Chapter 494: Which Version Is This, I Haven't Played It Before?

While being brought over by Venerable Bamboo Sword, Zhao Xing received some information from the Xuanling History Book, and many of his original memories were also unlocked.

When he was in the Ancient Yuanhai Kingdom, he learned the titles of four divine beings: Sword God Diyī, Bone God Yuán, Heavenly God Gǔxiāo, and Earth God Yáojūn. Later, the titles of these four divine beings disappeared, as if wiped from existence.

Now, with this part of his memory unlocked, Zhao Xing recalled his dream encounter with Wang Tianzhi. He speculated that these four divine beings were likely residing in the Xuanhuang Realm. So when Wei Tianchen said the Xuanhuang Realm was mysterious, Zhao Xing agreed. Safe? Not at all.

Originally, Zhao Xing should have had Ji Si cast a spell to contact Wang Tianzhi again, understand the situation, and then return. But now he had to return haphazardly and rashly, which went against Master Zhao's principles.

After thinking, he replied in an attempt to dissuade: "Old Imperial Physician, my homeland was destroyed. It exploded shortly after we ascended."

Wei Tianchen shook his head: "Not necessarily. The Sunken Desolation has a characteristic called 'Hidden Illusion Break.' Your homeland wouldn't explode so easily."

Zhao Xing knew this too. He was a bit surprised; Wei Tianchen truly was an old-timer. However, to Wei Tianchen, it seemed like Zhao Xing was genuinely surprised after learning the truth.

"If there's this 'Hidden Illusion Break,' wouldn't it be very dangerous?" Zhao Xing asked.

Wei Tianchen replied calmly: "Even if it's dangerous, if Qing Yuzi could go there, why couldn't we? His cultivation level at that time was lower than mine and Bamboo Sword's. Your homeland couldn't possibly be that risky."

The more he tried to evade, the more counterproductive it became. It seemed Wei Tianchen was determined to go to the Xuanhuang Realm. Zhao Xing simply stopped trying to persuade him. For him, returning to the Xuanhuang Realm with two demigods wasn't without benefits; at least, the safety factor would increase.

Zhao Xing went to the core of the White Jade Five Tombs ship's array and entered a series of reference coordinates.

"How long will it take?" Wei Tianchen asked.

"About four years," Zhao Xing estimated after finishing the input. "It could be a bit faster if things go smoothly."

"Only four years, so no rush," Wei Tianchen said. After a thought, he pulled out a golden circlet from his robe.

"What are you doing?" Zhao Xing didn't know what trick he was up to now.

"Put it on."

"This is—"

"A Scholarly City artifact, the Enlightenment Golden Circlet."

"Old Imperial Physician, you actually got hold of such a treasure."

Zhao Xing obediently put on the golden circlet.

"Trapped by the Heavenly Net, you can't cultivate, nor can you even use your magic power. The Enlightenment Golden Circlet is different; you can still cultivate the Heart Sealing Art."

After Zhao Xing put on the circlet, Wei Tianchen reached out and the divine artifact, Heavenly Net, was withdrawn from Zhao Xing's body. The purpose of the Enlightenment Golden Circlet was to allow the learning and cultivation of certain designated spells, while preventing the use of anything else.

Wei Tianchen chanted a spell. The golden circlet flashed with scripture, and then Zhao Xing not only had the circlet on his head physically but also on his soul. Most of the skills on his interface turned gray. Only the 'Magic Power' section of the Heart Sealing Art remained available for cultivation.

The Enlightenment Golden Circlet was originally developed by scholars as an artifact to help people focus on cultivation. Yet, Wei Tianchen used it to prevent Zhao Xing from escaping. Now, Zhao Xing could do nothing except cultivate the Heart Sealing Art. Assuming the removal of the divine power restriction wasn't smooth, Wei Tianchen intended to have Zhao Xing fully cultivate the Heart Sealing Art, then have him unlock the Seven Star Dou Cabinet on his behalf to obtain the powerful poison capable of hunting divine beings.

"Take two steps."

"He wants me to take two steps? Is he having a doctor's occupational disease?!" Zhao Xing grumbled internally but still complied.

Wei Tianchen nodded in satisfaction: "Mm, good. Now, you'll stay on the ship and diligently cultivate the secret art. Don't wander around."

Zhao Xing gained some freedom. Of course, he wouldn't stay with Wei Tianchen. He immediately came out and ran onto the deck.

At this moment, Venerable Bamboo Sword already held a sword in his left hand, and his right hand was submerged in flames, grasping another sword.

"Taking a sword from fire, Venerable One, you've already taken the first one so quickly?"

"You have quite some knowledge; you know the characteristics of the Seven Star Li Fire Divine Sword," Venerable Bamboo Sword said without raising his head.

"I know a little," Zhao Xing replied modestly.

"The Seven Star Li Fire Divine Sword is useless in the hands of outsiders. Only in the hands of a Sword Sect master can it display its divine properties. It's not a physical entity but the true spirit of a sword. A total of seven sword true spirits can be extracted from the Li Fire. Each extraction causes the true spirit to surge and allows control over more of the essence of the Sword Dao. If one can extract all seven, they can become a Sword God."

Venerable Bamboo Sword looked up, his gaze falling on the Enlightenment Golden Circlet: "Is this the price of freedom?"

"Hardly freedom," Zhao Xing shook his head and sat cross-legged next to Bamboo Sword.

"What are you going to cultivate?" Venerable Bamboo Sword was clearly in a good mood after obtaining the divine sword, and he spoke more.

"Condensing a certain type of magic power."

"I see your true spirit hasn't undergone tribulation yet, but you possess combat power comparable to a Four-Calamity Emperor. Is it because of this?"

"More or less," Zhao Xing nodded. The Azure Flower magic power encompasses everything and can amplify all secret arts. The Red Lotus magic power contains the Great Dao of Destruction and has extraordinary power. The Azure Sea magic power strengthens the spiritual will and primarily protects the true spirit's will. The cultivation method Fan Qianrou created based solely on her Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart, just the magic power section, has endless wondrous uses and immeasurable value.

"I need to cultivate now," Zhao Xing said, then closed his eyes as the Enlightenment Golden Circlet took effect. It had a mandatory focus effect. Zhao Xing now wanted to do nothing but cultivate the Heart Sealing Art; he was even somewhat indifferent to life-threatening dangers.

Venerable Bamboo Sword also lowered his head, continuing to study the Seven Star Li Fire Divine Sword.

"Zhao Xing, wake up, wake up!!"

The voice seemed to carry heat. Feeling his body suddenly growing hotter, Zhao Xing abruptly opened his eyes. He found that Venerable Bamboo Sword was using a fiery red heart-sword to burn him.

"Huh? How did I fall asleep? Where are we now?"

Opening his eyes, he was no longer on the ship but on a desolate hillside. Zhao Xing realized something was wrong. Wasn't he cultivating Azure Sea magic power on the ship? How did he suddenly end up on a barren mountain?

Wei Tianchen was in front, also sitting cross-legged, his expression solemn, as if he didn't know what had happened either.

"Zhao Xing, do you remember anything?" Venerable Bamboo Sword asked.

"I remember putting on the Enlightenment Golden Circlet, then coming to talk beside you, Venerable One, and then beginning to cultivate magic power," Zhao Xing said, feeling confused.

"He doesn't remember either," Venerable Bamboo Sword said, looking at Wei Tianchen. "Old Imperial Physician, with all your treasures, can you still find no anomaly?"

Wei Tianchen had changed the divine artifact beside him, indicating he had been repeatedly trying things before Zhao Xing woke up.

"No. Bamboo Sword, do you feel anything unusual? Your Heart Sword Art can see through all illusions. Are we currently in some kind of illusion or dream?"

Venerable Bamboo Sword waved a Li Fire Sword in his hand, its blade reflecting his image. "Everything is normal. We are not in a dream, nor are we in an illusion."

"Wait, why are you asking that?" Zhao Xing asked, surprised. "Dreams? You two masters can't distinguish between a dream and reality?"

"We don't know when we got here," Venerable Bamboo Sword said gravely. "My last memory, and the Old Imperial Physician's, was me comprehending the Li Fire Divine Sword, and him reading a scripture. Upon exiting our meditative states, we found ourselves on this barren mountain. Neither the Old Imperial Physician nor I can figure out where this is, nor how much time has passed. It all feels like a dream. We can't recall the beginning of a dream, just as we can't recall when we entered this place."

Wei Tianchen stood up, and the seven or eight radiant divine artifacts around him were all put away. Then he stared intently at Zhao Xing.

"Zhao Xing, did you really not notice any movement?"

"No," Zhao Xing said helplessly. "Old Imperial Physician, why would you suspect me of doing something? My strength is far inferior to you two. If I had that ability, wouldn't I just have run away?"

Wei Tianchen remained silent, frowning as he surveyed his surroundings. Venerable Bamboo Sword also looked at the sky, seemingly familiarizing himself with the environment.

After a moment of confusion, Zhao Xing quickly opened his interface. There was a record: "You have entered the 'Xuanhuang Realm,' Coordinates: Jíyáng 3, Shényuè 4, Yuán 342."

"What the hell? Xuanhuang Realm?" Zhao Xing was greatly astonished. When did he come back? And why couldn't he understand the Xuanhuang Realm coordinates anymore?

"What are you surprised about?" Wei Tianchen and Venerable Bamboo Sword clearly noticed Zhao Xing's expression.

"I..." Zhao Xing hesitated.

"We've arrived at your homeland, haven't we?" Wei Tianchen pressed.

"Yes," Zhao Xing said with a wry smile, "but I'm not entirely sure, because there have been significant changes."

"Old Imperial Physician, you never said Zhao Xing's homeland was so dangerous," Venerable Bamboo Sword frowned. "This place is much vaster than I imagined. My Heart Sword power spread for a full three *kè* (quarter-hours), yet I still haven't reached its end."

"Bamboo Sword, this is why I came," Wei Tianchen said. "Do you know that Qing Yuzi was originally just a tomb keeper holding a lantern in the Reincarnation Divine Palace, yet he achieved divinity after the Desolate Era? In an era where cultivation is difficult and calamities are severe, his immense achievement surely wasn't solely due to his own strength."

Zhao Xing was somewhat stunned: "Old Imperial Physician, you didn't come here to unseal something, but to seek an opportunity?"

The Xuanling History Book unveiled the history of the Ancient Yuanhai Kingdom. Some were shocked by the arrogance of the Ancient Dongyan Clan, some were furious about losing a lifetime of cultivation, and some lamented the disaster. And some saw Qing Yuzi's inexplicable path to godhood, attempting to find the reason and replicate his journey.

Venerable Bamboo Sword's expression turned cold: "Old Imperial Physician, whatever your scheme, it's not what I want." With one hand, he swiftly grabbed Zhao Xing, while with the other, he pointed his sword at Wei Tianchen: "The deal is off. He is mine now, and we are leaving this place."

Wei Tianchen did not stop them. He just watched as Venerable Bamboo Sword and Zhao Xing flew towards the sky, muttering to himself: "Too naive. This is definitely a divine being's doing. If you don't know how you entered, how could you easily leave?"

As expected, shortly after Venerable Bamboo Sword flew into the sky with Zhao Xing, they descended even faster. Wei Tianchen didn't mind. Looking at the somewhat disheveled Bamboo Sword, he quickly asked: "What did you find?"

"Cough, cough, *pfft*..." Venerable Bamboo Sword first coughed, then surprisingly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Zhao Xing was still very confused because Bamboo Sword's speed was too fast, and he was restricted by the Enlightenment Golden Circlet, unable to use spells to investigate. In a very short time, Bamboo Sword had taken him up into the sky and back down.

"The laws of heaven and earth in the Xuanhuang Realm are off," Venerable Bamboo Sword said, somewhat shocked. "With my strength, I actually can't ascend and break through the realm."

"What?" Wei Tianchen and Zhao Xing exclaimed in unison.

Wei Tianchen was shocked that the realm's rules in the Xuanhuang Realm were so robust. Bamboo Sword was a Sword Venerable, yet he couldn't break through the realm and ascend? Zhao Xing, on the other hand, was shocked by the unknown changes in the Xuanhuang Realm. Previously, one could ascend simply by reaching the Dao Establishment Realm, but now even demigods couldn't ascend.

"This is completely absurd. What version of this is this, and why haven't I played it?" Master Zhao wondered greatly in his heart. He knew the Xuanhuang Realm was not simple, but he never imagined it would be so terrifying. If even demigods couldn't ascend, wouldn't that mean only divine beings could?

"Zhao Xing, this is your homeland..."

"Don't ask," Zhao Xing impatiently cut off Wei Tianchen. "Do I look like I know anything? I told you not to come, not to come, but you insisted." Now that Bamboo Sword and Wei Tianchen were at odds, Master Zhao no longer showed Wei Tianchen a pleasant demeanor.

"Wei Tianchen, let's part ways here! You go your way, and we'll go ours!"

Wei Tianchen didn't get angry; he simply shook his head slowly: "We can't separate."

Bamboo Sword raised an eyebrow, the tip of his sword slightly pointed upward.

Wei Tianchen pointed to the Enlightenment Golden Circlet on Zhao Xing's head: "The scholar friend I commissioned to create this item designed it to self-destruct if it moves beyond a certain range from me. Bamboo Sword, you're not a mechanism master; you can't undo the restrictions of this ancient cultivation artifact. This isn't a product of the contemporary Scholarly City; it was developed by scholars during the Five Emperors Era."

"Old Imperial Physician, we actually don't really want to leave. In this situation, separating would be very dangerous; cooperation leads to a win-win," Zhao Xing's attitude immediately shifted dramatically. There was no other way; that pervert Wei Tianchen actually commissioned someone to turn the Enlightenment Golden Circlet into a 'Self-Destructing Enlightenment Golden Circlet'. Students who don't study and run off to play will be blown up? Is your friend some kind of demonic scholar?!

Venerable Bamboo Sword fell into thought. He threw out four bamboo swords. One flew towards the sky, one burrowed into the ground, and two swept in all four directions. As a result, the bamboo sword in the sky quickly fell, breaking into three pieces, as if struck by lightning. The bamboo sword that burrowed into the mountain got stuck in a rock crevice. The two bamboo swords that flew out never returned. From a distance, a heart-trembling roar echoed. It was clearly a very ordinary mountain, yet it sent shivers down all three of their spines.

"Alright, we'll cooperate. Let's get out of this mountain range first," Venerable Bamboo Sword conceded.

In fact, Zhao Xing wanted to separate from Wei Tianchen because he was, after all, familiar with this world. Furthermore, Wang Tianzhi was still here. As long as he could get out and find Old Wang, find Great Zhou, he would at least have a place to settle. He could then understand the situation of the new Xuanhuang Realm. Now, even getting out of this mountain range might be impossible, so they still had to rely on the two powerful figures to lead the way.

"Zhao Xing is from the Xuanhuang Realm; he should lead the way," Bamboo Sword suggested.

"I can lead the way, but can this be taken off?" Zhao Xing pointed to the golden circlet on his head.

"No," Wei Tianchen shook his head. "My cultivation is suppressed now, so I can't take it off either."

Zhao Xing looked suspicious: "Cultivation suppressed?"

"He's not lying; it is indeed suppressed." The flames in Venerable Bamboo Sword's hand had become much weaker, and the divine sword, which had originally been pulled out mostly, was now just a hilt again.

"How much cultivation do you two have left?"

"You can't ask it like that," Wei Tianchen said. "This suppression isn't uniform. I don't feel my Dao level has dropped, nor is my true spirit oppressed; it's just that some spells cannot be used. In some aspects, we are still demigods. For example, my magic power is still inexhaustible. But in other aspects, we are restricted by this world, such as artifact manipulation techniques, which no longer work. It's as if this world has no such concept of techniques, which is why I cannot remove your circlet."

"Really?" Zhao Xing tried, but the circlet still couldn't be removed. According to Wei Tianchen, it was like the lock was still there, but the key was gone?

"My restrictions are different," Venerable Bamboo Sword pondered. "I just threw out four bamboo swords. Only the amplification effect of my Heart Sword Art remains; the power of my other sword arts is greatly reduced, especially towards the southeast and in the sky."

"The suppression also varies by direction?" Zhao Xing also fell into thought. He currently felt nothing while wearing the Enlightenment Golden Circlet. Upon opening his interface, he found that many skills had also turned gray. All of the Self-Law, except for the Heart Field Law, had turned gray. His inner world was still lit, but it also showed abnormal restrictions. Zhao Xing vaguely had a guess in his mind.

"What did you think of?" Venerable Bamboo Sword asked. His Heart Sword Art was still effective, and he could sense that Zhao Xing's mind had fluctuated just now.

"What else could I think of? Everyone is restricted; this is already the work of a divine being," Zhao Xing evaded the question. "I know nothing about the abilities of divine beings, not as much as you two."

Venerable Bamboo Sword said: "I once met a Sword God somewhere. He called himself 'Lonely Swordsman' and demonstrated thirteen sword forms to me with a bamboo sword. I only learned four forms, including the Heart Sword Art. He said the Thirteen Bamboo Sword Forms could sever karma and destiny, and he used them to cut away my ninth True Spirit Tribulation, which is how I achieved demigod status."

Zhao Xing was somewhat stunned. He used a bamboo sword to cut away someone's ninth True Spirit Tribulation, helping them achieve demigod status? That sounded too mystical. Wei Tianchen's explanation was more concrete: "The Reincarnation Emperor controls the Law Domain, and demigods control the Law Realm. All paths involve absorbing and mastering the cosmic origin. From Law Domain to Law Realm means one's own origin is closer to the essence of the Great Dao of the cosmos. Speaking of divine beings, one must mention the methods of achieving divinity."

Wei Tianchen had broader knowledge. As soon as Zhao Xing and Bamboo Sword heard Wei Tianchen speak of the path to godhood, they immediately listened intently.

"The commonly spoken 'Dao Proclamation to Divinity' had three distinct methods during the Five Emperors Era: Self-Proclamation, Heaven-and-Earth Proclamation, and Destiny Proclamation. After the disappearance of the Five Emperors, Destiny Proclamation ceased to exist, so there's no need to mention it. Self-Proclamation is probably for martial artists like Bamboo Sword, who only seek to cultivate their individual self, vainly hoping to achieve the Great Dao."

Venerable Bamboo Sword said faintly: "Those words are a bit offensive."

Wei Tianchen: "I'm not looking down on martial artists. Self-Proclaimers are all the same, regardless of their profession. Whether it's Dharmakaya and spells, martial arts and golden bodies, mechanical Dao soldiers, or where their Dao heart leads them—those who only pursue self-interest are all Self-Proclaimers. Such divine beings can be called 'Free Gods'."

Venerable Bamboo Sword scoffed: "Then what is Heaven-and-Earth Proclamation?"

Wei Tianchen: "My kind."

Bamboo Sword snorted in disdain. Zhao Xing, however, vaguely thought of something.

Wei Tianchen raised an eyebrow, looking at the sky: "The Dao benefits heaven and earth, its heart shines through eternity, and its power is boundless. This is Heaven-and-Earth Proclamation."

Zhao Xing seemed to have an epiphany: "Old Imperial Physician, does Emperor Chixing count?"

"He does, and he doesn't," Wei Tianchen nodded. "He created the Mechanical Dao Soldier Primordial Dao Pagoda. This item can suppress one's inner world, and his Dao benefits the Self-Cultivation School's Minister of Agriculture. People are also part of heaven and earth, so the stronger the Self-Cultivation School's Minister of Agriculture, the stronger the Emperor becomes. However, his approach is equivalent to seizing someone else's Dao. There's a reason why your Primal Realm hasn't had records of divine beings for a long time. His Dao is also very narrow; it doesn't directly benefit the cosmos. On the other hand, Gu Luohé... well, let's not talk about him; he's destined to fail."

Venerable Bamboo Sword was confused, but Zhao Xing understood. Wei Tianchen must have known Gu Luohé's philosophy. If Gu Luohé could succeed, he would be incredibly powerful after achieving divinity. And Wei Tianchen saying he was also of that kind meant he, too, wanted to solve the problem of desolation. However, his method was not as audacious as Gu Luohé's. Therefore, he believed Gu Luohé couldn't succeed, but he himself had hope.

"Heaven-and-Earth Proclamation is very rare. Such divine beings are called 'True Gods Without Tribulation'," Wei Tianchen said, looking at Venerable Bamboo Sword. "Those who achieve divinity through Self-Proclamation still face divine tribulations. A Free God is not truly free. Heaven-and-Earth Proclamation, however, means no tribulations or disasters, hence they are called True Gods. Bamboo Sword, I'm not looking down on you."

"I'm saying everyone here is trash," Zhao Xing added internally. It was clear that Wei Tianchen looked down on the Self-Proclamation method of achieving divinity. He wanted to obtain the Desolate God Poison from the Seven Star Dou Cabinet precisely because he aimed to become a 'True God Without Tribulation'! Killing the divine parasites would benefit the cosmos, allowing him to become a True God Without Tribulation among physicians!

"So you're saying True Gods Without Tribulation are stronger than Free Gods?" Venerable Bamboo Sword asked.

"No, I'm talking about the methods of achieving divinity and the categories of divine beings, not their specific power levels," Wei Tianchen said. "During the Five Emperors period, those who had just proclaimed their Dao might not even be as powerful as a divine weapon. Most of these were 'Free Gods,' and what were called divine weapons and divine generals in ancient times were of this tier. After the Great Dao is stabilized, achieving mastery in a certain direction constitutes another tier. They are called Free God Kings or Tribulation-Free God Kings. Unless there's a particularly heaven-defying divine artifact, they can suppress other divine beings regardless of whether they have one. The Five Emperors, however, transcended all other divine beings. Every one of them was a True God Without Tribulation."

Zhao Xing looked at the solitary, desolate hillside: "Do you mean someone in my homeland is proclaiming their Dao to become a god?"

Wei Tianchen shook his head again: "With the laws of heaven and earth suppressed to this extent, there must be a powerful individual proclaiming the Dao to become a True God Without Tribulation, and it's likely that a Free God has already appeared. The decrease in the power of Bamboo Sword's Sword Dao in the southeast, which he sensed, has only one reason: his Sword Dao is being weakened by the presence of that entity."

Zhao Xing was dumbfounded. "What version is this, and why haven't I played it? Not only are there Heaven-and-Earth Proclamation divine beings, but also Free Gods?"

"Zhao Xing, your Xuanhuang Realm holds a great secret. Venerable Bamboo Sword and I know nothing about this place. From now on, we can only rely on you to find a way out."