperor now, I'd have to rely on the methods of the Ego Sect, leaning on powerful plant soldiers."

"I hope that once one of them emerges, they'll do me a favor and give me the Void Bloom," Zhao Xing wished.

The divine manifestation's vibrations lasted for a full six months. Finally, all the divine light receded back into the palace. Then the palace gates reopened, and a figure slowly walked out.

"One figure? How could only one person emerge?" Zhao Xing stared at the palace gate, recognizing Emperor Fuzhi walking out, while Emperor Qianyin was nowhere to be seen.