Chapter 487: Cloud and Rain Dharma Realm, Life Dao Diagram

Transmission Realm Tower, Eighth Floor.

Bo Wei floated in the center of the eighth-floor pavilion, surrounded by countless red and blue spheres. Inside each sphere, historical scenes flickered. Innumerable threads extended from within the spheres and merged into Bo Wei's body.

After an unknown period of absorption, the Five Elements Dao Seal on Bo Wei's forehead suddenly vanished, replaced by a new mark symbolizing the Dao of Space-Time. The Omniscience Mirror floated in the distance, and Zhixin, as its spirit, observed the scene from within, naturally possessing the ability to discern all Dao laws.

At a certain point in the absorption process, the blue light spheres on the outermost ring began to turn red, rapidly surging towards Bo Wei in the center along the threads.

Whoosh! Zhixin controlled the Omniscience Mirror, placing it in front of Bo Wei just before this unique red light struck him.

Buzz! The red light was immediately reflected by the Omniscience Mirror, sweeping back into its original sphere, faintly accompanied by an unwilling roar. The Omniscience Mirror trembled, Bo Wei's body shook, and then he opened his eyes from his cultivation.

"Teacher, you've saved me again."

"It was the Omniscience Mirror that saved you," Zhixin shook his head. As a divine artifact of the Academy City, the Omniscience Mirror's first ability was to discern laws; any spell, when viewed through it, would reveal its true essence, with nothing hidden. If used for disguise, it was the most powerful disguise in the world. Its second ability was to reflect attacks, an exact reflection, capable of repelling even divine power.

"Bo Wei, you can't continue this. You'll die," Zhixin said gravely. "The Omniscience Mirror also has a limit to its power. Each time you pass a True Spirit Tribulation, it becomes harder. If this continues, when the True Spirit Tribulation's intensity surpasses the Omniscience Mirror's capacity, you will eventually die."

"Difficulty proves I'm on the right path," Bo Wei mused. "To unlock the scholars' limitations, extraordinary measures must be taken. I invoke the True Spirit Tribulation from every space-time in history; each time I overcome it, I move closer to the Divine Realm."

Zhixin fell silent, as Bo Wei's cultivation had surpassed his understanding. No previous Grand Elder of the Academy City had ever actively invoked the True Spirit Tribulation, using the Transmission Realm Tower to traverse historical space-times and trigger its descent.

"Teacher, observe." Bo Wei reached into the Omniscience Mirror and suddenly pulled out a Source Realm rabbit beast, holding it in his arms. He stroked the rabbit. In the blink of an eye, the white rabbit vanished, all traces of it erased.

Zhixin's pupils contracted. Bo Wei had violated a very serious scholarly taboo: killing life. Ordinarily, killing a living being would cause a scholar to suffer cosmic punishment, their lifespan would rapidly diminish, and their talents would disappear. The higher the level of the killed life, the faster the decline. If Bo Wei had killed a demigod of equal rank, he would have instantly perished after doing so. But now, Bo Wei showed no changes.

"Could it be..." Zhixin couldn't help but be horrified.

"Yes, Teacher, I'm very close to unlocking the restrictions," Bo Wei nodded with a smile.

"To what extent?" Zhixin pressed.

"Below the Samsara Realm, erasing life has no effect on me."

Zhixin was utterly shocked. He had never witnessed such a situation. Could it be that Bo Wei truly was capable of removing the scholars' restrictions? If scholars could unlock their limitations, what heights could the Academy City reach with their omnipotent talent?

"Could it be that the ancients hid it in the Eighth Law Realm because it's the key to unlocking the restrictions?" Zhixin murmured.

"There's likely another reason," Bo Wei's gaze fell on the light spheres. "When I invoke the True Spirit Tribulation, besides the tribulation itself, there's also divine power attacking me. Teacher, did you hear that roar?"

"No," Zhixin recalled, but found nothing.

Bo Wei didn't explain, only looking up at the starry ceiling in thought. "Teacher, if I'm not mistaken, the legendary Ninth Law Realm of the Academy City is precisely the ninth floor of the Transmission Realm Tower, and I've found hope of entering it."

Zhixin's gaze also moved upward, but he only saw darkness. "Where is this hope?"

Bo Wei flipped his hand, and an ancient book, its cover adorned with stars and crisscrossed with grey cracks, appeared in his grasp. The Xuanling Historical Records!

Bo Wei said, "The Academy City's Eighth Law Realm contains one-third of the fragments of the Xuanling Historical Records. After I subdued the Star Historians of the entire Xuanling Star Domain, and leveraging the development of the Transmission Realm Tower, I obtained some additional fragments from various major powers. I now hold about half of the Xuanling Historical Records fragments, spanning from the Era of Five Emperors to the present."

"Only half is probably not enough," Zhixin shook his head. "The remaining parts are in the hands of the super-powers; you absolutely cannot obtain them. Even if you claim to be researching, places like the Source Heaven Palace and the Samsara Divine Palace would at most allow you to visit and examine, but they wouldn't let you bring them back to the Academy City."

"I discovered a secret after opening the Eighth Law Realm," Bo Wei stated. "I only need to acquire half of the Xuanling Historical Records, and then use the Omniscience Mirror to duplicate the other half. At the cost of shattering the Omniscience Mirror, I can then emergency-open the Ninth Realm. Once I ascend to the ninth floor, the records in my possession will become real, and theirs will become fake."

"What?" Zhixin was stunned; he had never heard this secret before.

"All space-time, omniscience, omnipotence. At that point, I won't need the Omniscience Mirror, nor even the Transmission Realm Tower," Bo Wei spread his arms and closed his eyes. "This is the method your disciple has conceived for scholars to attain divinity."

***

Deep within a barren planet in the Xuanling Star Domain, near the Desolate Dark Heaven Region.

Whoosh! From within the planet's molten lava rivers, a black palace suddenly emerged out of thin air, quickly merging with the surrounding magma. A stone tablet stood before the palace gates, bearing four large characters: "Shadow Sanctuary."

As the Shadow Sanctuary appeared, a young man, clad in dark-colored vigorous attire, with scattered debris on his shoulders, opened his eyes by the lava river, put away his token, and stood up. He stood up like a sword unsheathing; as his hair swept past the silver threads on his collar, it actually carved subtle ripples in space.

Whoosh! A black-robed man emerged from the Shadow Sanctuary, his demeanor respectful. "Greetings, Venerate Bamboo Sword. Did you summon the Sanctuary to accept a mission?"

Venerate Bamboo Sword had maintained a hundred percent mission completion rate in the Shadow Sanctuary, hence his high status. He could summon a branch sanctuary to appear for a meeting. Venerate Bamboo Sword had not taken action for a very long time. For two epochs, he had been isolated in seclusion throughout the desolate region, seemingly attempting to comprehend the mysteries of the Divine Realm.

"I accept the Lihuo Divine Sword mission," Venerate Bamboo Sword said calmly. "Please provide the Sanctuary's intelligence."

"Yes," the black-robed man cupped his hands, then waved his arm, and a scene appeared on the surface of the magma. "The employer's bounty is the Lihuo Divine Sword. The mission is to capture an Agronomist from the Empire's Primal Realm. The target must be alive and handed over to the employer."

"His name is Zhao Xing, and he rose to prominence within the last ten thousand years," the black-robed man said. "He was originally a member of an indigenous dynasty that ascended from the Chenluo Desolate Region, but he rapidly rose to power and was even involved in a hidden secret. If you are interested—"

"Not interested, get straight to the point," Venerate Bamboo Sword interrupted. As a Demigod of the Sword Dao, nothing else mattered to him besides achieving divinity. He didn't even care about the rules jointly established by the super-powers of the Xuanling Star Domain, so Zhao Xing's identity or background were utterly irrelevant to him.

"Understood." The black-robed man stopped his rambling, paused, and then stated directly, "It is known that the target broke through to the Samsara Realm over a hundred years ago—"

"Only just broke through to the Samsara Realm?" Venerate Bamboo Sword frowned, interrupting again. "If that's all, why would the bounty be a divine artifact?"

"The target is a practitioner of the Grand Beginning Clone," the black-robed man explained. "And immediately upon breaking through, he possessed an Emperor-level inner world."

"I see," Venerate Bamboo Sword realized. Killing a practitioner of the Grand Beginning Clone is easy, but capturing one alive is extremely difficult. The Grand Beginning Clone can swap places with the main body at any time. Furthermore, a genius of this caliber is likely to be protected. Even though he's only just broken through to the Samsara Realm, this price is entirely reasonable.

"Currently, he is exploring and developing the Annihilation Star Ancient Path. During this process, he unearthed a cluster of ruins from an unknown era, which he sold to the War God Hall— We can confirm that the target has now entered a place called the 'Baihan Realm', where a demigod Agronomist's cave dwelling is rumored to be. However, there seem to have been some unexpected developments."

"What unexpected developments?" Venerate Bamboo Sword asked.

"Originally, the Empire's Celestial Master Bureau speculated it was an Agronomist's cave dwelling, but after entering, they discovered it wasn't entirely so; the dwelling also included a medical path trial."

"Can you confirm his main body is inside?"

"Absolutely certain. We didn't use fate diviners for calculation, but confirmed the location through the perception provided by another Grand Beginning Clone practitioner," the black-robed man explained. "This cannot be faked."

"How long has he been inside?" Venerate Bamboo Sword asked. He also needed to prepare; if Zhao Xing had been in there for a long time, he might no longer be there by the time Venerate Bamboo Sword arrived.

"Less than a year."

Venerate Bamboo Sword nodded. "Help me acquire an entry slot for the ruins and a legal identity disguise. How fast can you get it?" The black-robed man was silent for about three hours before replying, "The fastest would be half a year."

"Notify me in half a year."

"Yes."

***

In the Baihan Realm, the land was vast, and a colossal gate majestically stood on the plain. Behind the gate, dark clouds gathered densely, like undissolvable thick ink. Green raindrops fell from the sky. Zhao Xing stood before the gate, frowning at the dark clouds and green rain.

"Behold!" A short, white-haired old man's illusory figure was projected onto the gate. "To receive the inheritance, you must pass through this gate. For each trial you pass, you will receive one of the treasures I have left behind. There is no other way." He repeatedly uttered the same words.

Zhao Xing frowned. Due to certain delays, he arrived half a year late, but he also gained more intelligence. At this moment, there were three Emperor-level cultivators still before the first trial's gate. Zhao Xing recognized one of them.

"Emperor Jifeng, have you attempted this trial?" Baili Jifeng was Baili Yang's grandfather. And Baili Yang was Zhao Xing's partner, so Emperor Jifeng's entry slot was bought from Zhao Xing.

"I've tried," Baili Jifeng opened his eyes from his meditation. "This is the first trial set by Venerate Baihan. However, unlike the expected Heavenly Timing School Agronomist, this demigod's trial also incorporates other paths. Venerate Baihan practices both Medicine and Agriculture."

Zhao Xing nodded, confirming the Celestial Master Bureau's earlier speculation. Why was there only a 60% chance of him being an Agronomist? Because Venerate Baihan was not only an Agronomist but also a highly skilled medical practitioner. After reaching the Demigod Realm, if the path to further breakthroughs seems hopeless, it's highly probable to cross-cultivate other paths in search of opportunities for advancement. Drawing parallels, physicians also grow herbs, so there's some common ground with agronomists.

"Zhao Xing, these trials are a bit sinister. Some even say Venerate Baihan is a Demonic Agronomist," Emperor Jifeng said, a trace of apprehension flashing across his face as he looked at the green rainwater behind the gate. "That rainwater isn't ordinary; it's a medicinal liquid. Many people fell victim in the first trial. If you insist on going, be extremely careful not to inhale the medicinal liquid. Unless absolutely necessary, do not perform qi circulation to replenish spiritual energy during the trial."

Medicinal liquid? This type of spell isn't new. It's simply a combination of cloud-and-rain techniques with a physician's alchemy. But the fact that it can baffle so many powerhouses of the current era is somewhat miraculous. Baili Jifeng is the Grand Elder of Moonlit Valley. What kind of cloud and rain hasn't he seen? Yet even he said this first trial was sinister.

"Thank you for the warning, senior," Zhao Xing cupped his hands and stepped into the gate.

Heavy rain poured down, falling relentlessly. Zhao Xing activated his world projection, creating a unique space around himself. Green rainwater dripped onto the boundary wall of his inner world. Terrifying Dao power continuously impacted it, surprisingly eroding and penetrating a thin layer.

"My inner world is so strong, yet it can still be eroded and penetrated?" Zhao Xing was surprised. After the Source Space transforms into an inner world, the inner world of an Egoist Agronomist becomes a natural protective barrier. Therefore, whenever engaging in combat, one must first unfurl their inner world, and then summon troops. His own inner world was strong enough to birth divine-level native species, yet it could still be penetrated by a thin layer—this was truly inconceivable. "As expected of a demigod's methods."

With a thought, Zhao Xing deliberately allowed a drop of rainwater to enter. The green droplet fell towards the primal ocean within his inner world. Zhao Xing then carefully controlled it, beginning to analyze its components. His main body, meanwhile, continued flying through the rain.

At this point, the benefits of cultivating three schools simultaneously became apparent. Zhao Xing possessed a powerful inner world; this ability alone was enough to pass the first trial. However, for a pure Heavenly Timing School Emperor facing the Cloud and Rain Trial, it would be very difficult. They could only resist using similar cloud-and-rain techniques. In a competition of similar techniques, it's hard to surpass a demigod. That's why Emperor Jifeng had to retreat halfway through his attempt.

"Why do I feel like the components in these raindrops are somewhat familiar?" After flying for about three days, Zhao Xing suddenly heard a sound.

"Hahaha, I'm going to become a god! What desolate region, what demon race? All of them have been dealt with by me!"

"Emperor Jueming, wake up a little—"

"Bold! Call me Divine Venerate Jueming!"

Two martial artists appeared ahead. One of them had been washed by the rain, leaving only golden bones, like a skeleton. His golden body aura was also tainted with a touch of green. The other martial Emperor, however, was much better. A set of sword formations surrounded him, isolating the rainwater.

"It's Emperor Jueming and Emperor Langong." Zhao Xing recognized them at a glance as two martial artists from the Ancient Kingdom Alliance. One was a Qi Sect practitioner, the other a Sword Sect practitioner.

"What are you going crazy about? You're going to die!" Emperor Langong cursed loudly, while straightening his own head. He had just tried to wake up 'Emperor Jueming,' but was slapped away, caught off guard to the point his head was knocked askew. After straightening it, he began cursing profusely. "Heavens, Brother Jueming, you're about to burn yourself to death! Stop it!"

"Langong, in the past I called you 'Brother Dao,' but now that I've become a god, if you continue to be disrespectful, be careful, I won't be polite." The burning skeleton, however, was completely oblivious and instead displeased with Emperor Langong's attitude.

One trying to save, the other already mad and demonized, the two soon began fighting in the rain. However, the heavy rain severely hampered their performance; their martial skills, once they left their bodies, were greatly weakened, making it look as if two people were awkwardly dancing in the rain.

Zhao Xing watched silently for a while, then continued forward. As he progressed, the rain's influence deepened. "Each raindrop's impact was almost comparable to an Emperor's strike. The rainwater falling on the ground formed a poisonous domain, and this cloud and rain technique combined more than just medical arts. The rain technique created layers of spatial barriers, making it impossible to use escape techniques. Truly, there was no way up to the sky, and no door into the ground."

Zhao Xing looked at the dark clouds, within which a green Sun Star and Moon Star faintly floated. Upon closer inspection, they were actually two pills rotating! "Pills transforming into Yin and Yang, clouds and rain forming a realm. Relying on three types of spells, he created a Law Realm. A demigod's methods are truly terrifying." Cultivating to the demigod level means that when spells are cast, they operate like a world, forming their own laws. This is a demigod's ability. Samsara Realm Emperors can at most manifest a Law Domain, but they cannot achieve complete self-consistency and form a full Law Realm. Of course, Zhao Xing, having opened his inner world with a divine artifact, could in a sense resist the Law Realm. However, he still couldn't avoid a thin layer of erosion because his Primordial Chaos World cultivation method wasn't yet perfected, and the Dao of his inner world was still incomplete. Zhao Xing had no other way to resist the green rainwater besides enduring it head-on.

Another half a month passed. The green water droplet in his inner world finally had some of its medicinal properties analyzed. Most medicinal ingredients are extracted from plant life. Zhao Xing had cultivated under Guluo and had also learned the Essence Extraction Divine Ability, giving him considerable expertise in partitioning the origin of life.

"I see. The green medicinal liquid actually contains ingredients of the Dao Profound Pill!" Zhao Xing finally understood why Emperor Jueming had gone mad, falling into some kind of illusion, while Zhao Xing himself hadn't felt the illusion's presence. The reason was that Emperor Jueming had been hallucinated by the medicine.

"After consuming the Dao Profound Pill, one falls into a false 'enlightenment' illusion. The feeling of floating and ascending to immortality perfectly describes the Dao Profound Pill. This substance is extremely dangerous. The highest-grade Dao Profound Pills can even addict demigods, shattering their mind and will, rendering them unable to cultivate, and gradually weakening their golden bodies and Dharma forms. Thus, it is listed as a forbidden medicinal ingredient."

A trace of caution flashed in Zhao Xing's eyes. To be able to create a Law Realm using Dao Profound Pill ingredients, this Heavenly Timing School Agronomist was absolutely a demonic agronomist, completely unrestrained.

"Disperse!" Zhao Xing repelled the rainwater outwards, ceasing his research.

Approximately half a year after entering the trial, he finally flew out of the rain curtain. Suddenly, the sky cleared, sunlight bathed the land, and the ground, no longer riddled with pitted holes, revealed a green grassland.

"Congratulations, you've passed the first trial." Venerate Baihan's voice echoed from the grassland.

Zhao Xing looked down and saw that on every blade of tender grass on the prairie, Venerate Baihan's face appeared, shouting towards the sky. Countless blades of grass then formed an even larger face on the grassland.

"You can receive a reward. Choose, fated one. There are a total of ten trillion blades of grass here. Each one corresponds to a reward. Among them, seven are the best prizes. Likewise, ten million also contain nothing. Whether you can draw one depends on your luck. Luck is also part of my selection process for an inheritor!"

"Luck?" Zhao Xing was startled. Indeed, from their appearance, all the grass blades were identical. With only seven of the best prizes out of ten trillion, what kind of luck would it take to pick one?

"Heavenly fortune is my fortune; this is indeed a trial that the Heavenly Timing School could devise," Zhao Xing thought to himself. Neither the Earthly Advantage School nor the Egoist School had branches involved in metaphysics, but the Heavenly Timing School did. For instance, Moonlit Valley. Its 'Moon Agronomy' actually combined fate with the Dao of Agronomy.

"Then I'll just pick one randomly," Zhao Xing casually plucked a blade of grass.

"Congratulations, you've drawn the grand prize," Venerate Baihan's voice resonated from the root of the grass in his hand.

Zhao Xing was slightly startled. He just randomly picked one and got the grand prize? His 16th-tier luck was only mid-to-high level within the Samsara Realm. Emperor-level luck was generally above 20th-tier.

Bang! Zhao Xing was eagerly anticipating the grand prize, but the blade of grass suddenly exploded. Accompanying it was a burst of mocking laughter.

"Where's the grand prize?" Zhao Xing looked bewildered for a while before realizing he had been played. What Venerate Baihan called the 'grand prize' was actually a mockery; he had picked one of the ten million empty ones!

"Damn it!" Zhao Xing cursed under his breath. However, he quickly adjusted his mindset and entered the second trial.

The second trial was entered through a black hole formed by a large mouth on the grassland.

***

"It seems this demigod also practices the Life Formation Stream." Space shifted. In a flash, Zhao Xing felt his feet touch ground, appearing in another space. The space contained many floating islands. Each island was enveloped by thunderclouds, with stars circling above.

"The second trial is the Polaris Floating Islands." A face suddenly appeared beneath his feet, precisely Venerate Baihan's likeness. "Every floating island is undergoing intense mutation. This is a mutation I set up by combining medical formations. The floating islands are divided into six layers. If one forcefully tries to break through the sixth-layer islands, the intensity of their mutations is enough to kill any Emperor."

Zhao Xing gazed into the distance, confirming that the floating islands were indeed layered, with only three islands on the sixth layer. "Inside each floating island, there exists a life Dao diagram. It encompasses all sorts of races from the cosmos. Even for non-agronomists, comprehending it would be greatly beneficial, allowing them to grasp various powerful techniques! If you can ascend to the sixth layer, you will pass the second trial. The best rewards for the second trial are within the three islands of the sixth layer: demigod-level life Dao diagrams."

Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow. 'Life Dao Diagram' was a term used by physicians. It referred to the cruel method of dissecting a life form and completely drawing out the Dao it cultivated in the form of a didactic painting. To achieve this, one must repeatedly dissect a life form without instantly killing the target. For example, if the target were a martial artist, they would first have a limb's tendons pulled out and marrow extracted, their skeleton dismantled, and then be healed! For a complete life Dao diagram to be formed, this martial artist would likely have to endure torture hundreds of millions of times before finally dying.

"With so many floating islands, Venerate Baihan must have deconstructed countless golden bodies and Dharma forms," a chill ran down Zhao Xing's spine. He felt like he had met a living Yama King; this was the true demon!

"Roar!!" Just then, a painful roar suddenly came from ahead.

Zhao Xing looked over sharply. On a fifth-layer floating island ten thousand li away, an Emperor-level Qi Sect martial artist's golden body aura dissipated, and his body began to swell, transforming into a monstrous mass of flesh covered in thorns and eyes. Only his head retained its original appearance. When Zhao Xing clearly saw the person's appearance, he couldn't help but be greatly shocked.

"Is that... Emperor Tianwu of the Source Heaven Palace?" Zhao Xing couldn't help but gasp. Emperor Tianwu had sustained hardly any injuries when four demon Emperors jointly attacked him on the Void Ancestor's Genesis Bone, yet now he had been turned into a monster by Venerate Baihan's Mutation Island?

"Venerate Baihan, can one withdraw midway?"

"What do you think?" Venerate Baihan gave a sinister chuckle. "Hmph, you dare attempt my inheritance trial without being prepared for death? Once you enter, you either pass through the sixth layer alive, or you die here."

Zhao Xing nodded. He tried to sense his Grand Beginning Clone and found that his main body could still feel the clone's presence, but he couldn't perform a spaceless jump. Facing a demigod's setup, his Grand Beginning Clone, not even possessing Emperor-level strength, still couldn't escape through teleportation. However, being able to transmit messages proved how amazing the Grand Beginning Clone was. One must know that even inner worlds couldn't be opened here. Undoubtedly, this was a larger Law Realm, isolating space. Inner worlds are also a type of space, so naturally, they couldn't be opened. However, he could faintly sense his clone through space, which established the basis for communication.

He immediately instructed his clone to warn the challengers outside not to rashly enter the second trial. Because once inside, it was either death or completion; there was no other path. And the news that even Emperor Tianwu couldn't withstand the fifth layer's mutations and turned into a monster shocked many. This made many martial artists, who had originally relied on their tough physical bodies to join the commotion, retreat.

"How many people have already entered the second trial?" Mongwu asked Emperor Mohshu beside him upon seeing the message.

"Before the warning was sent out, forty-two people had already entered the second trial," Emperor Mohshu said. "Among them were twenty-three Agronomists, including Palace Master Jixia of the Four Seasons Palace, Emperor Hei Hai of the Mirage Sea Alliance, Emperor Xuxing of the Ziwei Celestial Temple, and Dean Qianliu of the Shenhua Daoist Academy— There were eleven martial artists, including Emperor Tianwu, Emperor Yangli, Emperor Hu'an— And eight medical practitioners—"

"What about after the warning was sent out?" Mongwu asked.

"Over a hundred people," Emperor Mohshu replied expressionlessly.

Ever since Emperor Fuzhi acquired the divine artifact from the Lingluo Realm, it had ignited immense enthusiasm. The original hundred entry slots were nowhere near enough. Some were willing to pay to buy entry slots, and of course, the War God Hall and Zhao Xing were delighted, so they added many more slots for sale, far exceeding a hundred.

"It was better without the warning; once warned, even more people came," Emperor Mongwu sighed. "They're not afraid of death." Previously, when the message couldn't get out, there weren't as many people, but now the message *had* gotten out!

"Divine artifacts drive people mad," Emperor Mohshu said. "The trials in the Baihan Realm are so difficult that only a capable demigod could set them up, implying a high possibility of a divine artifact being present." The first trial alone involved pills transforming Yin and Yang, and clouds and rain forming a realm. It was clear that Venerate Baihan's strength was immense. The stronger the demigod, the greater the likelihood of them possessing a divine artifact. Therefore, Zhao Xing's warning not only failed to have its intended effect but instead attracted even more people!

"Man dies for wealth, birds die for food. The warning has been issued; how they choose is up to them," Emperor Mongwu mused. "We don't need to concern ourselves with them anymore. Just keep an eye on their movements."

***

In the Baihan Realm, on the first layer of floating islands, Zhao Xing had just stepped in when he felt an invisible pressure emanating from between heaven and earth.

Boom! Crackle! The sky cleared and the earth brightened, Yin and Yang separated. Zhao Xing, being in the lower layer, felt the surrounding atmosphere become extremely cold. The Mutation Formation instantly pressed down on his entire body. Waves of cold currents invaded, causing the fine hairs on his arms and cheeks to grow uncontrollably.

"Blueflower Dharma Power, Mustard Seed Law Domain!" As he unfolded his Mustard Seed Law Domain and simultaneously used Blueflower Dharma Power, the influence of the cold currents instantly vanished.

"The mutations on the first-layer floating island only affect externally; using Blueflower and Mustard Seed Law Domain is enough to withstand them," Zhao Xing mused. "However, the fifth layer, which even Emperor Tianwu couldn't withstand, clearly indicates that the Mutation Formations on the Polaris Floating Islands are growing progressively stronger. There are only two ways to avoid being killed by the Mutation Formation. First, comprehend the life Dao diagrams projected onto the floating islands. Baihan also said that powerful secret techniques could be grasped from them, which might then counteract the mutations. Second, enhance one's own mutation technique."

The Mutation Formation, at its core, kills by creating a mutable environment; it's a mutation induced by external factors. In an internal conflict among Heavenly Timing School Agronomists, the best way to counter external mutation techniques is to apply one's own internal mutation technique, which is 'transformation.' "As long as the stability after mutation surpasses that of the external Mutation Formation, then it cannot be destroyed." With a thought, Zhao Xing immediately performed the 'Demonic Ape Transformation'.

"Roar!" After a flash of light, Zhao Xing transformed into a black-haired, black-furred demonic ape. "Using normal Dharma power to cast the mutation technique and transform into a demonic ape isn't enough to contend with the floating island's mutations." The oppressive feeling not only didn't dissipate but intensified because he dispelled his Mustard Seed Law Domain after transforming into a demonic ape, and the coldness once again invaded.

"Transform again!" Zhao Xing's body aura suddenly changed. Azure Dharma power surged, sweeping across his entire body. The demonic ape's physique was instantly strengthened; his body grew by a circle, his muscles and skin became denser, and the outer perimeter of his aura was coated with a layer of azure. "By using Blueflower Dharma Power to perform the Demonic Ape Transformation, I no longer need the Mustard Seed Law Domain and can easily resist the first layer's Mutation Formation. When I use the 'Blueflower Demonic Ape Transformation,' I'm roughly comparable to a mid-stage Emperor martial artist," Zhao Xing thought to himself. Without using Blueflower Dharma Power for the Demonic Ape Transformation, he would only be comparable to a peak Lord. The Demonic Ape Transformation, boosted by Blueflower Dharma Power, could reach the mid-stage Emperor level.

"What about the 'Flaming Lotus Demonic Ape Transformation'?" Zhao Xing experimented, performing a third transformation.

"Roar!" A furious aura erupted from his body. His black hair and fur immediately turned into pink hair and fur; his body further shrank, but his muscles became even more exaggerated. "No, this can't be considered the third transformation," Zhao Xing clenched his fists. "Although the Flaming Lotus Demonic Ape Transformation raised my attack power to late-stage Emperor, it sacrificed defense and flexibility, making it less effective than the Azure Lotus Demonic Ape Transformation when resisting the Mutation Formation. The true third transformation should involve the fusion of Blueflower Dharma Power and Flaming Lotus Dharma Power, and then performing the Demonic Ape Transformation." Zhao Xing reverted to his Azure Lotus Demonic Ape Transformation state and began to stroll on the floating island.

Each floating island contained a life Dao diagram; it was located at the center of the Mutation Formation and was not difficult to find. The first layer's Mutation Formation was roughly early-stage Emperor strength. Zhao Xing easily reached the center of the formation.

Crack, crack, crack~ Electrical light flickered. A rift suddenly opened in the clouds above the floating island's center. Sunlight poured down, weaving together to form a scroll painting.

"The first life Dao diagram depicts an Emperor-level human." Zhao Xing maintained his demonic ape transformation, sat cross-legged, and as the scroll slowly unfolded, it was as if he saw an Emperor-level ancient martial artist being dissected before him. Every inch of skin, every bone's Dao charm, unfolded in a unique form, presented before Zhao Xing. He could even see how the Qi and blood circulated through every acupoint and meridian of this ancient martial artist, how the golden bones were forged, including which physical treasures were unearthed during the Source Realm period. "A micro-level display of life, showing both the operation of martial techniques and the manifestation of pure Dao," Zhao Xing couldn't help but exclaim. "Although Venerate Baihan acts inhumanely, his ability to create life Dao diagrams is truly formidable." Normally, even if a martial artist were willing to display everything about themselves to others, others might not understand or grasp it fully. Presenting it in the form of a life Dao diagram, however, made it easy to comprehend. In other words, Baihan himself understood them even better than they understood themselves.

"This is a great opportunity. I can use this to perfect my Demonic Ape Transformation. With so many floating islands, if there are life Dao diagrams of Heavenly Timing School Agronomists, the issue of imbalance among the three schools can also be alleviated." Zhao Xing concentrated on comprehending them.