Chapter 525: 妖司农, 晋彦死, 草人大道提升

The demon race primarily inhabits the northern desolate regions of the Xuanling Starfield, including the Si Yue Desolate Region developed by the Scarlet Star Empire. Additionally, some areas border the Celestial Demon Nation and the Myriad Rivers Demon Nation, though only thirty million star districts are adjacent to the Empire.

Venerable Baimeng hails from the Ke Bo Domain within the Celestial Demon Nation. From the Dao Manifestation layer, his home appears as a dense, disk-shaped region comprising realm stars, continental lands, void rivers, and clouds. When the Empire developed the Si Yue Desolate Region, every ancient route was necessarily guarded by Trailblazer troops, primarily for defense against the demon race. For instance, the Great Zhou Empire previously clashed with demons in the Wang Liang Star District, located on the Wolf Demon Path.

According to human standards, areas like Xingxian Pass of the former Daye Dynasty, with a spiritual energy index below 10, were already considered the fringes of the desolate regions. However, the demon race's physique is typically more adaptable to harsh environments, and their criteria for defining desolate regions differ significantly from those of humans. Outside Xingxian Pass, it was still considered a spiritual energy-rich area, a habitable place. Theoretically, the demon race's territory is much larger than that of humans. However, the demon race is relatively scattered. Overall, their territories form a continuous line, encircling the entire Xuanling Starfield. Even the Chaotic Sea contains demon presences.

The primary powers of the demon race are the Ten Great Demon Nations, with the Demon God Temple serving as their supreme governing body, receiving ascending demons from all directions. Given Baimeng's prominent standing among the demon race, he can utilize special void channels, allowing him to travel to and from the Source Heavenly Palace in just six months. Zhao Xing accepted Venerable Baimeng's invitation, arriving at the Celestial Demon Nation, one of the Ten Great Demon Nations.

Venerable Baimeng's domain is a constructed landmass located in the first layer of the Dao Ancient Plane, corresponding to the Celestial Demon Nation's capital. Venerable Baimeng is immensely wealthy; his fortune and standing in the Celestial Demon Nation are comparable to those of the former Carlos family in the Empire.

"My place isn't as exquisitely arranged as those of your human race, Brother Zhao; please don't mind it," Venerable Baimeng said as he descended with Zhao Xing.

"Not at all. I'm not here for luxury, Brother Baimeng. This place is excellent, and your taste is quite unique."

Zhao Xing said this, though in reality, he found himself without any genuine compliments for Venerable Baimeng's taste. The architectural style and formation layouts within Baimeng's domain entirely followed the principle of 'bigger is better, more is good.' He had somehow acquired four spirit mountains, whose soil and mountain ranges were of exceptionally high grade, almost akin to Dao Manifestation veins. However, he had simply piled them up haphazardly, with no proper alignment or consideration for the earth veins and mountain ranges.

The spirit lake was no different. Baimeng named it Baimeng Spirit Lake after himself, but to Zhao Xing, it could easily be classified as a sea. He explained to Zhao Xing that all collected spiritual energy was simply dumped into the spirit lake, left to slowly evolve into treasures. His philosophy was that quantitative change would naturally lead to qualitative transformation, asserting that every ten thousand years, a supreme-grade Reincarnation Dao Armament-level treasure would emerge from the lake. The Sun Star and Moon Star, which illuminated his domain, also followed his whims in their orbital paths. If he wished to cultivate, the Sun and Moon twin stars would rise; if not, they would conceal themselves beneath the land. Venerable Baimeng proudly stated that this arrangement prevented waste and was perfectly logical.

Zhao Xing gazed at the incredibly thick cloud cover over Baimeng Lake to the east, utterly speechless. "'All the clouds are accumulated in the east, stagnant and unmoving. Spiritual energy isn't flowing, and the cosmic circulation is reduced to a mere minor cycle. How is any of this logical?'"

"'The Yin and Yang twin stars are forcibly manipulated by formations, resulting in only a tenth of the natural interaction of the six fundamental elements of heaven and earth. Moreover, the westernmost spirit mountain receives no illumination whatsoever. How is this reasonable?'"

"'Despite possessing such an excellent material and environmental foundation, there isn't even a single proper plant-based military unit. Countless Emperor-level plants have been cultivated into nothing but bloated, shapeless masses—'"

Zhao Xing's current perspective was entirely different. While he might not have noticed before, now that he was adept in the three schools of Heaven's Timing, Earth's Advantage, and True Self, he saw with just a few glances that Venerable Baimeng's domain was incredibly crude in its construction. It was true that he was wealthy and had invested ample spiritual energy resources, but these efforts had entirely failed to produce the intended effects. Initially, Zhao Xing refrained from commenting, but he couldn't endure Venerable Baimeng's continuous, proud explanations.

Finally, Zhao Xing could no longer hold back. As an expert in the field, he simply couldn't resist correcting Venerable Baimeng's approach.

"Brother Baimeng, forgive my bluntness, but there are some rather inappropriate aspects in the layout of your domain."

"Oh? Do tell," Venerable Baimeng inquired.

"Take this purple-green bamboo forest, for example. The appropriate planting method would be to expand the root-to-soil ratio to around 4. This would yield four times the quantity of purple-green bamboos, and their quality would improve by one to two grades."

"You should reduce the proportions of Yi Wood, Jia Metal, and Ren Water, and then—" Zhao Xing was about to elaborate, but upon seeing Venerable Baimeng's expression, he promptly changed tack: "Well, for convenience, you could simply purchase three sets of Earth Store Heavenly Loom Formations."

"If that's not feasible, you could dig three rivers from Baimeng Lake and arrange them within a nine-palace grid layout."

Venerable Baimeng didn't grasp the specifics, but he understood Zhao Xing was implying his domain's layout was improper and incredibly wasteful. However, Baimeng's expression turned peculiar. "Brother Zhao," he said, "then you should meet my housekeeper."

"He's responsible for the arrangement of my domain."

"Peng Yue, come here!"

A middle-aged woman, dressed in a gray coir raincoat and carrying a bamboo staff, swiftly emerged from underground. Zhao Xing observed Baimeng's housekeeper, realizing that despite her human appearance, she was a transformed and disguised demon, essentially a 'Demon Agriculturist.' Peng Yue's cultivation was not weak; she was an Eighth Tribulation Emperor Realm expert.

"Peng Yue, look who's here."

Peng Yue obediently looked up. Upon seeing Zhao Xing, she was visibly stunned. "Y-you are Agriculturist Zhao?"

"Indeed, it is I."

"Peng Yue of the Celestial Demon Nation pays respects to Dao Master." Peng Yue immediately performed a disciple's bow to Zhao Xing, adhering to human etiquette.

Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised. "What is the meaning of this?"

Baimeng smiled. "Peng Yue is a Demon Agriculturist. She studied your two great Dao Discourses and, as a result, passed her seventh true spirit tribulation. Therefore, her addressing you as Dao Master is entirely appropriate."

Zhao Xing felt a sense of gratification.

"In the Celestial Demon Nation, many human techniques and theories are forbidden from spreading, but your two great Dao Discourses, Brother Zhao, are an exception. Many Demon Agriculturists study them."

"Peng Yue, tell Agriculturist Zhao your other identity."

Peng Yue remained kneeling but straightened her posture, stating with some pride, "Dao Master, I am the Vice President of the Annihilating Star Society of the Celestial Demon Nation, and concurrently, the Vice President of the Earth Transformation Association."

"I have been studying your Dao Discourses for three thousand two hundred years. In the Celestial Demon Nation, over three thousand Demon Agriculturists in the Reincarnation Realm have joined these two organizations, along with countless others in the Dao Domain Realm and Source Realm."

Zhao Xing felt a moment of profound introspection. He hadn't expected that after several millennia, his two great Dao Discourses would have spread so widely, even gaining adherents among the demon race, with some Demon Agriculturists even revering him as their teacher. He had never authorized it, yet the organizations founded by his followers had spontaneously propagated his teachings, spreading the brilliance of his Dao Discourses to many remote areas of the Xuanling Starfield. The Celestial Demon Nation actually had three thousand Reincarnation Realm experts who revered him as their Dao Master?

Baimeng chuckled. "Peng Yue, you were the one who transformed my domain's environment after comprehending the two great Dao Discourses. Didn't you claim it couldn't be improved further?"

"Now Agriculturist Zhao is here, and he says your methods are flawed."

Peng Yue replied without hesitation, "Venerable, then my understanding must certainly be flawed. It is not the teacher's Dao Discourses that are problematic." With that, she respectfully kowtowed again. "Please guide me, Teacher."

Zhao Xing had long heard that among the Ten Great Demon Nations, the Celestial Demon Nation was the most open-minded and inclusive, even incorporating human spells and martial arts into their cultivation. Seeing this firsthand, he couldn't help but feel a sense of profound sentiment. There was a clear reason why the demon race had coexisted with humanity for countless years without being exterminated.

"Rise. There's no need to listen while kneeling. Let's start with this bamboo forest."

"Understood." Peng Yue obediently rose and stood respectfully beside Zhao Xing.

"The Six Furies of Heaven and Earth, the harmonious blending of Yin and Yang, and the rotation of earth veins – it's not always true that higher quality soil is better. Excessively high-quality soil can block the earth veins, preventing terrestrial energy from rising and celestial energy from settling—"

"Even minor imbalances, accumulated over time, can lead to terrifying geo-catastrophes and natural disasters."

"Teacher, but Venerable Baimeng's domain hasn't experienced any natural disasters or geo-catastrophes."

"That's because geo-catastrophes and natural disasters manifest in both tangible and intangible forms."

"Life within this realm of yours has consistently existed in a state of abnormal distension; its very life essence has already undergone alteration, it's just that the underlying issues haven't fully surfaced."

"Observe this purple-green bamboo. You can use the Condensation Method to stimulate its growth and see if it can still produce offspring."

"Teacher, it cannot—"

"Of course not. It has already begun to naturally mutate. You cultivated purple-green bamboo, but what you now have is a different plant entirely. While its overall quality hasn't decreased, this fundamentally violates the original intent of cultivation, and if sold, it would undoubtedly be at a discount."

"I see. We had no issues selling it before, so I suppose it's because the Celestial Demon Nation's Agriculturists don't have such stringent requirements."

Zhao Xing led Peng Yue through Venerable Baimeng's domain, stopping and starting as they went. Peng Yue had never in her life displayed so many expressions of 'sudden realization.' She had originally believed she had thoroughly mastered the two great Dao Discourses, considering herself the foremost expert in the Celestial Demon Nation, but now she felt profoundly ignorant.

Three years passed. Zhao Xing guided the transformation of Baimeng's domain, completely altering it. Three years later, Venerable Baimeng awoke from a slumber in his palace to find his domain utterly transformed.

"Hiss—" Baimeng greedily absorbed the spiritual energy from outside the palace. This transformation was not merely superficial; it was a fundamental change from the very essence of the Qi. A refreshing sensation arose as the breeze caressed his face. He even felt his demon holy body had grown stronger. In this environment, he could exert a higher combat prowess than usual!

"Zhao Xing, that Agriculturist genius, truly lives up to his reputation." Baimeng watched the figure by the lake, marveling inwardly. "Were he to achieve the God Realm, the impact he could make would undoubtedly be equivalent to that of many more God Realm experts combined." Reflecting on this, Baimeng was grateful he had made the decision to invite Zhao Xing.

"Whoosh—"

Baimeng's figure flashed, appearing in a secluded small pavilion within the palace. "How much longer until the task I assigned you is complete?" Several shadows flickered within the pavilion. "Venerable," one began, "capturing Jin Yan is proving quite troublesome. He possesses clone techniques, so we must use karmic ties to pinpoint the exact location of all his clones and then launch a simultaneous strike, without the slightest error—"

"Enough with the excuses! I only want results!" Venerable Baimeng grew impatient as his subordinate only detailed difficulties without providing any progress. "Of course, I know Jin Yan is difficult to apprehend. He possesses protection orders issued by three other Venerables from the Divine Palace, and he's exceptionally skilled at evading capture—"

"But what good are you Life Masters I've gathered if not for this?"

"Financial resources, material resources, secret files, network connections—mobilize whatever you need. I just want Jin Yan secured within that gift box." Venerable Baimeng pointed to a large, pitch-black box.

A turtle demon slowly nodded. "Venerable, he will surely be captured within seven realm-star years."

"Good. I shall await his capture then." Baimeng nodded and then departed.

Six years later, in Jinxing City, a remote star system within the Myriad Rivers Demon Nation. Within the city, Jin Yan's true form felt a growing sense of agitation and unease. "For the past three years, I've hidden within this distant Jinxing City, yet this unsettling feeling in my heart has persistently refused to subside."

"What exactly is wrong with me?"

Jin Yan continuously drank fine wine and toyed with the beauty in his arms, yet found no semblance of relief. He irritably pushed the beauty away and set down his wine glass. In that mere blink of an eye, within the brightly lit grand hall, an additional shadow suddenly appeared.

"Whoosh."

A streak of sword light reflected in Jin Yan's eyes. Fast, incredibly fast! Jin Yan didn't even have time to react before the sword light reached his Soul Palace. The Primordial Clone's spaceless teleportation could indeed be interrupted and suppressed. An attack exceeding forty million immeasurable hours would render Jin Yan unable to react, allowing him to be controlled. Anyone capable of such a feat had to be an Eleventh Tier Demigod or a Demigod possessing a divine artifact. Because he himself possessed divine artifacts, and utilizing the characteristics of his Primordial Clones, it was normal for Jin Yan to accumulate one or two divine artifacts while adventuring in various secret realms. However, he was now utterly immobilized! All the soul bodies within his true form's Soul Palace were bound by thread-like sword Qi.

"Don't move."

Only after he was fully restrained did Jin Yan clearly discern the dark figure before him. "Venerable Qingyao?!"

Jin Yan was greatly shocked. This was a demon demigod from the Celestial Demon Nation; why would he be here to capture him? "Venerable Qingyao, I am unaware of how I might have offended you. My Venerable Lord, Venerable Pengbei, even attended the Demon God Feast alongside you once."

Jin Yan knew he couldn't resist, so he could only invoke the name of the most powerful of the three demon venerables he had sought refuge with, hoping to deter Venerable Qingyao. "You, a mere human traitor, dare to invoke Venerable Pengbei's name to pressure me?" Venerable Qingyao's facial fur bristled, and his vertical eye flashed with scorn. "Cease your scheming. Even if you utter his honored name, he will not sense it now."

"Gather!"

When Venerable Qingyao collected Jin Yan's true form, all thirteen thousand-plus of Jin Yan's clone souls scattered throughout the demon territory were simultaneously captured. Jin Yan was locked inside a black box, which possessed a vast internal space. He watched as his clone souls and straw doll bodies were continuously thrown inside, and couldn't help but feel shocked. Because this number was already incredibly close to the total count of his clone souls.

A month later, Jin Yan had fully grasped the gravity of the situation. "Who exactly possesses such immense power, capable of capturing all thirteen thousand-plus of my clones in such a short span of time?"

"Now I have only three clones remaining, held in the hands of three Venerables."

These last three clones were Jin Yan's ultimate life-saving measures. As long as those three clones remained uncaptured, even if his so-called true form was destroyed, he could still be reborn from the memories of his clone souls. Back then, when he cultivated the Primordial Straw Doll Art, it offered this additional function compared to Zuo Qiyu's technique, which was why Jin Yan believed himself superior to Zuo Qiyu and thus resolutely decided to defect from the Empire.

"The three Venerables swore an oath; they would certainly protect me."

"My three clones absolutely cannot be captured."

Despite his shock, Jin Yan remained composed. This was the true reliance of the Primordial Straw Doll Art; even demigods could not truly eliminate him. And as long as he remained alive, Jin Yan could eventually recover his cultivation.

"I'd like to see who dares to simultaneously offend three Venerables of the Demon God Temple—What?!"

Jin Yan suddenly froze. Because he noticed a ray of light piercing through the darkness, as if the box was rapidly opening and closing. Two more clones were then thrown inside, precisely two of the ones he had entrusted to the three Venerables of the Demon God Temple.

"Oh my goodness, what—what on earth is happening?!"

Jin Yan began to feel a genuine sense of fear.

It was the tenth year of Zhao Xing's stay in the demon territories.

"Whoosh~"

On this day, Venerable Baimeng suddenly appeared by the lake, a large box trailing behind him. "My friend, I have a gift for you."

"A gift for me? Brother Baimeng, there's no need to be so formal—" Zhao Xing instinctively began to refuse, not wishing to accumulate unnecessary favors. "You truly don't want it? Jin Yan is inside," Venerable Baimeng said, patting the box.

"What?" Zhao Xing was stunned. "Jin Yan?"

"Yes, and it's all of Jin Yan." Venerable Baimeng blinked. "Brother Zhao, you've been a guest in my domain for ten years, and I've been a poor host. In contrast, you've spent ten years transforming this place entirely."

"So, I simply put in some effort to help you capture Jin Yan."

"All of Jin Yan?" Zhao Xing was somewhat bewildered. "He was caught so easily by you?"

"It was indeed a bit difficult to catch." Baimeng sighed with a touch of emotion. "A mere Emperor, yet he had three clone souls hidden with three Venerables of the Demon God Temple."

"I also paid a price, asking my teacher to help dissolve the divine spirit contract. Only then was I able to acquire Jin Yan's clone from the last Venerable. Otherwise, that fellow would have resurrected yet again."

"Dissolving a divine spirit contract? Brother Baimeng, surely that came at a considerable cost?" Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised.

"Hahaha, no, no, it was a minor matter." Venerable Baimeng laughed heartily on the surface, but inwardly, he wore a mask of anguish. The cost of capturing Jin Yan ultimately escalated far beyond his initial estimations. For though Jin Yan was weak, his prior protection by the three Venerables of the Demon God Temple was based on a signed divine spirit contract! To capture Jin Yan, he had to secure the cooperation of the three Venerables and also dissolve the divine spirit contract. To seize him by force would have been a direct affront, causing them to breach their contract; the three Venerables would have protected Jin Yan to the death. But if the contract was dissolved, those three Venerables would have no reason to refuse Baimeng, a direct disciple of the Demon God, his request.

Afterward, Baimeng requested his teacher's intervention to dissolve the divine spirit contract. This created a new debt of gratitude Baimeng owed to the three Venerables, in addition to the treasures provided to Venerable Qingyao and others involved in the operation. The entire endeavor, when tallied, amounted to the cost of two divine artifacts. His teacher's intervention alone was equivalent to one divine power artifact! But having already boasted, he had to grit his teeth and see it through. Venerable Baimeng now feigned nonchalance, but in reality, his heart was aching terribly.

"Thank you, Brother Baimeng. I have noted this favor." Zhao Xing bowed. A karmic thread was formed, and as he actively sensed it, he realized the price Baimeng paid was indeed very heavy. If Zhao Xing had attempted this himself, would two divine artifacts have sufficed? Even doubling that amount would have been considered fortunate. After all, this was demon territory; how could he expect demon venerables to show him deference and release someone? Then, finding a God Realm expert to dissolve the contract would be even more difficult. Gods differ; resolving a demon God Realm contract by seeking a human God would involve issues of jurisdiction, making it excessively complicated. Zhao Xing's presence here was partly to seek an opportunity, to find a way to lure Jin Yan into a life-or-death battle with him. Unexpectedly, Baimeng directly resolved this predicament for him.

"Hahaha, no problem, no problem." Baimeng smiled upon seeing Zhao Xing's bow. Zhao Xing accepting this karmic debt meant it was worthwhile in the long run.

"I'll leave him to you." Baimeng patted the box, then vanished.

"Jin Yan." Zhao Xing could not sense Jin Yan's presence at all, indicating the box itself was a treasure. He patted the box, then entered it entirely.

Upon entering the black box space, Zhao Xing's senses became incredibly keen.

"Rumble!"

The Primordial Straw Doll Art triggered a Dao Manifestation, automatically guiding his direction. Zhao Xing discovered over ten thousand Jin Yans within the black box space.

"So, it was you?!" Jin Yan understood immediately upon seeing Zhao Xing enter. He had vaguely suspected it, but couldn't be sure if it was Zuo Qiyu or Zhao Xing acting.

"It's me."

"Jin Yan, we finally meet."

A surge of killing intent rose in Zhao Xing's heart, so strong that even with his cultivation as a Twelfth Tier Demigod, he still couldn't completely suppress it. As for Jin Yan, he had already charged forward, eyes bloodshot. "Die!"

Countless Jin Yan clone bodies swarmed towards Zhao Xing, like a plague of locusts, quickly engulfing him. However, moments later, a powerful black light erupted from the pile of stacked Jin Yans.

Mental Will Method: Great Dark Sky!

With a single thought, Zhao Xing brought all the Jin Yans under his control. "Don't be in such a hurry to die." Zhao Xing's gaze was cold. "You still have value."

"Bang!!"

Jin Yan attempted to self-detonate, but quickly lost the ability to do so. The gap between Zhao Xing and him was simply too vast. Ultimately, Jin Yan only managed to detonate three relatively weaker clones before all of them were frozen in place.

"Why, why were you able to achieve Demigod status?" Jin Yan was unwilling to accept it. Neither he nor Zuo Qiyu had achieved Demigod status, yet Zhao Xing had. "Logically, once you cultivate the Primordial Straw Doll Art, that path should become your entire Dao. You shouldn't be able to become a Demigod through any other means."

"That's because your perspective is too narrow, and you're too ignorant," Zhao Xing sneered. No matter how unique the Primordial Straw Doll Art was, could it surpass the封锁 of Divine King Gu Xiao? Even the Heavenly Timing Dao had a solution, managing to form the Great Sun Sea, let alone the Primordial Straw Doll Art? Of course, Zhao Xing didn't find this glimmer of hope himself but entered the unique secret realm of the Sealing and Sacrificing Ground. He speculated that Yuan's Skeleton Dao had a much higher priority than the Straw Doll Dao created by Gu Tianyang, and in that special place, this drawback could be disregarded.

"How is that possible, how could that be—" Jin Yan muttered to himself, but soon he fell into a deep slumber. The Desire Dream Method unknowingly descended, and he entered a dream.

A year later, Zhao Xing emerged from the black box space. The box was empty, and Jin Yan no longer existed. The moment Zhao Xing stepped out, he immediately sensed something. A great Dao appeared before him, and the illusory figure of Jin Yan, previously on his left, began to slowly shatter.

"Om~"

Jin Yan's illusory Dao figure shattered, flying towards Zhao Xing and Zuo Qiyu respectively. At this moment, Zuo Qiyu suddenly turned, looking at Zhao Xing and the shattering Jin Yan with some shock.

"Senior Zuo, move aside!" Zhao Xing roared, rapidly expanding in size and taking a step forward. As his form grew, he began to absorb the shattered power of Jin Yan. Zhao Xing felt himself surpass Zuo Qiyu by half a step.

Just as he was about to complete the full step, he paused. There was no path ahead, only a chaotic darkness. Zhao Xing realized that the half-step he had taken was composed of Jin Yan's shattered illusory Dao figure. Simultaneously, Zuo Qiyu, who was half a step behind him, remained steadfast on this path, creating a powerful attractive force that pulled at him.

"Still not enough?" Zhao Xing looked at the abyss shrouded in chaotic mist ahead and withdrew his raised foot. He wasn't confident in seeing clearly ahead, unsure if a reckless leap would allow him to cross the unknown chaos and traverse the abyss.

"Zhao Xing, return to the Primordial Realm," Zuo Qiyu's voice came from behind. "Jin Yan alone paving the way isn't enough."

Zhao Xing turned, meeting Zuo Qiyu's resolute gaze, but Zuo Qiyu quickly moved to stand at Zhao Xing's feet.

"I told you long ago, this day would come sooner or later."

"Come, I challenge you to a Great Dao struggle!"

"Please accept my challenge!"

Zhao Xing looked at Zuo Qiyu, with no doubt that if he accepted, he could logically kill Zuo Qiyu. At that time, perhaps the Primordial Straw Doll Art could truly advance further and become a divine-level technique.

"Senior Zuo, I refuse." Zhao Xing gently shook his head.

Zuo Qiyu's eyes twitched slightly, but then he sternly rebuked, "Bastard, are you looking down on me?!"

"Yes."

Zuo Qiyu, who had prepared a whole speech, was instantly left speechless. Why was he acting like the Five Poisons?!

"Are you pitying me? Coward!" Zuo Qiyu's eyes blazed with fire.

"I am far stronger than you now." Zhao Xing turned away, continuing to gaze at the abyss shrouded in chaotic mist, leaving only his side profile for Zuo Qiyu.

"You—" Zuo Qiyu also calmed down slightly. He didn't understand why Zhao Xing wouldn't choose such an easy method. He had clearly seen hope; killing Jin Yan had indeed allowed him to take another half-step. Why not continue by killing him?

"Killing the weak to achieve the Great Dao might be Jin Yan's path, or Gu Tianyang's path, but—it is not my path," Zhao Xing's voice came. "Moreover, Senior Zuo, don't you find this method rather sinister?"

Zuo Qiyu's expression became serious. "What exactly do you mean?"

"When you were alone here, you felt no progress, so you cultivated a successor."

"After you cultivated a successor, you then felt you could kill the successor to make progress." Zhao Xing looked down at his feet. "From my true spirit's observation, Jin Yan's illusory Dao figure shattered; two tenths of it were absorbed by me, one tenth transformed into the path beneath my feet, and you gained almost nothing."

"So, where did the remaining seven tenths go?"

Zuo Qiyu's pupils contracted, but he remained silent, as this possibility was somewhat outlandish.

"I will return to the Primordial Realm to see you, but never to fight you."

"Please, Senior Zuo, do not take any drastic actions either."

With that, Zhao Xing ended this Dao communication.

"Brother Zhao, you've emerged." Venerable Baimeng appeared at the opportune moment.

"Yes, thank you, Brother Baimeng, for fulfilling a long-held wish of mine," Zhao Xing said gratefully.

"Didn't I say there's no need to thank me? Besides, you've already thanked me," Baimeng said politely.

"You truly helped me greatly." Zhao Xing recalled the scene he had just witnessed.

"Hahaha, you're too kind, hahaha." Baimeng laughed, feeling a little embarrassed. Had he really done such a good job this time? Zhao Xing was so satisfied.

Zhao Xing was indeed satisfied! Because after eliminating Jin Yan, he discovered that Wei Tianchen's speculation was very likely correct.

"Gu Luoge said his father not only took his elder brother, Gu Tianyang, but also took the Heavenly Timing Dao origin."

"How could Gu Tianyang be compared to the Heavenly Timing Dao origin?"

Zhao Xing then recalled a question he had once asked Gu Luoge: What was the ultimate purpose of the Primordial Straw Doll Art? Gu Luoge's answer was: "In the primordial cosmos, an Untroubled True God."

Combining this with what he saw today, he had a new hypothesis. "Only those who achieve Dao through Heaven and Earth are considered Untroubled True Gods. Therefore, the Primordial Straw Doll Art must be Gu Tianyang's method for Heaven and Earth Dao achievement!"

"Assuming Gu Tianyang is not dead, then every time a generation cultivates the Primordial Straw Doll Art, a portion of power will be sacrificed to him."

"Those capable of cultivating the Primordial Straw Doll Art are the most talented individuals of their generation. Generation after generation, how many geniuses' Dao has he absorbed? I still don't know his specific method. However, regardless of the method, there's a crucial question: if Gu Tianyang doesn't live in the contemporary era, how does he receive the sacrificed power? How does the Heaven and Earth Dao achievement method remain effective?"

"Could he be living in the contemporary era?"

Zhao Xing believed that Gu Tianyang was still alive and active in the present era, a piece of information even Gu Luoge might not know. This discovery could potentially earn him some contribution points. However, he still needed to return to the Primordial Realm to understand where Zuo Qiyu had learned the secret technique back then. "Understanding this is very important to me; otherwise, even if I activate the divine-level straw doll, I wouldn't dare to use it with confidence." Thinking this, Zhao Xing immediately rose and bade farewell to Baimeng.