Chapter 524: All is Ready, Only the Killing Remains

In the Heavenly Crown Galaxy, the clear sound of reading echoed from a palace as warm as spring.

At this moment, a gentle, refined young man wearing a Grand Historian's cap stood on a platform. The river of history flowed around the entire hall, and numerous ancient characters appeared on a miniature bronze door.

Beside him stood several Imperial Lords, while below them were countless cultivators in the Dao Domain realm.

"History as a mirror clarifies the mind; people as a mirror reveal gains and losses."

"The disasters in the Chaotic Sea did not arise out of nowhere; they were triggered by evil gods. You must read our country's historical records frequently, reciting them daily. Secondly, you each must carry a copy of the Profound Spirit historical records with you at all times."

A majestic, thunderous voice reverberated through the grand hall.

"If you ever feel you've forgotten something, or that strange things are happening around you, read more books and observe the people nearby."

"Of course, the most important thing is to temper your own mind and contemplate the Grand Dao more deeply."

"Our Heavenly Crown Star is relatively close to the Primordial Heavenly Palace, but you must not relax your cultivation. Ah Zhe, you will take over the preaching."

As he spoke, Heavenly Crown Venerable suddenly paused, entrusting the teaching duties to his eldest disciple standing beside him.

He then proceeded to the side hall.

"General Beihai has sent a secret message. Someone is challenging the Earth Core Blood Nucleus trial?" Heavenly Crown Venerable looked at the message in the star-mirror, a hint of surprise in his expression.

"Zhao Xing, so it's him—"

Venerable Zhang He had waited 350,000 years for this material, making him the one who had waited the longest.

Heavenly Crown Venerable was second in line, having already waited 330,000 years.

For him, the Earth Core Blood Nucleus was a tool to reverse-engineer a certain historical period of Ancestor Xu's reincarnation. It could also provide historical information through geological layers, which might significantly boost the strength of his main chronicle clone.

However, Heavenly Crown Venerable knew it was impossible for him to obtain it in the short term, as Venerable Zhang He was still ahead of him.

If no one successfully completed the challenge, he would have to wait another 350,000 realm-star years to acquire it.

Of course, this amount of time was not particularly long for a Demigod. 350 solar years would suffice, at which point less than a quarter of the Barren Realm's Third Era would have passed.

"During his Primordial and Dao Domain realms, Zhao Xing respectively authored 'Zhao's Terrestrial Chronicle: Theory of Earth Transformation' and 'Six Dissolution Star Treatises'."

"These are all classic, enduring works recorded on the Myriad Dao Tree."

"In the Samsara realm, he further developed the Ancient Dissolution Star Path."

"He possesses both profound principles and practical experience; his current strength is truly unfathomable."

Heavenly Crown Venerable naturally knew Zhao Xing. As historians, they had been assimilated by Bovine and unified into historical scholars.

Having one's works inscribed on the Dao Tree was considered the highest honor.

Authors whose works were on the Dao Tree also received an invisible benefit: their true spirits were difficult to lose, and their memories rarely became confused.

This advantage was not usually apparent but became evident during temporal-spatial turbulence.

"If he obtains the Earth Core Blood Nucleus, I wouldn't mind waiting another 350,000 years," Heavenly Crown Venerable mused inwardly.

Far from being jealous, he hoped Zhao Xing would succeed.

Perhaps he could even leverage his connection with Feng Chen to ask Zhao Xing to let him examine the Earth Core Blood Nucleus.

On a green star-continent, a muscular, dark red-skinned demon with a human head, a dragon body, and a line of red feathers down its back was cultivating.

The telluric veins were profound, and this demon moved rapidly under a thousand times the normal pressure.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~"

Like continuously refracting light, he practiced his movement speed amidst the extreme pressure.

"Bermon."

Suddenly, the earth cracked open, revealing the eyes of a colossal beast.

"Master," Bermon immediately stopped, looking at his divine-realm master with a hint of confusion.

"In the First Ancestor Xu Galaxy, a blood nucleus has already formed, though it will take several hundred years to fully emerge. You have a karmic connection to that place."

"Go retrieve it. Consider it a test from me."

"If you fail to complete it, our master-disciple relationship ends here."

With that, the earth closed, and Bermon was flung away.

"I have a karmic connection there, and it's also a test from my master."

Bermon immediately checked, as failing to obtain it meant he couldn't continue learning from his master.

"Zhao Xing—is it him?" Bermon suddenly understood.

He wasn't unfamiliar with the name, but couldn't claim to be very familiar either. Their only interaction had been during that trip to the Trans-Realm Pagoda.

The Crimson Star Empire had lured demon race Imperial Lords into it using a "karmic trap," ultimately gaining nothing. Furthermore, several demon race Imperial Lords suffered heavy injuries due to their failure in acquiring Ancestor Xu's Life Bones.

They formed an alliance, paid money, entered the Trans-Realm Pagoda, but gained absolutely nothing.

They had swallowed this bitter pill, unable to speak of their grievances, and eventually had to let it go, as the alliance had not been disbanded.

At that time, Zhao Xing was merely in the Dao Domain realm, and the demon race Imperial Lords wouldn't have sought to settle scores with such a minor figure.

Zhao Xing at that time wasn't even qualified for such a confrontation.

If they sought redress, it would have been from the Primordial Heavenly Palace or the powerhouses of the Crimson Star Empire. But now, things were different.

"Now, this Zhao Xing is qualified to be bullied by us."

"Good. They snatched the secret of Ancestor Xu's metamorphosed bones back then, and now it's still a treasure related to Ancestor Xu. I'll just openly reclaim it."

Bermon immediately used a special allied teleportation channel to travel to the Primordial Heavenly Palace.

Just as Zhao Xing had reported Venerable Hujue's contribution points back then, Bermon also had the qualifications to enter the Primordial Heavenly Palace for exchanges.

The sky was red, and mist drifted like silken threads.

The temperature steadily rose, as if one were in a furnace.

After General Beihai teleported him, Zhao Xing found himself in such a space.

"This is the core of the First Ancestor Xu Star."

"This is my first time entering such a unique core space."

Zhao Xing curiously surveyed his surroundings.

Normally, the telluric power within the core of the First Ancestor Xu Star should be extremely strong, with immense oppressive force. However, in Zhao Xing's perception, this pressure was very weak.

The small soil layers floating in the red mist emitted telluric power no different from ordinary soil.

"Whoosh!" Zhao Xing landed on a soil layer less than thirty meters in radius.

He plunged both hands into it, scooping out a handful of soil.

The soil was dark red, and every grain of sand pulsated subtly, though this was imperceptible without close inspection.

"When Ancestor Xu attained Nirvana and transformed into a galaxy in the universe, it was essentially a 'return to the origin'."

"It's just that unlike Ice Venerable, who was swept away and scattered across the universe after his true spirit was annihilated, Ancestor Xu's origin remained condensed."

"His origin remained condensed and undissipated, forming the Ancestor Xu Galaxy, which contains numerous Ancestor Xu Stars."

Ancestor Xu's level was exceptionally high. Even though he was only in the Samsara realm at the time, he later became a God-Emperor, and his Dao influenced his past selves across infinite time and space, which is why the Ancestor Xu Galaxy has always retained its divine peculiarity.

For instance, how many years have humanity utilized the various Ancestor Xu Galaxies, and how many treasures have been extracted? Yet, they continuously produce more treasures.

The Earth Core Blood Nucleus, it is said, originated from a part of Ancestor Xu's heart.

"Extreme Earth Mustard Seed Dharma Domain, open!"

After studying for a while, Zhao Xing began to unfurl his Extreme Earth Mustard Seed Dharma Domain.

"Buzz~"

Large amounts of red mist were dispelled, and floating gravel and earth clumps began to coalesce.

His vision widened, and his perception of the telluric veins grew clearer.

"It's truly marvelous; layers of gravel and red mist intertwine and block each other, somehow neutralizing powerful telluric fluctuations, as if hiding them."

Zhao Xing expanded his Extreme Earth Mustard Seed Dharma Domain, continuously pushing aside the gravel, and his perception became even clearer.

"Thump-thump~"

He heard telluric fluctuations resembling a heartbeat.

"The telluric veins actually pulsate like a human heart?"

"In that direction!"

With clear telluric perception, regardless of the space he was in, he gained a sense of direction.

Zhao Xing locked onto a direction and immediately flew towards it.

Inside Beihai Palace.

Artifact Spirit Chen Jiu and General Beihai watched Zhao Xing, who was moving with a clear direction, and chatted among themselves.

"He found it."

"Indeed, discerning direction is no challenge for a Diviner of Agriculture," General Beihai nodded slightly. "However, to successfully acquire the Earth Core Blood Nucleus, it remains to be seen if he can pass the Blood Nucleus Realm Palace, jointly set up by the Primeval Hills and our Primordial Heavenly Palace."

The Ancestor Xu Galaxy is the common property of humanity. Although primarily guarded by the Primordial Heavenly Palace, the Primeval Hills, Scholarly City, Samsara Divine Palace, and Ancient Kingdom Alliance also have a share.

The Earth Core Blood Nucleus was protected by several layers.

This included the Primeval Hills' Life Earth Palace method and the life array crafted by Boundary Net Divine General of the Primordial Heavenly Palace.

The Blood Nucleus Realm Palace combined the spells and arrays of these two major superpowers, further enhanced by the unique terrain of the Ancestor Xu Star.

It served as both protection and a means to accelerate its gestation.

"Chen Jiu, what are your predictions?" General Beihai asked.

"I don't know," Chen Jiu shook his head. "The computational power of this body is only one hundred-millionth of my main body. Moreover, Zhao Xing has made too few moves since becoming a Samsara realm cultivator; there are too few records in the database."

After Zhao Xing's main body returned, apart from intervening once against the Carlos family, he primarily used his clones to deal with space pirates and criminals during his evil god missions.

He had never unleashed his full strength.

The Grand Derivation Divine Weapon did not draw conclusions out of thin air; it required data references even more than a Fate Master.

"However, his Sacred Body is already at the thirteenth-tier level, with a balanced mastery of the three forms of magical power—Heavenly Timing, Earthly Advantage, and Self—which is extremely rare in this era," Artifact Spirit Chen Jiu said, looking at the unfolding scene.

"The Earth Core Blood Nucleus trial has a high probability of success. As for the Soul Tree Heart trial, that remains to be seen."

General Beihai nodded slightly. He was not a Diviner of Agriculture, but he knew it was incredibly difficult for one to master all three paths—Heavenly Timing, Earthly Advantage, and Self—in the Barren Realm era and cultivate them all to the Demigod realm.

The main reason was that the Heavenly Timing faction was difficult to master, and without mastering all three, balance could not be achieved.

A Demigod Diviner of Agriculture would eventually abandon the other two paths, specializing in one and supplementing with the other two.

Otherwise, it would not only be unhelpful for transcending tribulation or attaining godhood, but even detrimental.

Just then, a divine guard entered Beihai Palace.

"Reporting, Great Divine Official, Venerable Bermon of the demon race requests an audience. He has spent 1.6 million contribution points to challenge the Earth Core Blood Nucleus trial."

"Understood, let him in," General Beihai nodded.

"He comes neither early nor late, but precisely at this moment," Artifact Spirit Chen Jiu chuckled. "It seems that demon still remembers what happened back then."

"Bermon has manifested a divine innate ability; his chances of passing are quite high," General Beihai said, looking at Bermon's information. "What impeccable timing he chose."

"Bermon is also a twelfth-tier Demigod. After a divine innate ability manifested in his bloodline, he gained the capacity to fight above his rank. If he attempts to seize it, he might actually succeed."

General Beihai then, as per usual, relayed the news of Bermon, the twelfth-tier demon Demigod, challenging the Blood Nucleus trial to those in line.

Upon seeing the message, Venerable Zhang He immediately felt depressed.

"Another one?!"

"Why is it so hard to get in line for a blood nucleus?"

If Zhao Xing hadn't demonstrated his strength, and merely had a reputation for profound principles, then Bermon was the opposite.

His practical combat ability was extremely strong. Towards the end of the Barren Realm's Second Era, he had destroyed numerous evil god altars, displaying formidable combat power absolutely comparable to a fourteenth-tier Demigod.

"If Zhao Xing succeeds, then so be it, but please don't let this demon Bermon succeed in the end," Zhang He prayed in his heart.

Of course, it would be best if neither succeeded, allowing him to get his turn smoothly.

"Bermon has entered. This demon must be doing it on purpose," Heavenly Crown Venerable muttered, shaking his head as he stared at the star-mirror.

"If Bermon obtains it, I'll have no chance to study it. I have no connections with the demon race forces."

Heavenly Crown Venerable also did not want Bermon to succeed.

Inside the core of Ancestor Xu Star.

Zhao Xing pinpointed the direction and successfully arrived before the Blood Nucleus Realm Palace.

Before him were fragmented telluric veins, moving along a certain path.

Each vein was approximately eight hundred million kilometers long, with countless tiny earth fragments on which green plants existed.

Some sections were carved into square, rhomboid, or flat shapes, resembling array foundations.

"Swoosh~"

A surge of red mist appeared in front, coalescing into a human figure—it was indeed an illusion of General Beihai.

"Primeval Emissary Zhao Xing, what you see now is the Blood Nucleus Realm Palace, jointly created by the Primeval Hills and the Primordial Heavenly Palace."

"It has three layers. The outermost layer is called the Eight-Ring Shattered Vein Layer, containing over 7.38 billion vein stones, each embedded with a Venerable-grade array."

"Upon your entry, this shattered vein layer will unleash power equivalent to a peak twelfth-tier Demigod, continuously crushing your body and pulling at your true spirit."

"The middle layer is the Blood Mist Layer. Upon your entry, it will exhibit power equivalent to a thirteenth-tier Demigod. It possesses sentience and will shift its formations to attack your weaknesses."

"The innermost layer, the Blood Nucleus Realm Palace, I will adjust its defensive power to that of a fourteenth-tier Demigod, based on the golden body standards of Qi Sect martial artists. As long as you can break through and take the Earth Core Blood Nucleus, it is yours."

After speaking, General Beihai's illusion dissipated.

Zhao Xing cupped his hands, then his figure flashed like lightning, passing through the illusion.

"Rumble~"

Upon getting closer, he discovered that the circulating shattered vein belt had become motionless.

"It's not motionless; its speed is simply too fast, exceeding what the naked eye can perceive, making it appear stationary," Zhao Xing mused. "This trial indeed presents a peak twelfth-tier challenge."

If one couldn't capture its rotational trajectory, it would be impossible to slip through any gaps.

If one only possessed the strength of a twelfth-tier Demigod, they would essentially retreat at first sight of this trial.

Forcibly attempting it would result in being crushed.

"I need to slow it down. Forcibly breaking through, even my thirteenth-tier Sacred Body might get injured."

Although the thirteenth-tier Cosmic Primal Chaos Sacred Body could withstand damage, it would be continuously buffeted and rolled around within the eight-layer shattered vein ring.

Just as Qi Sect martial artists are hard to kill, they still couldn't pass, because Zhao Xing's physical body couldn't be strong enough to halt the entire array.

"The way to pass without injury is to slow it down and find a gap to slip through."

Zhao Xing took a deep breath, then released eight Primordial clones.

These eight Primordial clones corresponded to the Eight Earth Transformation Methods of the Terrestrial Chronicle that he had created.

His main body