Chapter 496: Becoming a God Opportunity

"What is he saying?" asked Venerable Bamboo Sword.

"I don't understand," Wei Tianchen shook his head. The giant skeleton produced sounds through true spirit vibrations, but even the highly knowledgeable Wei Tianchen had never heard such a language before.

"Capture him first, then let Zhao Xing question him."

Three of Venerable Bamboo Sword's ribs transformed into sword light, piercing the skull of the giant skeleton. The sword tips aimed directly at its true spirit flame, instantly immobilizing it. He then glanced at Zhao Xing: "You may begin questioning him now."

The giant skeleton's true spirit flame pulsed frantically: "Oh my, I was invincible in Yanfang Territory! How can there be someone even more terrifying—"

Zhao Xing found it very strange when the giant skeleton spoke, as the language it used was none of the ones he knew from the Xuanhuang Realm. However, it bore some resemblance to Dragon Speech, though the giant skeleton's version felt incomplete, like an underdeveloped Dragon Speech system.

Dragon Speech serves as a spell, possessing a power that can break through certain obstacles of the Great Dao. However, when the giant skeleton spoke, it channeled its true spirit flame and bone power.

Zhao Xing pondered for a moment, then mimicked the giant skeleton's true spirit flame vibration frequency to speak Dragon Speech:

"Who are you? What is this place, and which province does it belong to? You have the physique of a human, so why do you speak Dragon Speech?"

The giant skeleton was visibly stunned upon hearing this. Assuming it hadn't understood, Zhao Xing repeated the question. The second time, both the rhythm and the channeling of bone power were much closer to the giant skeleton's own pattern.

"This junior is Bai Junlan. This is Yanfang Territory. Yes, I am human, and of course, we speak Dragon Speech."

Zhao Xing continued questioning: "Which province does Yanfang Territory belong to? And why do you say 'of course' you speak Dragon Speech?"

Bai Junlan seemed puzzled, apparently not understanding what Zhao Xing meant.

"Senior, Yanfang Territory is part of the Bone Yin Realm."

"We speak Dragon Speech because only two types of true words can produce specific sounds: Dragon true words and Bone true words. Otherwise, we can only transmit thoughts through our spirit flame."

"Do you know who currently wields the Human Emperor's Sword and the Book of Destiny in the Central Divine Continent?"

"Senior, I don't understand," Bai Junlan replied, indicating he hadn't understood.

"Surely you've heard of the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty?" Zhao Xing began to doubt his reality.

"No," Bai Junlan seemed to think very carefully. "I really haven't paid attention to that, nor has it been mentioned in the Southern Gradual Continent."

Zhao Xing's confusion deepened. Bai Junlan, a Six-Tribulation True Spirit, was not weak, yet he had never heard of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"Senior, are you referring to some mortal dynasty in the Yang Realm? Perhaps it's just that I haven't heard of it," Bai Junlan answered cautiously.

"What do you mean?" Zhao Xing suddenly realized something was off with Bai Junlan's words. "The Yang Realm?"

"Senior, weren't you asking about that?"

"Then what is this place?"

"This is, of course, the Bone Yin Realm."

"The Yin Realm?!" Zhao Xing was utterly shocked to find himself in the underworld. Could it be that the Undying Bone God Domain was located in the underworld? If so, weren't they three dead? This didn't make sense.

Bai Junlan realized that these three seemed to know nothing, like reclusive old seniors who had suddenly appeared. So, he patiently began explaining from the beginning: "Three hundred and forty-two years ago, a great change occurred in heaven and earth. The southern part of the Xuanhuang Continent was enveloped by an extreme moon. All who beheld it had their cultivation drained, and their flesh and blood disappeared."

"The light of the Yin Moon assimilated the Yin soil, affecting all living beings. It even merged with the Yin Realm responsible for the reincarnation of beings in the Southern Continent. From then on, beings in the Southern Continent no longer reincarnated and all took on this skeletal form."

"Furthermore, after death, they would at most become a 'gradual' (a form of spirit), and would not be further annihilated."

"Therefore, this area, unique to the Southern Continent of the Xuanhuang Realm, is called the Bone Yin Realm."

"However, this junior's memories are limited; perhaps it's just that I haven't heard of the Great Zhou Dynasty—"

Zhao Xing understood part of it. The Yin Realm of the Xuanhuang Realm corresponded to a specific location in the Yang Realm, and now the Yang Realm area of the Southern Continent had been refined and merged with the Yin Realm.

Bone God Yuan created the Undying Bone God Domain three hundred and forty-two years ago, but at this point, Bai Junlan seemed unaware of Yuan's existence, attributing the unknown cause to a "great change in heaven and earth."

If the Southern Continent was where the Southern Barrens were located, then where had the original witches and Southern Barrens sects gone?

While Zhao Xing was deep in thought, Bai Junlan cautiously asked: "Senior, have you just entered the Bone Yin Realm?"

"I was originally a person from the Yang Realm myself. Perhaps my sect elders and you have some connections."

Zhao Xing snapped out of his thoughts and asked, "Which sect do you belong to?"

"The Divine Fire Sect. This junior is the thirty-ninth generation elder of the sect."

"Never heard of it."

Bai Junlan looked a bit awkward.

Zhao Xing continued asking: "From what you're saying, you came to the Bone Yin Realm voluntarily, and there are many people here?"

"Yes," Bai Junlan nodded. "Although the entire Southern Continent has become the Bone Yin Realm, there are many benefits here. True spirits can grow without having to undergo heavenly tribulations."

"Furthermore, one can absorb soul crystals here, or forge bone bodies with bone spirit stones, and even discover some miraculous medicinal herbs. There are many advantages."

"It is rumored that some people here have attained the God Realm, eventually regaining flesh and blood, and returning to the Yang Realm."

"This junior was approaching a great age and was skilled in the Li Fire Formation, so I was sent here by the Divine Venerable to investigate, collect treasures, and uncover more secrets."

"Eight other fellow elders abandoned their physical bodies and came here with me."

Zhao Xing looked at a fur pouch at Bai Junlan's feet, which contained many rhomboid crystal diamonds. These crystals evoked a certain yearning in him.

He then asked Bai Junlan a few more questions before jumping down and returning to Wei Tianchen and Bamboo Sword.

"How was it?" Wei Tianchen's true spirit emitted fluctuations.

"He doesn't know much, only that this place is called Yanfang Territory, ruled by a monarch named 'Emperor Luofu,'" Zhao Xing said, weighing the crystal core in his hand, which seemed to contain a flickering spirit flame.

"Their main activity is hunting other skeletal beings to obtain soul crystals."

"Soul crystals originate from soul wells but can also be obtained from other skeletal beings."

"It's rumored that absorbing enough soul crystals and bone spirit crystals can lead to godhood, strengthening the true spirit and bone body without needing to undergo tribulation. Eventually, one can resurrect, regain flesh and blood, and leave this place."

Venerable Bamboo Sword offered no opinion, but Wei Tianchen, upon learning the details, was deeply shocked, his spirit flame flickering continuously.

"Soul wells nurture skeletal life, replacing the cycle of reincarnation."

"Soul crystal cores and bone spirit stones have replaced the absorption of spiritual energy, not consuming the fundamental essence of the Heavenly Dao."

"Without tribulation, the Bone God Domain operates eternally, achieving immortality and attesting to the Heavenly Dao. Is this a path to the God-King realm? Or has one already become a God-King?"

"Zhao Xing, your hometown is indeed extraordinary! No wonder someone like Qingyuzi, who was like a common fowl, could become a phoenix! Hahahaha!"

Wei Tianchen had always looked down on Freely Roaming Gods like Qingyuzi, considering them merely fortunate. Now that he was here, his disdain for Qingyuzi grew even stronger.

With such a massive opportunity at hand, Qingyuzi failed to seize it and instead took such a huge risk to participate in the Eastern Yan Ancient Clan's resurrection ritual. What a complete waste!

Venerable Bamboo Sword also recognized the immense opportunity here. For someone at his level, undergoing true spirit tribulations was originally a huge crisis. Yet, here, one could make significant leaps in true spirit growth without needing to undergo any tribulation?

Was the path to godhood, which he had laboriously sought, finally to be realized here?

Zhao Xing, however, was not so optimistic. He always felt there was something peculiar about this Undying Bone God Domain, and the new changes in the Xuanhuang Realm were too drastic. If becoming a god was so simple, how powerful would 'Yuan', who created the Undying Bone God Domain, have to be?

He had questioned Bai Junlan carefully and found that everything he spoke of was mere rumor; no one had truly seen a God Realm expert emerge from the Bone Yin Realm.

It was possible that these beings were merely tools and fuel for certain mighty figures on their path to enlightenment!

"What about him?" Venerable Bamboo Sword asked, pointing at Bai Junlan.

"Since we've got our answers, let's kill him," Wei Tianchen said indifferently. "Doesn't he have companions? If his sect has a God Realm expert, killing him would prevent future trouble."

Bamboo Sword did not act, instead looking at Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing was surprised that Bamboo Sword still respected his opinion: "I think we should keep him. He can guide us and is more familiar with the area. Moreover, he can use fire formations for teleportation, making him a rare talent."

Although Bai Junlan wasn't privy to their conversation, through subtle gestures and spirit flame fluctuations, he roughly deduced that Venerable Bamboo Sword only withdrew his sword from his skull after Zhao Xing had spoken.

He gratefully cupped his hands at Zhao Xing: "Thank you, Senior, for sparing me. Otherwise, I would have had to revive in the soul well. If I 'die' once, I lose some of my memories."

In the Bone God Domain, there was no concept of true death; one would revive from the soul well, though at the cost of some power and memories, depending on the severity of the attack.

Next, Wei Tianchen and Venerable Bamboo Sword jointly discussed and decided to give the soul crystals to Zhao Xing for absorption. This was to verify whether Bai Junlan's claims were true.

And indeed, after absorbing three hundred third-tier soul crystals, Zhao Xing underwent a transformation.

Name: Zhao XingOccupation: SiongRealm: Three-Tribulation True Spirit (Primal Soul Fragment, ninety-six-fold amplification)Bone Body: Star Dao Bone (3000/10000)Bone Power: Third Tier (14/1000)

"Apart from my inner world still being sealed, my magical power and a small portion of my spells have returned. However, the magical power now flows within my bone body, and the spells have also undergone corresponding adjustments," Zhao Xing noted with surprise. He hadn't undergone any tribulation, yet his true spirit had grown so much stronger.

Could it truly be possible to achieve the God Realm simply by absorbing soul crystals?

Wei Tianchen and Bamboo Sword were equally delighted; they clearly felt Zhao Xing's true spirit had become stronger.

Since this method was viable, they too had a chance to achieve breakthroughs here!

"Senior, you can no longer absorb higher-tier, fourth-tier soul crystals, because your bone body needs to advance accordingly, and there are no fourth-tier bone spirit stones here," Bai Junlan explained.

"The bone body is equivalent to a spirit flame container."

"Whether it's a Dao Bone or a Golden Body Bone, you must acquire the appropriate bone body," Bai Junlan stated.

Zhao Xing asked, puzzled, "My two subordinates, their true spirits far exceed their bone bodies, but they don't seem to have any issues."

"Your two subordinates should be experiencing strong suppression," Bai Junlan respectfully replied. "Their full strength cannot be exerted."

"So that's how it is," Zhao Xing realized.

Wei Tianchen and Bamboo Sword's current combat power was far inferior to when they had physical bodies, and the reason turned out to be this.

"So, the desolate mountain area where we arrived is the boundary between the Bone Yin Realm and the Yang Realm?"

"Yes, that's the forbidden area, Lianyin Mountain. Entry is permitted, but exit is not," Bai Junlan said. "Heading southeast means abandoning your physical body and voluntarily entering the Bone Yin Realm. To return, to the Yang Realm, one needs the strength of the God Realm."

Zhao Xing asked: "The Divine Fire Sect sent you here. Isn't that a one-way ticket, with no return?"

"Not entirely," Bai Junlan said, pointing to a brazier. "The Bone Yin Realm has merged with the Yin Realm and possesses its characteristics."

"Our sect master can burn items to send them to us, and we can also send things back, but the cost is extremely high. Usually, we only send back messages."

Zhao Xing looked at the flickering flames in the brazier. It seemed the Divine Fire Sect was not simple either; with a God Realm expert presiding over it, they could still break some restrictions of the Undying Bone God Domain.

It was like the Emperor's Hunyuan Dao Pagoda, which prevented his inner world from collapsing.

"In that case, Bone God 'Yuan' probably hasn't reached the Undying God-King realm yet," Zhao Xing mused silently. He had learned a great deal from Wei Tianchen.

Wei Tianchen scoffed at Freely Roaming Gods like Qingyuzi but held Undying True Gods in high regard, especially God-Kings who attained their path through the Heavenly Dao. Their intrinsic value was simply incomparable to that of so-called Freely Roaming Gods.

When Zhao Xing asked for concrete examples, Wei Tianchen brought up Qingyuzi. He claimed that with his divine artifact, he didn't fear Qingyuzi, who had just become a god. However, any Undying True God who had attained their path through the Heavenly Dao could prevent him from fully utilizing his divine artifact's power.

Freely Roaming Gods, through tribulation, pursue limitless self-strength. Undying True Gods, however, pursue being one with heaven and earth, controlling the world. The former could not restrict his divine artifact's might, but the latter could.

Most divine artifacts were magical tools imbued with the aura of the God Realm, referring to Undying True Gods, not Freely Roaming Gods, because the aura of Freely Roaming Gods does not leak outward.

"Zhao Xing, make this skeleton lead the way," Wei Tianchen said, holding a map that Bai Junlan had provided, crafted from the bones of some giant beast.

"Where to?" Zhao Xing asked.

"To do what they do," Wei Tianchen tapped the map, chuckling. "Yanfang Territory is controlled by a monarch named Luofu. His skeletal kingdom has many such tribal territories."

"Low-tier soul crystals are useless to Bamboo Sword and me; only high-tier ones will suffice."

"If I can first become a Freely Roaming God, perhaps I can find a way to lift Fan Qianrou's restrictions sooner, and we can also settle our grievances earlier."

"One can still become a Freely Roaming God first?" Zhao Xing was curious.

"Bamboo Sword cannot, but I can," Wei Tianchen said. "There are two paths: the Heavenly Dao Attestation and the Self Attestation. Although there are strict limitations, I have preserved my multi-life Dharma Bodies. I can let a clone first attain godhood and become a Freely Roaming God, while my main body completes the Heavenly Dao Attestation."

Zhao Xing quietly noted this. He couldn't help but recall what he had done in the Annihilation Star Corridor and the Haitong Ancient Path.

If the core of Wei Tianchen's Heavenly Dao Attestation was to slay gods with poison and restore the Dao to heaven, then could his own actions, solving the Folded Realm Mountain problem and reconstructing the Yin-Yang Twin Star Illusion of the Annihilation Star Corridor, serve as a method for a Siong's Heavenly Dao Attestation?

"No wonder my Dharma Theory was so highly valued; even several demigods from the Primordial Hill were willing to mobilize to rescue me," Zhao Xing finally understood the true value of his Dharma Theory.

Venerable Bamboo Sword's cultivation did not seek external help; he simply focused on endlessly improving his control over the essence of swordsmanship, which was the martial practitioner's path to attestation.

Wei Tianchen, as a proponent of his philosophy, aimed to save heaven and earth, viewing gods as parasites. Though somewhat extreme, it aligned with his path as a physician.

Was a Siong's path to attestation to resolve barren realm environments?

"I'm only a Three-Tribulation True Spirit right now, not even a demigod; I don't have that qualification yet," Zhao Xing immediately stopped thinking about the issue. "First, I'll focus on improving my true spirit."

"Wei Tianchen and Bamboo Sword intend to sweep through the other lives in the Bone God Domain to acquire soul crystal cores and bone spirit stones, which I also need."

He acted as a translator, having Bai Junlan lead them to another territory under Emperor Luofu's rule to hunt those skeletal beings.

"Xiao Bai, we're going to raid. Where do you think would be a good place?"

Bai Junlan replied: "Senior, my Fire Elemental Formation can only lead to 'Fugu Territory' first. It's a gathering place with many powerful individuals, and quite a few possess high-tier soul crystal cores. There are also innately powerful Dao Bones and Golden Bones, but it's somewhat dangerous."

Zhao Xing laughed: "We don't fear many strong individuals; we fear too few. Just lead the way. My subordinates are very capable. If we gain something, you won't be forgotten."

Bai Junlan could only agree helplessly. He pointed to the brazier, then his entire skeletal body turned bright red. The flames, too, changed from red to an eerie green, growing suddenly stronger and revealing a passage.

"Senior, this is the path to Fugu Territory."