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START OF Chapter 1025
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**Chapter 1025: Trapped!**

Wang Baole, who was inside the tower researching the Flame Spirit Curse, had no idea how Xie Haiyang had spoken with the Seventh Senior Brother after chasing him down. Regardless, the day after their talk...

Following Xie Haiyang’s high-spirited arrival early that morning to pay his respects, Wang Baole witnessed it with his own eyes. Just as Xie Haiyang stepped out of the tower and hadn't even cleared a distance of thirty feet, a black shadow suddenly plummeted from the vast, boundless sky for some unknown reason...

The shadow was incredibly fast. Even with Wang Baole’s current mid-stage Planet realm cultivation, he couldn't see it clearly. He could only barely discern an afterimage, which spoke to its staggering speed. As for Xie Haiyang, although his cultivation was deeper than Wang Baole’s, he had not yet reached the Stellar realm. He was equally unable to dodge. In an instant, the black shadow descending from the heavens smashed directly into him.

A booming sound suddenly echoed, and the ground shook. Dust billowed out in all directions as Xie Haiyang’s miserable wails and howls accompanied the loud crash, spreading far and wide...

Wang Baole’s eyes widened. Once the dust settled and he saw what had hit the man, his expression became peculiar, and he sucked in a breath.

The black shadow that had fallen from the sky was a cattle louse. The force behind it had been perfectly controlled; while its speed seemed lightning-fast and its momentum terrifying, hitting Xie Haiyang only left him dizzy and dazed without any actual injury. However, a fist-sized lump had sprouted on his head.

The lump was bright red. With just one glance, Wang Baole could feel the intense pain that would come from having such a large bump smashed onto one's head. In fact, that was exactly the case; Xie Haiyang was already howling in agony.

"What is going on? What is happening!?"

"I... I... how could such a thing suddenly fall from the sky!?" In his grief and indignation, Xie Haiyang instinctively reached up to touch the large bump, and tears nearly welled up in his eyes.

Wang Baole’s expression grew even more bizarre. At the same time, the reverence in his heart for his Master grew even stronger. He had now completely realized that his Master was a very petty man...

It must be that after Xie Haiyang chased down Old Seven yesterday, he had been baited into saying some things he shouldn't have... and thus, this was his Master’s new prank born of his wicked sense of humor.

Thinking of this, while Wang Baole felt some sympathy for Xie Haiyang, he also felt incredibly lucky. He felt that if Xie Haiyang hadn't arrived to draw the target of his Master’s mischief, the one feeling aggrieved and indignant right now would likely be himself.

At this thought, Wang Baole immediately took a few steps back. He felt that since his Master’s target was currently Xie Haiyang, it was better to stay far away. Just as Wang Baole was about to return to the tower, amidst Xie Haiyang’s wailing and indignation, the heavens suddenly churned, and a massive face instantly emerged.

The face radiated flames—it was the Flame Patriarch. Upon appearing, he looked at Xie Haiyang on the ground with a serious expression, then looked up toward the starry sky and spoke coolly.

"Yan Ling!"

As the Flame Patriarch spoke, the sky churned again, and the silhouette of the Old Ox manifested, looking aggrieved.

"Grandmaster, please seek justice for your disciple! Who did I provoke? My head... ah..." Seeing this, Xie Haiyang immediately knelt, his face filled with endless grievance. The lump on his head grew even redder due to his fluctuating emotions, looking as if a horn was about to sprout from the flesh.

"Master, this isn't my fault. I was just scratching an itch..." the Old Ox sighed. The Flame Patriarch continued to frown, glaring at the Old Ox.

"Be more careful next time." After saying that, the Flame Patriarch looked at Xie Haiyang and shook his head slightly.

"You too. Be more careful when you walk. You usually seem like such a shrewd person, so how can you get hit while walking?" Having said his piece, the Flame Patriarch ignored the aggrieved Xie Haiyang. His face flickered and vanished from the sky. As for the Old Ox, it blinked its eyes in the heavens, gave a cough, and likewise said nothing, its body turning illusory as if it were leaving.

Seeing that this matter was about to be brushed aside as something minor, and just as the grievance in Xie Haiyang’s heart reached its peak, a roar that moved him so much his body trembled suddenly came from the distance.

"Senior Ox, how dare you bully my beloved disciple!!"

Wang Baole, who was originally going back into the tower, paused in his tracks upon hearing this. He stood there to watch the show, thinking to himself: *Master, oh Master, you switch between these personas day in and day out, don't you get tired?*

Just as he was thinking this, following the distant roar and Xie Haiyang being moved nearly to tears, a figure flew through the sky from afar. It was Wang Baole’s Eldest Senior Sister, Xie Haiyang’s master.

After the Eldest Senior Sister arrived, she first looked at Xie Haiyang with heartache, then anger surfaced on her face as she charged straight toward the sky. Soon, thunderous booms echoed from the heavens.

"Senior Ox, Master previously asked my beloved disciple to bathe you. That is a custom of our Flame lineage. Although my heart ached for him, I could only show my concern silently. But today... you actually dared to bully him like this! Haiyang is still a child! You've gone too far!!" The Eldest Senior Sister’s roar echoed as the heavens churned.

"Dong'er, with which eye did you see me bullying your beloved disciple!?" Accompanied by the Eldest Senior Sister’s roar was the Old Ox’s very dissatisfied grunt.

"Regardless, Old Ox, you bullied my beloved disciple, my little Yang'er, and that simply will not do!!" The Eldest Senior Sister seemed overcome with concern; in her speech now, she no longer used her usual respectful titles for the Old Ox.

"What is the use of such doting protectiveness? If this beloved disciple of yours truly considered you his master, how could he not know that what you lack most right now is Astral Gold? If he had..."

"Shut up, Old Ox! I will handle my own affairs. Today, no matter what, I will demand justice for my beloved disciple!"

The voices of the Eldest Senior Sister and the Old Ox spread in all directions, causing Wang Baole’s various senior brothers and sisters to appear in their respective towers, looking up at the sky. Soon, the sounds from the heavens became even more startling and the fluctuations grew more intense. Xie Haiyang watched with an indescribably agitated and shaken heart. That feeling of someone backing him up and standing up for him filled his heart with ultimate gratitude.

Wang Baole’s eyes were wide, and his breathing quickened slightly. It was as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through his mind. Instant realization dawned in his eyes, followed by a surge of admiration.

"Master’s level of play is truly profound..."

As Wang Baole marveled, following a cold snort from the Flame Patriarch, the Eldest Senior Sister and the Old Ox were forced to cease their battle. After the Old Ox snorted and left in dissatisfaction, the Eldest Senior Sister descended. Her body was clearly somewhat weak; evidently, the previous battle had not been easy for her. However, upon seeing Xie Haiyang, she revealed a gentle smile and softly stroked the lump on the head of the deeply moved and guilt-ridden Xie Haiyang.

"Yang'er, Master arrived late. Does it hurt?"

The words sounded cringeworthy to Wang Baole, but Xie Haiyang was so moved that tears fell, and he knelt directly before the Master in front of him.

"Master!!"

"This child, why are you crying?" The Eldest Senior Sister’s gentle expression radiated maternal kindness. Then, she looked coldly at the surroundings and spoke indifferently.

"Junior brothers and sisters, Yang'er is my disciple. If I hear of any more snitching in the future, you all know the consequences!" As soon as she spoke, Old Seven and Fifteen looked embarrassed. This scene moved Xie Haiyang even more. He felt that this Master of his was truly good to him to the extreme, and he would never be able to repay her in this lifetime.

"Master..."

"Alright, stop crying. Master is going back to enter secluded meditation. Take good care of yourself during this time." Saying this, a hint of exhaustion appeared on the Eldest Senior Sister’s face. She turned to leave, but Xie Haiyang hurriedly spoke up.

"How much Astral Gold does Master need? I have it here!"

"No need. I can handle it myself!" The Eldest Senior Sister shook her head. With a flicker of her body, she flew into mid-air. Seeing this, Xie Haiyang grew anxious.

"I know Master cherishes me and is unwilling to let me sacrifice too much, but this is my filial piety! Master, if you don't take this Astral Gold, I will remain kneeling and never get up!" With that, Xie Haiyang fell to his knees with a thud and pleaded bitterly.

This scene caused Wang Baole to suck in a breath. There was only one phrase in his mind now: *Master... you are truly a master!* He finally understood the situation. Xie Haiyang clearly didn't truly consider the Flame Diversion Galaxy his home at first; his purpose in coming here was just to get help.

But now, after experiencing this series of events—the snitching, the conflicts, the Master’s coldness, and the Eldest Senior Sister’s heartache—it was like a miniature version of life’s drama. Like strands of silk, these events had completely trapped Xie Haiyang...

On the other side, the Eldest Senior Sister eventually let out a helpless sigh.

"Why must you do this..." Amidst the sigh, she was "forced" to accept Xie Haiyang’s filial offering. Then, looking pensive, she sent a voice transmission to Xie Haiyang.

"You don't need to pay too much attention to your other Junior Uncles. But your Sixteenth Junior Uncle alone—you must satisfy him. He is your Grandmaster’s most beloved disciple. A single word from him can sway your Grandmaster’s judgment at a critical moment. To some extent, you can view him as... the true Young Master of the Flame Diversion Galaxy!"

This heart-to-heart voice transmission moved Xie Haiyang even more. He decided that he would work even harder to please Wang Baole in the future. That way, with two great backers in the Flame Diversion Galaxy, he would truly be standing on solid ground. In the future, he would definitely make Fifteen and Old Seven pay!

*Fifteen, Old Seven, I’ll let you know that I, Xie Haiyang, am no pushover. You may be Junior Uncles, but one day, I will make you apologize to me personally!* Xie Haiyang swore to himself!

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END OF Chapter 1025
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START OF Chapter 1026
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Chapter 1026: The Book of Heavenly Destiny!

"The older the ginger, the spicier it gets, after all." Having witnessed this entire performance with his own eyes, Wang Baole returned to the tower feeling that he had truly gained some insight this time.

Through the series of events involving Lieyan Laozu and his clones, Xie Haiyang had been completely and unknowingly tied to the Lieyan Galaxy. For Xie Haiyang himself, even if he didn't understand the underlying cause and effect, there was actually no downside. In fact, to some extent, it offered great benefits.

Lieyan Laozu had simply guided and transformed what Xie Haiyang perceived as a transactional relationship into a true sense of belonging to the sect. After all, a sense of belonging was a complex emotion; gratitude, conflict, coldness, and affection could all increase it to varying degrees. Once the full range of emotions was involved, it would form thousands of inextricable threads that were hard to break.

"Next, it should be the Eldest Senior Sister, or Master, or perhaps the Seventh or Fifteenth Senior Brothers stepping in to rescue Xie Haiyang when he’s in danger, completely branding the relationship into his soul... Until one day, even if the truth is revealed, it won't affect the relationship. Instead, it will make Xie Haiyang’s sense of belonging even stronger."

Amidst his admiration, a wave of touched emotion surfaced in Wang Baole's heart. He knew that everything his Master was doing couldn't possibly be for himself; clearly, it was all for Wang Baole!

"Teaching me the Flame Spirit Curse, and then arranging a martial nephew for me... Master, oh Master, what exactly are you preparing for?" Wang Baole fell silent. As a bystander who had seen it all, he couldn't help but feel a faint sense of unease.

This unease did not stem from himself, but from Lieyan Laozu.

However, it was clear that Wang Baole currently had no answers. With a light sigh, he suppressed the doubts in his heart and began to immerse himself once more in the cultivation of the Flame Spirit Curse, studying the details of the technique.

In this way, another three months passed slowly. During these three months, Wang Baole managed to gain a rudimentary understanding of the Flame Spirit Curse. As for Xie Haiyang, he had also learned to be clever. No matter who tried to bait or lead him, he spoke only words of praise for the Patriarch, while working even harder as Wang Baole’s attendant.

Wang Baole hardly had to collect any of his own cultivation resources. As soon as he spoke, Xie Haiyang would surely deliver them, and his flattering remarks became increasingly skillful. This often left Wang Baole feeling incredibly satisfied. Thus, in a pleasant mood, he spoke to his Master and asked for Xie Haiyang to accompany him to the birthday celebration.

After Lieyan Laozu gave his consent, the two spent several days preparing. Then, under the watchful eyes of the Eldest Senior Sister and the others, they boarded a spirit boat of the Lieyan Galaxy and departed from the Lieyan Main Star.

As the Young Master of the Lieyan Galaxy, Wang Baole's travels were naturally different from before. He was accompanied by Stellar realm powerhouses from other civilizations within the Lieyan Galaxy, serving as his Dao protectors.

A total of eight Stellar realm powerhouses traveled with Wang Baole. Their mission was to ensure his safety throughout the journey. The Stellar realm expert from the Zhiling Civilization was among them.

Adding in Xie Haiyang’s own protective forces, the power surrounding Wang Baole was now comparable to a significant faction.

No one felt this display was exaggerated. Wang Baole now represented the Lieyan Galaxy; as its Young Master, such a display was a necessity.

Thus, as they left the Lieyan Galaxy and sped through the starry sky, the number of spirit boats reached over a hundred. Not only were there eight Stellar realm experts, but there were also many Planet realm cultivators. The procession was grand and majestic, stirring intense ripples in the starry sky as it hurried toward the Heavenly Destiny Star, where Venerable Heavenly Law resided.

Inside the main boat at the center, Wang Baole wore a magnificent red robe and golden war boots. His entire being radiated an astonishing and noble aura. At that moment, he held a jade slip, deep in thought.

Xie Haiyang wore an outfit of the same style but in a noticeably lighter color. He stood beside Wang Baole, speaking in a low voice.

"Martial Uncle, this Venerable Heavenly Law is just like the Patriarch within the Weiyang Dao Domain. He is a powerful figure that the Weiyang Clan is unwilling to provoke. In fact, because he excels at deduction and can help people modify the laws of heaven and earth, he has friends throughout the entire Dao Domain and receives even more respectful treatment from the Weiyang Clan!"

"His cultivation is on par with the Patriarch, and he possesses a secret treasure called the Heavenly Destiny Trace. With this treasure, Venerable Heavenly Law’s cultivation and combat power are infinitely boosted... Some speculate that he is comparable to the Universe Realm!"

"Therefore, all major powers will send people to his birthday banquet. Aside from the mandatory etiquette, there is another reason: during every birthday banquet, Venerable Heavenly Law sets up a trial. The trial is different every year, but regardless of the trial, those who earn his recognition will be granted the chance to flip through the Book of Heavenly Destiny!"

"The Book of Heavenly Destiny?" Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed. Before he set out, Lieyan Laozu had summoned him and told him that he had traded for an opportunity for Wang Baole to gain an enlightenment of the Heavenly Destiny Trace, but he hadn't mentioned this Book of Heavenly Destiny!

He already knew about the former from his Master. He understood that the so-called enlightenment of the Heavenly Destiny Trace allowed one to cross the long river of time and condense countless versions of oneself from past silhouettes. By aggregating these at the moment of enlightenment, one’s life force would receive a concentrated increase and explosion!

This kind of enlightenment was determined by one's aptitude and potential, which decided how far back in time one could trace. This was the supreme divine ability of Venerable Heavenly Law, and every time he performed it, it caused irreversible damage to himself.

To have Venerable Heavenly Law perform it once for him—though Wang Baole didn't know what price Lieyan Laozu had paid—he could imagine it must have been extremely high.

Xie Haiyang’s answer interrupted the thoughts of his Master surfacing in Wang Baole’s mind.

"The Book of Heavenly Destiny is a miraculous object whose origin no one knows. This object grows on the Heavenly Destiny Star, and even the God Emperors cannot take it away. Only Venerable Heavenly Law can exercise limited control over this book. There are rumors... that Venerable Heavenly Law himself is the artifact spirit of this book, though no one knows if that's true."

"Flipping through this book, each page represents five hundred years, allowing one to see fragmented images of their own future... This prophetic divine ability is indescribably powerful. If it weren't for the fact that people have confirmed the images are only one of infinite possibilities for the future and not a certainty, and that one cannot fix their gaze on specific content but only see what is randomly revealed—furthermore, flipping each page consumes one's own life force, so one cannot flip too many—its power would likely be even more terrifying!"

"Seeing the future?" Wang Baole’s eyes widened, his breathing becoming unsteady as he looked at Xie Haiyang.

Xie Haiyang nodded.

"We cultivators are all filled with confusion about the future. We don't know how the future will be, when death will arrive, or whether our cultivation can break through in the future. There are too many things we don't know. It is precisely because of this that the trial at Venerable Heavenly Law’s birthday banquet is so highly sought after. Everyone wants to gain the qualification to flip the Book of Heavenly Destiny and see their own future..."

"Even if the shadows of the future are revealed randomly, and even if it's only one of ten million possibilities, it can still serve as a massive guide for oneself!"

Wang Baole fell into contemplation for a long while before nodding. He was very moved by the prospect of this Book of Heavenly Destiny. He also wanted to see what his future would look like.

"Past... future..." Wang Baole murmured in his heart, feeling a sense of anticipation for this trip to the Heavenly Destiny Star.

A few days later, as the spirit boats sped through the starry sky and their journey to the Heavenly Destiny Star was about thirty percent complete, dozens of giant blue boats appeared ahead of them!

Each of these giant boats was comparable to a star. They were vast and staggering. With dozens of them lined up together, they gave off an even more shocking feeling, and the starry sky warped wherever they passed.

Furthermore, on these boats, a large number of cultivators could be seen coming and going, shuttling between the various vessels. It was very bustling, and on every boat, there was a large banner with the word clearly written... Xie!

"It's my family's interstellar market, which serves for transport, carrying passengers, and trading goods!" The moment he saw these boats, Xie Haiyang’s eyes narrowed. After speaking slowly, he immediately took out a jade slip and sent a transmission. After a moment, he smiled and looked at Wang Baole.

"Sixteenth Martial Uncle, the destination of this interstellar market isn't far from the Heavenly Destiny Star. Shall we go up and take a look? They are faster, and it also gives this martial nephew a chance to show some respect."

Wang Baole glanced at Xie Haiyang, a smile appearing on his face as well. This matter was too coincidental; if Xie Haiyang hadn't prepared this in advance, Wang Baole wouldn't believe it. However, the gesture still made him feel very comfortable, so he nodded.

"Let's go!"

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END OF Chapter 1026
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START OF 0003_请假一天.txt
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Taking a Day Off

On a scorching summer day, the Chi Yun Rainforest in the eastern part of the Federation was shrouded in mist, appearing as if a layer of thin gauze was wrapped around it. Towering ancient trees crisscrossed one another, and from within the lush canopies, birds would occasionally take flight, screeching as they soared through the sky.

In the heavens, the sun—which should have existed for eternity—no longer looked the way it did in people’s memories. Many years ago, an indescribably massive bronze ancient sword had pierced right through it, leaving a small portion of the tip exposed!

The ancient sword seemed to have weathered countless ages as it traveled through the starry sky, exuding an aura of endless vicissitudes. A powerful pressure emanated from it, forming a halo that shrouded the firmament, seemingly capable of suppressing the earth and forcing all living beings to bow in worship!

Viewed from afar, the sight of the sword-pierced sun over the rainforest looked like a painting, until a buzzing sound echoed from the distance, breaking the silence. A large, red hot-air balloon ship was slowly flying over the rainforest.

The cabin of this airship was large enough to hold hundreds of people. Many young men and women could be seen in groups of three or five on the deck, their laughter occasionally ringing out.

They were students from Phoenix City who had been admitted into one of the four great Dao Academies of the Federation—Misty Academy. They were currently aboard this airship belonging to Misty Academy, traveling ten thousand miles to begin their studies.

Perhaps due to their anticipation of school, the journey was not tedious for these youths. There was even a subtle, hazy attraction between the boys and girls, giving this long trip a unique sense of enjoyment.

Because the journey was so long, the airship was equipped with dining halls, Spirit Cultivation rooms, infirmaries, and other areas.

At that moment, there were many students in the airship's dining hall. At one of the tables sat a little fatty with a bulging belly.

The little fatty was about seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a loose blue robe. His round little face could be considered somewhat handsome. He was currently patting his stomach, making a *pa-pa* sound, while looking at the seven or eight empty plates before him with deep regret.

"Eating this meal is going to make me gain another three pounds. Why couldn't I hold back? If I want to become the Federal President, I can't die in my prime!" The little fatty had a miserable expression, and amidst his regret, he let out a loud burp.

The little fatty’s name was Wang Baole. He was also a student admitted to Misty Academy this term. His dream in life was to become a government official, and he had made becoming the Federal President his lifelong pursuit. The reason he had such a grand ideal was inseparable from his childhood experiences.

In his memories, when he was young, his father would often pat his head and sigh with deep meaning.

"Baole, it's better to be an official. You must remember: although money can solve everything, you’ll still be bullied. If you want to avoid being bullied, the only way is to become an official and be a man above men."

At first, Wang Baole didn't understand. It wasn't until primary school, when he was scolded by the class monitor for not handing in his homework on time. Even after he gave the monitor two pieces of candy, the monitor still marked his name down and reported him to the teacher. All of this left an indelible mark on his young heart.

From that moment on, he wanted to be the class monitor—not to bully others, but so he wouldn't be bullied himself.

But as he grew up, he discovered that there were many others who could bully a class monitor. Thus, he felt that by becoming the highest official—the Federal President—no one would truly dare to bully him. The reason he had struggled so hard to get into Misty Academy was because all high-ranking officials in the Federation graduated from the four great Dao Academies.

However, his luck wasn't great. His family's bloodline was quite bizarre. He still remembered that night a year ago, when his skeletal father took him to the family's ancestral hall and showed him the genealogy.

That was the first time Wang Baole saw the family tree. He saw clearly that for generations, every ancestor whose weight exceeded two hundred pounds had died young, none of them living past thirty-five.

That night, Wang Baole had a dream… that before he could even become the Federal President, he had reunited with those fat grandfathers of his.

For the following year, the matter of losing weight had been elevated to a significant priority for him. However, even after the Federation entered the Spirit Era, and with the density of Qi and the resurgence of Ancient Martial Arts providing all sorts of weight-loss methods, Wang Baole had tried almost everything, yet his weight remained steady and even continued to increase.

As these memories surfaced, Wang Baole gnashed his teeth and resolved to start his diet tomorrow.

With that decision made, Wang Baole suddenly felt much less pressure. Picking his teeth while humming a little tune, he looked out at the blue sky through the distant window, his mind becoming active again.

"I wonder if Physician Lu liked the gift I gave him. That was an antique I swiped from home; that old guy should like it," Wang Baole consoled himself. He figured that as long as he clung to Physician Lu, he would have a small backer in the Academy.

"A teacher's power is limited, but I should give them some gifts later too. However, this Physician Lu is quite old, so he must have a large network. This move of mine should be the right one." Thinking of this, Wang Baole felt smug, feeling as if he had taken another step toward the position of Federal President.

He was very confident in his ability to become the Federal President. This confidence mostly stemmed from the fact that he had studied the autobiographies of high-ranking officials since he was a child, and had even summarized several "killing moves" for being an official.

Feeling physically and mentally pleasant, Wang Baole looked at the blue sky outside and felt it was exceptionally beautiful.

But soon, his eyes suddenly widened. He noticed a mass of black clouds gathering in the distant sky, spreading out as if to cover the heavens. Within them, lightning flickered with arcs of electricity as they slowly approached. This scene also caught the attention of many students, leading to cries of alarm.

"It’s a Lightning Magnetic Storm!"

Wang Baole was also startled. After the Federation entered the Spirit Era, the emergence of Qi had caused many terrifying weather phenomena to sprout between heaven and earth. Conventional flying objects could no longer travel safely, which led to the creation of hot-air balloon airships powered by Spirit Stones.

Amidst the constant cries of alarm, a thunderous boom suddenly echoed. The sound was earth-shattering. One could see the black magnetic clouds in the distance expanding rapidly. The lightning within had already spread out like a massive black net, flickering across the sky. It was a dazzling and terrifying sight that made one's heart race. The airship, which had been moving steadily, began to slow down.

Just as everyone was feeling uneasy, the dining hall door was pushed open. As if a gale were whistling through, an old man wearing a white Daoist robe walked in. The old man’s face was covered in wrinkles, but he possessed the air of a transcendent being. His features were upright, and his eyes sparkled with sharp light. An aura of righteousness radiated in all directions. As soon as he arrived, his majestic voice echoed throughout the dining hall.

"Everyone, report to the Spirit Cultivation rooms immediately! Put on your Magnetic Spirit Suits. In half a pillar of incense's time, we will enter the Lightning Magnetic Zone!"

The moment these words were spoken, the students in the dining hall were struck with awe and quickly stood at attention.

Wang Baole’s eyes lit up. The old man before him was none other than Physician Lu, the one he had given the gift to. Watching the man’s powerful, tiger-like stride, Wang Baole felt even more certain that his previous investment was correct. He thought to himself that this old fellow was definitely no ordinary person, and that he himself was a master of strategy.

Just as he was feeling smugly pleased with himself, the old physician’s gaze swept over and saw Wang Baole. He gave a cold snort, walked over, and pulled half of a black mask from his robe, tossing it onto Wang Baole.

"At such a young age, don't spend your thoughts on such messy things. You haven't even entered the Academy yet, and you've already learned how to give bribes. This old man is someone of great experience; keep this mask for yourself." The old physician’s expression was solemn, looking the picture of integrity and righteousness, as if he were scolding someone who had failed to live up to expectations.

Wang Baole caught the mask, his heart sinking. He could see that the old physician was angry. Feeling anxious, he was about to explain, but then he suddenly remembered one of the killing moves he had summarized from those official biographies: one of them was to be thick-skinned and admit mistakes immediately in front of a superior, which often turned major problems into minor ones.

Taking a deep breath, he quickly put on a look of remorse and admitted his mistake.

"Teacher is right, I was wrong!"

The old physician was somewhat surprised. The scolding he had prepared was cut short because the other party had admitted their fault so readily.

Seeing the old physician’s expression, Wang Baole breathed a sigh of relief and felt a bit proud. He thought to himself that those official biographies were indeed useful.

The old physician snorted and looked up at all the students in the dining hall, pointing his right hand at everyone.

"And you all! You are the future students of my Misty Academy! Look at what you've been like these past few days! You must always remember: those of us who are warriors must first establish our character, then our words, and finally our actions!"

The old physician spoke with utter detestation. These words echoed in the dining hall, causing everyone to lower their heads in shame. As for Wang Baole, his eyes lit up brilliantly. He felt the time had come to show off.

He quickly pulled out a small notebook and began recording. From time to time, he would look up at the old physician with an expression of intense listening, nodding seriously as if trying to memorize every single word. This move was also a killing move he had summarized from the official biographies.

When the other students saw this, they looked at Wang Baole as if looking at a god.

The old physician was also momentarily stunned. An unprecedented sense of strangeness welled up in his heart. In all his years of seeing students off, this was the first time he had encountered such a freakish individual. He couldn't help but look a few more times, but a cold sneer gradually appeared on his face.

"Little fellow, this old man's flattery isn't that easy to earn. You should thank this Lightning Magnetic Storm. Otherwise, this old man could scold you for three days and three nights straight. I’d like to see if you could write all that in your little notebook!"

The moment the old physician spoke, his momentum shifted. The aura of a powerful expert erupted from him, turning into a pressure that blanketed the entire dining hall. All the students were stunned, feeling that in this clash of methods, the old physician was still a level higher.

Wang Baole blinked and felt the recording jade slip in his pocket. He weighed his options for a long time and looked at the approaching Lightning Magnetic Storm. Ultimately, he abandoned the idea of taking it out. He felt that there was no shame in backing down before a superior.

Seeing everyone's expressions, the old physician felt proud and spoke a few more passionate sentences.

"Remember, focus your mind on cultivation. In the future, do not be greedy, do not be faithless, and even more so, don't always think about finding female companions. You should know that 'lust is a knife over the head.' These past few days, your flirting has been absolutely disgraceful!"

Just as he reached this point, a sweet, dainty voice suddenly drifted out from the old physician’s transmission bracelet.

"Grandpa Physician, where are you? I don't know how to tie this Magnetic Spirit Suit. Come and help me, quickly."

The voice was coquettish. Upon hearing it, the old physician’s body involuntarily shuddered. He forced a dry cough and gave everyone a stern glare. Then, he turned and left in a great hurry, while speaking excitedly into the transmission bracelet.

"Oh, I'm coming, I'm coming! Don't worry, little baby, I'll be right there to help you."

This reversal was too fast and the contrast too great. Everyone was dumbfounded. Even Wang Baole was stunned for a moment. It took a long time before he sucked in a breath. As the crowd erupted into an uncontrollable uproar, Wang Baole gnashed his teeth and cursed along with them.

"Shameless! This old lecher, everything he said before was bullshit! There are only so many female students, and there aren't enough for us to go around, yet at his age, he’s still competing with us for resources! He’s just relying on being a minor official!" The more Wang Baole thought about it, the angrier he got. Amidst the discussions with his classmates, his dream of becoming an official became even firmer in his heart.

As the alarm intensified, the discussions finally ended, and everyone went to the Spirit Cultivation rooms with indignation in their hearts.

The Spirit Cultivation rooms were located in the core area of the airship. As the name suggested, they were places for students to cultivate, but they were also the most heavily protected areas when the ship passed through special zones.

In the Spirit Cultivation room, as everyone gathered, the accompanying teachers from Misty Academy arranged for everyone to sit in several rows and put on the ship-specific Magnetic Spirit Suits issued by the Academy.

Just after putting on the suit, Wang Baole was still immersed in his resentment toward Physician Lu. He casually looked around, and his already depressed mood soured even further because of a gaze from the distance. He instinctively frowned, showing a look of disgust.

In the direction he was looking sat a girl with long, slender legs. She was quite beautiful, but at the moment, her brow was also furrowed in an expression of loathing. Clearly, in their shared gaze, the other party was both familiar and extremely detestable.

"Bad luck!" both muttered in their hearts, quickly looking away as if looking at each other would sting their eyes.

"To think I'd run into that flat-chested Du Min everywhere. So annoying!" Wang Baole muttered. This girl named Du Min had been in his class since they were children. She was particularly arrogant, and using her status as class monitor, she had constantly made things difficult for him. Those two pieces of candy back then had been given to her…

"What's the big deal? You're just a lousy class monitor. Once I get to the Academy, with my officialdom killing moves, I’ll be able to land a position myself!" Wang Baole snorted.

Soon, after everyone was dressed and the teachers from Misty Academy had inspected them one by one, they gave a series of instructions and warned everyone severely that entering the Lightning Magnetic Zone was dangerous and could potentially lead to a life-or-death crisis.

Upon seeing everyone’s expressions change, the teachers left solemnly. The door to the Spirit Cultivation room was sealed shut, and the lights gradually dimmed.

At this moment, although there were still low conversations in the Spirit Cultivation room, the sense of tension grew stronger as time passed. Gradually, no one spoke, and the room fell into complete silence.

In this silence, where one could almost hear their own heartbeat, even the resentful Wang Baole couldn't help but feel nervous. Finally, half a pillar of incense later, the entire airship jolted violently as it entered the Lightning Magnetic Zone!

From the outside, the black lightning clouds were incredibly vast, like a massive mouth that directly swallowed the hot-air balloon airship, which looked tiny in comparison.

This weather phenomenon seemed to contain the power of destruction, capable of sweeping away everything. Perhaps only that shocking sword-sun in the firmament could ignore it all, as if looking down upon the mortal world for thirty-seven years was not enough and it intended to watch for much longer.

This year was the 37th year of the Spirit Era.

In the year 3029 AD, Earth's technology had advanced rapidly. National borders had vanished, achieving a unified Earth and entering the era of the Federation. It was precisely at this time that a giant sword flew in from the starry sky and pierced the sun, shocking the world.

Perhaps because the hilt of this giant sword was already damaged, it shattered into numerous fragments during the violent impact, scattering across the starry sky. Some of these fragments fell to various places on Earth.

With the arrival of the bronze giant sword and the falling fragments, a new kind of energy appeared on Earth, seemingly permeating between heaven and earth in an endless flow. It was later named… Qi!

Qi was like air; it was thick in some places and thin in others. Because the Federation and various factions obtained those scattered fragments, they found all sorts of techniques related to cultivation, artifact refining, pill concocting, and Spirit Stone refinement upon them. The characters on the fragments were full of ancient meaning, leading to a trend of people studying ancient texts.

The emergence of Qi quickly replaced original energy sources and changed people's lives. It not only formed the Spirit Network but also changed the course of Earth's civilization, causing the entire Earth to begin a cultivation civilization.

From then on, Ancient Martial Arts rose, the world underwent a great transformation, and the era of universal cultivation began.

This was known as the Spirit Era.

At this moment, within the black lightning clouds, the slowly moving red hot-air balloon airship was being constantly bombarded by countless bolts of lightning. Fortunately, a soft screen of light spread out to protect it, making the ship incredibly stable.

As for the Spirit Cultivation room in the core area of the ship, all the students, including Wang Baole, had unknowingly fallen into a deep sleep. It was as if a strange power was guiding them into a dream.

Only in the main pavilion at the bow of the ship were there seven or eight teachers. Some were drinking tea, some were smiling, and they were chatting casually with each other—a stark contrast to their previous appearance when they were scaring the students.

The person in the lead was an old man with a face full of wrinkles, holding a tobacco pipe and taking puffs from it. If Wang Baole were here, he would have recognized him at a glance—this old man was none other than the "shameless" Physician Lu.

"Chancellor, everything is ready. Can we begin the zonal trial for this year's Misty Academy intake?" As a middle-aged teacher spoke, the pipe-smoking old physician gave a slight smile.

"Begin!"

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START OF 0004_还要请假.......txt
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I need to take more leave...

I need to take more leave...
Matters haven't been fully resolved yet, so I’m taking another 2 days off. Please rest assured, everyone, all the owed chapters will be made up!
I know taking leave like this isn't good, and I sincerely apologize. I will do my best to make them up!

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START OF Chapter 1027
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Chapter 1027: The Interstellar Marketplace!

Seeing that Wang Baole had agreed, the smile on Xie Haiyang’s face grew even brighter. Indeed, as Wang Baole had suspected, encountering the Xie family’s interstellar marketplace was something Xie Haiyang had prepared in advance.

With Xie Haiyang’s current status in the family, he wasn't yet powerful enough to command an entire interstellar marketplace to do his bidding. After all, these marketplaces served primarily as passenger transports, ferrying people between fixed locations. They were one of the pillars of the Xie family's business. Every interstellar marketplace was permanently overseen by family experts and only followed the decrees of the current head of the Xie family.

However… through his father’s influence, while he couldn’t command the marketplace, he could still manage to have this particular marketplace on this specific interstellar route linger for a few extra days at a certain point along its fixed path.

After all, there was no such thing as "precise punctuality" in the Xie family's interstellar marketplaces. Interstellar travel was inherently long and subject to many variables. Thus, naturally, through Xie Haiyang's efforts, this marketplace—which was already bound for the Fate Star—appeared right on Wang Baole's mandatory path.

Such preparations were exactly how Xie Haiyang intended to showcase himself. He knew his advantages very well: his identity as a member of the Xie family and the countless tradeable resources he represented.

He held a certain degree of control over these resources. He could use them to bring value to the family and raise his own status, or he could sign off on them within his authority, charging them to his own account to be offset by his long-term family stipend.

If he truly couldn’t offset the cost, he could use his father’s share. There were even ways to eventually leave them as bad debts on the books. There was far too much room for manipulation here. This was an inevitable stage of the Xie family’s growth; as the family grew larger and the business expanded, it naturally became bloated, leading to countless tangled financial issues.

It wasn't that the Xie family didn't want to solve these problems, but rather that they couldn't touch them. Once they tried to fix it, the entire Xie family might fall apart. If they left it alone and focused on expanding revenue to bring in fresh blood, they could keep things going.

As a member of the Xie family, Xie Haiyang was naturally aware of these issues. In the past, he wouldn't have acted this way, but now that his father was facing hidden troubles and no one in the family cared—with many even watching from the sidelines with glee—Xie Haiyang was filled with resentment. Coupled with his desire to curry favor with Wang Baole and the Blazing Galaxy, he decided to suffer this massive financial loss.

"Resources are just resources. I might not have anything else, but I have plenty of money!" Xie Haiyang’s eyes gleamed as the interstellar marketplace drew closer. He felt that no matter how much he spent, as long as he established a relationship with the Blazing Galaxy and Chen Qingzi, it would all be worth it.

With such thoughts in mind, Wang Baole’s mood naturally couldn't be anything but pleasant after he stepped onto the Xie family’s interstellar marketplace.

This marketplace was composed of over ten giant ships, each comparable to a small planet. Half of the area was filled with rows of shops, while the other half was packed with cultivators who had purchased tickets. As a result, the marketplace was teeming with life, bustling and vibrant like a unique civilization.

Since its destination was the Fate Star, most cultivators going to offer birthday greetings—aside from those from top-tier families and powers who traveled by their own means—traveled on ships like these. Consequently, this time, the Xie family's interstellar marketplace even had a giant ship specifically dedicated to trading various rare items that could be purchased as birthday gifts.

Wang Baole saw the crowded scene; not only were there many cultivators, but their origins were also incredibly diverse. Besides human-like cultivators, there were beast and plant cultivators. For instance, as soon as Wang Baole boarded the ship, he saw a bunch of sunflowers walking past him… At the same time, there were people whose bodies seemed composed of rules, such as stone men and fire men. He even saw a cultivator with a human body but the head of a fish.

Those with wings, multiple heads, or multiple arms were also everywhere. Even more bizarre were those clad in black robes; if one looked closely, the inside of the robes was completely empty, yet as they floated past, they emitted ripples of power that made even Wang Baole’s heart skip a beat.

"Those are cultivators from the Death Disciple Star. It’s not that they don't have bodies, but because of the difference in the light spectrum, we can't see them. Only those whose cultivation has reached the Planet realm can see their true forms."

"Those are practitioners from the Serotti Star. Their home is a sea said to be able to corrode everything. Born there, they naturally master the rules of water, and every one of them is quite strong!" As Wang Baole’s gaze swept across the area, Xie Haiyang stood beside him, introducing them in a low voice.

"As for those with multiple heads and arms, most have some bloodline connection to the Never-Ending Clan. As you know, being the masters of the Never-Ending Dao Domain, the Never-Ending Clan is vast. Over countless years, they have interbred with many other races, resulting in these peculiar descendants..."

Listening to Xie Haiyang’s introductions, Wang Baole felt his horizons broadening. In reality, he had spent most of the recent years in the starry skies outside the Federation and had seen quite a bit, but coming to the Xie family's interstellar marketplace still made him feel that his perspective had widened.

Soon, Wang Baole’s gaze shifted away from the various cultivators in the marketplace. Accompanied by Xie Haiyang and followed by the eight Planet realm protectors, he wandered through the marketplace for a bit before entering a shop.

This was a shop that specialized in medicinal pills. It had two floors and a very complete stock. Whether it was pills needed for the Planet realm or for Qi Condensation, the variety was immense. There were also some rare treasures that were hard to find in the outside world. What was even more extravagant was that in the center of the first-floor hall sat a pill furnace so large it would take five people to encircle it, with wisps of green smoke drifting out.

Inhaling this smoke would stimulate the surge of Immortal Qi within the body. If one bathed in it for a long time, it would be of great benefit to one's cultivation. Such incense was valuable in its own right, yet it was provided here free of charge. This showed the deep foundations of the shop. Perhaps for this reason, the shop was crowded with cultivators, and transactions were being made at almost every moment.

Both the buyers and the assistants inside looked very busy.

However, despite being such an obviously extraordinary and booming shop, as soon as Wang Baole entered and Xie Haiyang gave a light cough, an old man quickly flew out from within. This old man’s cultivation was surprisingly at the Planet realm. Upon seeing Xie Haiyang, he gave a faint smile, and Xie Haiyang stepped forward to bow when he saw the old man.

"Greetings, Old Yao."

The old man nodded and then looked at Wang Baole. Wang Baole looked back with a smile and cupped his fists slightly. The old man immediately returned the gesture. Then, his gaze seemingly accidentally swept over the eight Planet realm cultivators behind Wang Baole. A smile appeared on his face as he turned and spoke calmly to the surroundings.

"Fellow Daoists, please depart for now. This shop is receiving honored guests and will be closed for half an hour!"

As soon as he spoke, the expressions of all the cultivators in the shop changed. While they all looked toward Wang Baole’s group, the assistants in the shop immediately executed the old man’s order, politely escorting everyone out.

Although some cultivators were displeased, there was nothing they could do. Soon, there were no other customers in the shop besides Wang Baole’s party. As the doors closed, Wang Baole felt a slight tremor in his heart.

Truth be told, this was the first time he had received such treatment. He felt very gratified deep down, but on the surface, he knit his brows slightly and gave Xie Haiyang a deep look.

"Haiyang, why go to such lengths?"

"Sixteenth Junior Uncle is of noble status. I was worried you would be disturbed by idle people, so I took the liberty of deciding. Please punish me, Junior Uncle!" No matter what Xie Haiyang was thinking internally, he looked completely sincere.

"You... let this be the only time." Wang Baole shook his head and spoke calmly. He then turned to the manager of the shop, the man called Old Yao, and cupped his fists.

"Thank you, Senior Old Yao."

Although Old Yao had given such high-status treatment for Xie Haiyang’s sake, seeing that Wang Baole clearly had an extraordinary identity yet remained polite to him made him feel quite pleased. Thus, he nodded with a smile and summoned two female disciples, both of whom possessed excellent figures and appearances, to accompany them and introduce the pills.

These two female disciples were clearly very curious about Wang Baole. After all, being accompanied by one of the young masters, Xie Haiyang, and enjoying the treatment of a closed shop all pointed to Wang Baole’s extraordinary nature.

Thus, with charming smiles and incredibly gentle words, they began their introductions. They soon discovered that as long as the guest looked at a pill for more than a few moments, the young master standing beside him would immediately take it down and put it into a storage bag without the guest even needing to speak.

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START OF Chapter 1028
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Chapter 1028: Encountering the Little Fatty Again

This scene caused the two female disciples to become even more enthusiastic. One of them, her thoughts shifting, began to move closer to Wang Baole. Several times while introducing items, she seemed to unintentionally brush her full chest against Wang Baole’s arm.

“Young master, the bottle of medicinal liquid you’re looking at is called Azure Spring. Just one drop can rapidly heal a damaged soul.”

“And this pill is called Earthyellow Pill. It nourishes and strengthens the body. Long-term use enhances vitality and is also beneficial for physical cultivation.” As she spoke, the female disciple took down the pill and placed it in Wang Baole’s hand. At the moment she handed it over, she subtly traced his palm with her finger.

Her various actions were not obvious. In fact, unless one experienced it personally, others would find it difficult to notice anything unusual. This clearly showed that such behavior was not accidental. She was evidently well-practiced, able to subtly stir people’s emotions and tempt them into impulsive, irrational purchases.

However, she did not use this tactic on just anyone. She mainly targeted young people with influential backgrounds who were new to cultivation. Now that she saw Wang Baole, she judged him to be exactly that type, and thus she became even more diligent in her performance.

Wang Baole blinked. He understood everything clearly, and his heart felt quite pleased. He could not help but sigh emotionally, deliberately ignoring other factors and instead lamenting his own handsome appearance. He felt that his looks seemed to bring him endless troubles no matter where he went.

“Sigh, sigh. My charm is simply too great. It’s not their fault.” Wang Baole coughed lightly, magnanimously forgiving the female cultivator’s actions as if he hadn’t noticed anything, choosing understanding instead.

This scene fell into Xie Haiyang’s eyes, and he blinked, becoming even more certain of his judgment.

“This fatty really is lustful. That makes things easier…”

But just as that thought arose in Xie Haiyang’s mind, a cold snort suddenly echoed within Wang Baole’s mind.

“Fatty, you’re enjoying yourself quite a bit, aren’t you? Why don’t you just pull her into your arms and cherish her properly?”

Hearing that cold snort, Wang Baole suddenly felt a bit guilty. He instinctively cast a cold glance at the female cultivator beside him. Though he did not speak aloud, he silently declared in his heart:

“How could such vulgar and ordinary women ever enter Wang’s eyes!”

With that silent declaration and his cold gaze, the female cultivator immediately noticed and quietly stepped back.

“Please don’t refer to yourself as ‘Wang’ like that… And why aren’t you enjoying yourself anymore?” The young lady’s tone in his mind was tinged with sarcasm.

“These vulgar women—I, Wang Baole, am a gentleman. How could I allow them to take advantage of me? Little missy, you’ve underestimated me.” Wang Baole calmly replied in his heart, his expression unchanged as he continued looking at other pills.

Of course, Xie Haiyang knew none of this. What he saw was Wang Baole initially seeming to allow the female disciple’s behavior, only to quickly grow disgusted by it. This made him puzzled, feeling that his earlier judgment might have been wrong. After observing carefully, Wang Baole’s expressions and actions truly seemed to reflect genuine disgust.

Yet Xie Haiyang was certain Wang Baole had not been like this before. This contradictory change immediately gave rise to a sense of unfathomable depth in Xie Haiyang’s heart. He decided to observe further. After all, trying to cater to someone’s preferences could backfire terribly if misjudged.

Meanwhile, Wang Baole finished browsing the first floor and went up to the second. Eventually, he purchased all the pills he had taken interest in from Xie Haiyang. Just as he was about to leave, Wang Baole spoke calmly.

“I wonder if there are any miraculous pills here that benefit damaged souls?”

This was the first time Wang Baole had voiced his needs since entering the shop. Xie Haiyang’s spirits lifted immediately, and he quickly made arrangements. Soon, dozens of pills beneficial to damaged souls were brought forward.

After a glance, Wang Baole nodded slightly. Without hesitation, Xie Haiyang waved his hand and bought all of them, then continued following Wang Baole to the next shop.

Several days passed like this. As the interstellar flying vessel continued forward, Wang Baole visited dozens of different shops in the Xie family’s interstellar marketplace, accompanied by Xie Haiyang. Though not every shop closed its doors to serve Wang Baole exclusively, most of them did.

Such treatment delighted Wang Baole greatly. Xie Haiyang’s constant purchases made him feel extremely satisfied. However, Wang Baole knew he could not be too greedy and needed to maintain restraint. Thus, while he visited many shops, aside from pills, the items Xie Haiyang purchased were not overly excessive.

By the end, even Xie Haiyang, despite trying to curry favor, felt deep admiration. He realized Wang Baole’s achievements were not accidental.

After all, not everyone could restrain their greed in such circumstances. Wang Baole could have demanded far more, and Xie Haiyang would have gritted his teeth and paid.

Yet Wang Baole maintained perfect moderation. Several times, Xie Haiyang had already signaled the shopkeeper to complete purchases, only to be stopped by Wang Baole.

“Brother Haiyang, I understand your intentions, but there’s truly no need. No one’s wealth comes easily, and with so many members in your Xie family, there must be many watching you.”

Inside a magical artifact shop that had not closed its doors, Wang Baole spoke sincerely. Even Xie Haiyang, who had cultivated a merchant’s mindset since childhood, felt moved by Wang Baole’s expression.

In the end, he spoke frankly.

“Sixteenth Uncle, it’s true that I’ve spent some favors and allocation from my branch of the family in this marketplace. But… since they’ve already been spent, whether it’s more or less doesn’t really matter.”

As he spoke, Xie Haiyang signaled the shopkeeper to purchase a crimson flying sword Wang Baole had glanced at several times.

The sword was extraordinary. Attached to it was the soul of a young dragon. Even in this shop, which was not owned by the Xie family but another faction, the sword was considered a top-tier treasure, and its price was equally astonishing.

Although the shop was not owned by the Xie family, since it operated within the Xie family’s interstellar marketplace, Xie Haiyang still had authority to sign for purchases.

Seeing that Xie Haiyang didn’t mind, Wang Baole looked deeply at him and was about to speak when suddenly, an arrogant voice sounded behind them.

“This flying sword is not bad. I—hm?”

The voice began arrogantly but suddenly turned into a gasp. Wang Baole and Xie Haiyang turned to look.

They immediately saw a young fat man who had just entered the shop. His face showed a trace of fear as he stared at them. He wore luxurious clothing and possessed early Planetary Realm cultivation. Three elderly men followed behind him, clearly protectors of a powerful faction’s direct disciple.

But now, when he saw Wang Baole, fear filled his eyes. When their gazes met, the fat man gasped sharply and retreated seven or eight steps with surprising agility for his round body.

“Oh?” Wang Baole’s lips curled into a smile. This little fatty was one of the prodigies he had encountered in the Starfall Land—and whom he had tricked several times.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the little fatty. Haha, it’s been a long time.” Wang Baole smiled and walked toward him.

“Don’t come any closer!” the little fatty shouted loudly.

Instantly, the three elderly protectors stepped forward, blocking Wang Baole.

Perhaps reassured by their presence, the little fatty regained some courage and glared angrily.

“My name is Zhou Linfeng, not little fatty! Whether you’re Xie Dalu or Wang Baole, don’t push things too far!!”

“Oh, is that so?” Wang Baole blinked and glanced at Xie Haiyang.

“Haiyang, how about we let the little fatty have this flying sword.”

Then Wang Baole turned back toward Zhou Linfeng and licked his lips slightly.

“You’re sure you want to buy this flying sword, right?”

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START OF Chapter 1029
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**Chapter 1029: Fame Begins to Spread!**

Hearing Wang Baole’s words and seeing his gaze—especially noting the way he licked his lips—the little fatty felt a bad premonition. Memories of being "butchered" multiple times in the Starry Sky Falling Land instantly flooded back.

"Who said I wanted this sword? I don’t want it!" He instinctively shook his head, putting on a look of total disdain. With a wave of his right hand, he produced a crystal card with a face value of ten thousand red crystals from his storage bag and tossed it toward Wang Baole.

"What I said just now was that this flying sword is decent, enough for me to spend ten thousand red crystals just for a look!" Without even glancing at the card he had thrown, the little fatty turned and bolted.

This scene left the three elders in front of him stunned. They were somewhat baffled by the situation. In their memory, their young master was like an iron rooster—to say he was stingy was an understatement. In a sense, getting him to part with money was like carving out his heart or kidneys; it was practically impossible.

But now… they had seen with their own eyes the young master proactively tossing away ten thousand red crystals. Filled with confusion, the three elders exchanged looks and glanced back at Wang Baole before hurrying after the little fatty.

Equally confused was Xie Haiyang. He felt the scene was far too bizarre and couldn't help but look at Wang Baole. As for Wang Baole, he caught the crystal card, his heart full of surprise.

"Why did the little fatty give me money? I didn't even do anything. I just asked him if he was sure he wanted to buy the sword." Wang Baole couldn't follow the little fatty’s logic. He really had just been asking; he hadn’t harbored any other intentions. As for licking his lips, that was just a subconscious reaction upon seeing an old acquaintance he had fleeced many times before.

"Could it be that my charm is so great that even men can't handle it?" Wang Baole sucked in a breath at the thought. Beside him, Xie Haiyang remained dazed but felt more and more that Wang Baole was unfathomable.

Meanwhile, after fleeing the shop, the little fatty sped up even more. It wasn't until he had sprinted through several streets that he finally let out a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

The three elders behind him couldn't hold back anymore, and one of them asked, "Young Master, why did you give him red crystals?"

"You guys don't understand!" The little fatty turned back to look deeply in the direction of Wang Baole’s shop.

"That guy is full of wicked ideas. He’s always digging pits for people. He’s an expert at extortion and scams—a shameless person who would scrape the ground three feet deep for profit!"

"The moment I said I wanted to buy it, he would have definitely done something. For instance, the sword might have shattered the instant it touched my hand, and then I’d have to pay compensation. Or maybe the sword was just the bait—if I bought it, I’d be struck by some bizarre poison, and he’d sell me the antidote. Or maybe the moment I nodded, a bunch of powerhouses would appear and tell me the price tag was wrong!" The little fatty stood there with an air of one who had seen through everything, leaving the three elders staring at each other in bewilderment.

"Hmph, that was a close call just now. If I hadn't reacted quickly and paid to avoid disaster, that Xie Dalu would have definitely butchered me again. Xie Dalu, oh Xie Dalu, don't think Master Zhou doesn't know about your stomach full of bad water. You must have had a whole series of follow-ups waiting for me, eventually forcing me to pay hundreds of thousands or even more red crystals!" Thinking of this, Zhou Linfeng felt he had been exceptionally wise.

"You'll realize later that this guy… is terrifying!" The little fatty took a deep breath. Feeling that this distance still wasn't quite safe, he accelerated again, racing further away. But before he had gone far, he suddenly stopped and slapped his thigh.

"I’ve got it! What I said before doesn't fit his style. That Xie Dalu must have intended to make the sword self-destruct the moment he handed it to me, hurting himself in the process to frame me for a sneak attack! This is the Xie family’s market; he would have definitely bitten me and demanded at least several million red crystals in compensation!"

"Sinister! Truly sinister!" A wave of lingering fear washed over Zhou Linfeng. He looked back at the direction of the shop once more and fled even faster.

Wang Baole, naturally, knew nothing of this. Holding the flying sword, he suppressed his confusion and continued strolling through the floating market accompanied by Xie Haiyang.

As they walked, Wang Baole bought so many things that his storage bag could no longer hold them. In the end, Xie Haiyang gifted him a larger storage bag to accommodate everything.

Another half-month passed. As the Starry Sky Trade Fair drew closer to Destiny Star, it made several stops along the way. Many cultivators came and went, making the massive vessel even more lively. During this time, Wang Baole and Xie Haiyang moved to the First Flying Vessel.

The First Flying Vessel was the lead ship of the Xie family’s trade fleet. In half a month, it would separate from the fleet outside the Destiny Star System to take all the cultivators heading for Destiny Star to their destination. As for the others, their journey ended outside the system; where they went next was not the responsibility of the trade fair.

Currently, in a VIP suite on the First Flying Vessel, Wang Baole stood on a balcony looking down at the market below. Xie Haiyang stood by his side and spoke in a low voice.

"It’s been cleared up. There are roughly twenty thousand cultivators on this ship heading to Destiny Star. Aside from those going to offer birthday congratulations, many are just using Destiny Star as a transit point. Among those attending the birthday celebrations, there are seven people who were in the Starry Sky Falling Land with you, Uncle-Master Sixteen." At this point, Xie Haiyang glanced at Wang Baole and listed the seven names. Aside from Zhou Linfeng, most were unfamiliar to Wang Baole, but he believed he would recognize them on sight. After all, he had fleeced nearly everyone in the Starry Sky Falling Land.

"As for Li Wan'er, there’s no information."

"And then there is Xu Yinling of the Nine Phoenix Sect. After merging with a Dao Star, her status in the sect skyrocketed. She is now the First Saintess. Naturally, she wouldn't take my Xie family’s interstellar vessel."

"However…" Xie Haiyang paused.

"What?" Wang Baole looked at Xie Haiyang.

"The Nine Phoenix Sect hasn't made an official statement, but recently, Xu Yinling has reportedly expressed her admiration for you, Uncle-Master Sixteen, to many of her peers on multiple occasions. At the same time, she mentioned that because you obtained a Dao Star, even though you haven't fully stabilized or fused with it yet, you are still at least among the top three Planet-stage geniuses of this generation. She has many admirers, so…" Xie Haiyang’s expression was strange.

"She’s making enemies for me and hinting to others that my Dao Star hasn't fully fused, meaning it can still be plundered. She’s painting a target on my back. This Nine Phoenix woman is a bit childish. It seems I didn't hit her hard enough in the Starry Sky Falling Land." Wang Baole smiled. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he spotted a familiar figure in the market below.

It was Li Linzi. Back at the beginning of the Starry Sky Falling Land, he had been at odds with Wang Baole, though he had remained relatively quiet toward the end. Now, his cultivation had reached the Planet stage. Though it wasn't a special star, it was at the Immortal Star level. Sensing Wang Baole’s gaze, he looked up and met his eyes.

At that single glance, Li Linzi’s pupils constricted. He froze in his tracks and hesitated for a moment before cupping his fists slightly toward Wang Baole on the balcony above, then hurried away.

Xie Haiyang naturally witnessed this, causing his eyes to narrow slightly. Regarding Wang Baole’s deeds in the Starry Sky Falling Land, he had only collected oral accounts from others and hadn't experienced it himself. The impression wasn't particularly deep, and he had even felt the stories might be exaggerated. But now, seeing Zhou Linfeng—whose family wasn't the most powerful but still significant—and this Li Linzi both being so wary of Wang Baole, he realized that what he knew wasn't an exaggeration. If anything, the truth likely exceeded what he had learned.

"Uncle-Master Sixteen, you should be careful. This trip to Destiny Star… there might be some turbulence. Most of your old acquaintances from the Starry Sky Falling Land will likely be there. Additionally, there are other Planet-stage geniuses who didn't go to the Falling Land who will also appear on Destiny Star."

"Therefore, as the possessor of a Dao Star, you will likely be targeted!"

"Wouldn't that be quite interesting?" Wang Baole laughed. In that moment, battle intent rose in his eyes. He felt that since returning from the Divine Eye Civilization, he had been silent for too long. Now that he was meeting old acquaintances, it was time to establish his prestige once again.

This also aligned with the domineering intent formed by his cultivation of the Star Sealing Art!

"Perhaps, this is also Master's intention!"

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START OF Chapter 1030
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Chapter 1030: Xie Haiyang’s Trouble!

Looking at Wang Baole, Xie Haiyang felt a tremor in his heart. The Wang Baole of this moment felt different from the one in his memories. In his impression, the Wang Baole who had yet to leave the Federation was a ruthless man—ruthless to himself, and even more so to his enemies.

But that was all. Even when they met again in the Divine Eye Civilization, the feeling Wang Baole gave Xie Haiyang was still that of someone with great intellect and incomparable ruthlessness, yet he lacked a certain presence. Though he had high investment value, he wasn't someone who couldn't be abandoned if the stakes were high enough.

But now… things were different. It wasn't just because of the change in Wang Baole’s background or his own needs; more importantly, it was the domineering aura that had appeared on him. Xie Haiyang had only seen this kind of aura on a few people, and without exception, those who possessed it—provided they didn't perish young—achieved extraordinary things. Each of them reached heights that forced him to look up.

In truth, Wang Baole had long since noticed his own transformation. He felt this change in mindset, which didn't stem from having a master, but from practicing the Star-Sealing Art!

As he condensed the Old Ox Star Chart, this art slowly influenced him, causing his ruthlessness to evolve and coalesce into a domineering intent. This intent manifested as an unstoppable force—the resolve to charge forward against any difficulty or obstacle, slaying all who stood in his way!

The time spent in the Flame Galaxy had been like a period of accumulation. Now that he was traveling, it was one thing if no one provoked him, but once someone did, this aura of his would erupt with a bang.

Wang Baole did not reject this subtle change; instead, he was filled with anticipation for the upcoming trip to the Destiny Galaxy. His wait did not last long. Half a month later, as the Xie Family Starry Sky Marketplace traversed the void and appeared in an unfamiliar galaxy, a large number of cultivators reached their destination and departed. The first spirit ship, carrying those heading to the birthday celebration, roared as it entered this unfamiliar galaxy known as Destiny.

Just as the ship shuttled into the Destiny Galaxy, it shuddered violently. In the rear area of the vessel, a brilliant light shone, and a sudden surge of teleportation power spread out, affecting the entire ship.

This wasn't caused by external factors, nor was it an attack. Someone had activated the teleportation formation on the Xie family ship, transferring directly from a distant location in a point-to-point transmission.

This scene immediately drew the attention of all the cultivators on the ship. Noticing this, Wang Baole walked out onto the terrace and looked into the distance. While feeling the surrounding fluctuations, his divine sense suddenly spread out to observe, and he noticed that Xie Haiyang’s expression had changed.

"Is there a problem?" Seeing Xie Haiyang’s face grow increasingly pale, Wang Baole asked.

"My family has set up teleportation formations on every ship, but these formations are not for public use... Only members of the Xie family can use them, and each use consumes a massive amount of family contribution points."

"Furthermore... the greater the distance of the teleportation, the higher the cost, and the longer the fluctuations and light will last. This teleportation has been active for thirty breaths now and hasn't ended yet. This means the person... is coming from an extremely distant location!"

"To arrive at this time, they are clearly here to celebrate the birthday of Heavenly Dharma Superior. I think I’ve guessed who it is!" Xie Haiyang spoke in a low voice, his expression somber and his eyes even showing a hint of bloodshot veins.

"It is my clan brother, ranked fifth among the direct descendants of our generation—Xie Yunteng!"

"And I am ranked ninth. Between him and me, there is an irreconcilable grudge!" Just as Xie Haiyang said this, the teleportation fluctuations in the distance became overwhelmingly powerful. The light was so brilliant it seemed to cover the entire ship. Many Xie family members on the vessel flew out toward the teleportation site; they didn't approach but bowed respectfully from the perimeter.

Only Elder Yao and several other Stellar cultivators were able to traverse the teleportation fluctuations and enter the inner area to wait!

In the next instant, a thunderous boom echoed as nine figures emerged from the light at the core of the teleportation fluctuations!

One person was in the lead with eight following behind. As their figures rapidly coalesced, Elder Yao and the others outside the formation immediately clasped their hands and bowed with solemn expressions.

"Greetings, Fifth Young Master!"

As their voices rang out, everyone from the Xie family in the surrounding area bowed as one. Their voices merged together, spreading out in a grand wave.

"Greetings, Fifth Young Master!"

Under the gaze of the crowd, the nine figures within the teleportation formation finally fully materialized. The eight in the back were dressed in black robes; they were men and women, old and young, and every one of them radiated terrifying Stellar fluctuations. They were surrounded by a murderous aura, clearly indicating they were not just highly cultivated but were also veterans of slaughter.

In front of those eight stood a man in a golden robe. He was a young man with flowing black hair and an extraordinarily handsome face. He bore a faint resemblance to Xie Haiyang, but in a real comparison, one would feel a difference like clouds and mud. After all, Xie Haiyang was, overall, far too ordinary.

This golden-robed youth was clearly only at the Great Circle of the Planet realm, yet he radiated a dazzling light, giving off an invisible pressure.

At the same time, a trace of an eerie aura seemed hidden between his brows. Blending with his handsome features, it formed a sense of tyranny. Such a bizarre combination made him unforgettable to anyone who saw him.

"I almost came late." The youth pressed the center of his brow with his right pinky finger, his voice carrying a certain delicate, almost feminine quality. Then he looked up, his eyes slowly narrowing. His gaze was like lightning, cutting through the sky and traversing the distance to land directly on Xie Haiyang, who stood beside Wang Baole on the terrace of the VIP pavilion!

"Ninth Brother, why haven't you come to kneel before me!"

Though separated by a great distance and being only a voice, the moment the words were spoken, they seemed to possess world-shaking power, booming directly onto the terrace where Wang Baole and Xie Haiyang were.

This power was incredibly eerie, seemingly able to distort everything and even affect the soul. In the instant it erupted, it transformed into a mass of golden lightning that enveloped Xie Haiyang like a giant hand, intending to seize him and pull him over!

Xie Haiyang was about to resist, but as a crimson glow appeared on his face and his body trembled, he seemed to be suppressed, unable to resist in the slightest. At that moment, the golden-robed youth’s voice echoed again.

"The family has already revoked your bloodline protection. Now, facing me—who holds the authority of law enforcement—you have no power to resist under the suppression of our bloodline. Come here!" As the voice arrived, the giant hand formed of golden lightning around Xie Haiyang was about to pull him up. But at that moment, a cold glint flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. He lifted his right foot and stepped down lightly!

With this step, a ripple suddenly erupted from beneath his foot. Amidst cracking sounds, the giant hand of golden lightning around Xie Haiyang instantly turned into scraps of paper, losing all its divine power and drifting down like snowflakes.

Xie Haiyang’s body shuddered. Once the restraint was broken, he stumbled back several steps and spoke urgently.

"Baole, I’ve implicated you. It seems something unexpected happened in the family. He came prepared and has already taken control of the ship. We are at a disadvantage here; we must leave immediately!"

"You want to leave?" Almost the instant Xie Haiyang spoke, the golden-robed youth in the formation showed a flash of malice in his eyes. His body blurred as he transformed into a long rainbow, booming through the sky as he headed straight for the marketplace.

The eight Stellar cultivators behind him also blurred, following close behind. From a distance, the world trembled as these nine people approached like nine sharp blades!

Xie Yunteng, who was in the lead, arrived in an instant. While mid-air, he raised his right hand and pressed it toward the terrace. Countless golden lightning bolts roared and gathered from all directions, forming a giant golden hand a thousand feet across in the blink of an eye, descending with crushing force!

"Who said I was leaving?" Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. Looking at the descending giant hand, he spoke calmly.

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END OF Chapter 1030
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START OF Chapter 1031
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Chapter 1031: Suppressed!

Standing on the terrace, the moment Wang Baole spoke, he raised his right hand and swept it toward the incoming thousand-foot golden hand. As he did, the surroundings erupted with a roar, and an equally massive handprint instantly manifested before him!

It was a thousand feet wide and glowed with nine distinct colors. The moment it appeared, the minds of every nearby cultivator trembled. Many even found their bodies uncontrollably emitting flashes of colored light!

This was because that seemingly simple wave of the hand had formed a handprint containing the nine different rules of his nine ancient stars!

These nine rules essentially covered the vast majority of attributes found in the divine abilities of most cultivators. Coupled with the suppression inherent in its higher grade, Wang Baole’s single wave of the hand not only suppressed the cultivation of the surrounding cultivators but also caused those who possessed similar rules to tremble. Their cultivation bases were drawn out, and amidst the shimmering lights on their bodies, they were forced to surrender a portion of their own power!

This was a deeper application of his abilities that Wang Baole had mastered during his recent period of cultivation and refinement within the Flame Stellar System, as he grew more familiar with his nine ancient stars. By mastering this method, group battles became, in fact, even more advantageous for him!

Visible to the naked eye, as various colors of light appeared on the bodies of the numerous cultivators in the marketplace, those lights transformed into beams that shot straight toward the handprint in front of Wang Baole. They converged instantly, causing the handprint to swell even further until it reached several thousand feet in size before crashing toward the golden hand descending from the sky!

From a distance, the golden hand might have been a thousand feet wide with a momentum like a surging rainbow, but compared to Wang Baole’s handprint, it was still far too small. This sight caused Xie Yunteng’s expression to shift drastically as he approached.

In the instant his expression changed, the two handprints collided. A world-shaking boom, louder than heavenly thunder and echoing in all directions, suddenly erupted atop the flying ship. The sheer momentum and impact transformed into layers of ripples that rumbled outward continuously.

In the blink of an eye, the stalls and shops in the marketplace where the two clashed collapsed one after another. Countless buildings crumbled into dust, and many cultivators within the marketplace coughed up blood as they retreated frantically.

Looking out, the marketplace within a three-thousand-meter radius had been reduced to nothingness in an instant. Only the VIP pavilion where Wang Baole stood remained upright amidst the ruins, completely unscathed. Standing on the terrace, Wang Baole’s eyes flashed with a soaring battle intent as he stared into the air. There, Xie Yunteng was being forced back continuously until he finally steadied himself a hundred feet away!

"You..." Xie Yunteng’s expression was incredibly unsightly. He was just about to speak, but in the next instant, Wang Baole let out a long laugh and soared from the terrace.

"Interesting!" With those words, he took a step forward and arrived directly in mid-air. He moved so fast that he left behind a string of afterimages; he seemed to still be in the distance, but in reality, he was already in front of Xie Yunteng. He raised his right hand and pointed a finger downward!

As the finger pointed out, the surroundings twisted, and a mass of mist gathered. It was the Cloud Mist Finger!

This finger was already extraordinary. Among Wang Baole’s many previous divine abilities, it was one of the few that could be used as a trump card. Now, catalyzed by his mid-stage Planet realm cultivation and bolstered by the power of his ancient stars, its power far exceeded that of other mid-stage Planet realm cultivators.

In fact, up until now, aside from the move he used to save Xie Haiyang, Wang Baole had not used the power of his Dao Star at all. He wanted to see exactly how strong his combat power was without resorting to the Dao Star.

Therefore, this Cloud Mist Finger was not his absolute limit. Even so, it still caused Xie Yunteng’s expression to change and his pupils to constrict. The eight Stellar realm protectors behind him were about to step forward.

"Stay back!" Xie Yunteng suddenly growled.

"I’ll do it myself!" As he spoke, he didn't retreat but instead lunged forward. The moment he neared Wang Baole, his hands formed incantations and he swept them violently in front of him, a cold voice escaping his lips.

"Stars!"

As those words left his mouth, countless threads suddenly erupted from every part of his body, including his seven orifices and even his pores.

Every single one of these threads was black. They emitted a poisonous aura and carried a sense of sharpness that could slice through anything. The moment they appeared, the surrounding void twisted, and traces of tearing began to manifest.

In the blink of an eye, the threads became so numerous that they completely surrounded Xie Yunteng, forming a massive black silk cocoon!

This cocoon emitted an ancient, desolate aura, as well as the fluctuations of a star. If one looked closely, they could see that this was clearly a special planet!

This was the planet that Xie Yunteng, as the fifth son of the Xie family’s direct line, had fused with. It was indeed a special star—specifically, an ancient star that had failed to ascend to the level of a Dao Star!

Its rules were also strange. They were not conventional elements like water, fire, thunder, or lightning. Instead, they were... threads!

The Star of Silk!

This rule was rare even throughout the entire Never-Ending Dao Domain. This alone showed the profound depth of the Xie family's heritage.

The moment it appeared and transformed into a black cocoon, a strange light flickered in Wang Baole’s eyes. However, his Cloud Mist Finger did not hesitate for a second and slammed directly into it with a roar.

In the midst of the deafening boom that spread in all directions, the layers of the black silk cocoon collapsed. However, Wang Baole’s Cloud Mist Finger was also rapidly dissipating. By the time eighty percent of the black cocoon had shattered, the Cloud Mist Finger was finally neutralized completely, vanishing into the air.

"Constrict!" The moment the mist dissipated, a cruel glint appeared in the eyes of Xie Yunteng within the black cocoon. As he spoke, the threads that had collapsed and scattered earlier instantly returned to normal. They spread out violently, rushing toward Wang Baole from all directions at high speed.

They were like a massive net, sealing off the four quarters!

From a distance, Xie Yunteng looked as though he had transformed into a giant spider, and the threads he released were like a web that completely enveloped Wang Baole!

There were millions upon millions of threads forming this net, and every single one possessed shocking power. The cultivators who had retreated to watch from a distance were all shaken to their cores.

"So strong!"

"That rule power..."

"As expected of the Xie family's Fifth Young Master!!"

While the clamor erupted, Xie Haiyang, still on the terrace, also wore a look of shock. He wasn't surprised by Xie Yunteng’s power; he knew his relative was a battle-hungry individual within the family. Nor was he surprised by the other's ancient star, because he himself also possessed an ancient star!

It was just that their rules were different. What truly shocked him was Wang Baole!

One could say that Xie Haiyang had personally witnessed much of Wang Baole’s journey. Even though he had an estimate of Wang Baole’s combat strength, at this moment, his mind was still in a state of upheaval.

Because he knew that Wang Baole, who was already displaying such formidable momentum, still hadn't used his Sealing Star Art, and he hadn't deployed his Dao Star!

"And his nine ancient stars..." While Xie Haiyang murmured to himself, Wang Baole, in mid-air, broke into a smile.

"This is getting interesting." Wang Baole was very satisfied with this exchange. To encounter such an eerie rule was refreshing. As his smile widened, the battle intent in his eyes grew even more intense. He didn't retreat or dodge in the slightest. He took a step forward, raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and struck out with the most direct method!

This punch emitted a crimson light!

It was one of the rules of his ancient stars—the Crimson Blood Dao!

As the punch landed, fluctuations like ocean waves rose in all directions. The color was blood-red, carrying an ancient and desolate aura, like the blood of an ancient immortal, as it smashed toward the enveloping net of silk!

"An ancient star?" Xie Yunteng was stunned.

But it didn't end there. Wang Baole’s expression radiated an air of domineering arrogance as he took another step and threw another punch!

This punch was orange. It was the Orange Melody Dao. The moment it appeared, countless divine sounds filled the air, forming sound waves that boomed across the surroundings once again!

This scene caused Xie Yunteng’s expression to change drastically yet again!

"Another ancient star!!"

Before this, because he had arrived in a hurry, he didn't know who the person beside Xie Haiyang was. But now, a name suddenly surfaced in his mind—a rising sun among the younger generation who had emerged recently!

"Wang Baole!!"

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END OF Chapter 1031
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START OF Chapter 1032
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Chapter 1032: Condensing the Ancestral Shadow!

During this recent period of cultivation in the Blazing Flame Galaxy, Wang Baole hadn't paid much attention to his reputation in the outside world. In truth, ever since the list from the Starfall Land was released, his name had spread through the Weiyang Dao Domain like a storm.

Countless powerful families and organizations had taken notice. Many grew greedy, and while they held him in some regard, most harbored ill intentions. They were mostly eyeing his Dao Star; as for the man himself... his influence wasn't yet significant. After all, he hadn't fully grown, and being thrust into the spotlight so early was not necessarily a good thing.

However, news soon broke from the Blazing Flame Galaxy. The Blazing Flame Ancestor had taken Wang Baole as his disciple and had even personally intervened for him, forcing the Purple Gold Civilization to tremble and offer reparations. This news swept through the Weiyang Dao Domain like a hurricane, shocking the families and powers that had been watching Wang Baole.

They were forced to restrain their malice. The Blazing Flame Ancestor’s protective nature and fierce reputation were things people feared deeply. Because of this, Wang Baole’s name entered the vision of various powers once more, but the context was now entirely different.

With the Blazing Flame Ancestor backing him, and as a disciple who possessed a Dao Star, Wang Baole was now publicly recognized as a premier Heaven-Chosen.

At the same time, the Bell Girl, Xu Yinling, had added fuel to the fire, causing Wang Baole’s fame to spread even further. Almost every Heaven-Chosen from the major families had heard of him and knew he possessed a Dao Star formed from the convergence of nine ancient stars!

Therefore, upon seeing this formidable enemy before him manifest two rules of ancient stars, and recalling that Xie Haiyang had joined the Blazing Flame Galaxy, the identity of the person in front of him became blindingly obvious to Xie Yunteng.

"Wang Baole!"

Almost at the exact moment Xie Yunteng spoke, Wang Baole’s Rule of Blood and Rule of Music erupted simultaneously. They formed a tearing force that caused the giant web to tremble and begin to collapse.

But mere collapse wasn't enough for Wang Baole. He took another step forward, and his third, fourth, and fifth punches fell in rapid succession.

The Green Rule of Plants, the Azure Rule of Clouds, and the Blue Rule of Winds!

The three colors of light exploded instantly, fusing into Wang Baole’s fist. Like a crashing tidal wave, they manifested a colossal, sky-reaching tree, rolling layers of clouds, and hurricanes that appeared out of thin air from all directions. These were all manifestations of rules. Following the sea of blood and the sonic waves, they ravaged the already crumbling web of threads like a crushing weight.

Amidst the booming sounds, even though the web of threads was an ancient star, it was only equal to one of Wang Baole’s ancient stars. Having nine such stars, Wang Baole’s attacks were naturally like crushing dry weeds. The Rule of Silk contained within Xie Yunteng’s ancient star was simply unable to withstand it.

As it shattered continuously, it was like an egg hitting a rock. The sight left everyone watching in a state of intense shock. Xie Yunteng himself coughed up blood repeatedly; in a short span of time, he spat out five mouthfuls!

Every strike brought a spray of blood. Under Wang Baole’s successive attacks, Xie Yunteng’s figure was forced back again and again, and the phantom of the ancient star behind him grew increasingly distorted.

But... it wasn't over yet. Moving with incredible speed, Wang Baole threw a sixth, seventh, and eighth punch!

They were... the Purple Rule of Devouring, the Black Rule of Death, and finally, the White Rule of Light!

The moment these three rules appeared, the Devouring Seed within Wang Baole was triggered. His fist seemed to become a black hole capable of consuming all things, radiating a terrifying pressure. Deathly energy and an endless sea of light intertwined, erupting outward like a purifying force.

Booming sounds echoed once more. Every remaining strand of the silk web collapsed and was reduced to ashes, vanishing without a trace. Xie Yunteng spat out three more mouthfuls of blood. His hair was disheveled, and the shadow of the ancient star behind him could no longer endure. Cracks appeared across it until it finally shattered and dissipated.

Wang Baole stopped his assault. He looked coldly at the retreating Xie Yunteng and shook his head. In this exchange, he hadn't even utilized the enhancement of his Dao Star, nor had he revealed the Rule of Fire. Trump cards like the Star-Sealing Art and the Flame Spirit Curse remained unused.

Even so, he had completely crushed this so-called Heaven-Chosen. Wang Baole suddenly lost interest; a weakling like this was no longer qualified to serve as a whetstone for his strength.

"Do not disturb me again," Wang Baole said indifferently. He withdrew his gaze from Xie Yunteng and began walking toward the only intact VIP pavilion amidst the ruins.

"You!!" Being ignored in such a manner was something Xie Yunteng had rarely experienced in his life. His dignity and pride made it unbearable, and he let out a roar of rage.

Although his ancient star hadn't completely collapsed, such heavy damage had wounded his very foundation. As he stumbled back, the eight Stellar realm guards he had previously waved off appeared around him in an instant. Their expressions were cold as they simultaneously raised their right hands and pressed them toward Xie Yunteng.

Under this collective press, Xie Yunteng’s body recovered at a visible rate. The shadow of his ancient star did the same, and even his damaged foundation began to heal rapidly!

"Fifth Young Master, let us handle this," one of the elders among the eight said calmly while treating Xie Yunteng.

"No need! All of you get back! He's just a piece of trash, I can crush him myself!" Xie Yunteng’s body trembled. Though his complexion had returned to normal, a crazed light flickered in his eyes. Wisps of black gas began to emanate from his body. With a low roar, he threw his hands out and lunged forward, charging at Wang Baole once again.

"Wang Baole!" Amidst his roar, the black gas emanating from Xie Yunteng’s body became violent and multiplied instantly, enveloping him until he looked like a mass of mist.

The mist was pitch-black and expanded rapidly as it rolled. A pressure that grew stronger by the second erupted as he closed the distance to Wang Baole and the mist grew larger.

This pressure instantly surpassed Xie Yunteng’s previous level of cultivation, doubling, tripling... and as he drew closer, it continued to climb!

Wang Baole, who was about to step onto the terrace, suddenly paused. The interest he had lost returned in an instant as a sense of crisis surged within him. He turned around to look.

The moment he turned, Xie Haiyang’s urgent voice suddenly rang out.

"Baole, be careful! That is... the trump card of the Xie family's direct line, the Ancestral Shadow Condensation!! It is ineffective against family members, but against outsiders, it provides an incredible self-buff, causing combat power to skyrocket in a short time!!"

As Xie Haiyang spoke, the mist surrounding the charging Xie Yunteng erupted like black flames. Amidst the explosion, the mist coalesced into the silhouette of a human figure.

The figure was a hundred zhang tall. Its appearance shook the entire spirit boat and even affected the surrounding starry sky, causing ripples in space that forced the spirit boat to grind to a halt.

As the misty silhouette took form, an aura that felt ancient and weathered—as if it contained the weight of endless ages—spread out from the giant figure without reservation. It formed a powerful suppressive force that blanketed the area. At the same time, Wang Baole saw the face of the misty figure. It was a stern old man who possessed a natural majesty. His gaze was deep, containing a strange and indescribable power that seemed capable of influencing the very void!

"Ancestral Shadow?" Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed slightly. The sense of crisis churned violently within him. Meanwhile, as the misty figure’s momentum continued to explode, a low roar echoed from within it as it struck out toward Wang Baole.

"Wang Baole, die!!"

"As expected of the Xie family... to possess such a divine ability. Allowing descendants to borrow the shadow... though it isn't a direct borrowing of power, just the shadow provides a staggering enhancement. If I'm not mistaken, this so-called Ancestral Shadow... should be that ancestor of the Xie family who invested in the Weiyang Clan and founded the entire clan!"

Wang Baole took a deep breath. Although the sense of crisis was strong, an even stronger battle intent surged to its peak. This battle intent spread through his entire body, making him feel a sense of excitement. As the misty figure bore down on him, Wang Baole let out a long laugh. He raised his right hand, his eyes shining like stars!

"You want me to die? You’ll have to ask my Master if he agrees!"

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START OF Chapter 1033
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As soon as Wang Baole spoke, Xie Yunteng—who had been at the peak of his momentum, bolstered by the shadow of the Xie family ancestor which caused his combat power to skyrocket—stiffened. Even his aura weakened for a split second.

It was evident that the fierce reputation of Wang Baole’s master, Old Ancestor Blazing Flame, was far too overwhelming. He was notoriously protective of his own to an extreme degree. If his disciple was in the wrong, it was the enemy’s fault. If the disciple was in the right, it was even more the enemy’s fault. In short… no matter what his disciple did, they were never wrong; the one in the wrong was always the disciple’s opponent.

This was not merely a rumor, but a fact proven time and again through bloody reality. Similar stories surfaced almost periodically. Thus, even as the fifth son of the Xie family’s direct line, Xie Yunteng couldn’t help but tremble inwardly.

He knew very well that let alone himself, even if the first-ranked Dao Seed of the Xie family’s current generation were to truly kill Wang Baole, they would be unable to withstand the consequences.

Naturally, his momentum faltered. However, in the next instant, a savage glint appeared in Xie Yunteng’s eyes. He knew he couldn't afford to think too much right now. It was impossible for him to actually beat the other party to death anyway, so he absolutely had to win this fight to save face!

These thoughts seemed extensive, but they flashed through his mind in an instant. In the next breath, his weakened aura surged once more, converging and exploding as he roared toward Wang Baole.

Yet, it was still slightly lacking, unable to reach its initial peak. His rising momentum stalled because of it. At the same time, starlight shimmered in Wang Baole’s eyes. He raised his right hand and swung it violently forward, his voice low and heavy.

"Sealing Star Incantation!!"

As the words left his lips, streaks of black light suddenly manifested out of thin air, descending directly in front of Wang Baole. They were none other than ten thousand ox lice!

They arranged themselves together, instantly forming the outline of an ancient ox. An astonishing shockwave erupted, continuously expanding into the surroundings as a heaven-toppling pressure exploded. Though its momentum was still unable to match Xie Yunteng’s Ancestor Shadow Fog Body, the difference was marginal!

Xie Haiyang’s eyes widened, and everyone else watching the scene reacted the same way. Even Xie Yunteng felt a massive wave of shock in his heart.

"This is..."

"The Blazing Flame Divine Ox!!"

"The guardian ox of the Blazing Flame Galaxy!!"

Amidst the clamor of the surrounding crowd, Wang Baole’s expression remained calm. Although the shadow of the Divine Ox appeared inferior to his opponent’s, this was only the beginning of Wang Baole’s Sealing Star Incantation. In the next instant, the space around these ox lice distorted as meteorites suddenly manifested. As they shrouded the lice and replaced them, the pressure intensified to a degree far exceeding before. It erupted violently, causing the starry sky to roar and the cruiser to tremble. The hearts of all the cultivators in the area shook with terror.

Even the Stellar cultivators were moved at this moment, their eyes gleaming. This was because the aura emanating from the silhouette of the Divine Ox at this stage was already vast enough to rival Xie Yunteng, who had fused with a special planet, reached the Full Circle Planet realm, and used his Ancestor Shadow.

But… the ascent was not over!

In the blink of an eye, all the meteorites distorted and expanded rapidly. They blurred for a moment before becoming clear again. As they solidified, Mortal Stars… directly replaced the meteorites. Shrunk down countless times, they appeared in front of Wang Baole!

When three thousand Mortal Stars replaced three thousand meteorites, the Divine Ox threw its head back and roared at the heavens. Its aura surged again, directly surpassing Xie Yunteng’s Ancestor Fog Body. In the next breath, when six thousand Mortal Stars replaced the meteorites, the Divine Ox’s aura was already earth-shattering, causing the surrounding starry sky to tear and the cruiser to vibrate incessantly.

Xie Yunteng’s expression changed drastically. The fog shadow charging forward faltered again, not daring to approach further. Then, in another instant… when all the meteorites had become Mortal Stars, a Divine Ox capable of horrifying everyone truly descended upon the cruiser!!

Flames rapidly ignited across the Divine Ox’s entire body. As it raised its head and let out a bellow, its momentum reached an incredibly staggering level. So much so that the expressions of the eight Stellar cultivators behind Xie Yunteng changed completely. they charged forward at high speed to rescue him.

But they were a moment too late. A fanatical battle intent burned in Wang Baole’s eyes. The moment the Divine Ox appeared, his right hand pointed sharply at Xie Yunteng.

"Battle!"

The Divine Ox roared and charged. Its figure burst forth like an exploding sea of fire, resembling a sun that could incinerate everything and crush the infinite. It charged toward Xie Yunteng with a thunderous impact!

Xie Yunteng’s face paled completely. An intense crisis of life and death caused his previous battle intent to vanish instantly. The Divine Ox before him didn't feel like a technique at all; it felt like a true creature of myth that could destroy the starry sky and tear through any obstacle in its path.

From a distance, the Divine Ox was a picture of berserk fury, while the fog shadow was one of terror. One charged, the other retreated in hesitation; there was no longer any need to judge who was stronger!

In the next instant, the overbearing and frenzied Divine Ox collided with Xie Yunteng’s Ancestor Fog Body. The cruiser shuddered, and cracks even began to appear on its hull. A large area of the starry sky buckled inward. As the violent force diffused wildly, a deafening boom exploded without end.

Xie Yunteng’s Ancestor Fog Body couldn't even last a single breath before it instantly collapsed and exploded. It revealed Xie Yunteng’s pale body inside. As he coughed up a large amount of blood, his eyes showed unprecedented fear and panic. Reflected in his pupils, filling his entire field of vision, was the Divine Ox!

"No!!"

Xie Yunteng let out a shrill scream, wanting to retreat, but under the impact of the Divine Ox, he seemed to have lost all power to resist. Just as he was about to be touched—just as he was about to be completely annihilated in body and soul—his eight Stellar Dao Protectors arrived. They appeared directly in front of him. Among them, the elder had a grim expression, but his eyes were solemn as he reached out and pressed down toward the incoming Divine Ox!

Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed. Initially, seeing Xie Yunteng’s fragility, he had intended to retract the technique. After all, the two of them only disliked each other because of Xie Haiyang; there was no blood feud between them.

But now, since a Stellar cultivator had intervened, a sharp glint flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. Instead of withdrawing the technique, his cultivation erupted. Nine ancient stars manifested behind him, revolving to form a Dao Star that empowered the Divine Ox. Instantly, the shadow of the Dao Star appeared on the Divine Ox’s forehead. At that moment, its aura surged once more. Amidst the roaring sound… it collided directly with the Stellar elder!

At the moment of impact, a sharp light flashed in the black-robed elder’s eyes. Stellar fluctuations erupted from within him, and in that instant, he seemed to transform into a true star. Using his Stellar power, he forcibly halted the Divine Ox’s charge. He let out a low growl and gripped his hand violently, seemingly intending to crush the Divine Ox into nothingness!

The ten thousand Mortal Stars forming the Divine Ox immediately began to emit cracking sounds. In the end… they were still inferior to a Stellar cultivator!

Wang Baole was also affected. A flush appeared on his face as his body was pushed back. As he raised his right hand, the Divine Ox formed from his technique glowed brilliantly. It suddenly broke apart, transforming into countless threads. These threads were also the power of Laws—specifically, Xie Yunteng’s Law of Silk!

This scene caught everyone by surprise. Even the Stellar elder was stunned. Seeing the Divine Ox-turned-silk threads rapidly escape his grasp made him feel as though he had lost face. After all, he was a Stellar cultivator, and not just at the early stage, but at the mid-stage.

With such cultivation, to allow a mere technique from a Planet cultivator to escape his grasp filled his eyes with anger. He huffed coldly and raised his right hand, preparing to seize it again. The other Stellar cultivators nearby did not intervene; they were all Stellar rank, and against a Planet cultivator, one was enough. If multiple people attacked, they would lose all dignity. Moreover… the Wang Baole across from them was not someone without a background.

But in the next instant, the elder who had attacked suddenly underwent a drastic change in expression. He rapidly pulled back his right hand. Looking down, he noticed that his hand was visibly and rapidly turning into paper!

Although he quickly used his powerful cultivation to suppress and resolve it, that slight delay allowed Wang Baole’s silk threads to return safely, quickly merging back into his body!

This sight caused all the onlookers to gasp. Even Xie Haiyang was no exception. Without a doubt… the fact that Wang Baole had briefly clashed with a Stellar elder and retreated unscathed was incredible in itself!

In the Never-Ending Dao Domain, the gap between the Planet and Stellar realms was like a chasm. No one had ever been able to cross it in battle, because they were simply not on the same level!

Even the Stellar elder’s eyes shrank as he stared at Wang Baole. While his heart shook, he also saw eight Stellar figures stepping out of the void behind Wang Baole!

"Old servant of the Xie family, it is understandable for you to save your young master when the juniors fight. But to try and crush our young master’s Divine Ox... you have crossed the line. You must give our Blazing Flame Galaxy an explanation!" Among the eight Stellar figures, the Ancestor of the Vast Spiritual Civilization spoke indifferently.

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END OF Chapter 1033
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START OF Chapter 1034
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Chapter 1034: Xie Haiyang’s Speculation!

The Stellar cultivator from the Zhiling Civilization was also in the mid-Stellar Realm. He was the strongest among the eight Stellar protectors sent to guard Wang Baole. At that moment, he stood alongside the others by Wang Baole’s side, staring coldly at the Xie family’s protector.

The more he looked at the old man, the more distaste he felt.

His appearance caused the Xie family’s protector to narrow his eyes. The other Stellar protectors beside him also shifted their expressions, stepping forward as if facing a great enemy as they stared at Ancestor Zhiling and the group of Stellar experts behind him.

After scanning the group, their eyes filled with gravity.

“The Flame Galaxy certainly has deep pockets… to actually use a Mysterious-grade Stellar cultivator as a Dao Protector! Do you all truly feel no resentment at all?” the black-robed elder asked slowly.

“Resentment? Being able to protect our Young Lord is a supreme honor. On one hand, we ensure the Young Lord’s safety; on the other, we can repay the kindness of the Exalted. How could Yellow-grade or Mortal-grade Stellars like you possibly understand that?” Ancestor Zhiling laughed loudly, and the other Stellar cultivators beside him followed suit.

This scene immediately caused the expressions of the Xie family protectors to turn unsightly. As Stellar cultivators, they naturally knew that the Stellar Realm was divided into five tiers. Similar to how the Planetary Realm was divided into Divine, Spirit, and Mortal, the Stellar Realm was divided into five grades: Heavenly, Earthly, Mysterious, Yellow, and Mortal!

Different grades within the same cultivation level resulted in a massive disparity in strength.

Generally speaking, the role of a Dao Protector was only given to those who were trusted. However, to a certain extent, they were essentially guards. Stellar cultivators possessed their own pride; even great families and massive powers could not easily insult them by forcing them to protect a junior. They had to be treated with great courtesy.

Because of this, those at the Mysterious-grade or higher almost never chose to become Dao Protectors. Even Yellow-grade Stellars rarely took on such a role. Usually, it was Mortal-grade Stellars—those whose aptitude and opportunities had reached their limit and found it difficult to advance further—who chose to become protectors. They traded their loyalty and service for a chance at the opportunities provided by an Exalted figure.

Among the protectors by Xie Yunteng’s side, only the black-robed elder was a Yellow-grade Stellar; the others were all Mortal-grade. Conversely, on Wang Baole’s side, everyone except Ancestor Zhiling was a Yellow-grade Stellar. Ancestor Zhiling himself was at an even higher tier—a Mysterious-grade Stellar!

Therefore, the moment they appeared, the black-robed elder’s expression shifted. Amidst his internal shock, he thought of the rumors regarding the Flame Patriarch’s notorious tendency to protect his own.

With a gloomy face, the black-robed elder flicked his sleeve and let out a low shout.

“Let’s go!”

As he spoke, he began to retreat. Xie Yunteng’s expression was somewhat abnormal at that moment, appearing almost dazed. He allowed his protectors to lead him away. Seeing them about to leave, Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and spoke calmly.

“And where is the explanation I’m owed?”

The moment he spoke, Ancestor Zhiling acted as if he had found his backbone. With a loud laugh, his cultivation base erupted instantly. Along with the other Stellar protectors from the Flame Galaxy, they scattered in a flash, directly blocking Xie Yunteng’s group.

“This is the Xie Family Interstellar Market!!” the black-robed elder growled upon seeing this.

“And so what? We are from the Flame Galaxy!” Ancestor Zhiling responded with an arrogant voice. That self-righteous tone caused the black-robed elder’s words to hitch in his throat.

“You…”

The surrounding onlookers watched with varying expressions, observing the development of the situation.

“‘You’ what? This was a fight between Young Lords. Why did you interfere? Furthermore, you harbored malicious intent by trying to shatter my Young Lord’s divine technique. That is a grave sign of disrespect toward the Exalted Flame. If there is no explanation today, I will have no choice but to capture you all and bring you to the Flame Galaxy to atone for your crimes!” Cold light flashed in Ancestor Zhiling’s eyes as he spoke slowly.

This domineering attitude caused the black-robed elder’s breathing to quicken. But considering the opponent’s strength and background, he could only suppress his anger. He turned to look at his own Young Lord, only to find that Xie Yunteng was still in a daze, causing him to sigh inwardly.

“What kind of explanation do you want?”

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and sent a voice transmission to Ancestor Zhiling. Ancestor Zhiling’s eyebrows shot up as he grinned. He then looked at the black-robed elder and spoke.

“The Young Lord is merciful. Just pay the tabs Young Master Xie has run up during this period, and that will suffice.”

Xie Haiyang blinked. He quickly took out a jade slip, branded a few more entries into it, and threw it out. The jade slip turned into a streak of light and was caught by the black-robed elder. After scanning it with his divine sense, the elder’s face changed instantly.

“One hundred Spirit Stars? That’s impossible! This ferry doesn't even have a hundred Spirit Stars in its inventory. You people…”

“Fine. But I have one question that needs an answer!” Before the black-robed elder could finish, Xie Yunteng finally recovered from his daze. After speaking with a dark expression, he ignored the jade slip in the elder’s hand and stared at Wang Baole.

“What you used just now… was that the Rule of Silk?”

“What do you think?” Wang Baole smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying it. The secret of his Dao Star’s laws could not be kept hidden for long anyway. After all, he had already used the Rule of Paper during the battle between the Divine Eye Civilization and the Violet Gold Civilization. Anyone determined enough to investigate would be able to find the key details.

Furthermore, if he hadn’t deployed the Rule of Silk just now to turn the divine bull into threads, his losses would have been significant. Thus, the moment he struck, Wang Baole no longer cared whether he was exposed.

His response, falling on Xie Yunteng’s ears, gave the latter his answer. A trace of wariness appeared in Xie Yunteng’s eyes. After a moment of silence, he gave Wang Baole a deep look, turned around, and led his people away.

As for Xie Haiyang, his expression didn't change much. He had already been shocked the moment Wang Baole deployed the Rule of Silk. The monstrous waves that had surged in his heart back then had been forcibly suppressed. However, now that he had his answer, he felt that his decision to join the Flame Galaxy and draw closer to Wang Baole was incredibly correct.

*Replicated laws… such heaven-defying and shocking laws… Wang Baole doesn’t even need to reach the Star Domain Realm. As long as he reaches the Stellar Realm, his rise will be almost impossible to stop!*

*And since he has the protection of the Flame Patriarch on the surface and an incredibly close relationship with Chenqingzi, even the Weiyang Clan will probably have to think twice before moving against him!* Thinking of this, Xie Haiyang took a deep breath, quickly rose from the balcony, and bowed respectfully toward Wang Baole.

“Many thanks, Sixteenth Martial Uncle!”

“We are of the same sect; there is no need for such formality.” Wang Baole was in a pleasant mood. Through this battle, he had roughly gauged his own combat power and had even replicated a very special rule. Feeling refreshed, he spoke with a smile.

The reaction of the other Xie family members on the ferry was also extremely swift. Almost as soon as Xie Yunteng left, several Stellar cultivators from the Xie family, including Elder Yao, came to visit in person.

They were very polite to Wang Baole in their speech. At the same time, they informed Xie Haiyang that the family had cleared up the misunderstandings regarding him and had re-engraved his name into the clan’s artifact. His bloodline protection had been restored to normal.

This scene filled Xie Haiyang with emotion, but he wasn't surprised at all. The battle between Wang Baole and Xie Yunteng had demonstrated enough value to the Xie family. Based on his understanding of the clan, the family always focused its attention and investment on such prodigies.

His relationship with Wang Baole meant that his own status would rise accordingly. He was the link between the family and Wang Baole, which brought him immense benefits and could even influence his share and status among the family’s direct descendants.

These events only solidified Xie Haiyang’s resolve to tie himself completely to Wang Baole’s side. Because of this series of events, he and Wang Baole had reached a point where, at least from his side, they would rise and fall together.

Though this didn't quite fit the philosophy of investment, Xie Haiyang couldn't afford to care about that now.

*I wonder if that move earlier was something he did intentionally, or… was it just a simple accident?* Xie Haiyang lowered his head, casting a quick glance at Wang Baole, who was chatting and laughing with the Xie family elders. An impression of profound mystery rose in his heart.

Wang Baole noticed Xie Haiyang’s glance. He continued to chat and laugh with the Xie family elders as usual, though his eyes held a depth that outsiders could not see through…

A long while later, the members of the Xie family took their leave. Before departing, they informed Wang Baole that all of Xie Haiyang’s previous bills had been settled by Xie Yunteng, including the one hundred Spirit Stars!

However, because the value of Spirit Stars was so high and the quantity was substantial, the ferry didn’t have that much stock. Arrangements had been made to have them delivered to him as quickly as possible.

Wang Baole was quite satisfied with this and gave Xie Haiyang a glance of appreciation. Xie Haiyang quickly suppressed the speculation in his heart and gave a mischievous grin. This wasn't the first time he and Wang Baole had cooperated. As soon as Ancestor Zhiling spoke earlier, he had immediately understood what he needed to do.

At the same time, he knew clearly that his speculation no longer mattered. Whatever the truth was didn't matter. If Wang Baole hadn’t done it intentionally, it meant his luck was heaven-defying. If he had done it intentionally, it meant his scheming had reached a terrifying level. Either one was enough to earn Xie Haiyang’s complete respect.

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END OF Chapter 1034
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START OF Chapter 1035
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Chapter 1035: Destiny Star!

Inside the Xie family’s interstellar spirit boat, visitors came in an endless stream to Wang Baole’s quarters over the following days. Whether it was the Xie family deacons stationed there or the cultivators on the boat also heading to Destiny Star to celebrate Venerable Heavenly Fate’s birthday, all were extremely warm toward Wang Baole.

This was partly due to Wang Baole’s background, but it also had much to do with the strength he had displayed. After all, the might of that divine ox had shaken the surroundings that day, and his Silk Law technique, his paper transformation divine power, and the numerous Ancient Star rules he had unleashed could each shock the soul individually.

To see them all gathered in one person made him an overnight sensation, drawing countless gazes. Not to mention, his protector was equally extraordinary, reflecting the degree of care and importance Blazing Ancestor placed on this disciple.

At the same time… while most only saw Wang Baole’s power and dominance, some sharp-minded individuals sensed a different flavor from the incident. Although they didn’t see as clearly as Xie Haiyang, who had been personally involved, they still more or less felt the depth of Wang Baole’s shrewdness.

While Wang Baole’s side was crowded with visitors, Xie Yunteng’s quarters on the boat were practically deserted after his return. While it wasn't quite a case of being completely ignored, visitors were rare. Consequently, half a month later, as the Xie family spirit boat sped toward the vicinity of Destiny Star, Xie Yunteng’s group didn't even wait for the boat to dock. They flew out immediately and departed without looking back, entering Destiny Star ahead of schedule.

“They sure left quickly!” On a terrace several times larger than his previous one, within the new residence the Xie family had arranged for him at the very top of the spirit boat, Wang Baole stood alongside Xie Haiyang. From this vantage point, one could look down and see most of the spirit boat or look up to gaze at the endless starry sky.

The departing figures of Xie Yunteng’s group were clearly visible to Wang Baole and Xie Haiyang. Watching Xie Yunteng’s back, Xie Haiyang spoke with a cold sneer.

“Uncle Master, I’ve received news from the family. Previously, because my father offended Senior Chen Qingzi, most of the family distanced themselves from him. Some even kicked him while he was down. Taking advantage of the Ancestor being in secluded meditation, they sealed the place where my father resides, making it impossible for him to leave. They intend to hand him over to Senior Chen Qingzi to deal with later...”

“And because of this, the current Council of Elders has revoked my bloodline protection and removed me from the ranks of the young masters. Although your intervention has restored my status, still...” Before Xie Haiyang could finish, an ethereal chime suddenly echoed from the starry sky ahead!

The sound was like a bell, yet also like a copper chime, crisp and lingering as it transformed into soundwaves. It made the starry sky ahead look like the surface of a pond, rippling in endless, boundless layers.

Hearing this sound, Wang Baole raised his right hand, cutting off Xie Haiyang’s words.

Xie Haiyang’s voice halted. Wang Baole gazed toward the water-like ripples in the starry sky where Xie Yunteng’s group had headed. There... sat an incredibly singular star.

It was singular because the planet was surrounded by layers of star rings emitting a purple glow. These star rings spiraled layer upon layer; the bottom layer had the largest diameter, and the higher they went, the smaller the rings became. Looking closely, the shape resembled a giant bell!

The actual planet was the clapper inside that bell!!

Following a certain frequency, the sphere rotated and moved within the bell, occasionally striking the inner walls to produce bursts of crisp chimes that echoed throughout the surrounding space, plunging everyone who heard them into a state of tranquility.

“Destiny Star.” Wang Baole’s eyes shone with a strange light as he murmured softly. As the chimes gradually faded, the people on the spirit boat recovered, and discussions soon broke out.

“It’s Destiny Star!”

“We’ve finally arrived!”

“The star system where Venerable Heavenly Fate resides is truly marvelous!”

As the crowd on the boat grew excited, the chime also brought a sense of calm to Xie Haiyang’s heart. Although he knew many secrets that Wang Baole did not, this was also his first time coming to Destiny Star. Looking at the bell-like star and its rings, a look of anticipation slowly appeared in his eyes.

“Haiyang, your family sealed your father and intends to hand him over to Chen Qingzi. They didn't do this before but are acting now... It seems Chen Qingzi is about to break free.” Wang Baole spoke with a smile, his heart also filled with anticipation. He hadn't seen his Senior Brother in a long time and missed him.

However, because Xie Haiyang was beside him, he didn't make his anticipation too obvious, nor did he use the term 'Senior Brother' to avoid raising suspicion.

“I beg Sixteenth Uncle Master to help me!” Xie Haiyang had been waiting for these words. He hurriedly withdrew his gaze from Destiny Star and looked at Wang Baole with a sincere expression, preparing to perform a deep formal bow.

“Why are you doing this again?” Wang Baole did not accept the bow, reaching out to support Xie Haiyang’s arms beforehand.

“I already said I would help you. How about this: tell your father that if Chen Qingzi goes there, have him pass a message to Chen Qingzi for me.”

“What message?” Xie Haiyang asked urgently.

“Just say...” Wang Baole blinked. After thinking for a moment, he felt this was a perfect opportunity to intimidate Xie Haiyang so that the latter would be even more loyal and never dare to have second thoughts.

“Just say I’ve prepared a jar of good wine and am inviting him to come and taste it soon. If he’s late, I’ll drink it all myself.” Wang Baole placed his hands behind his back, adopting a casual air as he spoke nonchalantly.

When these words reached Xie Haiyang’s ears, his heart shook once more. From that tone, he sensed that the relationship between Wang Baole and Chen Qingzi must have reached a significant level. At the same time, the sense of unfathomable mystery emanating from Wang Baole surfaced in his mind again. After cupping his fists in thanks, he quickly took out a jade slip and sent a transmission to the family, asking his allies there to pass this message to his father.

After finishing the transmission, Xie Haiyang looked at Wang Baole. Who knows what was going through his head, but he suddenly spoke as if possessed.

“Sixteenth Uncle Master, I have a younger sister named Xie Taotao. She is a beauty that could tilt kingdoms, brilliant as the peach blossoms in spring...”

Wang Baole blinked and was about to listen closely when a cold snort from the little missy echoed in his mind. Upon hearing that snort, Wang Baole’s brows instantly furrowed, and he shot an asymmetrical, dissatisfied look at Xie Haiyang.

“Haiyang, I, Wang Baole, am not that kind of person. Do not mention such things again in the future, or I will think less of you!”

Xie Haiyang’s heart jolted. Seeing that Wang Baole’s dissatisfaction didn't seem faked, he immediately felt that his previous judgment had been terribly wrong. The Wang Baole before him was definitely not the man he had imagined. Taking a deep breath, he bowed again, resolving in his heart never to mention such matters again.

At that moment, Wang Baole coughed. As the spirit boat drew closer to Destiny Star and finally came to a complete stop outside, he shifted his body and flew out first.

Xie Haiyang followed closely behind, along with Ancestor Zhiling and the others. The group turned into streaks of long light, leaving the spirit boat and heading straight for... Destiny Star!

As they drew closer, the star rings in their vision magnified infinitely. Just as they were about to step into the range of the star rings, perhaps by coincidence or perhaps by design... at that very instant, the distant starry sky suddenly distorted, and a giant peacock abruptly burst out from the void!

This peacock was hundreds of feet large, its aura imposing and its body a lush green. As it flapped its wings, countless colored feather-silks drifted behind it, reflecting the surrounding space with brilliance.

Furthermore, the moment it appeared, a shocking chill instantly permeated the surroundings. The place where Wang Baole’s group stood was right in the peacock’s path, and they were instantly enveloped by the chill as if about to be frozen in ice.

A sharp light flickered in the eyes of Ancestor Zhiling and the others. They released their cultivation bases, spreading Stellar power to protect Wang Baole’s flanks. Wang Baole, however, narrowed his eyes. He ignored the surrounding chill and didn't pay much attention to the incoming peacock. Instead, he fixed his gaze on a female figure sitting cross-legged atop the peacock’s head.

The woman wore a red robe and a phoenix crown, with a diamond-shaped cinnabar mark on her forehead. She was peerlessly beautiful, and her necklace, earrings, and wrists were all adorned with bell accessories that were clearly no ordinary items!

To some extent, she seemed to share a resonance with Destiny Star!

Almost the instant Wang Baole looked over, the woman opened her eyes. When she saw Wang Baole, a flash of killing intent passed through her eyes. Triggered by her aura, a certain object manifested behind her... a Paper Star!

It was none other than the Saintess of the Ninth Phoenix Sect—ranked third in the Side Door Galaxy—and the obtainer of another Dao Star from the Starfall Land, the Bell Girl... Xu Yinling!

“Brother Baole, long time no see.” Upon seeing Wang Baole, Xu Yinling suddenly smiled. It was like a hundred flowers blooming, and her voice was elegant and pleasant. Combined with her expression, her entire being radiated an endless charm.

“Little missy, someone is seducing me!” Wang Baole blinked and quickly reported this to the little missy in the mask within his mind.

“Hussy!” The response he received was a seemingly calm yet cold snort in his head.

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END OF Chapter 1035
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START OF Chapter 1036
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**Chapter 1036: Targeted!**

Almost the moment Xu Yinling appeared, seven or eight divine senses suddenly swept out from Heavenly Destiny Star below. Clearly, they had sensed Xu Yinling and were coming to welcome her.

Although these divine senses belonged only to the Planet realm, they were quite extraordinary. They contained a sharp edge and a domineering aura, closing in rapidly like streaks of rainbow light.

Seeing this, Wang Baole had already guessed most of what was happening. He knew very well that Xu Yinling’s appearance was no coincidence. She knew he was coming and had been waiting here for him. Her goal was obviously to use their apparent "intimacy" to cause misunderstandings among certain people.

While creating enemies for him out of thin air, she could find opportunities to fulfill her own objectives.

After all, while it couldn't be said that they had a deep blood feud from the Starfall Land, the attraction between their Dao Stars and his own etched laws meant that Xu Yinling harbored a powerful killing intent toward him.

Furthermore, Wang Baole had already identified the source of the familiarity in Xu Yinling's divine abilities; there was a high probability that the factor of the "Star Daughter" existed here as well.

However, Wang Baole didn't care about that. On the contrary, a sharp light flickered in his eyes, and a smile played across his lips.

*I wonder if suppressing a whole generation will make the aura of my Star Sealing Art even more domineering!*

As this thought surfaced, Wang Baole also heard little missy’s cold snort and her labeling the woman a "bitch." This made him feel quite comfortable. He felt that little missy’s mood had been a bit off lately. Considering their many years of friendship—and the fact that he had been so eager to acknowledge her father as his father-in-law—he was looking for opportunities to coax her into a better mood.

Although such opportunities were many and Wang Baole was very good at coaxing people, he had used his tricks on little missy too many times before and worried she might have developed a resistance. This time, he was doing the opposite, using Xu Yinling as a vent for little missy’s emotions. From the looks of it, it seemed to be having some effect.

Because of this, he didn't do what he usually did—swallowing the sugar-coated bullets of Xu Yinling’s malice. Usually, his habit was to eat the sugar coating and throw the bullet back.

Clearing his throat, Wang Baole looked at the smiling Xu Yinling and shook his head slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Yinling covered her mouth with a laugh and spoke first.

"Brother Baole, I know what you’re going to say. Regarding your proposal in the Starfall Land about wanting Yinling to become your Dao companion... Yinling has considered it. We can try spending some time together first. What do you think?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Baole immediately felt the seven or eight divine senses approaching rapidly from Heavenly Destiny Star fluctuate to varying degrees. He simply shook his head again.

"I’m sorry, but that’s not what I wanted to say. Rather... you’re a step too late. There is a sister whom I respect most in this life, who makes me feel unworthy and fills my heart with an love I dare not speak... she reminded me that you are a bitch!"

A sharp light flickered in Xu Yinling’s eyes upon hearing this, but she instantly bit her lower lip and gave a soft sigh.

"Baole, even if we are not fated, we can only blame the whims of destiny. But why must you humiliate me?" As she spoke, Xu Yinling lowered her head as if filled with disappointment, her giant peacock mount flying past Wang Baole.

Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed slightly. He realized that this Xu Yinling’s schemes were even deeper than they had been in the Starfall Land. He had thought she was intentionally acting ambiguous to draw the malice of her suitors toward him.

That was why he had spoken so bluntly, hoping to cut off her chance to use him. But clearly, Xu Yinling’s reaction was incredibly fast. She immediately put on an act of being humiliated. By doing so, she still gave her suitors a reason to seek trouble with him.

"You’re so annoying!" Wang Baole raised an eyebrow, too lazy to keep up the polite facade. A look of disgust appeared on his face.

"I don't like you. I hope you stop pestering me. Xu Yinling, please have some self-respect!"

"You..." Sitting atop the peacock, Xu Yinling’s figure paused. She turned back to look at Wang Baole.

Right as she looked over, a series of booming sonic blasts rapidly approached from the direction of Heavenly Destiny Star. Soon, the seven or eight divine senses arrived, manifesting as seven or eight figures in the surrounding space. Each one was high-spirited and exuded a magnificent aura. From their clothing to their personal vibes, they all gave off the impression of being chosen geniuses.

One of them was particularly striking, with long golden hair and wearing a golden robe. He seemed to radiate a billion rays of light, looking like a Son of the Sun. As he stood there, the surrounding temperature rose significantly as if he were born from flames. His gaze was scorching as he looked at Xu Yinling, a brilliant smile on his face.

"Junior Sister Yinling, your Senior Brother has been waiting for you for many days. I have finally welcomed you."

"Yinling greets Senior Brother Sun Yang. Thank you for coming to receive me, Senior Brother. Let us... go."

Xu Yinling looked weak and distracted as she lowered her head and spoke softly.

This expression was truly pitiable. In the eyes of the surrounding crowd, several of the seven or eight men showed a burning heat in their eyes. Sun Yang was the same. After looking at Xu Yinling, he turned his gaze toward Wang Baole. He had already heard their conversation when he arrived. Now, his eyes flickered, and his expression slowly turned cold. He spoke indifferently.

"You are Wang Baole, right? A beautiful lady offers her heart, and it is one thing for you not to cherish it, but to speak so viciously is your mistake. Today, here, we shall not discuss backgrounds, only logic. My fellow Daoists and I demand that you... apologize to Junior Sister Yinling!"

As soon as he spoke, a sharp intent erupted from his body. While he locked onto Wang Baole, the others who had arrived with him did the same, their cultivations spreading out and converging on Wang Baole.

The eruption of power here also drew the attention of more people who had already arrived at Heavenly Destiny Star to offer birthday congratulations. They sent out their divine senses one after another to observe the scene.

Wang Baole’s eyes slowly narrowed. He looked at the pitiable and charming Xu Yinling, then at the seemingly righteous Sun Yang, who was posing as the lady's protector. A smile appeared on his lips. He understood now. It wasn't that these geniuses were stupid or unable to see the situation and were being used by Xu Yinling. It was that... they saw the situation very clearly. However, because of the master behind him, the Flame Patriarch...

While they coveted his Dao Star, they also feared his master. Thus, they funneled all conflict and action into the category of "jealousy over a woman." In this way, it would be difficult for the older generation to intervene, providing them with an opportunity to make a move.

Thus, these people had reached a mutual understanding, acting as "willing" participants.

After all, to deal with the current Wang Baole, they needed a reason—a reason that would prevent the older generation from protecting him out of bias.

*Trying to be clever. Given Master’s personality and the situation on the Flame Main Star, he doesn't need a reason to be protective,* Wang Baole sneered inwardly. But a sharp light flickered in his eyes. While the opponent’s method seemed clever, it actually restricted their own elders as well.

*This trip to Heavenly Destiny Star is getting interesting.* As Wang Baole murmured to himself, his smile grew even more brilliant. He ignored Xu Yinling and didn't even look at Sun Yang. He merely spoke indifferently to Xie Haiyang, who was standing beside him with his cultivation already active and ready to strike.

"Let’s go." As he spoke, Wang Baole ignored everyone and flew toward Heavenly Destiny Star. But the moment he moved, a cold light erupted in Sun Yang’s eyes. His body shifted, directly blocking the path. The geniuses who had come with him also closed in, cutting off Wang Baole’s route.

At the same time, streaks of divine sense belonging to their Dao Protectors suddenly spread out from Heavenly Destiny Star, locking onto the area.

"Protector seniors, please do not participate. This is a matter between us!" After Sun Yang spoke indifferently, the divine senses of their protectors shifted, focusing instead on the Zhiling Ancestor and the others behind Wang Baole.

Using their numbers as an advantage, they caused the expressions of the Zhiling Ancestor and his group to turn grim. Meanwhile, Sun Yang, having blocked Wang Baole’s path, stared at him and spoke slowly.

"Apologize to Junior Sister Yinling!"

Almost at the same time he spoke, the other geniuses in the surroundings also spoke up one by one.

"Apologize!"

The voices of the crowd formed a staggering aura that pressed down toward Wang Baole. Simultaneously, the flying ships of other families and powers that had just arrived from afar also drew close to watch the scene.

Even more divine senses spread out from Heavenly Destiny Star, likewise locking onto this location. Under this nearly universal attention, Sun Yang had calculated that the Wang Baole before him would surely care for his pride and thus enter into conflict with him.

After all, if he were in Wang Baole's shoes, he would do the same. For geniuses like them, face was often extremely important!

It was just that he simply didn't know Wang Baole well enough...

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END OF Chapter 1036
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START OF Chapter 1037
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Chapter 1037: Deflect and Strike!

"Everyone is so welcoming." Wang Baole looked at Sun Yang in front of him, then at the surrounding observation cruisers, and finally felt the many divine senses watching from Planet Destiny. His face turned slightly red, revealing a touch of bashfulness as he quickly looked toward Xu Yinling.

As for Xu Yinling, she had originally been quite satisfied with her actions. She knew very well that what she needed to do was simply give a reason to the others who were greedy for Wang Baole's Dao Star.

As for herself, although she also possessed a Dao Star and ran the risk of being coveted by others, that was one of the deeper reasons why she had been targeting Wang Baole so aggressively lately. Through one opportunity after another, she had been constantly signaling that her Dao Star was completely suppressed and countered by Wang Baole’s.

She was making it seem like she wasn't the best target; the best prize was on Wang Baole. Even if someone took her Dao Star, they would still have to face Wang Baole’s suppression. Rather than that, it was better to set their sights on Wang Baole.

The effect was indeed real. It had caused much of the attention on her to dissipate, successfully diverting the trouble elsewhere. Now, seeing Wang Baole about to become the target of public criticism, she felt her goal was thoroughly achieved regardless of whether Wang Baole survived this ordeal. However, upon seeing Wang Baole’s slightly bashful gaze, Xu Yinling suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

Before she could speak to remedy the situation, Wang Baole let out a long sigh.

"Forget it, forget it. Since everyone thinks so highly of Yinling and me, then..." Wang Baole coughed loudly, clasping his hands in a greeting toward the various family cruisers around them, and then toward Planet Destiny itself.

"Fellow Daoists from the various families and forces, seniors of Planet Destiny, I must trouble you all to be my witnesses today. Because of the pull between our Dao Stars, Yinling and I have been mutually attracted to each other for a long time..."

As soon as he spoke, Xu Yinling’s expression changed. Sun Yang was also stunned, and the countenances of the surrounding chosen shifted as well. Yet Wang Baole’s voice continued to echo.

"It was only because I considered myself a wanderer and couldn't bear to let Yinling’s feelings go to waste or have her suffer the pain of unrequited love that I rejected her. But looking at it now, I neglected the persistence of our generation of cultivators. Today, I apologize to Yinling. Yinling, I shouldn't have rejected your devotion to me. I agree!" Wang Baole looked sincere, like a prodigal returning home, but his words caused Xu Yinling’s face to turn pale. If Wang Baole had said this before everyone was watching, it might have fit her plan.

It could have incited suspicion in others, giving them a reason to act out of jealousy. But now the situation was different, and she had a premonition that what Wang Baole was about to say was definitely not limited to this.

As expected, Wang Baole’s tone suddenly shifted, faintly revealing a domineering aura.

"Yinling, from now on, if anyone dares to target the Dao Star inside your body, they must first ask me, Wang Baole, for permission! If I don't agree, then even the King of Heaven himself cannot touch a single hair of my Yinling’s Dao Star!"

"Unless I agree... *cough cough*... Little Ling, come, let Brother Baole give you a hug and see if you’ve gotten any chubbier lately." As he spoke, a look of sentimental emotion appeared on Wang Baole’s face as he walked toward Xu Yinling.

Xu Yinling’s expression turned hideous as she instinctively retreated toward Sun Yang.

This scene caused the expressions of the surrounding crowd to turn strange. Only Xie Haiyang, standing off to the side, was unsurprised. He understood Wang Baole too well. He thought to himself: *Sun Yang, oh Sun Yang, your mistake was failing to estimate just how thick a person’s skin could be.*

Sun Yang’s face was currently grim, his brow furrowed. Clearly, he hadn't expected that there was a famous chosen in this world whose skin was thick enough to ignore all sense of dignity. In front of ten thousand eyes and under obvious pressure, the man had chosen to apologize, making Sun Yang’s metaphorical punch land on thin air.

If that were all, it would be fine. But the other party's apology actually contained an overbearing arrogance. He was clearly the one being pressured, and he was the one who apologized, yet Sun Yang felt that his side was the one suffering a loss.

Seeing Xu Yinling retreat with a changing expression, Wang Baole pointed at her with a smile.

"You little girl, why are you still acting shy?"

Saying this, Wang Baole looked back at the grim-faced Sun Yang and performed a sincere bow.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, thank you. You made me realize that I cannot fail a beautiful woman. I’ve decided: any child I have with Little Lingling in the future will be named Wang Xieyang! This will serve to commemorate our couple’s gratitude toward you! But for now, please move aside. I need to pick up my wife so we can go to Planet Destiny together."

"Wang Baole, you..." Sun Yang’s expression grew even uglier. He was about to speak, but Wang Baole cut him off directly.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, our couple is grateful for your matchmaking, so I respect you. I will say it a second time: please move aside. I need to pick up my wife so we can go to Planet Destiny!" Wang Baole still wore a smile as he stared at Sun Yang.

As soon as these words came out, the spectators and the numerous divine senses from Planet Destiny converged once more. Some who felt goodwill toward the Blazing Flame Galaxy secretly praised him in their hearts.

Wang Baole’s move seemed simple, but it had turned the world upside down. He had shifted from a passive position to an active one, flipping the script from being pressured to being the one doing the pressuring. With a flick of his wrist, he had neutralized everything with ease.

Such methods were relaxed and casual, forming a sharp contrast with Sun Yang’s side.

"You..." Sun Yang was caught in a dilemma. He wasn't as thick-skinned as Wang Baole. With so many people watching, if he retreated, it would mean his proactive scheme had completely failed, and he would lose all face. But if he didn't retreat, a conflict was inevitable.

Although his original goal was to cause a conflict under the guise of jealousy—which could still technically be achieved—the flavor of it had completely changed.

This was no longer just about jealousy. It had become a situation where he had initially facilitated the match, and once the party agreed, he had turned around and tried to interfere. He couldn't afford to lose face like that, and his moral standing was far too shaky.

It wasn't just him. Xu Yinling, behind him, was also filled with internal rage and panic. In truth, her wariness of Wang Baole far exceeded that of others. In her heart, he had become a shadow. In particular, Wang Baole’s comment that anyone wanting to take her Dao Star had to ask for his permission made her heart race with anxiety.

If she spoke up now to recant, Wang Baole would be completely freed from all her previous traps, and she wouldn't be able to give anyone a reason to attack him. After all, the Blazing Flame Ancestor was there; few dared to provoke him directly.

But if she didn't speak, the situation was very unfavorable for her. Just as she and Sun Yang were caught in this dilemma, Wang Baole’s smile slowly vanished. His face gradually turned cold. Without even looking at Sun Yang, he walked toward Xu Yinling.

Seeing Wang Baole approach, Sun Yang instinctively raised his hand to block him. But the moment he raised his hand, a cold light erupted in Wang Baole’s eyes. He performed a hand seal and threw a punch.

This punch struck the space in front of Sun Yang, immediately forming a dispersing storm. While it forced Sun Yang to retreat instantly, the fellow chosen beside him also erupted with cultivation, surrounding Wang Baole.

"One moment, Fellow Daoist Sun acts as a matchmaker, and the next, he interferes. Is this a sign that you look down on my Blazing Flame Galaxy? That you look down on me, Wang Baole? Do you intend to humiliate me like this? Out of respect for your matchmaking earlier, I can choose not to pursue this further, but I want an apology!!" Wang Baole licked his lips and sneered. His body blurred as the power of flames erupted from him, and he charged toward Sun Yang and the others. At the same time, his cold voice echoed in all directions.

"Senior Zhiling, seal the surroundings! Someone dares to humiliate the Blazing Flame Galaxy? Someone dares to steal my Master's disciple-in-law? This is no longer just my personal business. If there is no sincere apology, then even if I have to pierce the heavens, I will uphold the dignity of the Blazing Flame Galaxy!"

"As you command!" Zhiling Ancestor and the other seven all put on a show of fury, letting out a roar. They instantly scattered, their Stellar-rank cultivation spreading out to seal the area. This ensured that while the Dao Protectors for Sun Yang and his companions were quickly approaching, they wouldn't be able to break in for a short while.

Inside the seal, Wang Baole’s aura was already heaven-shaking. He closed in instantly. It looked as though he was attacking Sun Yang, who had a look of desperation in his eyes, but in the moment of proximity, his body suddenly vanished. When he reappeared, he was behind one of Sun Yang’s companions.

"Apologize!" Killing intent flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes as he threw a punch.

This was a horse-faced young man wearing luxurious robes with a late-stage Planet-realm cultivation. Yet under Wang Baole’s punch, no matter how the man struggled, his expression changed drastically as he coughed up blood. His body was sent flying like a kite with a broken string.

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END OF Chapter 1037
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START OF Chapter 1038
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Chapter 1038: Sharing the Fun is Better than Having Fun Alone!

A sharp light flickered in Wang Baole’s eyes as he suddenly gave chase. Sun Yang and the others underwent a change in expression, wanting to block him, but Xie Haiyang’s figure blurred, appearing directly in front of Sun Yang. He raised his right hand and pressed down through the air.

“Sixteenth Martial Uncle is taking action. Fellow Daoist Sun, it isn’t your turn yet.”

“Xie Haiyang!” Sun Yang glared furiously, but he was met only by the cold glint in Xie Haiyang’s eyes.

As the two faced off, the protectors of Sun Yang and the others also rushed over, only to be intercepted by the Zhiling Ancestor and her companions. Booms erupted all around as they engaged in battle.

Meanwhile, Wang Baole had already caught up to the horse-faced youth who was spitting blood. Murderous intent erupted, forming a terrifying pressure. Just as he was poised to strike again, the horse-faced youth’s heart filled with resentment and indignation.

These emotions weren't directed at Wang Baole, but at Sun Yang. He felt wronged; Sun Yang was clearly the leader, yet he was the one taking all the hits. Thus, seeing Wang Baole’s murderous gaze, the horse-faced youth immediately shouted.

“I apologize!!”

“Good boy.” As Wang Baole’s voice drifted over, his figure had already vanished from before the horse-faced youth. When he reappeared, he was next to another chosen, throwing a punch.

Blood sprayed and bodies were sent flying. To them, Wang Baole’s prowess had already exceeded what they could endure. One by one, their expressions filled with horror, and they hurriedly spoke up to apologize.

Reputation was important, but faced with Wang Baole’s ferocity—and considering they weren't the ones leading this group—apologizing was not unbearable.

As their voices rang out one after another, Sun Yang’s face darkened to the extreme. His cultivation rotated violently as he shifted his gaze from Xie Haiyang toward Wang Baole.

“Wang Baole, this is fine too. You and I will—”

“A bit noisy, isn't it, Little Lingling? Wouldn't you say so?” Wang Baole raised an eyebrow, looking toward Xu Yinling, who had been retreating continuously during the previous clash.

As his gaze swept over her, Xu Yinling’s footsteps halted. Her face was pale, and her eyes held a complex expression as she looked at Wang Baole.

“I say, Xu Yinling, aren't you tired of acting like this? Others might not know your background, but I think I do...” Seeing Xu Yinling’s frail and weak appearance, a cold sneer appeared on Wang Baole’s face. His body flickered, ignoring Sun Yang once again as he lunged straight for Xu Yinling. His speed was incredible. Upon closing the distance, Wang Baole did not hold back in the slightest. The nine ancient stars behind him manifested with a roar, forming his Dao Star while nine rules erupted simultaneously!

They condensed into a nine-colored sea of light, sweeping out like a tidal wave to crash directly into Xu Yinling!

Sun Yang had originally prepared himself to fight Wang Baole, but seeing himself ignored yet again, his body trembled. His expression became even more unsightly; being ignored like this was the ultimate humiliation to his pride.

“Wang Baole!!” Sun Yang roared, about to charge out, but Xie Haiyang chuckled and blocked him once more. This made Sun Yang look like a clown, hopping about fruitlessly. While he was struggling, as Wang Baole attacked and the nine-colored sea of light erupted, the cry of a phoenix soared into the sky from within the sea of light.

To the naked eye, that sea of light instantly turned into paper, losing all its divine power. As it scattered in all directions, it revealed the figure of Xu Yinling within, appearing as if she had merged with the peacock she sat upon!

Her face was covered in a peacock pattern that looked like a tattoo. This pattern clearly covered her entire body, making Xu Yinling appear incredibly demonic at this moment. A Dao Star manifested behind her as well, forming a pressure to counter Wang Baole’s Dao Star!

With a massive boom, the ripples erupted from their respective Dao Stars and clashed invisibly. Amidst the deafening sound, Xu Yinling coughed up a mouthful of blood and was forced backward, a bitter expression on her face.

“Wang Baole, I know I was wrong. There is no need for this between us...”

“Still acting?” Murderous intent flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. He charged forward again. With the empowerment of his Dao Star, the nine rules transformed into a giant hand that smashed down once more.

As the roar echoed, Xu Yinling barely managed to dodge. Spitting blood, her expression grew sorrowful.

“I didn't lie to you, Wang Baole. I know you’ve always wanted to seize my Dao Star to make your own complete, which would allow you to step into the Stellar realm in an instant and become a rare Heavenly Dao Stellar cultivator. I am indeed inferior to you and cannot defeat you, but you don't have to kill me. I have a method of Dual Cultivation that can fulfill your goals all the same!”

“I admit that what I did before was all part of my schemes against you, but it was also for self-preservation, so that we could have this kind of path to allow me to escape this fatal calamity.”

“To show my sincerity, I am willing to offer my Soul Blood. Will you believe me just this once!” Amidst her bitterness, as she spat blood and retreated, Xu Yinling raised her right hand and swiped across her forehead. Suddenly, a drop of golden liquid that seemed both illusory and real flew out. It radiated soul power as it shot toward Wang Baole.

This was Soul Blood. Once controlled by another, its destruction would inflict massive damage upon the host. Generally, among cultivators, no one was willing to give it up unless there was no other choice. This was because the party holding the Soul Blood essentially held absolute control.

This Soul Blood also contained the fluctuations of Xu Yinling’s Dao Star; it couldn't be faked. This caused the hearts of many onlookers to shake, and greed began to rise. Although they were hindered by the battle between the Stellar realm experts outside the encirclement, they still began to slowly draw closer.

Sun Yang’s eyes grew fervent. Although Xu Yinling’s Dao Star wasn't as good as Wang Baole’s, it was still... a Dao Star!

Even Wang Baole’s expression turned solemn, appearing moved by Xu Yinling’s actions. After a moment of hesitation where he refrained from attacking, he raised his right hand and grabbed the Soul Blood.

Seeing Wang Baole take the Soul Blood, Xu Yinling seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Her eyes showed the relief of a survivor, but the bitterness in her expression deepened. She was just about to speak.

However, right at that moment, Wang Baole suddenly smiled. His right hand, which held the Soul Blood, suddenly exerted force. With a boom, he crushed the Soul Blood into pieces!

Xu Yinling was clearly stunned. Then, she let out a shrill scream as she spat blood and retreated rapidly. A cold glint flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes.

“Xu Yinling, oh Xu Yinling. If you’re still acting at a time like this, you really might die by my hand!” As he spoke, Wang Baole’s speed exploded. With the empowerment of his Dao Star, he attacked again. This time he was even more sharp, forming a Cloud Mist Finger that pressed down toward Xu Yinling!

“Wang Baole!!” Seeing this, Xu Yinling’s face turned ugly. Murderous intent suddenly erupted from her eyes. Her aura exploded at this moment, not just by a little, but several times over. It instantly surpassed Sun Yang’s momentum, surpassing everyone among the surrounding Planetary realm cultivators except for Wang Baole!

To a certain extent, she was even on par with Wang Baole. The Dao Star behind her radiated blinding light!

“That’s it. This is the Bell Girl from my memory!” Wang Baole smiled. At the moment of contact, the two clashed directly, sending out astonishing ripples. What horrified the onlookers most was the Law of Paper emanating from these ripples!

It wasn't just one; there were two!

As Wang Baole’s Dao Star rotated, in addition to his nine rules, the Law of Paper also erupted from within the Dao Star. As they clashed, all the divine powers and techniques surrounding him and Xu Yinling rapidly transformed into paper before the eyes of everyone present. They continuously exploded and scattered, causing more and more paper scraps to float in the air!

This eerie scene caused everyone to stare fixedly. While they marveled at the power of the Dao Stars, the shock in their hearts surged. It was truly because... at this moment, Xu Yinling was far, far stronger than she had been before!

Sun Yang’s eyes widened, his mind reeling. In his memory, even though she possessed a Dao Star, Xu Yinling had only recently entered the Planetary realm. She shouldn't be this strong!

But looking at her now, it was clear that his previous judgment had been entirely wrong. Even the Soul Blood from just now was clearly a fake!

The truth was exactly that. Xu Yinling had been feigning weakness and hiding her cards, secretly improving through her Seed Planting Method while guiding everyone to target Wang Baole while she appeared frail.

But now, all her preparations were forced into the light. This was exactly Wang Baole’s goal. Rather than bearing the greed and attention of the outside world alone, it was naturally better for two people to share the burden.

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END OF Chapter 1038
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START OF Chapter 1039
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**Chapter 1039: Purple Moon's Thread!**

"This Xu Yinling was hiding so much!"

"Hmph, another scheming vixen. She uses her looks to make people instinctively feel she’s weak. I hate people like that the most!"

"What a calculation. Looking at it now, all of Xu Yinling’s previous actions were meant to highlight Wang Baole, thereby gathering all the greedy eyes for the Dao Star onto him while she secretly improved herself..."

As Xu Yinling was forced by Wang Baole to reveal her cultivation, the onlookers immediately understood the cause and effect. It wasn’t just them; those currently watching from Destiny Star also had moments of realization.

In reality, Xu Yinling’s scheme wasn’t particularly sophisticated, and it wasn’t that no one had seen through it. However, whether moving against Xu Yinling or Wang Baole, one needed a justifiable reason.

Thus, those who had seen through it allowed Xu Yinling to stir the pot. But now that it had been exposed, this could no longer serve as a reason. Xu Yinling was naturally aware of this, so her heart burned with intense hatred. Midst the booming echoes, her battle with Wang Baole grew increasingly violent.

As for Sun Yang, his expression shifted constantly.

Although he had needed a reason to attack Wang Baole, he hadn't cared much about Xu Yinling’s combat strength. Now, seeing her strike with such formidable power, Sun Yang felt his face burning. The feeling of being manipulated by someone continuously stimulated his mind.

"Wang Baole was right; she really is a bitch!" Even as Sun Yang gnashed his teeth, the booms grew more intense. The Dao Star fluctuations produced by Wang Baole and Xu Yinling’s attacks continued to spread, forcing him to retreat even further.

Until a massive boom suddenly rang out, and Xu Yinling coughed up blood once more. Amidst a large number of divine abilities being transformed into fluttering paper scraps, her body retreated several steps. Killing intent flashed in her eyes as she raised her right hand and waved it. Along with the chime of a bell, the Dao Star behind her became even clearer, and its laws erupted again, forming a massive wave of ripples. As they spread further into the surroundings, Xu Yinling’s voice suddenly rang out.

"Paper Fate!"

As her words echoed and the Dao Star’s laws exploded, Xu Yinling’s body actually began to turn into paper at a speed visible to the naked eye. The first to turn into paper were her hands. With this paperization, waves of an aura more formidable than before began to climb steadily from her body.

In an instant, she reached a significant height. Her momentum was like a rainbow, shaking the surroundings. Wang Baole’s eyes also shone with a brilliant light. Since becoming a Planet, he had fought many times, but compared to the Xu Yinling before him, all his previous opponents were lacking!

Ultimately, it was because Xu Yinling, like himself, possessed a Dao Star. Furthermore, her cultivation’s advancement was not slow at all; she was nearly synchronized with him, both being at the mid-stage Planet realm.

A mid-stage Planet realm cultivator bolstered by a Dao Star could essentially crush the majority of Planet realm cultivators. Especially now, as Xu Yinling clearly unleashed a secret technique as a trump card. As her aura erupted, Wang Baole’s expression turned solemn. He raised his right hand, and the Star-Sealing Art rapidly circulated within his body, causing the illusory outline of the Divine Ox star map to appear behind him.

The Dao Scripture also brewed in his heart. A clash even more intense between the two was about to begin, but right at that moment... a calm voice spoke indifferently from Destiny Star.

"Enough. You two juniors, if you want to fight, go outside the Destiny Star System. Do not come here to celebrate the Senior’s birthday."

As soon as these words were spoken, it was as if law followed speech. The starry sky outside Destiny Star suddenly trembled, and a world-shaking pressure descended, forming a shockwave that slammed into the battlefield.

The Stellar realm cultivators like Patriarch Crimson Spirit, who were currently engaged in combat, all had their expressions change. Under this terrifying aura, they were forced to retreat, not daring to fight further. As for Wang Baole and Xu Yinling, it was even more so. Pressed by this aura, the phantom of the Divine Ox behind Wang Baole immediately became unstable. However, his Dao Star—formed from nine ancient stars—seemed eager to try its strength, its instinct rising in refusal to be suppressed, wanting to erupt in a counter-struggle for glory.

However, Wang Baole was the master of his Dao Star; he held the initiative. With a thought, the Dao Star dissipated, and the Star-Sealing Art also receded. He stood in place and cupped his fists toward Destiny Star, where the aura and voice had originated, and bowed.

"This junior was abrupt. I hope Senior can forgive me!" After speaking, Wang Baole lowered his head, but his peripheral vision swept over Xu Yinling with a profound look. He knew very well that killing Xu Yinling here was unrealistic. His seemingly fierce moves earlier had actually been to observe her Dao Star.

He remembered that Xu Yinling’s Dao Star was different from his. She had obtained it by pleading and giving up her own autonomy. Whether she could smoothly and freely suppress it was another matter entirely.

And indeed, almost at the same moment Wang Baole retracted his aura and dismissed his Dao Star, Xu Yinling’s body began to tremble violently. She struggled to endure the pressure and wanted to dismiss her Dao Star as well, but her Dao Star was too proud.

Such pride meant that the Dao Star was unwilling to be suppressed by another's aura. Instead of vanishing as Xu Yinling intended, its light grew even more intense.

This caused Xu Yinling’s face to change. Simultaneously, a cold, displeased huff echoed from Destiny Star. As the cold snort rang out, the starry sky distorted, and a giant hand manifested directly from Destiny Star, reaching out to seize Xu Yinling!

The moment this hand appeared, everyone in the starry sky, regardless of cultivation, felt their hearts tremble—as if their hearts were being gripped by an invisible force, stripping them of all resistance.

"Senior!!" For the first time, intense terror appeared in Xu Yinling’s eyes. She knew that under this grab, the Dao Star might be fine, but she herself could not endure it. In this moment of crisis, she bit the tip of her tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood, using a secret technique to forcibly retract the Dao Star regardless of the cost.

Perhaps her secret technique was effective, or perhaps her proud Dao Star was also unwilling to let its host perish. Amidst roiling waves of resentment, the Dao Star vanished!

As it disappeared, the grasping hand also gradually blurred and vanished from everyone’s sight. The pressure hanging over the starry sky lifted.

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He looked at the pale Xu Yinling and shook his head slightly.

"Controlled by others from the start, and now a slave to a Dao Star. With the Dao Star as master, you face constant instability and the risk of being discarded for another servant. Xu Yinling... take care of yourself. Do not provoke me again!" Wang Baole spoke indifferently. He ignored her and flickered, heading toward Destiny Star. Xie Haiyang followed, also casting a glance at Xu Yinling without saying a word.

As for Patriarch Crimson Spirit and the others, they also moved quickly, the group heading straight for Destiny Star. The other Stellar experts returned to their respective young masters. Sun Yang cast a cold, sinister glance at Xu Yinling before leaving, clearly harboring a deep grudge.

The others who had been watching the battle also transformed into streaks of light, flying toward Destiny Star. Only Xu Yinling and her protectors, who had gathered from the surroundings, remained silent. They stood behind her, watching her contorted face, unsure of how to speak.

"Wang Baole!!" After a long while, Xu Yinling’s complexion slowly recovered, though deep resentment and envy flashed in her eyes.

She resented Wang Baole for exposing everything—including her subservience to the Dao Star and her unstable state. She was envious... of why Wang Baole’s Dao Star was willing to acknowledge him as master, while hers required her to give up everything and plead just to merge.

"Master Purple Moon was right. There is too much unfairness in this world. To escape it, to grasp one's own fate, the only way is to... Plant Stars across the heavens!" Xu Yinling closed her eyes and took out a purple jade slip from her storage bracelet, rubbing it repeatedly in her palm.

"Even if there are massive hidden dangers... I must continue Planting Stars!"

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END OF Chapter 1039
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START OF Chapter 1040
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Chapter 1040: Unbelievable Records!

While Xu Yinling was making her internal decision, there was a special region within the Weiyang Dao Domain. It was like a sea of illusions, filled with brilliant and magnificent light.

Deep within its heart, a sphere of light floated, drifting along with the sea.

Inside this sphere of light sat a skeleton dressed in a seven-colored long dress. Though the body was withered, one could still tell it was a woman. At that moment, the skeleton’s eyelids suddenly twitched and slowly opened!

“That’s it…” A raspy voice emerged from its mouth as a spectral light flickered in the skeleton’s eyes.

Meanwhile, in the sky above the Heaven’s Destiny Star, streaks of light whistled through the air. Since Wang Baole’s group had been the first to fly out, they were currently at the very front. Xie Haiyang and the Blazing Soul Ancestor followed behind. The moment they entered the atmosphere of the Heaven’s Destiny Star, Wang Baole saw a vast number of bubbles floating between heaven and earth!

Most of these bubbles were translucent, their surfaces shimmering with expressionless faces. As Wang Baole looked at them, ten bubbles instantly flew out, growing larger as they headed straight for Wang Baole’s group. Without pausing, they collided directly with them.

“Uncle-Master, this is a rule of the Heaven’s Destiny Star. All arrivals must ride these bubbles to enter the central region,” Xie Haiyang spoke quickly. 

Wang Baole nodded slightly upon hearing this. Although he circulated his cultivation, he did not dodge, allowing the bubble to collide with him. In an instant, everyone in their group was enveloped within their own individual bubble.

After enveloping Wang Baole and the others, the bubbles seemed to be drawn by some mysterious force. They changed direction, drifting toward the central region of the Heaven’s Destiny Star. At the same time, Wang Baole saw other cultivators descending upon the planet being enveloped by bubbles just as he was.

If one looked up from the ground, they would see countless bubbles in the sky, drifting away like dandelion seeds. Inside the bubble, Wang Baole discovered that he no longer needed to circulate his cultivation; standing inside the bubble felt as solid as standing on land. Thus, he simply sat cross-legged and looked down at the world below.

The environment of the entire Heaven’s Destiny Star was quite different from that of the Federation. The ground was composed of a field of red—not soil, but sand and stone. The entire earth looked as if it were paved in blood; as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but endless crimson.

Beyond that, even the plants were red and filled with grotesque shapes. Some looked like humans, others were massive irregular spheres, and some had tiny trunks but canopies that spanned thousands of feet, giving off a profound sense of disharmony.

One could also see various tribes. These tribes were mostly primitive, and the natives living there looked strange; they had only one eye but possessed four legs.

As for the sky, it was the blue color Wang Baole was familiar with, but the clouds were black. Unlike rain clouds, these were pitch black, dotting the sky and creating an incredibly eerie and oppressive atmosphere.

There were also flying beasts resembling bats that occasionally appeared in the sky. Each one moved with lightning speed, so at first glance, one might mistake them for black bolts of electricity.

However, these black bat-like beasts seemed very afraid of the bubbles. Whenever they saw one, they would quickly veer away.

If that were all, it would have been fine, but as Wang Baole’s bubble drifted through the sky, he clearly saw a scale-covered hand suddenly reach out from a massive black cloud. It snatched a group of the bat-like beasts that looked like black lightning and dragged them into the clouds amidst their shrill cries. Soon, the sound of chewing echoed from within.

This scene caused Wang Baole’s pupils to contract. Although the flying beasts weren’t particularly powerful, the hand in the clouds gave Wang Baole a feeling that surpassed the Stellar realm the moment it appeared!

This sight filled Wang Baole with awe for the Heaven’s Destiny Star, but it also stirred a strange sensation within him. This feeling grew even stronger several days later when he saw dozens of massive beasts on the ground.

These beasts looked like elephants, but their trunks were very short. They lay on the ground, constantly roaring toward the sky. These roars sounded more like wails of grief. During these wails, bubbles would be snorted out of their nostrils, floating into the sky before scattering in all directions.

Watching this, Wang Baole blinked. He felt that those bubbles looked exactly like the one he was currently in…

At the same time, he saw the cause of the beasts' agonizing wails: black spots that sometimes contracted and sometimes spread across their bodies.

Looking closely, he saw that these black spots were actually composed of countless tiny insects. As they continuously bit and tore at the beasts, the creatures wailed incessantly.

Watching this scene, Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent. As for the others, they were all inside bubbles and couldn't transmit sound. Most had heard of the oddities of the Heaven’s Destiny Star, so their expressions were mostly normal, though a few first-timers like Wang Baole showed visible changes in their countenances.

It wasn't until another two days had passed that the color of the earth below finally changed. It was no longer crimson; golden sand and stone appeared. At the boundary between these two colors, Wang Baole witnessed an even more bizarre sight.

The boundary between the crimson and golden sands was not fixed; it shifted like ocean waves. Sometimes the red region was larger, and sometimes the golden region was wider. Looking closely, one could see that it was clearly not an ocean. Instead, all the sand and soil possessed hands and feet, and the two sides were locked in a slaughter!

If the crimson side gained the advantage, it would invade the golden area, and vice versa. It was clear that the war happening here was endless, as if it were eternal, constantly shifting back and forth…

“What a place, this Heaven’s Destiny Star…” As Wang Baole murmured, the bubble flew over the golden land. In the distance, between heaven and earth, Wang Baole saw a giant snake crawling!

This snake was likely hundreds of thousands of feet long, and its girth was staggering. It was like a floating continent. Indeed, land, mountains, and even small lakes existed upon its body, along with a large number of pavilions and buildings.

The silhouettes of many cultivators appeared on the land atop the giant snake’s back. As the bubbles flew over, most of the cultivators on the snake looked up, their gazes fixed on the arrivals.

In mid-air, Wang Baole also looked down. As his gaze swept across, his eyes suddenly froze. He noticed a familiar female figure among the many cultivators on the giant snake’s back!

This woman wore a blue long dress and a mask depicting a beautiful woman. At that moment, she was also looking at Wang Baole!

The moment their gazes met, all the bubbles, including Wang Baole’s, instantly accelerated toward the giant snake. Their speed far exceeded what it had been before; they caught up to the giant snake in the blink of an eye. As they drifted down toward its back, the bubbles burst, causing the cultivators inside to land upon the snake’s back!

Wang Baole’s body shifted, and the moment his bubble shattered, he landed on the peak of a mountain on the giant snake’s back. Xie Haiyang followed closely behind and sent a quick divine sense transmission.

“Uncle-Master, divine sense couldn't be transmitted while inside the bubbles. This giant snake is called Calamity Scale. It belongs to the same life level as the Divine Bull of the Blazing Flame Galaxy and is one of the thirty-nine Primordial Beasts of the Heaven’s Destiny Star. For the remainder of the journey, we will reside on this giant snake. The direction it is traveling leads to the site of Senior Heavenly Dharma’s birthday banquet.”

“The day the giant snake arrives is the day the banquet begins. According to past tradition, we should reach the banquet in about half a month.”

Hearing this, Wang Baole took a deep breath. Feeling the slight vibration of the land beneath his feet as the giant snake moved, he observed the fluctuations radiating from the creature. He could not hide the shock on his face.

“An existence like the Divine Bull… and there are actually thirty-nine of them here?! If Senior Heavenly Dharma really is the manifestation of the Book of Heaven’s Destiny’s artifact spirit, then what exactly is the origin of the Book of Heaven’s Destiny?”

“There was a record in my Xie family’s ancient texts. I thought it was too absurd, and even my Xie family ancestor considered it unbelievable…” Xie Haiyang hesitated for a moment before leaning closer to Wang Baole and transmitting his voice rapidly.

“That record said that our universe—regardless of whether it was the Dark Sect of the past or the Weiyang Clan of today—is actually something that happened in the past, and it was simply recorded by the Book of Heaven’s Destiny.”

“In other words, we… do not exist. Don’t you think that’s just too absurd?” Xie Haiyang shook his head.

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END OF Chapter 1040
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START OF Chapter 1041
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Chapter 1041: The Invitation!

“So, you noticed it too!” Upon hearing this, Wang Baole’s expression became grave to the extreme. He quickly scanned their surroundings, looking as if he were deathly afraid that someone else might overhear their conversation.

His reaction caused Xie Haiyang, who had originally been dismissive of the record, to freeze for a moment. He was clearly taken aback by Wang Baole’s words.

“Uncle-Master, you…”

“Haiyang, what you just told me… remember, never mention it to anyone else ever again. This record you mentioned is the greatest and deepest-hidden secret in our entire Dao Domain!!” Wang Baole took a deep breath and patted Xie Haiyang’s shoulder. As Xie Haiyang stood there in a daze, his eyes wide with shock, Wang Baole let out a long sigh, his gaze turning profound.

“In truth, when I was three years old, I had already discovered the secret of the entire world. Back then, I often contemplated a series of questions: Who am I? Who is me? Where am I? Where is ‘where’?”

“It wasn't until I was five that I finally understood. Everything in this world, everything in heaven and earth, all the myriad things in the universe—it is all actually an illusion. Everything exists only because I want it to exist; therefore, it exists. I want to see these things; therefore, I see them.”

“This…” Xie Haiyang had initially been startled by Wang Baole’s words, but as he continued listening, he felt that something was not quite right.

“You don't need to say anything. I understand. This… is simply the helplessness of being the Chosen One.” Wang Baole looked up at the sky, assuming an air of solitary transcendence. Xie Haiyang didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

“Uncle-Master, can we be a bit more serious…”

Wang Baole’s eyes widened.

“More serious? That record of yours nearly scared me to death!”

“If none of this really exists, then what am I right now?” Wang Baole looked down at his hands, gave them a squeeze, and then looked back at Xie Haiyang.

Xie Haiyang could only offer a bitter smile.

“I also find it incredibly absurd. Furthermore, that record is far too ancient; there's no way to trace its origin. Even my Xie family ancestor said, after reading it, that it was merely the ravings of a madman.”

“Alright, stop overthinking things.” Wang Baole patted Xie Haiyang’s shoulder. Just as he was about to continue, his expression shifted. He looked up to see a streak of light whistling toward them from the distance, high above in the air behind Xie Haiyang.

Within that light was a familiar figure.

“Haiyang, I have some private business to attend to.” Seeing the approaching figure, Wang Baole spoke. Xie Haiyang pretended not to see the newcomer. He knew very well when to be tactful and when to play blind. For instance, since Wang Baole had mentioned private business, he naturally understood what to do.

Thus, even though he felt someone flying in from behind, he didn't look back. He cupped his fists toward Wang Baole and walked directly away. During the entire process, he didn't turn his head once, nor did he even spread his divine sense.

Neither the departing Xie Haiyang nor Wang Baole, who stood waiting for the visitor, knew that as they discussed that absurd record, the little missy inside the mask shard on Wang Baole’s person had overheard their words. Her body trembled slightly, and a deep sense of confusion appeared in her eyes.

“I seem to… remember something. Another sixty-eight years… but I’ve forgotten something else…”

Muttering to herself, the little missy sat there with her arms around her knees, burying her head. Her figure exuded a sense of loneliness, while her confusion only deepened.

Wang Baole was unaware of the little missy’s bewilderment. He raised his head, watching the figure rapidly approaching in the sky, a smile appearing on his face.

The newcomer was a woman—it was the masked Li Wan'er!

She wore a long, blue flowing-cloud dress, her black hair draped over her shoulders. Though she arrived at high speed, her dress did not flutter, and her dark tresses remained undisturbed. Her poise was as graceful as ever. As she drew near, her beautiful eyes locked onto Wang Baole. Upon landing, she stood beside him and spoke softly.

“You likely know by now?”

“I know.” Others might not have understood Li Wan'er’s words, but Wang Baole grasped her meaning the moment she spoke. She was referring to the fact that he now knew her identity.

“Uncle Li is doing well, and the others are doing well too. There’s no need to worry.” Wang Baole thought for a moment and spoke gently. At the same time, he felt a surge of emotion. To be precise, the woman before him was the first woman in his life.

He always remembered his younger self—to a certain extent, he had been the one "strongly pushed" by her…

Thinking of this, scenes from the past surfaced in Wang Baole’s mind, causing him to clear his throat. He couldn't help but let his eyes sweep over Li Wan'er.

Li Wan'er clearly noticed, but she feigned ignorance. She simply smiled and winked at Wang Baole.

“Zhuo Yifan is doing well, and so is Kong Dao.”

Wang Baole’s expression turned serious. He had previously suspected that Zhuo Yifan and Kong Dao, who hadn't returned to Earth, might have gone to the Moon Star Sect through some unknown means, just like Li Wan'er.

However, he’d had no answer. Even Lin You didn't know. Hearing it now from Li Wan'er’s mouth felt like a weight being lifted from his heart. But following that was an uncertainty regarding whether the Moon Star Sect was benevolent or malevolent.

As if sensing Wang Baole’s thoughts, Li Wan'er fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

“The Moon Star Sect likely harbors no ill will toward the Federation. However, they have always been investigating something. This matter is deeply connected to the Solar System. I am not entirely clear on the specifics; I only know that… for countless years, the Moon Star Sect has been trying to verify a certain answer.”

“A certain answer?” Wang Baole was startled.

“I don't know what it is… however, besides coming here for the birthday celebration, there is one more thing. The sole ancestor of the Moon Star Sect, the Moon Star Elder, asked me to pass a message to you.” Li Wan'er looked at Wang Baole, a strange light glinting in her eyes that she couldn't quite hide.

Her words and her gaze made it so Wang Baole couldn't quite read her. His intuition told him that although she was indeed the same person as the Li Wan'er in his memory, she was clearly different in some ways.

“Pass a message to me? What message?” Wang Baole was surprised. After a moment of deliberation, he asked.

“The Ancestor invites you to meet him on the nineteenth day of July, sixty-eight years from now, at the Heaven-Watching Cliff of the Moon Star Sect!” A profound light flashed in Li Wan'er’s eyes. Her words seemed simple, but when they reached Wang Baole’s ears, they transformed into a thick cloud of suspicion that would not dissipate.

“Such a specific time…” Wang Baole’s brow slowly furrowed. He felt like there was something wrong here, but he couldn't figure it out. It was clear that Li Wan'er wouldn't elaborate, so he could only remain silent.

“Baole, there are some things that even I am not clear about, so I cannot tell you. But I believe one thing… the Ancestor has no ill will toward you. This unique invitation exists only because of certain special reasons.”

“The Ancestor said that regarding this invitation, it doesn't matter whether you agree or disagree,” Li Wan'er added softly after a moment’s hesitation.

“I understand.” Wang Baole smiled slightly, burying the matter in his heart and suppressing his doubts. He looked at Li Wan'er, though it was a pity that because of the mask, he couldn't see the face from his memories. He could only try to find a sense of past familiarity through her eyes.

But unfortunately, that past familiarity also seemed to be slowly vanishing.

“You’re a bit different than before,” Wang Baole said with a sigh after a long silence.

Li Wan'er fell silent and did not speak. After a long while, as the giant snake beneath them moved, the sky darkened, and the bright moon rose, Li Wan'er’s voice drifted over with the cool breeze.

“Perhaps everyone changes a little as they grow up, but I… am still me.” Having said that, Li Wan'er bowed slightly to Wang Baole, then turned and walked silently into the distance.

Perhaps it was the moonlight, or perhaps it was the surrounding environment, but in Wang Baole’s eyes, Li Wan'er’s departing figure seemed desolate and carried a deep sense of weight.

“Moon Star Sect…” Staring at her back, Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed. As he muttered to himself, the distant Li Wan'er paused in her tracks. She suddenly turned around and looked at Wang Baole. The familiarity that Wang Baole thought was disappearing surged back into her eyes instantly. It seemed that during those few steps of her departure, she had made some sort of decision in her heart. At the moment she looked back at Wang Baole, her lips moved slightly as she transmitted a single sentence via a secret technique!

“Baole, there is a sentence carved upon the mountain gate of the Moon Star Sect. That sentence is… There are deities three feet above one’s head!”

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END OF Chapter 1041
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START OF Chapter 1042
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Chapter 1042: Ten Days, Ten Lives!

After saying those words, Li Wan’er’s figure receded into the distance, gradually disappearing from Wang Baole’s sight. Though she had left, her voice lingered in his mind for a long time, so much so that his eyes seemed to lose their spark for a moment, and his entire being sank into a state of deathly silence.

It was truly because those words, coupled with Li Wan’er’s earlier expression, created an impact like a gargantuan wave. They transformed into countless bolts of celestial thunder within Wang Baole’s mind, exploding incessantly.

It was only after a long while that Wang Baole’s eyes finally flickered with life again.

"Three feet above one's head reside the deities..." Wang Baole murmured, raising his head to look at the sky. With his current cultivation, his gaze naturally reached far beyond just three feet; he could see right through the firmament and into the starry sky beyond.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of the record Xie Haiyang had mentioned. Amidst his silence, Wang Baole suddenly spoke softly in his heart.

"Little missy, are you there?"

There was no response.

Wang Baole’s brows furrowed slightly. His divine sense spread out and merged into the mask fragment, but he didn’t see the little missy. It seemed she had hidden herself away, not wishing to be disturbed.

He did not try to force a meeting. Withdrawing his divine sense, Wang Baole sat cross-legged atop the mountain peak. He watched the sky gradually darken and felt the slight swaying of the continent beneath him as the giant snake moved. Slowly, his mind disengaged from Li Wan’er’s words.

If he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't think about it for now!

Wang Baole knew that at his current Planetary realm cultivation, whether he knew certain things or not wasn't actually important. What mattered was the present!

Focusing on the present and making himself stronger and stronger was the key to life. As for why the lone Ancestor of the Moon Star Sect had invited him, Wang Baole had some guesses. Regardless of the reasons, both parties could be considered fellow townsfolk. Moreover, if one took the moment the Moon Star Sect left as a point in time, then from that moment until now, he was essentially the strongest person in the entire Solar System.

"Perhaps it’s because of that, but why fix the time so specifically?" Wang Baole shook his head, burying the matter in his heart. Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly. He looked toward the distant mountain range and immediately saw a figure. This person wasn't flying but was instead leaping across the undulating peaks, heading toward him at high speed with large strides.

Though the sky was dark and only moonlight spilled down, and though the person was still far away, the high topknot on their head and the almost reflective shine coming from them allowed Wang Baole to recognize their identity instantly.

This person was an old acquaintance from the Starfall Land—the incredibly stubborn fellow who cared immensely about his reputation... Brother High Person, Gao Qu.

Seeing this guy made the heavy atmosphere in Wang Baole’s heart lighten a little, and a smile appeared on his face. As the other party rapidly approached, Wang Baole stood up and clasped his hands in a greeting.

"Brother High Person!"

"Brother Continent!" Along with the voice came a hearty laugh. Soon, Brother High Person appeared before Wang Baole, his face full of enthusiasm. Upon arriving, he raised his right hand into a fist and swung it toward Wang Baole’s shoulder.

An imperceptible glint flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. He could see the other party meant no harm and was just being overly familiar, but allowing such a punch to land still carried a certain risk. After all, one could never truly know another's heart, and the two of them weren't close enough for that level of trust. If there was any hidden malice, he would be put in a passive position.

However, if he dodged, it would create a sense of distrust. Based on his understanding of Brother High Person, if the man truly meant no harm and Wang Baole dodged, it would likely dampen his enthusiasm.

These thoughts flashed through Wang Baole’s mind in an instant. Without needing much deliberation, Wang Baole laughed heartily and likewise raised his right fist, meeting Brother High Person’s punch directly.

In an instant, their fists collided. Both immediately realized that the other hadn't utilized a shred of cultivation; it was just a greeting like that of two mortals. Consequently, Brother High Person’s laughter grew even louder.

"Just for the fact that you didn't dodge, Xie Dalu, and trusted me so much—that gives me, Gao, a lot of face. Because of that, I won't care whether you're Wang Baole or Xie Dalu anymore." As he spoke, Brother High Person retracted his fist and flipped his hand to produce a jade slip, which he tossed to Wang Baole.

"Brother Continent, I spent a lot of blood and sweat to get this jade slip. I haven't given it to anyone else. I heard you arrived, so I'm giving it to you alone."

Wang Baole took the jade slip, his curiosity unconcealed as he looked through it. With just one scan, his eyes widened, and he showed a look of surprise.

Brother High Person had been observing Wang Baole’s expression the whole time. Seeing the curiosity and surprise, he laughed again, looking very proud of himself.

"How is it?"

"How did you get this information? I remember that the trials for Patriarch’s birthday banquets are usually kept secret until they are officially announced," Wang Baole said, genuinely shocked. This jade slip actually recorded the contents of this year's birthday trial.

He had learned on the way here that every time Patriarch Tianfa held a birthday banquet, he would open a trial. All the juniors attending the banquet would choose to enter because once they won the trial, they would be granted the opportunity to flip through the Book of Destiny.

Because of this, the contents of the trial changed constantly. They were only known after the announcement, making it very difficult to prepare in advance. Wang Baole had asked Xie Haiyang, and even with his countless channels and resources, Xie Haiyang didn't know the contents.

Yet, this Brother High Person before him seemed to know. Specifically, after Wang Baole looked at the contents of the jade slip, he felt that they were very likely authentic.

"Like I said, I spent a lot of blood and sweat. How about it, Brother Continent? Am I loyal or what? I only let you see this!" Brother High Person grew even more smug, reaching up to stroke his high topknot.

"Thank you, Brother Gao!" Wang Baole took a deep breath and immediately clasped his hands in gratitude.

"No need to be polite with me. Besides, even though we know in advance, this trial is a bit strange—completely different from previous ones. That part is very odd. Also, because of that, it's hard to prepare anything beforehand. I'm just using this news to show my goodwill to you, Brother Continent, in hopes that we can watch out for each other during the trial." Brother High Person didn't hide his intentions and spoke frankly.

Wang Baole was happy to accept this kind of directness. He nodded and scanned the jade slip in his hand with his divine sense once more.

"Using an illusion as the trial environment, divided into countless regions. Each participant will be in an isolated region for a ten-day test. During this period, one can stay in their own region or travel to the regions of others... That doesn't seem like much," Wang Baole spoke softly.

"Exactly. If that were all, the trial wouldn't be special. But the content of the trial is actually to experience fragments of your past lives!" A strange light gleamed in Brother High Person’s eyes.

"Ten days, ten lives. That’s a rhythm of one life per day!"

"One must gain enlightenment from their past selves, thereby gleaning the power of those past lives from the cycle of reincarnation. Although you can't merge with all of it—only a portion—it is still a great fortuitous encounter. However, the greatest mystery is whether our previous lives even exist. If they don't, then the opportunity is empty. But if they do, then who were we in our past lives?" Brother High Person took a deep breath. Clearly, he had spent a lot of time thinking about this after learning of the trial.

"There are no rules prohibiting interfering with or interrupting others' enlightenment. The only condition for victory is being the first to comprehend the tenth life... The first ten people to succeed will be granted the right to flip through the Book of Destiny!" Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He thought of what his Master had told him—that he had secured an opportunity from Patriarch Tianfa for Wang Baole to see his past lives and merge with them.

Looking at it now, that opportunity clearly overlapped with this trial. However, he still had a faint feeling that this trial was more like a foundation... a preparation for him to receive the specific opportunity his Master had arranged.

"Brother High Person, do you know what the trials were for previous birthday banquets?" To confirm his suspicion, Wang Baole looked at Gao Qu and inquired.

"Last time it was picking longevity peaches from the Eternal Tree. The time before that, everyone had to display their divine powers to create firework-like totems in the sky. The time before that, it was direct combat... That's why I'm saying this time is very strange!" Brother High Person spoke a great deal in one breath. As Wang Baole listened, his inner suspicions were confirmed, and a look of anticipation gradually appeared in his eyes!

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END OF Chapter 1042
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START OF Chapter 1043
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**Chapter 1043: Heavenly Destiny Mountain!**

“Gaining enlightenment on past lives… and thus obtaining the qualification to look through the Book of Heavenly Destiny to see fragments of the future… I wonder if I will be able to see that scene sixty-eight years from now!” A strange light gleamed in Wang Baole’s eyes. At the same time, he became even more interested in the opportunity his Master had mentioned.

“I just don't know… what was my past life? And how many past lives have I had?” Wang Baole was curious. Before joining the Dark Sect, he hadn't believed in things like past lives, but his experiences in the Dark Sect had made it clear that the lives in this world did indeed have past lives.

After all, back in the Dark Dream, he had personally escorted many departed souls to their rebirth and had even drawn soul faces for new souls. Unfortunately, while in the Dark Dream, he never encountered any techniques or opportunities that allowed him to investigate his own past lives.

As Wang Baole pondered this, the "High-Person" brother beside him was quite satisfied with his own expression of goodwill. However, he quickly remembered something and lowered his voice to speak rapidly.

“But Brother Mainland, you must be careful of certain people during this birthday celebration…”

“Oh?” Wang Baole looked at Brother Gao.

“The Tribulation Scale of this giant snake we’re on is only one of thirty-nine Desolate Beasts. That is to say, at this very moment on this Heavenly Destiny Star, there are thirty-eight other giant beasts heading toward the central region simultaneously.”

“Therefore, the number of people coming to offer birthday greetings this time is extremely large, and… among those on the other thirty-eight Desolate Beasts, there are some with shockingly high reputations and terrifying personal strength!”

“Even though you, Brother Mainland, fused with a Dao Star and showed impressive power during your battle with Xu Yinling in the starry sky earlier, you still need to be careful of four people!”

“Among these four, one is the Ninth Young Master of the lineage of the Weiyang Clan’s Giga Divine Emperor. This person’s cultivation appears to be only at the Great Circle of the Planet realm, and the planets he fused with are not Dao Stars, but Ancient Stars. However… there are nine of them. Nine is the limit. It is said that the path he wants to take is the same as yours, Brother Mainland, but unfortunately… he has never succeeded!”

“So this time, whether it’s to use it for enlightenment or to plunder your Dao Star, he will inevitably find you and fight you!” When Brother Gao spoke of this Ninth Young Master, a solemn look he could not hide appeared in his eyes. Clearly, even with his family’s influence, he was wary of this person.

“The Weiyang Clan…” Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. “Who are the other three?”

“Xu Yinling comes from the Nine Phoenix Sect of the Sideline Holy Domain. Her sect is ranked third in that domain. As for the one ranked second, it is the Seven Spirit Dao. This Daoist sect is different from others; it only has seventy-seven members. Their statuses are chaotic and change with their cultivation levels, and every single one of them… is an old monster who has reincarnated and cultivated anew multiple times. The one coming to the birthday celebration this time is the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao!”

“This person was once a peak Star Realm powerhouse who reincarnated. Although his new body is currently only in the Planet realm, his methods are numerous and his combat strength is incredibly shocking. It is said that no one in the Planet realm is his match!”

“Reincarnating and cultivating anew multiple times? A sect with only seventy-seven people? Then which is the number one sect of the Sideline Domain?” Wang Baole asked curiously upon hearing this.

“There is no number one sect. The Sideline Holy Domain is very strange. There is no number one sect listed. The Seven Spirit Dao is clearly the strongest, yet they claim to be ranked second. The Nine Phoenix Sect behind them is the same, willingly ranking themselves as third.”

“So, if this number one sect truly exists, it is also incomparably mysterious. Perhaps my Gao family ancestor knows, but he didn’t tell me.” Brother Gao waved his hand; he was actually quite curious about this matter as well.

“Have you heard of the Moon Star Sect?” Wang Baole suddenly asked.

“I’ve heard of it. Isn’t Li Wan’er from the Moon Star Sect? But that sect’s position in the Sideline Domain is too low. It isn’t even ranked within the top hundred, so it doesn't have much of a ranking.” After Brother Gao told Wang Baole what he knew, Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed. He could tell that what the other party said didn't seem to be false, yet it seemed to differ slightly from what he understood.

While he was lost in thought, Brother Gao informed him about the last two people he needed to be careful of.

“Within the Nine State Dao, the number one sect of the Leftside Holy Domain, Chen Ruxiu is only a bottom-tier Dao Child. Because he only obtained a special star in the Starfall Land, his ranking didn't increase, though he is still a Dao Child. However, the one coming for the birthday celebration this time is the Seventh Dao Child of the Nine State Dao!”

“This Seventh Dao Child has a cultivation at the Great Circle of the Planet realm. Although the star he fused with is also only a special star, its Law is incredibly shocking. It is Devouring—the devouring of all things. It is precisely this Law that makes this Seventh Dao Child extremely ferocious!”

“The last one is someone you’ve also seen… it’s that companion from the Starfall Land who wore black clothes and carried a greatsword on his back!”

“This person is named Xing Jingzi. He has no sect and is just a rogue cultivator. However, after the Starfall Land, because he fused with a special star and had no background, he was hunted by many small and medium-sized forces attempting to plunder his planet. Yet, over the past few years, he has killed hundreds of Planets and wiped out dozens of small forces. It can be said that he fought his way out through a path of blood. Although his cultivation is only at the mid-stage of the Planet realm, he has slain those at the Great Circle of the Planet realm!”

“Some have even seen that his sword is a Demon Blade. It is that very Demon Blade that makes many people wary, because in the Weiyang Dao Domain, all Demon Blades come from one place… the Extreme Demon Sect!”

“The Extreme Demon Sect has no specific or fixed sect location. Instead, they wander throughout the entire Weiyang Dao Domain. However, their strength is so great that they are not weaker than any of the top three sects in either the Sideline or Leftside Holy Domains. They might even be stronger!”

“The Ninth Young Master of the Giga Divine Emperor’s lineage, the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao, the Seventh Dao Child of the Nine State Dao, and… Xing Jingzi!” Listening to Brother Gao’s introduction, Wang Baole gained knowledge of the powerhouses from various factions attending the birthday celebration.

“As for Xu Yinling, she hid herself well before, so her brilliance was overshadowed by others. But after my battle with her, she has been completely exposed, so she can also be considered a target and a formidable rival for everyone.”

“And then there’s… Li Wan'er. Although her planet is ordinary, I have a feeling that she might have the most trump cards of all!” Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He spoke with Brother Gao for a while longer until the sky turned completely pitch black and even the bright moon was fully covered by dark clouds. Only then did Brother Gao take his leave.

Watching the other man walk away, Wang Baole sat cross-legged and organized all this information in his mind before closing his eyes to wait as time passed. As for Xie Haiyang, the Zhiling Ancestor, and the others, although they weren't right next to him, they weren't far and kept watch at all times.

In this manner, the next few days passed quite peacefully for Wang Baole. Although some people came to visit due to his reputation, they were all politely declined by Xie Haiyang. As for his acquaintances from the Starfall Land, although some were on this giant snake, most had an average relationship with Wang Baole and didn't come to visit.

Thus, as time slowly slipped by, the giant snake they were on moved continuously across the land, getting closer and closer to the central region. The surrounding environment changed several times. After seeing various strange landscapes and creatures many times, Wang Baole no longer felt the same sense of novelty he had at the beginning.

When half a month was almost up, the giant snake finally brought them to the center of the Heavenly Destiny Star. From afar, a massive volcano entered Wang Baole’s sight.

This volcano was so large that its end couldn't be seen at a glance. Compared to it, the giant snake beneath them became tiny. Looking at it now, one could see that the upper half of the mountain peak was covered by black mist and clouds. One could only faintly see countless flashes of lightning and fire shining within the cloud layers. Muffled, booming sounds seemed to emanate from within the mountain. Furthermore… an earth-shaking fluctuation radiated from the mountain’s body!

Even though this fluctuation was restrained, it still caused Wang Baole’s eyes to shrink slightly upon sensing it. To him, this was no volcano; it was clearly a Peak of Stars formed by the convergence of a massive number of Stars!

As the giant snake moved, the mountain peak grew closer and larger. Finally, as the giant snake began to crawl up the mountain, the pressure emanating from it blanketed the surroundings even more intensely!

If one could stand at the summit right now and look down, they would see that surrounding this mountain—including the giant snake—there were thirty-nine colossal beasts in different positions, all carrying a large number of cultivators as they climbed upward. Their goal… was the summit region!

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END OF Chapter 1043
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START OF Chapter 1044
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As they drew closer to the summit, every cultivator atop the giant snake, regardless of what they had been doing before, focused their full attention on the mountaintop.

Xie Haiyang, the Zhiling Ancestor, and the others gathered by Wang Baole’s side. As they gazed upward, a profound light flickered deep within Wang Baole’s eyes.

During the past half-month, in addition to his quiet cultivation, he had been contemplating a certain problem.

This problem stemmed from the trial materials provided by Brother High-Minded. The "Ten Days, Ten Lives" mentioned within seemed normal on the surface, but it contained a paradox when compared to the reality of the Weiyang Clan.

The Heavenly Dao of the Dark Sect operated on the rules of life and death, the cycle of reincarnation, and the division of Yin and Yang. Rebirth was continuous. However, the Weiyang Clan was different. After suppressing the Dark Sect, they established their own Heavenly Dao. Their rules dictated that for anyone at the Planet realm or above, there was no true death; at most, the soul would fall into a slumber, awaiting the next resurrection.

Between the two, the former involved multiple past lives where each life forgot the previous one. It was as if a wisp of a soul drifted through the long river of reincarnation until it eventually dissipated, leaving no trace behind. For the universe as a whole, this was a healthy cycle that extended the universe’s lifespan. Because of the nature of this cycle—much like panning for gold in the sand—while the vast majority of souls would eventually vanish, once someone broke through a certain limit, they could recall the memories of all their past lives. Ultimately, these memories would fuse together, forming an Undying Spirit.

In the Dark Sect, an Undying Spirit was known as an Underworld Emperor, much like the Divine Emperors of the current Weiyang Clan!

The Dao of the Weiyang Clan was diametrically opposed to that of the Dark Sect. They preached living a single life to the fullest. They wanted no past and no future; they sought only to exist eternally in the present. This Dao was overbearing. It did not give back to the universe but instead continuously took and plundered. Through unilateral excavation and repeated deaths followed by resurrections, the number of cultivators reaching the level of Undying Spirits naturally exceeded that of the Dark Sect era.

However, this held a massive hidden danger. Because the universe could not form a cycle, its lifespan was rapidly withering. Furthermore, Wang Baole had previously speculated that there might be some hidden truth regarding those who supposedly died and were resurrected that he did not yet understand. As for what that truth was, Wang Baole’s thoughts were still somewhat fuzzy.

But this did not affect his judgment regarding this "Ten Days, Ten Lives" trial.

*In the era of the Weiyang Clan, there are no past lives!* Wang Baole murmured in his heart, doubt appearing in his eyes. Based on this logic, the trial should have no value, no one should be participating, and certainly, the disciples of the Weiyang Divine Emperors wouldn’t have come to offer birthday greetings.

*Unless… there is another explanation. Brother High-Minded might not be clear on the details, but I imagine when the trial is announced during the birthday banquet, someone will raise these questions and provide answers.* As Wang Baole pondered, the giant snake beneath him climbed further, entering the clouds and mist surrounding the summit area. Lightning flashed and thunder roared around them as the snake carried the crowd to the very peak of this Stellar-class mountain!

The summit was a massive circular volcanic crater. High temperatures radiated from within, causing the air to distort. At the same time, rumbling roars echoed from inside the mountain like those of a ferocious beast.

As the giant snake reached the crater, thirty-eight other giant beasts of various forms appeared around the rim. Among them were massive white dragons, black-and-green snapping turtles, and phoenixes with vibrant, multicolored plumage. All of them had arrived, surrounding the crater and roaring toward the space directly above it.

As the earth-shaking roars caused the clouds to ripple and roll away, Wang Baole and all the guests atop the giant beasts looked up toward the firmament. As the clouds dispersed, a massive orb was clearly reflected in their eyes!

This orb was comparable in size to a moon. Its surface was incredibly smooth and semi-transparent. As it floated above the crater, becoming the focus of everyone’s attention, it allowed everyone to clearly see countless islands floating inside the sphere of light!

These islands surrounded the perimeter, and in their center... floated a vast altar. This altar was shaped like a pagoda with nineteen levels. Every level was carved with countless birds, beasts, and scenes of strange, totemic murals!

Looking closely, one could see that the lowest level of the murals depicted the Weiyang Clan with three heads and six arms. The level above it depicted figures wearing black robes that concealed their bodies, standing on boats with countless wandering souls floating behind them!

The level above that was somewhat blurry. Wang Baole could only see what appeared to be giants. These giants had ferocious appearances and horns on their heads. The buildings of the earth and countless ferocious beasts were like ants before them.

There were many more scenes, but perhaps due to the angle or his cultivation level, Wang Baole couldn’t see them clearly. He could only see that this ancient-smelling altar was being held high by four giants!

These four giants were exactly like the ones depicted on the third level from the top, though they were clearly smaller in scale. Despite that, they gave Wang Baole an almost identical feeling!

This scene shook Wang Baole's heart. A majestic voice then rang out from the moon-sized orb, echoing in the ears of all the cultivators atop the thirty-nine giant beasts.

"Welcome to the Planet of Fate!"

"You are all the chosen talents of this generation in the universe. We thank you for coming to my Master's birthday celebration. The banquet will begin tomorrow morning. Please be patient."

As the voice spoke, the cultivators atop the giant beasts bowed their heads and politely voiced their assent. Simultaneously, a few clear voices echoed across the area.

"Is that Senior Kun Lingzi? I am Ling Lan. My master knows of the Superior's rules and found it inconvenient to come in person, so he instructed me to come and offer birthday greetings. He once said that my name was bestowed by the Heavenly Dharma Superior himself. I ask Senior Kun Lingzi to convey my greetings to the Superior. I wish the Superior a long life of ten thousand years and an eternal fate!" As the voice rang out, Wang Baole immediately looked over. On the back of the white dragon in the distance, he saw a young cultivator dressed in white robes.

Because the distance was too great and the void was distorted, he couldn't see the man's exact appearance. However, the ripples of a Great Perfection Planet realm and the pull of an Ancient Star allowed Wang Baole to immediately grasp the person's identity.

"So it is the ninth disciple of Giga Divine Emperor. I will deliver your blessings to my Master." Inside the orb, the gentle voice from before echoed once again.

"Senior Kun Lingzi, I am Chen Han. I must trouble Senior to convey my greetings to the Superior. I wish the Superior eternal immortal blessings and that all laws return to him!"

"Fellow Daoist Chen is too polite. I will certainly convey your words. However, you and I were once of the same generation; there is no need to refer to yourself as a junior." The gentle voice within the orb spoke again.

"After being resurrected and cultivating again, if one still clings to the past, how can one walk a new Dao? I, Chen, am starting everything from the beginning, so naturally, I am a junior!" Because the speaker was too far away, Wang Baole couldn't see him and could only hear his voice. However, from this dialogue, he guessed the man's identity.

"Such a mindset, Fellow Daoist Chen, is truly excellent!" The gentle voice seemed to carry a hint of a smile. After those words, several others spoke up one after another to offer their greetings.

Anyone capable of speaking up to offer greetings was among the cream of the crop among those who had come. Aside from the Seventh Dao Child of the Nine Darkness Dao, there were cultivators from other sects and factions. Even Xie Yunteng, who had arrived on the Planet of Fate after Wang Baole on a different beast, was among them.

Seeing seven or eight people speak in succession—with the rhetoric becoming increasingly exaggerated as each tried to show off their background—Wang Baole blinked. He straightened his body, clasped his hands toward the orb, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Junior Wang Baole, on behalf of my Master, the Flame Ancestor, offers greetings to Senior Kun Lingzi and the Superior! I ask Senior to convey my words: Junior offers a first bow to the Superior, wishing the Superior blessings as vast as a sea of stars and a prosperous universe!"

"A second bow to the Superior, wishing the Superior an eternal spring of fate and a perpetual Dao heart!"

"A third bow to the Superior, wishing the Superior a renewal of youth and long-lasting joy!"

Wang Baole's voice was thunderous. He performed three consecutive bows as he spoke. His actions and words instantly eclipsed the seven or eight people before him, immediately drawing the attention of everyone around.

The gentle voice within the orb let out a chuckle.

"So it is the disciple of an old friend. You are quite thoughtful, nephew. I will certainly convey your words to the Superior."

"Thank you, Senior! I also wish Senior, on this journey of life through the vast sea of stars of the Great Thousand World, that your original heart remains forever and that the clamor of the world never disturbs you!" As Wang Baole spoke, he bowed deeply once more!

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As the gentle voice inside the light sphere spoke with a hint of a smile, Wang Baole backed away a few steps, feeling quite satisfied. He had thought his own birthday greetings were rather impressive, but to his surprise, the seven or eight people who followed him were each more exaggerated than the last.

One acquaintance in particular actually spoke for the duration of a full stick of incense. His birthday wishes didn’t repeat a single word from beginning to end. By the time he finished, even the gentle voice inside the light sphere let out a cough to interrupt him. After announcing the time for the birthday banquet the following day, the voice spoke no more.

This acquaintance was none other than the little fatty...

"This kid has some skill!" Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance toward a mountain peak on the continent resting atop the greenish-black giant turtle. As he looked over, the little fatty seemed to sense it and glanced at Wang Baole, but he immediately looked away. Clearly, the shadow Wang Baole had cast over him wouldn't dissipate anytime soon.

Seeing this, Wang Baole retracted his gaze, sat cross-legged, and waited silently. Time passed slowly, and soon it was late into the night. Although the starry sky of Destiny Star was brilliant, the clamor drifting from the other giant beasts occasionally scattered with the wind, adding a touch of vulgarity to the elegant environment.

It wasn't until the dead of night that the noise faded. As his surroundings grew silent, Wang Baole gazed at the stars, his eyes filled with contemplation. His mind was still preoccupied with his doubts regarding the trial.

As he was lost in thought, Wang Baole’s expression suddenly flickered. An ancient voice abruptly echoed in his mind.

"Your Master has exchanged a fortuitous chance for you through me."

Wang Baole’s eyes widened instantly. He immediately scanned his surroundings and soon noticed that in the previously empty space to his left, countless grey specks of light had appeared. These specks eventually converged, forming a pearl!

"This fortuitous chance is divided into two parts. Keep this pearl well; it will allow you to fuse more deeply when you condense the shadows of your past lives. It is also the key to opening the second part of the chance."

The voice continued to echo in Wang Baole’s mind. The pearl flew toward him, eventually floating before him and emitting a soft glow, remaining perfectly still.

"Junior greets the Senior! Thank you, Senior!" Wang Baole’s chest heaved with emotion. Realizing the identity of the one speaking to him, he rose quickly and bowed toward the front.

"There is no need to bow to me, nor is there a need for thanks. If you wish to give thanks... thank your Master." The voice was as calm as ever, without a single ripple. It spread through Wang Baole’s mind, growing fainter until it vanished completely.

It felt to Wang Baole as if the speaker were gradually drifting away. After a long while, Wang Baole looked up, remained silent for a moment, and then took the pearl to examine it closely.

The pearl looked quite ordinary with nothing special about it, except that its surface was as smooth and delicate as a real pearl. At the same time, it emitted a faint fragrance. Wafting into his nose, it caused his mind to daze slightly, though this trance was easily suppressed.

"This pearl..." Wang Baole couldn't see anything extraordinary about it, but he still put it away transitionally. While Wang Baole was observing the pearl, no one noticed a figure appearing at the very top of the altar, supported by the four giants within the massive sphere of light above the volcanic crater.

This figure seemed to exist between reality and illusion, appearing clear one moment and blurred the next. It was an old man dressed in a grey robe. His hair was also grey, trailing from the top of his head all the way down to his calves—an astounding sight. The old man also had a grey beard that hung down to his abdomen.

At first glance, he seemed incredibly ancient. However, upon closer inspection, the skin near his beard was like that of an infant—white with a hint of red, overflowing with vitality. Yet, amidst this vitality, his eyes were like a stagnant well, revealing a sense of dead silence. They lacked any spirit or light, resembling the eyes of a dead man.

Only... during the moment his body shifted between reality and illusion could one see a wise light like a sea of stars deep within his eyes, as if a veil had been lifted.

"Another juncture has arrived... What will the result be this time?" the old man murmured softly. He slowly sat cross-legged at the top of the altar and gradually raised his head, looking directly above him.

At first glance, he seemed to be gazing at the firmament, the starry sky, and the endless distance. But if someone were qualified and capable enough to approach him, someone perceptive might realize... the old man wasn't looking at the sky, the stars, or the distance. He was looking... at a spot exactly three feet above his head!

Even though that spot was completely empty, his gaze remained fixed three feet above, as if his eyes could see a world invisible to others. Just like now, he was clearly sitting on the altar, yet whether it was Wang Baole or the cultivators on the other giant beasts, even if someone directed their gaze here, all they would see was empty space.

He was, naturally, the master of Destiny Star, the legendary artifact spirit of the Book of Destiny... Heavenly Dharma Senior!

He sat there until dawn. At the moment of daybreak, as the bells tolled, a thunderous roar echoed from the firmament. The earth trembled, and clouds rapidly swirled from all directions. All the cultivators atop the thirty-nine giant beasts, including Wang Baole, looked toward the sphere of light at the volcanic crater. As the world changed, bursts of laughter echoed from the void.

"Fellow Daoist Heavenly Dharma, may your Immortal Dao last forever!"

"Fellow Daoist Heavenly Dharma, I have traveled all the way from the Far North Star Domain just to celebrate your birthday. You must prepare plenty of good wine this time!"

"An eon has passed in the blink of an eye. Fellow Daoist Heavenly Dharma, I hope you have been well."

As the laughter echoed, waves of pressure suddenly spread and descended. Instantly, the entirety of Destiny Star was enveloped within a terrifying storm of divine sense.

As the storm formed and the rumbling waves spread in all directions, streaks of prismatic light shot down from the sky, heading straight for the islands surrounding the altar within the sphere of light!

One streak of light for each island. Upon landing, these streaks transformed into figures that instantly seemed to fuse with their respective islands, forming massive Dharma Idols. They stood like gods, possessing boundless majesty.

Some had wings and the face of an eagle; some had bodies as massive as mountains of flesh; some transformed into bodies made of piled white bones; others radiated glorious Daoist techniques and an aura of righteous solemnity.

There were even those as ethereal as immortals, accompanied by the lingering sounds of celestial music...

There were a total of ninety-nine islands surrounding the altar. Now, more streaks of light continued to arrive amidst the laughter, landing on the vacant islands one after another. Ultimately, eighty-nine of the ninety-nine islands had been occupied by these Dharma Idols, with only ten remaining empty.

Their appearance caused the hearts of Wang Baole and the others to shake violently. He could tell that every single one of these beings had a cultivation base that was, at its weakest, at the Star Domain powerhouse level!

Although what appeared here were clearly not their true bodies but merely projections, their aura was still earth-shaking. Xie Haiyang, standing nearby, was breathing heavily as he sent a rapid voice transmission.

"They've appeared again!!"

"This is the bizarre phenomenon that occurs every time Heavenly Dharma Senior holds a birthday feast on Destiny Star. Look at these Star Domain powerhouses... every single one possesses heavenly might, yet their identities are unknown. They don't even exist in any records!"

"In other words, no one has ever seen these powerhouses in the outside world, and no one knows who they are. Furthermore, the place names they mention in their greetings don't exist within the Never-Ending Dao Domain. For instance, that 'Far North Star Domain'—whether it's the Side Door, the Heretics, or the Never-Ending, there is absolutely no such place!"

"Moreover, according to my Xie family's past investigations and the research of other factions, these people appear and depart extremely abruptly, as if out of thin air. Years ago, a Divine Emperor of the Never-Ending Clan even personally intervened, but it was like facing the void. He passed right through them; they couldn't touch each other, as if they couldn't even see one another. There was no communication at all!"

"The preliminary judgment is that they don't exist, or perhaps they existed in the endless ages of the past, even as far back as the ancient times before the Dark Sect existed!"

"Also, it was precisely because of that Divine Emperor's attempt that Heavenly Dharma Senior's birthday feast gained a new rule. The rule is... Stellar realm cultivators are allowed, but anyone above the Stellar realm is forbidden from attending the feast!"

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Listening to Xie Haiyang’s voice transmission and watching the figures descending onto the islands within the light sphere ahead, a strange light flickered in Wang Baole’s eyes.

He thought of the Starfall Land. Compared to this place, the Starfall Land was far more eerie; the countless paper people and the sight of everything between heaven and earth being made of paper was the most bizarre scene he had encountered in his life thus far.

As for this place... while its eeriness did not match that of the Starfall Land, its vastness and degree of mystery far surpassed it. One could say that from the moment he stepped onto the Fate Star, this sense of mystery had persisted throughout, reaching its peak at this very moment.

"Eighty-nine Star Domain powerhouses... such a number is likely comparable to any of the Sanctuaries in the Side Door Sects. Especially since these people are clearly no ordinary Star Domain experts; every single one of them gives me a feeling similar to my master." Wang Baole murmured internally, as a wave of shock rose within his heart.

In truth, he knew very well that although his master, the Blazing Flame Ancestor, was not as powerful as his senior brother, Chen Qingzi, he still stood at the peak of the Star Domain realm. He was a super-powerhouse whose name was known throughout the entire Unending Dao Domain. As for his senior brother, Chen Qingzi, he could no longer be classified as a simple Star Domain expert.

Perhaps some secret existed within him that allowed him to slay Divine Emperors of the Universe Realm while still in the Star Domain realm!

And here, there were eighty-nine super-powerhouses comparable to his master. The sheer terror of this force was enough to shock the Unending Dao Domain. Even if these were only projections, there was likely some inside information he wasn't privy to. This was also the reason why the Fate Star was acknowledged by the Unending Dao Domain.

In silence, Wang Baole’s gaze swept over the eighty-nine figures. But as he watched, his eyes suddenly narrowed, his gaze landing on one of the projections.

This projection’s body looked normal, but the space around it was filled with distortion, as if the person were exerting extreme effort to restrain and suppress themselves. It was as if their original body was incredibly massive, and in order to come here, they had to highly condense their form to keep the projection at a certain size.

As they condensed, ripples inevitably spread out, affecting their surroundings while causing their body to flicker between being illusory and clear. What drew Wang Baole's attention was a single horn atop this person's head, identical to the giants on the third-to-last level of the altar.

Furthermore, there was a faint, familiar sensation emanating from this figure that Wang Baole could sense. This puzzled him and sent him into deep thought, but he was soon interrupted by Xie Haiyang’s transmission beside him.

"The ten remaining islands surrounding the altar where the Master sits are, according to tradition, reserved for the ten chosen geniuses who obtain qualifications during the trial."

"In other words, the first ten people who successfully obtain qualifications in the upcoming trial will be invited to step into the light sphere, sit on those islands, and join the other powerhouses in offering birthday wishes to the Master!"

"Also... Uncle-Master, you should focus all your efforts on comprehending your techniques and divine abilities in a moment. Because according to past custom, there will be a discourse on the Dao before the trial begins!"

Wang Baole nodded upon hearing this and was about to speak, but at that moment, laughter rang out from Master Tianfa, who was sitting cross-legged on the altar inside the light sphere. The laughter was peaceful and echoed in all directions, causing the clouds in the sky to disperse and the earth to stop trembling. It was as if a gentle breeze blew through the area, making everyone’s heart feel incomparable peace in that instant.

As the laughter spread, Master Tianfa’s figure on the altar was clearly revealed to everyone’s eyes. He wore a grey long robe, had long grey hair, and within his eyes—which were as calm as an ancient well—there were occasional flashes of wisdom as deep as a sea of stars. He was currently smiling and seemingly conversing with the powerhouses who had come to offer their birthday wishes on the surrounding islands.

Beside him, the figure of an old man emerged. This elder wore a green robe, his body was stooped, his head bowed, and his hands were tucked into his sleeves in the manner of an old servant. However, the Star Domain fluctuations radiating from him were not inferior in the slightest to the other projections around them.

This scene caused Wang Baole’s eyes to shrink again. He watched silently, and although he couldn't hear the details of the conversation within the light sphere, the occasional laughter and fluctuations still made his soul feel as if it were being baptized. It was as if the conversation and laughter of these powerhouses inside the sphere influenced the heaven and earth, causing the traces of the Dao to permeate the area, enveloping everyone within range.

Wang Baole was no exception; his entire being gradually immersed itself into an ethereal state.

It wasn't just him; at this moment, all the cultivators atop the thirty-nine Calamity Beasts outside the light sphere were the same. Their minds were at peace as they entered a similar state.

This state was, to some extent, like an amplification—it magnified a cultivator’s divine sense and sensitivity, allowing them to see the traces of rules that they could not see in their daily lives while in this meditative trance.

Especially in this surrounding area, due to the laughter within the light sphere, the numerous descending projections, and the majestic gathering of rules and laws, once one’s own perception was magnified, it became easier to capture the traces of the rules nearby.

Wang Baole was currently in this state. Immersed in that ethereal calm, though his eyes were closed, all the images of his surroundings surfaced in his mind. In this vision, there were no cultivators, only ninety-one immensely large light sources!

The light source in the center was like the beginning of all things, unimaginably vast. The slightly smaller light sources beside it were also permeated with rules, emitting countless wisps of threads. Every thread connected to the void, forming various types of mystical light.

Beyond these two light sources—one large and one slightly smaller—were the eighty-nine other light sources surrounding them. Each one emitted threads, each contained infinite rules, and as their light spread, they influenced everything in all directions, making the rules in this area countless.

As for Wang Baole and the other cultivators, they were like specks of light on the outermost perimeter. As the surrounding threads drifted by, they were like small black holes, absorbing the traces of the rules at different speeds depending on their respective aptitude and cultivation!

Among them, nine specks of light were the most conspicuous among the crowd. The black holes they formed absorbed the fastest, constantly pulling in the drifting rule threads from the surroundings, merging with them to grow stronger and making their own specks of light even more brilliant.

Wang Baole was one of those specks of light. He noticed the difference between himself and others, and he also saw the extraordinary nature of the other eight specks. Similarly, the others noticed him as well.

He had no time to ponder who the other eight specks were specifically. After a quick sweep and a general understanding, Wang Baole stopped considering the matter and focused his entire mind on comprehending the rules.

The first thing he comprehended was his own Rule of Fire. Among the countless rule threads in the surroundings, there were many related to fire. They were pulled toward him one after another, and after merging into his being, they manifested as scenes of divine abilities and techniques formed by the rules in his mind.

These techniques and divine abilities were all related to fire. They flashed by one by one, and after Wang Baole comprehended them, he immediately sensed that his grasp of the Rule of Fire was improving at an incredible speed. This improvement would not deepen his cultivation base, but it would manifest in his combat strength and his resonance with the Rule of Fire.

In just this short amount of time, Wang Baole felt that his Flame Spirit Curse, under the Rule of Fire, was at least twice as powerful as before.

At the same time, all his fire-based divine abilities were the same, as if they had been buffed!

This was precisely the benefit that came from resonance with the rules. Even with the same rule, the higher the grade of the planet it was merged with, the greater the power. The same applied to resonance.

The higher the grade, the further the limit of resonance. For example, the Rule of Fire contained within the lowest level of Planet could only reach a maximum of ten percent resonance.

The Rule of Fire of an Ancient Star could reach eighty percent. As for a Dao Star of the Rule of Fire, it was the only one that could achieve a level where the person and the rule became one!

That was the ultimate limit of resonance. Only at that point could one truly be said to have completely mastered a rule, and the resulting power would naturally skyrocket.

This made Wang Baole’s spirit soar. He realized that in a very short time, his resonance with the Rule of Fire had reached about sixty percent. He was about to continue his comprehension, but he soon discovered that the surrounding threads were slowly retracting back into the light sources. Once they were all retracted, it would mean this opportunity had ended.

Thus, the speck of light that was Wang Baole flickered slightly. He was no longer satisfied with absorbing the drifting threads from the surroundings. To obtain more resonance in such a short time, there was only one way!

In the next instant, Wang Baole immediately set his sights on those ninety-one massive light sources!

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Wang Baole was not the only one with such a thought. In fact, among the many points of light at that moment, there were three others among the eight geniuses who had gained significantly in resonance and stood out as clearly as he did. Upon realizing that this opportunity was about to end, they all set their sights on the source of all the rule filaments… the ninety-one spheres of light!

These ninety-one spheres of light—whether it was the eighty-nine on the outside or the single sphere in the central region—were as vast as microcosms of a starry sea. Their rules were majestic to the extreme, enough to shake heaven and earth.

However… if compared to the light source belonging to Heavenly Dharma Senior in the very center, all of them could only be called stars in the night sky. Only the light source formed by Heavenly Dharma Senior was like a bright moon or a blazing sun. Upon closer inspection, one could see that within Heavenly Dharma Senior’s light source, there was a… book!

It could not be seen clearly, only its outline. But the moment they saw this book, whether it was Wang Baole or the others, they all understood instantly. They knew that it was… the Book of Destiny!

An instinctive attraction that seemed to come from the depths of their souls made everyone, including Wang Baole, develop a strong urge to flip through that book the moment they saw it. Yet, it remained only an urge, because a even stronger sense of crisis was continuously radiating from Heavenly Dharma Senior’s light source, forcing everyone who wanted to approach to abandon the idea.

*I don't have the qualifications, so I'm not allowed…* Wang Baole thought pensively. He then withdrew his divine sense from Heavenly Dharma Senior’s light source. After sweeping over the other light sources nearby and on the periphery, his divine sense instantly locked onto one particular sphere of light.

This light source contained earth-shaking rules of fire. To some extent, they were already nearing the level of Laws. This caused Wang Baole’s mind to tremble, and his point of light accelerated, heading straight for that light source.

At the same time, the points of light formed by the other three geniuses did the same, rapidly approaching their chosen light sources. As the four of them drew closer, they also sensed each other’s identities!

One of them was indeed Xu Yinying!

Another was the ninth disciple of Giga Divine Emperor, Ling Lan!

The final one was not Chen Han, the reincarnated cultivator from the Seven Spiritual Dao, but rather… the Seventh Dao Child of the Nine Prefectures Sect, the number one sect of the Left Elder Star Domain. This person was not handsome; in fact, he looked quite ordinary. However, his eyes were extremely peculiar—they had no pupils, only an endless pitch-black void.

Together with Wang Baole, the four points of light they had become moved at high speed, instantly reaching the outskirts of their chosen light sources. There, they unleashed their full potential, frantically absorbing the power of the rules.

The point of light Wang Baole had become vibrated violently. Even his physical body, currently sitting cross-legged atop the Calamity Beast, trembled intensely. In his mind, as the rules of fire were absorbed, they felt like sheets of heavenly fire constantly falling upon him, slowly submerging him.

As he was submerged, a crisis of death rose strongly in Wang Baole’s mind. The flames surrounding him exceeded any temperature he had ever encountered; it seemed even the Blazing Flame Galaxy could not compare.

But the benefits were also obvious. His resonance with fire frantically surged in an instant, jumping from the previous sixty percent to seventy percent. If he could continue to endure, the resonance would surge even further. However, at this point, Wang Baole could no longer hold on. He knew very well that he had reached his limit. If he did not retreat now, his soul would likely collapse within these flames.

Indeed, this was the case. It wasn't just him; the other three were also at their limits. One after another, they began to retreat, preparing to leave. Wang Baole also did not hesitate; just as his point of light was about to pull back…

Suddenly, an aged voice echoed in Wang Baole’s ear!

"Do you know what fire is?"

This voice resonated in Wang Baole’s mind. It seemed no answer was expected, for in the next breath, the voice continued.

"I will give you a chance to see the essence of fire…"

As the voice spoke, the countless heavenly fires permeating Wang Baole’s consciousness suddenly became semi-transparent to his senses. In the next instant, they became completely transparent, as if they had disappeared!

"This…" Wang Baole was stunned.

Yet, despite the disappearance of the sea of fire, the sense of crisis brought by the temperature intensified countless times over, exploding within Wang Baole’s consciousness. Under this explosion, his resonance with fire directly reached eighty percent… This was the limit of an Ancient Star, but with the augmentation of Wang Baole’s Dao Star, the resonance could still climb.

It only stopped after reaching ninety percent in an instant. A massive force of repulsion then rose up, blasting Wang Baole’s divine sense out of that colorless sea of fire. From the outside, the point of light Wang Baole had become suddenly tumbled backward, flickering unsteadily as if on the verge of collapse, rapidly moving away from the light source.

At the same time, the voice from before echoed within his divine sense once more.

"A stone falls onto the water’s surface, creating ripples. Fire… is merely those ripples. It is but an appearance. Do you seek the water’s surface, the stone, or something even deeper?"

The emergence of this voice caused a roar in Wang Baole’s mind that was intense to the extreme. This perspective, this level of cognition, was something he had never possessed before!

While Wang Baole was still in a state of shock, his point of light retreated rapidly. He was not the only one; the other three points of light were doing the same, as if they too had heard similar voices and felt similar shocks within their respective light sources.

Simultaneously, as their four points of light tumbled back, all the rule filaments in the area snapped back in an instant, merging into their respective light sources. This strange world of perception seemed to close shut, vanishing directly.

The moment it vanished, everyone atop the thirty-nine Calamity Beasts shuddered and opened their eyes as they woke up. Among them, four people coughed up a large mouthful of blood the moment they awakened, their bodies staggering back several steps, their faces pale.

Wang Baole was one of them!

"The rules of fire!" After coughing up blood, Wang Baole abruptly looked up at the projections of the mighty experts within the sphere of light. He couldn't distinguish which one he had just been in contact with, but that voice—which felt less like communication and more like a fixed transmission—still left his heart churning like a stormy sea!

The shock rolled violently within him. Before Wang Baole could suppress it, the discussion of the Dao within the light sphere ended. The voice of Heavenly Dharma Senior rang out once again, spreading in all directions.

"Little friends, you have come to celebrate this old man's birthday; you are most kind. Regarding the Dao traces just now, how much you were able to gain depends on your own opportunities."

The voice seemed to carry a calming effect. As it entered their ears, it immediately dissolved the turbulence in everyone's hearts. The injuries caused to Wang Baole’s divine sense were instantly healed at this moment. At the same time, those with quick reactions were already cupping their fists in thanks.

"Many thanks, Senior!"

"This session of enlightenment was truly a stroke of heavenly fortune. Our gratitude, Senior!"

"Senior’s heart encompasses the starry sky as you guide us juniors. This great kindness shall not be forgotten for a lifetime!"

Amidst the successive expressions of gratitude, Wang Baole also took a deep breath, cupped his fists, and bowed. Then, everyone began to present the birthday gifts they had prepared. Wang Baole’s gifts had all been prepared by Xie Haiyang. After they were presented, divine music descended from the sky. Countless phantoms could be seen appearing in the firmament, dancing gracefully as ancient music echoed.

The melody carried an auspicious intent. As it scattered in all directions, it actually converged in front of everyone to form a longevity peach composed of countless musical notes. It went from illusory to solid, causing everyone’s expressions to shake once more, clearly struck by this wondrous divine ability.

Wang Baole was the same. On this trip to the Planet of Destiny, there was too much shock, too much wonder, and too much vastness. It felt as if a new world had been opened for him in terms of cognition and experience.

As the longevity peaches manifested and the music drifted, Heavenly Dharma Senior seemed to say something to the old servant beside him. Then, the old man with the hunched back nodded and stepped forward. With one step, he was outside the sphere of light. His gaze swept across the surroundings, and his gentle voice rang out.

"The rotation of the Heavenly Dao is merely a change in the ownership of the new and the old; it is not the beginning or end of an era. Therefore, whether it was the Dark Sect of the past or the Weiyang of today, they are merely existences within this current era."

"As for the entire universe, at least eighty-nine eras existed before this one. As for exactly how many, even Senior does not know."

"However, what is certain is that among our souls, some were indeed born within this new era, while others… existed in previous eras. This phenomenon is known as… past lives!"

"The more of a genius one is, the greater the possibility of having past lives. Therefore, Senior has decided… that during this birthday banquet, you shall be given the opportunity to perceive your past lives. Ten days, ten lives!"

"The one who ultimately perceives the tenth life will gain the qualification to flip through the Book of Destiny!"

"If no one does, then no one shall have the qualification. If everyone does, then everyone shall be qualified!"

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END OF Chapter 1047
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START OF Chapter 1048
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Chapter 1048: The Trial Begins!

Outside the orb of light, the eyes of the hunched old man were calm as he gazed at the hundreds of thousands of cultivators gathered atop the thirty-nine Primordial Beasts.

"There is one more point I hope you all understand. Having a past life does not guarantee that you will be able to perceive it. Everything depends on your own potential and enlightenment. What the Master can do is merely assist you, magnifying your perceptions and potential within the trial."

"Therefore, whether you succeed depends on yourselves. In a moment, I will open the trial. Within the trial grounds, the flow of time differs from the outside world. Ten days inside is merely the time it takes for a single stick of incense to burn in the outside world."

"Such a method, such a fortuitous encounter—the Master has never bestowed this before. Therefore, this time… please cherish it. I also wish that you may perceive your past lives in this trial and gain the power to elevate yourselves. However, one point remains the same as in the past: only those at the Planet realm may participate in the trial; those at the Stellar realm may not!" The old man's voice echoed, falling into the ears of everyone present, causing the expressions of nearly the vast majority of cultivators to shift.

Clearly, this trial was fundamentally different from what they had previously judged, and there was a massive discrepancy compared to past records. This change even caused their prior preparations to go to waste to a certain extent.

Even so, the meaning conveyed in the old man's words still caused everyone's hearts to shake. Their breathing became uneven as a sense of excitement surfaced from deep within.

Only a few individuals remained composed, showing no surprise, their eyes merely shimmering with sharp light. It was obvious they had, to varying degrees and through different channels, known some information regarding this trial in advance. Thus, their hearts were currently full of anticipation.

Among them, the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Sect suddenly flew out. He clasped his hands and bowed to the old man in mid-air, his voice ringing out.

"Senior, we cultivators practice throughout our lives. While we speak of destiny, we speak more of the survival of the fittest. There are likely over a hundred thousand people participating in this trial. If that is the case… while it may allow for a broad assessment of who has more past lives, to some extent… it loses the sense of mutual competition!"

"That is correct, Senior. I also share this doubt. If hundreds of thousands of us undergo the trial together, friction will inevitably arise, and we may interfere with each other’s perceptions. Is such behavior permitted?"

"Furthermore, if everyone has a chance to perceive their past lives, can this opportunity… be transferred to others?" One after another, several cultivators who had known about this trial beforehand flew out to ask their questions.

Every one of these people possessed extraordinary cultivation, and their words were saturated with ambition. Clearly, their goal was to maximize their gains from this perception, so they wanted to inquire about the details of the rules in advance.

Wang Baole was the same. These questions surfaced in his mind as well. Seeing that others had asked them, he immediately looked toward the old man outside the orb of light.

"All living beings are equal, and opportunities are the same. Whether one succeeds depends not on others but on oneself. Is this not good? Must you absolutely fight one another for each other’s fortuitous encounters?" The old man outside the orb was silent for a moment before he spoke slowly.

"Senior, we cultivators act against the heavens. If everything follows a set routine, how can we live a brilliant life!"

"So-called equality is merely on the surface. If I am personally excellent, if I put in more effort, and if I possess a greater advantage, then why must I be forced into equality with those who are not excellent, who do not work hard, and who have no advantage?"

"We ask for Senior’s permission. In this trial, all fortuitous encounters must be fought for. Only then… can it be considered fair!" Those responding to the old man included the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Sect, the Seventh Dao Child of the Nine Prefectures Dao, and the Ninth Disciple of God-Emperor Giga.

Though Wang Baole did not speak, he agreed with them. He watched the old man outside the orb in silence.

The old man was also silent. Finally, he turned his head to look at Master Tianfa on the altar inside the orb of light, giving a slight bow, clearly waiting for the Master to decide.

Master Tianfa, sitting cross-legged on the altar, revealed a profound look in his eyes at that moment. After a long while, he closed his eyes, and a few breaths later, his ancient voice drifted out.

"I originally sought no reward, intending only to bestow blessings upon all living beings… but I indeed overlooked your competitive hearts. So be it… Perceiving past lives requires the assistance of Guiding Light. Every participant entering the trial will possess Guiding Light. The more of this light one has, the greater the guiding force, and the higher the success rate of perception!"

"The Master is wise!" As soon as these words were spoken, the geniuses who had spoken earlier all clasped their hands and bowed.

"But there is one thing!" Master Tianfa no longer spoke. The one speaking was the old man outside the orb. His gaze swept across the crowd as he spoke slowly.

"The Master’s birthday feast does not favor bloodshed. Therefore, in this trial… he who kills must pay with his life!"

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the surrounding crowd shifted. Some frowned, some breathed a sigh of relief, and others restrained their killing intent.

"This is completely different from the trials I’ve experienced before…" Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed. Listening to the old man’s words, he recalled his past trials. If everything the other party expressed was true, then this was indeed a fortuitous encounter meant to bless all living beings.

This was because he couldn't see what the other party’s objective could be. After all, from the moment they arrived until now, they were essentially being given gifts.

Whether it was the previous perception of Dao marks or the current trial, although some danger existed, the harvest would be immense, and the latter clearly surpassed the former.

Not to mention, once someone perceived their tenth life, they would gain the qualification to flip through the Book of Destiny and see fragments of the future. All of this caused a look of respect to appear in Wang Baole’s eyes as he lowered his head in acknowledgement.

Just as everyone followed suit, the voice of the hunched old man outside the orb became like heavenly thunder, instantly gaining majesty and spreading in all directions.

"The Trial of Past Lives, begin!"

As he spoke, he raised his right hand and waved it violently. Immediately, a booming sound echoed within the volcanic crater beneath the orb of light. A massive amount of mist billowed out from within, eventually forming a giant, constantly rotating vortex in the air between the orb and the crater.

"Why have you not entered yet!" As the hunched old man’s indifferent words echoed in everyone’s minds, figures immediately charged out from their respective Primordial Beasts. Among them, the Ninth Disciple of God-Emperor Giga was the fastest, being the first to rush out and instantly vanishing into the vortex.

As for the Seventh Dao Child of the Nine Prefectures Dao and the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Sect, they also approached rapidly. The chubby youth and other geniuses were mostly the same, vanishing into the vortex one by one.

Among them was Xing Jingzi, dressed in a black robe with a greatsword on his back, his body permeated with an ice-cold, murderous aura. Xu Yinling and the others followed suit as well.

Seeing that most had gone through, with at least a hundred thousand figures merging into the vortex in those few short breaths, a sharp light appeared in Xie Haiyang’s eyes behind Wang Baole.

"Uncle-Master, shall we head over as well?"

Wang Baole touched his storage bag. Inside was the bead bestowed by Master Tianfa. Light shimmered in his eyes. Upon hearing those words, he nodded and blurred into motion. Xie Haiyang followed closely behind. The two of them headed straight for the vortex, plunging in and vanishing instantly.

As soon as he entered, Xie Haiyang’s presence immediately vanished from the range of Wang Baole’s divine sense. Wang Baole himself was instantly pulled away by a vast, irresistible force, dragged along as if by a teleportation shift.

Fortunately, the entire process was very short. In the next instant, Wang Baole’s divine sense and body returned to normal. He appeared within a dense mist, standing in an empty area that spanned only ten feet.

There was no mist within these ten feet, but beyond that, the mist churned, blocking divine sense. However, after Wang Baole’s body flickered and he tried to step into it, he discovered that the mist did not obstruct a cultivator’s body.

It was just that inside, one had no sense of direction, and divine sense could not be projected outward.

Without venturing further, Wang Baole quickly retreated into the ten-foot range. He immediately saw a layer of faint white light covering his body.

After sensing it slightly, Wang Baole’s expression changed. Within this white light, he detected a trace of an aura that gave his soul a feeling of great safety and warmth.

"Guiding Light?"

In the instant Wang Baole noticed this and murmured softly, a majestic voice echoed in the minds of the hundreds of thousands of cultivators across the hundreds of thousands of empty areas within this misty world.

"Day one, the first life!"

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END OF Chapter 1048
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START OF Chapter 1049
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Chapter 1049: The Kindle God Clan!

The moment the voice echoed, Wang Baole saw the white light outside his body flare brilliantly. Following close behind was a thunderous roar that exploded within his mind.

Along with the roar came an indescribable sense of vertigo that saturated his consciousness. It was as if the entire world was spinning before his eyes, and the speed of that rotation grew faster and faster. Within a few short breaths, through eyes Wang Baole could barely keep open, the surrounding mist had transformed into a vortex. He felt himself within that vortex, as if he were constantly sinking!

Even though the ground had not caved in, this sensation of sinking only grew stronger.

*So this is the Leading Light, guiding me into my past lives?* Having realized this, Wang Baole immediately pressed his right hand against his storage bag. A flash of light appeared in his palm as a formation disk emerged.

This formation disk was one of the items gifted to him by his senior brothers and sisters. it contained a powerful formation force. Although it would be somewhat affected by the mist, its power was still extraordinary.

After taking it out, Wang Baole endured the vertigo and placed it in front of him without hesitation. He pressed down hard, and a screen of light instantly formed around him, enveloping his body as a protective layer before fading from view.

Having done this, Wang Baole could no longer withstand the intense vertigo. Taking a deep breath, he stopped resisting and allowed the sensation to erupt. But... just as the feeling reached its peak and Wang Baole’s consciousness was about to be submerged...

Suddenly, to the right of where he sat cross-legged, the mist—which in reality showed no signs of rotation—began to churn. A dark shadow flickered through the mist near Wang Baole’s location at extreme speed, passed by, and then instantly returned. Sensing something, it changed direction and charged straight toward Wang Baole.

A powerful sense of crisis surfaced in Wang Baole’s heart at that moment, but the dizziness and the sinking of his soul had already reached their limit. The process was irreversible. Although he sensed the danger, Wang Baole’s consciousness completely faded away amidst the roaring in his mind.

The moment his consciousness vanished, the dark shadow charged out of the mist and appeared in the space where Wang Baole was. Without the slightest hesitation, the shadow raised its right hand, radiating black light. With greed glinting in its eyes, it clawed toward the space between Wang Baole’s brows.

"Quite lucky to run into such a big fish!" The shadow was blurry, its appearance obscured like a patch of black light. Amidst its laughter, its palm was about to touch Wang Baole, but when it was still three feet away from his brow, a screen of light suddenly appeared and collided directly with the person's palm.

In a thunderous boom, a repulsive force erupted. The dark shadow trembled violently and instantly collapsed, turning into countless streaks of black light that recoiled before reconvening. With a muffled grunt, the shadow didn't even look back as it plunged into the mist and fled at high speed.

At the same time, throughout this world of mist, over a hundred cultivators undergoing the trial around Wang Baole’s location encountered similar dark shadows. Although they all had their own methods, at least half of them lacked protective treasures as powerful as Wang Baole’s. The fate that awaited them, the moment they sank into the vortex, was to be heavily injured. Spitting blood, they instantly fell unconscious, and the Leading Light upon their bodies vanished, stolen by the shadows!

This sudden accident did not cause much of a stir within the mist, and those outside who hadn't entered were completely unaware. Only Celestial Master Tian Fa and his old servant seemed to have noticed. The old servant opened his mouth to speak, but after looking at the Celestial Master, he sighed and remained silent.

This was because while the injured cultivators had their Leading Lights stolen and were left unconscious and heavily wounded, they were not dead!

To be able to launch such an attack the moment the Leading Light erupted and the past life opened spoke volumes of the attackers' preparation and their own formidable strength!

But Wang Baole was already unaware of all this. Currently, he had lost consciousness—or more accurately, he was no longer aware of who he was. This was because he had now become... a giant!

The sky was purple, and the earth was white. There was no sun and no moon. There was only a giant in the firmament holding a massive light source, lifting it high as he took large strides, walking slowly so that the light could envelop the entire world. As he moved forward, the regions within the range of the light source slowly transitioned from light to darkness.

The giant was bare-chested with a curved horn atop his head. His skin was purple and covered in coarse totems. Although there were no fluctuations of cultivation throughout his body, his vitality and blood-qi were so dense they reached an appalling level. The feeling he gave Wang Baole was one of incredible power.

At this moment, Wang Baole was sitting on the giant’s left shoulder. As the giant stepped forward, he gazed at the entire world. At the same time, he saw a small giant similar to himself sitting on the giant’s right shoulder, looking up at the light source held high with longing in his eyes.

"You two remember the route clearly. When you grow up, you must follow this path and walk across the entire world."

"This is the mission of our Kindle God Clan!"

As the buzzing voice vibrated from the giant’s mouth and fell into Wang Baole’s ears, his mind roared instantly. Fragments of memory surfaced at that moment.

He was one of the only three remaining members of the Kindle God Clan on this planet. Their clan’s mission was to deliver light to this planet so that the other ten thousand races could bathe in the divine light.

The Kindle God Clan was a low-tier existence among the bloodlines of the Nine Thousand Divine Daos of Heaven and Earth. While not the very lowest, they could only be classified as a Lower God Clan. Unlike the Higher God Clans who stood high above and ruled the entire universe, as a Lower God Clan without any special divine powers of their own, they could only serve as deliverers of the divine light. They were stationed on this planet, generation after generation, alternating light and darkness.

Though their status among the God Clans was not high, they were at the very top of this planet, worshipped as gods by the countless races here.

"A universe of God Clans..." Wang Baole murmured. He lifted his head to look at the light source held by the giant, feeling a bit of pain in his head. He frowned, his eyes showing reflection, but he didn't know what he was reflecting on. It was just an instinct to think, but the more he thought, the more his head hurt.

Amidst this thinking, his consciousness gradually churned. It felt as if a massive force of rejection was coming from the heavens and earth, converging on his body with a roar. His body trembled as if he were about to float away under this rejection and be expelled. At the same time, the sensation of the headache suddenly intensified.

Seeing that he could not resist, and seeing that the pain made him tremble as if it were a form of torture, a strand of gentle warmth suddenly spread from Wang Baole’s body. After permeating his entire being, it quickly allowed him to recover from that unstable state of rejection. The headache also eased somewhat.

The moment he recovered... a voice reached his ears.

"Brother, the High Emissary has arrived. Are you going to keep sleeping!"

As the voice came, Wang Baole’s thoughts swayed. He lifted his head as if he had just woken up. The scene before him had changed. He was no longer sitting on the giant’s shoulder, traveling through the world; instead, he was sitting atop a massive palace. His body was no longer small; he had grown to a height of a thousand zhang. His entire body radiated terrifying blood-qi power; even a single breath created a thunderous roar like heavenly lightning in the surroundings.

This blood-qi power gave Wang Baole a feeling that if he threw a punch, he could shatter the firmament. At the same time, he noticed a bead hanging from his chest. This bead looked familiar, but he couldn't remember what it was.

As for the person who had spoken and called him brother... they were currently beneath his feet.

That was a light source, filled with infinite light and heat, emitting a vast majesty. It was a light source saturated with the power of a god. Within this light source, there were countless figures. These figures were letting out silent wails, seemingly being tortured at every moment. Their pain seemed to be the continuous fuel for this light source.

The one speaking was one of the many figures inside that light source!

That was his younger brother—the one who had sat on their father’s other shoulder and grown up with him, but who had been killed by his own hands countless years ago.

"Brother..." Wang Baole murmured. Just as he was about to say something, another sharp pain shot through his head in the next instant. This pain was far more intense than before, causing Wang Baole’s body to tremble as a low growl escaped his lips.

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START OF Chapter 1050
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Chapter 1050: A Hand!

"My head hurts so much!"

"Don't speak, let me be quiet..." Wang Baole raised his right hand and struck his skull with force. *Bang! Bang!* The loud thuds echoed. Amidst the noise, his younger brother's voice continued to drift from the light source beneath his feet.

"The Upper Envoy is about to arrive. Brother, in your current state, I'm afraid you won't pass the audit!"

"So... let me out. Let me soothe your headache. Let me bear this pain. You always say this world is fake, so... what does it matter if you let me out?"

"Look at how good I am to you. To prove what you said was true, I helped you kill our father, who had already entered his period of Divine Decay. Then, using your body, I slaughtered the entire planet to stimulate the final bloodline of our Xinhuo God Tribe. At the same time, because of my love for you, I want to end your pain. So why do you resist? I'm helping you."

"Brother, stop holding on. Let me out. Let me take your place and bear all of this!"

"Shut up!!" Wang Baole let out a violent roar. The sound was so loud it formed a physical shockwave that rippled outward. In an instant, the temple he was in collapsed and disintegrated. Everything in its path was pulverized into ash.

As the temple vanished, the world outside was revealed... it was pitch black!

No buildings, no mountains, no life, no greenery. Only a dense aura of death enveloped the entire planet, manifesting as thick black clouds that blanketed the heavens. It seemed as though there was intense pressure descending from outside, rubbing against the cloud layer and creating streaks of lightning that crackled across the sky.

As the lightning flashed, it momentarily illuminated the pitch-black world, revealing... a scene of devastation!

What was once lush and green, brimming with infinite vitality and home to ten thousand races, was now a wasteland of ruins!

Countless motes of dust, countless ruins, countless skeletons... all life had long since turned to dust. Mummified corpses and piles of bleached bones had formed new mountain ranges!

The entire planet was a graveyard!

Even the original temple had been built upon a foundation of countless skeletons. At this moment, Wang Baole was clad in thick armor, standing atop the bones with a distorted expression. The single horn on his head shimmered with a black light. He raised both hands, repeatedly striking his own head.

"My head hurts! It hurts so much!!"

"Brother, since it hurts this much, why don't you give me the body!!"

"As the strongest bloodline body of our Xinhuo God Tribe in countless years, if you give it to me, I can lead the Xinhuo God Tribe back to its former glory."

"Give it to me!!" The final shout erupted from the light source with unprecedented intensity. It formed an impact that was about to sweep into Wang Baole's mind. But at that moment, Wang Baole's expression turned ferocious. He reached out into the void with his right hand and snatched the light source, pulling it toward him.

"If you don't shut up, I'll destroy you!"

"Destroy me?" A nearly absurd laugh came from the light source, filled with mockery. As the laughter continued, Wang Baole's headache intensified. The veins on his forehead pulsed violently. The pain was driving him to the brink of madness. Right then, a bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, crashing down around him with a thunderous roar.

Then, more lightning fell. The clouds in the sky churned frantically, dispersing to reveal the hidden firmament... and there, in that sky, was a giant's face!

This giant was immeasurably massive, standing in the starry sky and looking down at the planet. From Wang Baole's perspective, the face occupied the entire sky.

"Xinhuo, do you acknowledge your crimes?" The face in the sky spoke, its eyes radiating killing intent.

"My head hurts!" Wang Baole let out a low growl. His body trembled, and bloodshot veins instantly filled his eyes.

"According to our Divine Dao laws, the fallen gods shall have their souls and bodies extinguished, and every trace of their existence shall be erased—" The giant in the sky shook his head, his voice echoing. But before he could finish, Wang Baole on the ground suddenly looked up. A monstrous red glow burst from his eyes. A sound like heavenly thunder erupted from within his body, and a roar even more earth-shaking than thunder tore from his throat.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I told you to shut up!!!" As Wang Baole roared, he suddenly leaped upward. He was like a falling star shooting toward the heavens, crashing straight toward the giant's hand that was reaching down to grab him!

With a thunderous boom, the giant's palm collapsed. Behind it, the giant's face appeared in the sky, filled with shock and disbelief. In the next instant, the rainbow of light that was Wang Baole charged to the edge of the firmament and slammed into the center of the giant's brow.

The sound shook the starry sky. The giant, who had been so majestic just moments ago, trembled violently as his head exploded. As for his headless body, it seemed to lose the right to stand in the starry sky and crashed downward into the distance.

"Finally... it's quiet..." Standing in the starry sky after the giant's death, Wang Baole murmured softly. But soon, a vast wave of light spread from afar, accompanied by an angry roar that echoed through space.

"Xinhuo, you're insane!!"

The appearance of this voice made Wang Baole's head hurt again. A look of madness filled his eyes as he suddenly charged toward the source of the sound. Slaughter... continued within a series of chaotic memory fragments.

These flashing fragments became more crazed each time, making his head hurt more and more. He couldn't remember much. He had forgotten most of it. He only remembered slaughtering. He would kill anything that made a sound.

He didn't know how long he had been killing or how many he had destroyed until he saw a hand...

A hand reaching out from the void. It pressed lightly against the center of his brow. Along with it came a calm voice that carried a hint of familiarity, yet seemed very strange.

"Next time, I'll choose you!"

Under that press, Wang Baole's body shook violently. Cracks spread from his forehead to his entire body until his whole form began to collapse in an instant. And in that collapse, his head... finally stopped hurting.

With the pain gone, fragments of memory rapidly flowed through his mind. He saw himself talking to the empty air beside him during his path of slaughter. He saw himself waking up in the temple on the planet covered in ruins, talking to the ground at his feet.

And beneath his feet, there was no light source from his memories. There... was nothing at all.

Then, he saw the very beginning: himself sitting on the shoulder of a giant. At that time, his body was still small. As the giant held the light source high and marched forward, he had looked up, gazing at the light.

On the giant's other shoulder, the younger brother from his memory... that figure had never existed from the very beginning!

"Have I gone mad..." Wang Baole murmured as everything before him turned pitch black. In the next instant, when he opened his eyes again, he was sitting in an empty ten-zhang area. Beyond the ten-zhang perimeter, an endless white mist drifted...

His eyes were blank as he stared dazed at the mist. He slowly lowered his head. The memories in his mind were a chaotic mess. He couldn't remember who he was or where he was. A long time passed... his chest began to heave, and when the breathing became intense, a look of struggle appeared in his eyes.

Several breaths later, Wang Baole suddenly looked up. A sound like a mirror shattering echoed in his mind, and clarity finally returned to his eyes.

"I am... Wang Baole!"

The moment those words were uttered, a force of vitality that seemed to have been hidden within him all along suddenly exploded. Furthermore, the bead given to him by the Heavenly Dharma Superior also erupted with astonishing vitality. It surged through his body, being continuously absorbed.

His physical body was being refined and strengthened at an incredible speed. The power of his blood and Qi rose intensely at this moment.

However, it was clear that even with the help of that bead, he could not bring everything from his past life with him. The vitality currently gathering in Wang Baole's body was only one ten-thousandth of what he had in that past life.

Even so, it still caused his physical body to infinitely approach the Stellar Realm!

And this was not his greatest gain. His greatest gain was the countless years of combat experience he obtained after comprehending his past life, as well as his mastery over the laws of the previous universe. Although they were different from the current ones, given time, he could understand them through analogy. Beyond that... there was the instinctive memory of his physical body from that past life!

Every movement, every gesture—the combat memories of a physical body that was like a divine weapon!

At this moment, Wang Baole's cultivation didn't seem to have increased much, remaining at the mid-Planetary Realm. However, his lethality... had skyrocketed more than tenfold!

"That hand... those words... what did they mean!" For Wang Baole, the increase in combat power was not what he cared about right now. All he cared about was that hand and... those words!

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END OF Chapter 1050
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START OF Chapter 1051
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"Next time, choose me?" Wang Baole narrowed his eyes, carefully savoring the phrase. The more he pondered it, the more a vague sense of unease rose in his heart.

According to a normal interpretation, the so-called "next time" could refer to a new cycle of reincarnation after his death in a past life, but it could also... refer to the next era. Which meant... now!

It was also possible that it referred to some magical technique or divine ability, or perhaps the sentence actually had no meaning at all.

Precisely because the potential scope was so vast, Wang Baole had no clues to work with. In the end, he could only bury it deep in his heart, though the image of that hand was now firmly branded into his mind, impossible to erase.

After a long while, Wang Baole took a deep breath. When he looked up at his surroundings, his pupils suddenly constricted.

He noticed that the array he had set up around his body had been triggered. At the same time, he recalled the sense of crisis he had felt the moment he fell into the past life regression.

"Someone was here..." Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He stood up and pressed his hand forward into the empty air. With this press, the originally transparent and invisible protective light barrier instantly appeared before him. Through his perception, although he couldn't see who had come, he could more or less grasp the intruder’s cultivation level. He also realized that the time he had spent submerged in his past life was about ten hours within this fog.

"Planetary Great Perfection... trying to ambush me? Only to be blocked by my array..." Wang Baole mused, seeing the eeriness behind this matter.

The act of sinking into a past life occurred the moment that ancient, weathered voice rang out. If he were the only one who heard it, it would be fine, but clearly, that sentence couldn't have been directed at him alone. Everyone within the fog should have heard it at the same time and fallen into the regression.

Yet, at such a time, someone was actually able to resist that power, using the opportunity to strike. While killing was impossible, the opponent's goal clearly wasn't murder, but plundering the Guiding Light.

"I need to be careful of someone with such means. Moreover, my location has been exposed. If the opponent has other designs, this place is no longer safe." A cold glint flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. Normally, with his current level of cultivation, he wouldn't need to care.

But if the opponent came the next time he sank into a past life, the only thing he could rely on was this array. If something went wrong, the consequences would be dire.

"The possibility of going out to find them and taking them out in advance... since I don’t know specifically who it is, it’s not very realistic. Should I change areas to continue sensing my past lives?" Wang Baole thought for a moment, then his body blurred as he walked toward the edge of the fog. Without pausing, he plunged in and moved rapidly through the surroundings.

Along the way, although he didn't travel too far, he saw some other trial participants. Some had not yet awakened from their past lives, while others were in the fog, sensing each other and quickly scattering.

There were also some empty areas where trial participants should have been, but they were now vacant. Clearly, they had either left on their own or met with an accident and lost their qualifications.

At the same time, the rumbling of magical combat drifted indistinctly from the distance. It was clear that most of those who had sunk into their first lives had awakened, and since their harvests were likely significant, they had already begun fighting over each other's Guiding Light.

In reality, this was exactly the case. The range Wang Baole was searching now was just the tip of the iceberg compared to the entire white fog region. In other, more distant areas of the fog, the struggle was currently unfolding. Almost every fifteen minutes, a large number of trial participants would lose their Guiding Light and their qualification to continue the trial, their bodies being instantly teleported out.

Although he didn't see those struggles with his own eyes, Wang Baole had already guessed as much during his trek.

"In that case..." After some thought, Wang Baole abandoned the idea of finding a different empty area. He turned back to his original spot and sat down cross-legged. While silently waiting for the second life to begin, he also adapted to his surging physical strength.

Additionally, a small sword about an inch long appeared in his right hand. Although the sword was mini, it was no ordinary item; it was a gift from one of Wang Baole’s senior brothers. It was extremely sharp and could change in size according to hand seals.

At this moment, Wang Baole gripped it in his hand, his palm covering it so that no outsider could see it. Just like that, as Wang Baole gradually adapted to his skyrocketing physical power, time slowly passed. Soon, two hours had gone by.

Then, at a certain point, the voice of the old slave beside Venerable Heavenly Dharma once again echoed throughout the white fog.

"The second day, the second life!"

With the appearance of the voice, the exact same pulling force from before erupted once again. The white light on Wang Baole’s body also began to shine at this moment. Simultaneously, the feeling of the surrounding fog swirling around him and the sensation of his self continuously sinking surfaced even more strongly than before.

Wang Baole's breathing grew rapid, and his mind was fully alert. His cultivation rotated as he forcibly resisted this sinking sensation. While it had some effect, it wasn't perfect. Seeing that he was about to be unable to resist, he squeezed his right hand hard!

A stinging pain instantly radiated from his palm, but his expression didn't change in the slightest. Instead, he deliberately put on a dazed look. At this time, by normal judgment, if he hadn't been prepared, he would have already sunk into his past life. His surroundings remained as usual, with not a single figure appearing.

In fact, this was precisely Wang Baole's plan. Since he couldn't find the hidden threat to his safety by searching outside, he would stay awake and wait for them to come to him, appearing to be in a past life regression while actually waiting for the person to show up.

Yet, even now, no figure appeared, and the power dragging him into his past life grew stronger and stronger. This caused Wang Baole to hesitate. But soon, he exerted force with his right hand again, causing the small sword to pierce deeper into his palm. Using this sharp pain combined with his cultivation—and even adding the minute control over his body granted by his surging physical power—he contorted his internal organs to create even deeper pain. This kept his spirit clear and alert, resisting the power of the past life regression.

Time... passed again. Soon, over thirty breaths had gone by, and the power dragging him into the past life seemed to have passed its limit, rapidly weakening. Wang Baole had a premonition: if he continued to resist until this sinking power vanished completely, he would miss this past life regression!

Right at the moment he hesitated once more, nine black shadows suddenly rushed out from the fog surrounding him at an astonishing speed. Although they were the same black shadows as before, judging by their momentum, they were at least several times stronger.

Furthermore, their number had reached nine. They had clearly come prepared. As the fog churned, these nine black shadows charged out and boomed toward Wang Baole, who was sitting cross-legged in the center, from nine different directions.

They were incredibly fast, closing in an instant. A low voice rang out from the nine shadows simultaneously.

"Shock!"

As the word was uttered, the nine shadows transformed into nine men dressed in black. At the same time, they raised their right hands and pressed down together on the array light that had suddenly appeared around Wang Baole.

The nine shadows weren't surprised by the appearance of this light barrier. They continued their strike. Amidst a roar, the barrier instantly distorted. The nine shadows collapsed again under the backlash, but... because the divine ability they unleashed was related to "Shock," they were able to transmit a portion of the power through the array!

As such, although they collapsed, a portion of the power from each shadow drilled inside, turning into threads of black mist. Finally, at the moment the nine figures shattered, the black mist threads that had entered the array instantly converged in front of Wang Baole, forming a finger that stabbed ruthlessly toward his forehead!

"Wang Baole, your Dao Star... I'll be taking it!"

As the gloomy voice, thick with greed, suddenly echoed, Wang Baole—who had been sitting there cross-legged with his eyes closed, seemingly lost in a past life—suddenly snapped his eyes open. A cold glint and killing intent erupted from his gaze. His right hand had already risen, and he snatched the finger right out of the air!

No matter how that finger struggled, it couldn't break free in the slightest!

"You..." A voice of disbelief and sharp alarm rapidly emerged from within the finger, but Wang Baole spoke calmly.

"I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!" As the words left his mouth, Wang Baole’s right hand, which held the finger, squeezed violently!

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END OF Chapter 1051
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START OF Chapter 1052
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**Chapter 1052: The Second Life!**

“A mere mid-stage Planet realm... even if you possess a Divine Star, it is impossible for you to crush me in a single blow!” The finger gripped in Wang Baole’s right hand let out a shrill roar. It emitted a black light, seemingly putting forth every ounce of its strength to resist.

“If you won't sink into your past life, then don't sink into it at all! I—” The voice within the finger continued to speak. He was clearly certain that even if he had fallen into a trap, Wang Baole was caught in a dilemma.

This was because the light of guidance was about to fade. If Wang Baole didn’t enter now, he would lose his chance, wasting a life and essentially forfeiting his eligibility for the final tenth life.

Therefore, he calculated that once Wang Baole realized he couldn't instantly destroy him, he would be forced to let him go. In this way, although the sneak attack had failed, the loss would be negligible. Meanwhile, his true body had already sunk into its own past life. With one rising and the other falling, he would ultimately remain unscathed.

He had even planned that since Wang Baole was so insidious, he would simply sacrifice this sliver of his soul to harass his opponent, preventing him from entering his past life. In reality, he only needed to hold out for a dozen or so breaths.

“No matter what, you lose!” Every thought and calculation the finger’s owner made was well-played, but he had miscalculated one thing!

And that was… the harvest Wang Baole had reaped in his previous life was far beyond imagination—it was staggering!

So, no matter how the sliver of soul belonging to the finger’s master plotted, it was fundamentally… a massive mistake!

In the next instant, with a look of mockery in his eyes, Wang Baole squeezed. His physical strength suddenly unfolded, erupting with an incomparably terrifying posture.

It even formed a black hole, causing the surrounding mist to be drawn in, shrinking the perimeter. Amidst the heaven-shaking roar of this terrifying power, the finger didn't even have time to react before it was crushed by Wang Baole with a loud bang!

As it collapsed, a piercing shriek rang out. The shattered mist scattered through the gaps of Wang Baole’s fingers, seemingly trying to reconvene, but Wang Baole opened his mouth and inhaled. The mist had no power to resist and was swallowed directly by him!

This swallowing was not the divine power of the Nightmare Eye Technique, but rather a physical divine power of the Firestar Celestial Clan from his previous life. He consumed the nutrients, transforming them into even stronger physical power.

After the consumption, a cold light flashed in Wang Baole's eyes, and he gave a cold snort.

“To receive without giving back—where is the etiquette in that?” As he spoke, he opened his right hand, revealing a palm stained with his own blood and a small sword half-embedded in his flesh.

This palm was tainted with the karma of killing the black-mist finger, and he had used his own blood to intensify this connection. All of this was within Wang Baole’s calculations. At this moment, a strange light appeared in his eyes, and a runic mark flickered eerily on his brow as he spoke softly.

“Flame Spirit Incantation!”

The moment the words left his lips, the small sword embedded in his palm suddenly shone with brilliant light. It flew out in an instant, transforming into a ball of flame that pierced through the formation and shot into the white mist ahead, disappearing in a flash.

The Flame Spirit Incantation was the foundational method of Old Ancestor Flame’s strongest curse. Wang Baole, who had already mastered it to the stage of minor accomplishment, could use it to curse his enemies. With both karma and blood as conduits, the curse was intensified to its limit. Enhanced by the small sword, it possessed a power of mystical tracking. In almost an instant, the small sword seemed to teleport through the mist, appearing directly in a specific area!

In that area sat a youth cross-legged. This youth was none other than… the Seventeenth Daoist Son of the Seven Spiritual Paths. His entire expression was blank, clearly deep within his past life. He sensed nothing of the incoming small sword, which shot directly toward the space between his eyebrows in an instant!

However, this person was, after all, a powerful figure who had lived once before and re-cultivated. The protections around him were staggering; even a Star realm expert would find them difficult to pierce. But… Wang Baole’s Flame Spirit Incantation was not within that scope. It was a curse locked by karma, a divine power that acted directly upon the soul, further empowered by the karma of a kill and his own blood. Thus, the small sword slammed into the Seventeenth Son’s protections almost instantly.

Amidst a deafening roar, the small sword collapsed, but the intent of the curse within it penetrated everything, erupting violently upon the body of the Seventeenth Daoist Son.

Following the eruption, the Seventeenth Son’s body shook violently. He spat out a large mouthful of blood, and for a split second, signs of awakening appeared in his eyes. But his foundation was too deep; if it had been anyone else, they would have been blasted straight out of their past life. He managed to endure it through sheer force of foundation, not waking from his past life.

Despite this… the consequences he suffered were equally severe. Not only was he physically injured, but the greatest impact was reflected in his enlightenment of his past life. In that past life, this strike was like a heaven-toppling storm, causing ninety percent of his consciousness to collapse instantly.

Even though he managed to remain within the past life meditation thanks to his thick foundation, whether it was the fusion or the gains from this enlightenment, they would be drastically reduced. Not even one part in ten would remain!

As for Wang Baole, it indeed matched what the Seventeenth Son’s soul fragment had predicted about one rising and the other falling. While the other party was severely wounded, Wang Baole, in the final moments before the guidance light dissipated, let go of his resistance and allowed himself to sink into the enlightenment of his past life.

As the world spun, as his body seemed to sink, and as the vortex turned, Wang Baole’s consciousness faded once more.

***

When his consciousness reconvened, he was just as before—he had forgotten who he was and forgotten everything. He stood dazed on a small hill, looking at a figure not far away. The figure was only about five feet tall, thin and small, covered in green fur like a monkey, but standing on two legs. It was currently speaking toward the sky.

Figures like this were everywhere in the surroundings. Everyone was gathered together without much apparent order; some were standing, some were sitting, and some were eating.

The figure Wang Baole was looking at was facing upward… toward a dragon chair that looked quite luxurious but did not match the surrounding environment. On the dragon chair sat a larger figure covered in drooping black fur. This figure had its eyes closed, but a thick aura of death emanated from it, shrouding the area.

“Lord, that Li Ling Old Devil has gone too far! Lately, he has captured many of our corpse-kin and is constantly refining our corpse oil. This behavior is utterly devoid of conscience! Please, Lord, seek justice for us!!”

The black-furred figure on the dragon chair remained motionless, seemingly lost in thought. Seeing this, and amidst Wang Baole’s confusion, the green-furred one who was reporting pointed a finger at Wang Baole.

“Lord, we cannot hesitate anymore! Look at Grey Three. He turned into one of our Corpse Clan and woke up only a few months ago. A while back, he was captured and had three buckets of corpse oil refined out of him! If we hadn't rescued him in time, he would have been turned into a dried corpse!”

As those words were spoken, Wang Baole noticed many beings similar to the green-furred one looking at him. Even the black-furred one sitting above swept his dim gaze over him.

Under the collective gaze of those around him, Wang Baole lowered his head in confusion to look at his own body. He saw light-green fuzz on himself. Instinctively raising his hand, he saw a palm and a body that were significantly thinner and more withered than the others.

Though he was the same height as the other green-furred ones, his fur was thinner, and his body resembled a skeleton. He even felt a sense of weakness right now, making him feel as though he might faint just by standing there.

It was precisely upon seeing these things that fragments of memory surfaced in his mind.

He didn't know the name of this universe. He only knew that in his previous life, he was a common mortal with no talent, no wealth, and not even a wife. He had died in agony during a plague. His body was supposed to have been burned, but for some reason, it remained. Upon waking up, he was already on this mountain, told by the hideous figures around him that he was just like them—from now on, they were all zombies!

Green, Blue, Black, Grey, White, Purple, Crimson!

This was the ranking of strength for zombies. Depending on their evolution and cultivation to different colors, they possessed different levels of power. Currently, he wasn't even considered a Green Zombie. As for the leader of this mountain, he was a Black Zombie!

According to the information from his fellow corpse-kin, Wang Baole knew the Lord had once been a butcher with an extremely heavy baleful aura. Thus, being stared at by everyone—especially by the Black Zombie—Wang Baole’s body couldn't help but begin to tremble.

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END OF Chapter 1052
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START OF Chapter 1053
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**Chapter 1053: My name is Gray Three!**

"Zombies are born from the convergence of death qi; they are often the manifestation of immense resentment held during life. Only thus, according to the laws of this universe, can they be transformed into corpse spirits after death. With the first glance, they are marked; with the second, they become zombies!"

"There are even those who have not truly died, but have instead transformed their living bodies into death qi, walking the path of reversal. Such corpses almost always possess staggering natural talent. If they are not destroyed, any one of them can become a powerhouse!"

Gray Three sat silently in a graveyard, holding a black stone slip. He glanced at the sky, which was permeated by black clouds, then lowered his head to read the records within the stone.

The name Gray Three wasn't one he had chosen for himself, but was bestowed by his master. It seemed that on the day he awakened, a total of three corpse-friends had awakened alongside him. He was the third, hence the 'Three' in his name.

As for 'Gray'... that was his master’s dream: to become a Gray Zombie.

Gray Three didn't like the name. For a time, he had constantly wondered what his name had been when he was alive. Unfortunately, he could never remember, so he gradually accepted the name Gray Three.

Time seemed to pass far too quickly for him. This speed... was not reflected in his unchanging body. His hair was still a pale green, showing no signs of advancement.

Instead, this speed was reflected in his thoughts. Often, when he pondered a single question, a long time would pass. Sometimes, before he could even think through a problem clearly, several years had already gone by.

For example, while he was still pondering why the corpse oil was being extracted from his body, his neighbor, Old Devil Li Ling, had already become his master's mistress and was practicing dual cultivation with his master.

For another example, there was a thought in his heart that he had been mulling over for half a sixty-year cycle, ever since he became a zombie, yet he still hadn't finished thinking it through.

Being the weakest of zombies, he naturally had no status. Had it not been for the care of Gray Two, he likely would have dissipated long ago. He wouldn't be here now, responsible for the summoning and enlightenment of newly awakened corpse-friends.

Currently, eight corpses were laid out before him. He needed to perform a month of chanting until he drew the gaze of a corpse spirit, allowing them to stand once more.

These corpses were male and female, old and young. They had been dead for a long time, yet their bodies strangely showed no signs of rot. As Gray Three read the words from the black slip, the death qi within the corpses clearly began to churn.

However, his attention was not on those corpses. Instead, it frequently drifted to a spot beside them, where a little missy sat, her eyes open and fixed upon him.

This little missy was very beautiful, dressed in courtly robes. Though she appeared only sixteen or seventeen, her fair face and her pitch-black eyes—which lacked pupils—made her seem like a vortex that could draw in everything about Gray Three.

This caused Gray Three to repeatedly look up at the little missy after lowering his head to read.

"Is it beautiful?" the little missy's voice was cold.

"Beautiful," Gray Three replied, lowering his head again. He didn't notice the flash of mockery and disdain on the little missy’s face. Perhaps even if he had seen it, Gray Three’s current mental state wouldn't have been able to process it.

"Tell me, what is a corpse spirit?" The mockery on the little missy's face vanished as she spoke slowly.

"A corpse spirit is the manifestation of the highest laws of the universe. Any living being seen by its gaze will be transformed into the Corpse Race," Gray Three murmured with his head down.

"Then when will a corpse spirit look here?" the little missy continued to ask.

"The corpse spirits cannot be fathomed. One can only continue chanting, using sincerity as a guide to draw their gaze. If no gaze falls after three months, the corpse will rot," Gray Three murmured. His words were merely the records from the black stone slip. He was simply reciting them, and even he didn't know how many times he had repeated them over the past thirty years.

"Boring!" The response he received was the little missy’s impatient voice, followed by a scene that Gray Three would not be able to forget for a long time.

In that scene, the little missy stood up and looked toward the pitch-black firmament. She opened her arms and spoke a single sentence.

"Corpse spirit, my time is limited. I cannot wait that long!"

Following those words, Gray Three saw the sky roil violently in that instant. It converged into a giant eye filled with black silken threads. Its gaze fell, enveloping the little missy.

In Gray Three’s eyes, hair rapidly sprouted from the little missy’s body. It went from green to blue, then directly to black. Though it didn't reach pure black, it was a mixture of blue and black.

As for the other corpses, they rapidly dissipated into ash. As for the little missy... she turned and walked away, vanishing from Gray Three’s sight.

Only after a long time did Gray Three murmur in a daze.

"So, corpse spirits can be summoned."

The little missy left, and Gray Three’s life did not change. He continued to chant for batch after batch of corpses, watching as some rotted while others awakened to join the Corpse Race.

Time slowly passed amidst this endless repetition. Gray Three didn't keep track of exactly how much time had gone by. He still liked to ponder the answer he could never find in his heart, and he still liked to stare unblinkingly at the pitch-black sky.

The little missy who had left such a deep impression on him returned five times during those years.

The first time she came, she was injured, but her hair had already become entirely black. She sat on a tombstone not far from Gray Three and didn't say a word, seemingly resting. Only before she left did she ask Gray Three a question.

"You seem to be thinking every day. Can you tell me what you are thinking about? Why do you always look at the sky?"

She was the first corpse-friend to ask him what he was thinking, so Gray Three answered very seriously.

"I am wondering why the sky is black. I like white, so I wonder if one day I might be able to see a white sky."

"Stupid!" The little missy fell silent. After a long while, she huffed coldly and turned to leave.

The second time the little missy came, she was also injured, but gray had begun to appear in the color of her hair. She sat in her previous spot. This time, she wasn't silent; instead, she spoke many words as if talking to herself.

In her words, she told Gray Three that she had slain the master and the mistress. She had also struck down the surrounding mountain peaks and consolidated the entire mountain range.

Gray Three nodded, still looking at the sky, still lost in thought. The little missy didn't mind. After she finished speaking, she sat for a while longer. Before leaving, she suddenly asked a question.

"If the sky will never be white, what will you do? Will you keep looking, keep waiting, until you rot and vanish?"

Gray Three fell silent. He hadn't thought about that question. The little missy didn't wait for an answer before leaving. During her third and fourth visits, she didn't ask any questions or wait for answers. She simply talked to herself, telling Gray Three that she had conquered the nearby seven or eight mountain ranges. She planned to organize these forces and launch a war of revenge against a place called Yunze!

After she left that time, a very, very long time passed before she appeared before Gray Three once more. Gray Three saw that her hair had become purple. He also saw that half of her face had rotted away. Her entire body was permeated with a thick death qi, and she exuded a sense of ugliness.

Upon arriving, she sat in her usual spot. Seeming to sense Gray Three’s gaze, she raised a hand to touch the rotted half of her face and suddenly laughed. Her voice was somewhat raspy.

"Gray Three, am I still beautiful?"

"Beautiful," Gray Three spoke seriously.

She smiled, a smile carrying some unreadable emotion. Then she became silent again, saying nothing. It wasn't until a series of wails that made heaven and earth tremble echoed from the distant sky that she stood up silently and looked at Gray Three.

"You are the strangest Corpse Race member I have ever met... I’m leaving. Perhaps in the future... I won't come back."

Gray Three was stunned. Looking at the little missy from his memories, a feeling of loss he had never experienced before surfaced in his body. He didn't know what to say.

A moment later, the little missy raised her head toward the firmament. She saw a massive vortex appear in the sky, and within the vortex, an eye emerged, seemingly summoning her.

"Goodbye," the little missy spoke softly. As she raised her right hand, a black mask appeared in her palm. She slowly placed it over her face and flew toward the heavens!

Gray Three watched the little missy’s receding back. At this moment, even though she was wreathed in death qi, even though her purple hair fluttered behind her, she still possessed an air of... peerless elegance. As he watched, a murmur escaped his lips.

"Goodbye."

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START OF Chapter 1054
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Chapter 1054: If There Is a Next Life!

The young girl departed.

It was only after she left that Gray Three remembered that, from beginning to end, he never seemed to have learned her name. But that wasn’t important. What mattered was that Gray Three felt as though he was close to finding an answer.

This answer wasn’t about what he had pondered at the very beginning—why the sky wasn't white—but rather the question the girl had once asked him.

"If the sky will never be white, what will you do? Will you keep watching, keep waiting, until you rot and disappear?"

Gray Three thought about this question for a very long time. He had originally been close to an answer, believing it wouldn't take much longer before he finally obtained it.

But in the years that followed, as time slipped away—one hundred years, two hundred years, three hundred years—he discovered that, at some unknown point, the girl’s silhouette had begun to weigh heavier and heavier in his mind. It eventually transformed into a very strange train of thought, one so heavy and somber that it made him feel somewhat oppressed.

Gray Three had never experienced this kind of emotion before. He didn't know what it was; he only knew that once this emotion took hold, the passage of time became sluggish. Then, after an unknown amount of time had passed, Gray Two arrived.

Covered in black fur, Gray Two arrived alone and sat down beside Gray Three. He was very weak, and his deathly aura was faint. After sitting there, he struggled to keep his eyes from closing. With a strange look in his eyes, he watched Gray Three and told him a story.

The story was simple and common. It was just a tale of a living being who reversed their fate to become a zombie, counterattacking all the way to the peak to become a supreme expert.

However, the protagonist of the story was a woman.

Gray Two spoke very seriously, and Gray Three listened very seriously. After a long while, when Gray Two finished the story, Gray Three hesitated for a moment before telling this first friend he had on the mountain—aside from the girl—about the strange emotions he had felt over the years.

In a certain sense, Gray Two was also his brother. The two of them were from the same batch of awakened, separated only by a few breaths of time.

Listening to Gray Three’s words, Gray Two fell silent. After a long time, his voice carried an air of age and even deeper weakness as he spoke softly.

"Gray Three, you miss her."

Gray Three was stunned and remained silent.

Gray Two was also silent, but the strange feeling in his eyes gradually turned into a sigh of lament. This was because, many years ago, this mountain had been designated as a forbidden zone by that girl whose slaughter had shocked the heavens. No others were permitted to disturb it, and even though she had left this planet, it remained so.

In fact, a hundred years ago, countless enormous coffins had appeared in the starry sky outside this planet. Any one of those coffins could have made the planet tremble, yet they simply... orbited, as if guarding something.

He didn't tell Gray Three any of this, for he no longer had the strength. Even for a zombie, it was impossible to escape life and death. His yin lifespan had reached its end, but he wasn't surprised that Gray Three was still the same as he had been back then.

And so, amidst Gray Three’s contemplation, Gray Two slowly closed his eyes and fell into an eternal sleep.

Time passed once more. Perhaps it was a thousand years, perhaps three thousand... in short, a very, very long time had gone by. The world around him shifted as seas turned into mulberry fields, and the winds and clouds of the eight directions surged past again and again. Much had changed; only this mountain remained the same.

However, Gray Three on the mountain had grown old. His fur was still pale green, unchanged from beginning to end. Most of the time, it was difficult for him to even open his eyes, yet he still struggled to try, wanting to continue watching the sky.

There was also the fact that... he finally had an answer to the girl's question from all those years ago. But he didn't know if he still had enough time to wait for her and tell her.

"This is... also fine." Gray Three lowered his head, struggling to open his eyes, but he could only manage a sliver. He looked at his hand through a blurry haze, but within that blur, he saw his withered palm seemingly regaining flesh and blood.

Even though it was an illusion, he was still very happy.

Just like that, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier. As the blurriness turned into total darkness, threatening to submerge him, a strange sensation suddenly surfaced in his heart. It caused a final spark of strength to rise within Gray Three’s body, like a terminal lucidity. He slowly forced his heavy eyelids open and saw... a figure of peerless elegance walking toward him from the distance, one step at a time.

She had long crimson hair, a pitch-black mask, and the same palace dress from his memories. Behind her... countless figures knelt within a conjured, heaven-shaking sea of blood.

"You’ve come," Gray Three smiled.

"I’ve come." The woman sat down beside Gray Three, in the same spot she had sat every time she visited in the past, and spoke calmly.

"I have the answer." Gray Three was still smiling, a very happy smile.

"What is it?" The woman turned her head and looked at Gray Three.

"No matter what color the sky is, in my heart, it is actually already white." Gray Three’s smile grew increasingly brilliant. It was as if, at this moment, a white light radiated from his body, illuminating everything around him.

It was just like his life; born in darkness, yet looking up toward the light.

The woman fell silent, also looking up at the sky, her thoughts unknown. It was only when Gray Three’s energy began to dissipate and his eyelids grew heavy again, slowly closing, that the woman suddenly spoke.

"Gray Three, if there is a next life, what do you want to be?"

"I want to let the light spread to every corner of the world, so more lives can see it like I do..." Gray Three murmured. The final wisp of his life’s breath vanished into the world, and at that moment, his body turned into countless specks of dust, disappearing from the spot. Disappearing along with him was that mountain peak, which by all rights should have ceased to exist long ago in the shifting of the ages.

And he did not hear the soft whisper that escaped the woman's lips as she tilted her head back to gaze at the firmament, watching Gray Three’s dust gradually disperse into the sky.

"I will grant your wish!"

On Fate Star, within the white mist of the trial, Wang Baole—who was sitting cross-legged in one of the more than one hundred thousand empty areas—slowly opened his eyes. The moment his eyes snapped open, a light so brilliant it reached the extreme radiated from them. This light replaced his pupils, replaced everything within his vision.

At the same time, before his thoughts had fully awakened, the white ancient star within his body that possessed the Light Rule erupted with a similarly brilliant radiance. This light instantly covered the surroundings, and his degree of resonance with it boomed upward at an incredible speed!

Simultaneously, a staggering amount of life force arrived from the void at this moment, merging perfectly with Wang Baole’s body without any hint of rejection!

That was... the life force accumulated from seven thousand six hundred years of yin lifespan. Those were... the Light Rules formed from seven thousand six hundred years of enlightenment!

Although Wang Baole couldn't obtain all of it, even just a portion of it caused his Light Rule resonance to directly surpass the limit, reaching a level of ninety-seven or ninety-eight percent!

This level was infinitely close to a true Light Dao Star, because even a Light Dao Star was only ten tenths.

Furthermore... it had long ago been calculated within the Never-Ending Dao Domain that the more common a Rule was, the more impossible it was for a Dao Star to appear. Therefore, Wang Baole’s current Light Rule could already be considered the ultimate peak!

Though he couldn't reclaim all the light in the world, he himself... could already transform into a beam of light, and more importantly, he could suppress all other Daos of Light in the universe!

There was also his life force, which caused his physical strength to increase once again. More importantly, it gave him a massive reserve of longevity, allowing him to now unleash the second realm of the Flame Spirit Curse—deploying an even stronger curse at the cost of consuming his lifespan!

As his combat power continued to climb, clarity gradually returned to Wang Baole’s eyes. However, even though he had woken up, even though he remembered his own name and knew that Gray Three’s life was merely his past-past life, the silhouette of the girl in his memory simply would not dissipate.

Especially... that mask.

"Little missy, is it you...?" Wang Baole murmured softly. He lowered his head and pulled the mask fragment of the little missy from his robes, placing it in his palm and gazing at it silently.

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START OF Chapter 1055
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Chapter 1055: The Hunt!

Back when Wang Baole was in the Federation, he had heard a saying: there are some people who can ruin the entire atmosphere with just a single sentence.

After hearing this, the young Wang Baole had been quite intrigued. He had tried it many times, eventually reaching such a profound height that he left that path behind, feeling the loneliness of a true master.

But now, he finally understood how the people around him back then had felt. At this moment, while he was immersed in the memories of his past-past life, speaking to the mask fragment with infinite tenderness and longing, he received a response from the little missy.

However, this response was a total departure from the mood.

"That girl was covered in fur, reeking of a corpse, her face all rotted... how disgusting! Fatty, don't you dare use this princess for your fantasies, or I'll never hear the end of it!" The little missy's voice came flying out, sounding as if she were covered in goosebumps from the disgust, filled with intense loathing.

"I never expected this, Fatty. Your tastes are so heavy. Hmph, I really did underestimate you. I thought you were just a perverted voyeur with a filthy mind, but I never imagined your tastes could be so uniquely twisted. I’m going to tell Li Wan’er, tell Zhou Xiaoya, and tell Zhao Yameng! I’ll let them know your true face!"

"Heavens, you actually liked a zombie girl! I can't take it, I'm going to puke! I need to get away from you, you freak! What’s most unforgivable is that you actually took me—a being of supreme beauty, celestial grace, and gentle character, the embodiment of all the spiritual quintessence of heaven and earth, untainted by the mortal world—and fantasized about me being that zombie girl!"

The little missy’s words were sharp, each one sending a shiver through Wang Baole’s body. It was like one bucket of ice water after another being poured over him, completely waking him up from the memories of his past-past life. Seeing that the little missy was about to keep going, Wang Baole hurriedly shouted.

"Stop! Stop! I was wrong, alright?"

"You were wrong? Then tell me, what was I in my past life?" The little missy was clearly still a bit indignant.

"A little fairy," Wang Baole blurted out without a second thought.

"Hmm, and the one before that?" The little missy’s mood improved instantly, though a trace of her previous anger lingered. But before she could even finish her sentence, Wang Baole had already provided the answer.

"The life before that, you were the younger sister of a great fairy. The life before that, the older sister of a tiny fairy. And the life before that, you were the youngest daughter of the Celestial Emperor and Celestial Empress!"

"..." The little missy was stunned for a moment. She had known Wang Baole was a smooth talker, but she hadn't expected his skill level to be this high. The younger sister of a great fairy was, naturally, a little fairy. The older sister of a tiny fairy was also a little fairy. As for the one where her parents were the Emperor and Empress, the youngest daughter would naturally be a little fairy as well.

This left the little missy speechless for quite a while. Although she usually referred to herself as 'this princess,' the title of 'little fairy' was indeed her favorite deep down.

Thus, she could only huff once and let Wang Baole off the hook, her heart blooming with secret joy.

Seeing that the little missy was no longer pressing the issue, Wang Baole breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel a bit smug. He thought to himself that there wasn't a girl in the world who didn't like being called a little fairy. He had proven this with countless practical experiences starting from the age of five.

But just as Wang Baole was feeling proud, the little missy seemed to snap back to reality. She suddenly spoke in a faint, eerie tone.

"Fatty, how many girls have you told those sweet words to?"

Wang Baole’s expression turned solemn instantly, and he spoke softly.

"Little missy, regardless of how many girls I’ve said those things to before, I hope that after you, I will never say such things to anyone else."

"..." Inside the world of the mask, the little missy felt that his words sounded a bit fake, but she still felt a sweet joy in her heart. She gave a huff and stopped targeting him.

Wang Baole chuckled, his pride swelling. He didn’t remember when he had realized this truth, but as long as a man was outstanding, a girl usually didn't care about his experiences before he met her; what she cared about was whether he would have other experiences after meeting her.

The former was called a rogue; the latter was called the return of the prodigal son.

"Sigh, I feel like going into cultivation is a bit of a waste. I wonder if one of my past lives was a legendary lover." Wang Baole gave a dry cough. He hadn't noticed that through this banter with the little missy, he had completely returned to himself from the experiences of Gray Three.

Not only that, but the sense of familiarity he felt toward the little missy—which had arisen because of the masked girl in Gray Three's memories—had also vanished from his heart. This situation was actually somewhat irrational, but Wang Baole didn't realize it at all. Naturally, he also couldn't see the deep look of reminiscence hidden in the eyes of the little missy inside the mask fragment, despite her appearing happy.

At the same time, having completely separated himself from Gray Three’s memories, Wang Baole immediately sensed the changes in his cultivation and combat power. His cultivation had progressed, and he wasn't far from breaking through to the mid-stage of the Planet realm.

The increase in his Yin Longevity had brought about an improvement in his physical combat power. More importantly, it allowed him to unleash the second level of his Flame Spirit Incantation, which was vital for increasing his battle strength.

Furthermore, the Great Success in the resonance of the Light Law also caused Wang Baole's heart to shake and his breathing to quicken when he noticed it. He made a rough assessment; while the gains from this past-past life weren't as massive as the one before, they were still significant.

"I wonder if I can fight a Stellar realm expert now... Perhaps even if I'm not quite there yet, the gap isn't that large!" A sharp light gleamed in Wang Baole's eyes. After checking the time, he found that there were still four hours left before the second day ended.

A flicker of killing intent crossed his eyes. His body shot out in an instant, heading straight into the mist.

His target was the 17th Son of the Seven Spirits Dao, who had been hit by the first level of his Flame Spirit Incantation. The man had ambushed him repeatedly, and Wang Baole would not tolerate it. As his body submerged into the mist, his cultivation surged, and his physical strength erupted to the extreme. He kicked up a sound like heavenly thunder, booming as he charged toward the location locked by his curse.

He was so fast that he created massive ripples within the mist. The trial-takers in the surrounding areas were all shaken by the disturbance. The entire process took little more than sixty breaths of time. Wang Baole crossed the vast distance and leaped forward, bursting out of the mist. He appeared exactly at the spot where his Flame Spirit Incantation brand was located.

The moment he arrived, he saw a youth sitting cross-legged in the center of the area with his eyes closed. This was the 17th Son of the Seven Spirits Dao. Without a hint of hesitation, Wang Baole stepped forward. With a violent and astonishing aura, he appeared directly in front of the man and raised his right hand to grab him.

"Hmm?" Wang Baole’s eyebrows shot up. He sensed something was wrong, but his hand didn't stop. As he grabbed down, a massive amount of black mist suddenly billowed out from the 17th Son’s seven orifices. It formed a giant crocodile head that radiated a terrifying aura, lunging to bite Wang Baole’s right hand!

With a loud *crack*, the crocodile head bit down on Wang Baole’s hand. But in the next instant, Wang Baole’s hand was completely unharmed. The crocodile head, meanwhile, looked visibly stunned. Its teeth shattered instantly, and under the force of the rebound, it exploded with a bang. As the ground rumbled and shockwaves spread, Wang Baole’s right hand never faltered. He grabbed the body of the 17th Son, but the body now felt like a deflated balloon, instantly shriveling. What appeared in Wang Baole's hand was actually a layer of human skin!

Looking at the skin in his hand, Wang Baole’s face darkened. The brand of his curse was on the skin, but clearly, the 17th Son had sensed the danger long ago. He had used some secret technique to shed his skin like a cicada, leaving all the marks behind while his true self escaped ahead of time.

"Do you think my Flame Spirit Incantation is that easy to wipe away?" Wang Baole snorted coldly. Flames rose from his right hand, incinerating the skin instantly. Then, he performed a hand seal, and a rune immediately shone on his forehead. As the Flame Spirit Incantation was activated once more, he quickly sensed a faint fluctuation of the curse coming from the south, at a significant distance away.

"There you are!" Cold light flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. His body lunged forward, stepping back into the mist as he chased after the source of the fluctuations at high speed.

At that moment, in the location Wang Baole had locked onto, the 17th Son of the Seven Spirits Dao was fleeing frantically. His eyes were filled with shock and terror, and he couldn't help but let out an incredulous roar.

"What kind of physical body does that guy have? He's a freak!"

"Damn it! If I had known, why the hell would I provoke that monster?" Chen Han felt immense regret. His heart was pounding fiercely. Gritting his teeth, he didn't hesitate to pay a price to activate a secret technique, fleeing at top speed.

Although the rules forbade killing, they only said one couldn't kill directly. There were too many ways to handle things without direct killing, especially since the opponent was a master of curses. This made Chen Han even more afraid to take any risks.

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END OF Chapter 1055
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START OF Chapter 1056
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**Chapter 1056: Crushing!**

But… this regret did not last long. In the next instant, an astonishing ripple erupted from the distance, closing in with a roar. Before Chen Han could even put up a resistance, a surge of massive power, like a mountain peak pressing down, abruptly descended.

It was a colossal palm, blotting out the sky as it rumbled forward. It directly enveloped everything in Chen Han’s vicinity, locking down every area he could possibly move to. Without giving him even a sliver of a chance to struggle, it slammed down!

The earth shook. Under the impact, the fog billowed and dispersed in all directions, forcibly carving out a wide, empty space in an area that had been shrouded in mist.

On this cleared ground, the image of a palm was rapidly fading away. Beneath where the palm had struck, the ground was spider-webbed with countless cracks, and within those cracks were the mangled remains of flesh and blood that had been pulverized.

"Still not the original body?" A cold, dark voice echoed through the area as the palm dissipated. To the naked eye, the dispersing energy of the palm was rapidly coalescing into a figure.

It was Wang Baole!

"As expected of an old fellow who has lived and cultivated again!" Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed. He sensed the surroundings once more and felt the fluctuations of his curse again. Though the signal was even weaker than before, it still allowed Wang Baole to pinpoint the location instantly.

"I’d like to see just how many clones you have to burn!" Wang Baole snorted coldly. He still had enough time left, and his killing intent toward Chen Han—who had dared to ambush him twice—was intense. With a flash of his body, he gave chase once more!

At the same time, within the fog some distance away from Wang Baole, the version of Chen Han that Wang Baole had locked onto was speeding away. His face was pale, his eyes filled with horror. His breathing was ragged, his body trembling as he spat out a large mouthful of blood.

"This is too fast! At this rate, he’ll find my original body sooner or later. What a freak!" Chen Han was anxious, but he felt utterly helpless. No matter how he measured it, he was simply unable to fight this terrifying enemy.

His clones already possessed the combat strength of a typical Great Circle Planet realm, yet in front of Wang Baole, they were swatted to death with a single palm. What horrified him even more was the man's speed…

Various thoughts swirled in his mind, but before he could come up with a countermeasure, a world-shaking pressure erupted from the fog behind him once again.

"Dammit! He’s even faster than before!!" Chen Han shrieked, his speed climbing again. But it was too late to dodge. In the next instant… a figure rushing out from the fog behind him slammed directly into him. Amidst a booming explosion, his body collapsed into nothingness.

Clearly, this collapsed body was still not his original. After the clone’s death, Wang Baole quickly sensed the direction of another one of the opponent’s figures and continued the pursuit!

In this manner, within a short span of three hours, the two played a game of cat and mouse within the fog. Chen Han’s clones were destroyed one after another. After Wang Baole had wiped out more than fifty of them, Chen Han was on the verge of tears.

"What a monster!"

"A super monster!!"

"Aargh! What kind of eight lifetimes of bad luck is this? How did I provoke this madman!!"

"If this keeps up, he won’t even need to find me. If I lose too many clones, my original body will cease to exist too!!" Chen Han was frantic, but he had no options left. He could only continue to flee, desperately trying to stall for time.

As for Wang Baole, he was growing a bit impatient during the chase. While his opponent’s methods weren't complex and were actually quite singular, these singular clones were still seriously draining his time. There was now less than an hour left until the start of the Third Day, the Third Life.

"I don't believe this!" A cold light flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. Overlapping phantoms suddenly appeared within his body, and one clone after another walked out from him in the blink of an eye. As they sped off in all directions, his original body also caught up to another of Chen Han’s clones that he had locked onto.

Amidst the booming air, he crushed the clone. Wang Baole locked onto the next one and gave chase. As his own clones fanned out, the situation gradually began to change. Although his clones were wandering somewhat aimlessly to cover ground, as his main body sensed Chen Han’s location, there would often be a clone closer to the target than his original body was.

This made the kills faster, and the attrition on Chen Han’s side grew even heavier!

"I curse your ancestors! This guy actually knows clone techniques too, and his clones are this terrifying!" Chen Han was completely shocked. By now, he had lost dozens upon dozens of clones, and practically every hundred breaths, another one would be destroyed. This speed made him fall into despair.

His own state was being severely affected; his soul was beginning to weaken. He frantically checked the remaining time before the Third Day began, and just as his anxiety peaked, a flash of wild joy suddenly crossed his eyes.

"Heaven is helping me!"

While Chen Han was rejoicing, Wang Baole’s original body moved even faster. This time, the Chen Han clone he sensed was the closest one yet. He could feel the opponent growing weaker with every clone that died. According to his calculations, in at most three to five more iterations, he would be able to find the location of the true body. Thus, upon sensing the target, Wang Baole’s body shot forward at extreme speed, creating a whistling sound in the fog. As he charged through the mist, he suddenly saw seven or eight figures up ahead!

These seven or eight figures were a team of trial participants. Each of them had a very strong Traction Light on them; clearly, they had plundered the qualifications of many trial-takers along the way. While they weren’t the top-tier geniuses, they weren’t ordinary either. There were three Great Circle Planet realm cultivators, and the rest were at the Late Planet realm. One of them was Wang Baole’s target!

However, Chen Han’s clone was a bit special this time. It wasn’t like the ones before; it seemed more like it was possessing someone else. The person being possessed was a woman with an enchanting and seductive appearance. When Wang Baole charged toward them, she had already sensed him. Terror appeared in her eyes as she retreated and spoke rapidly.

"Senior brothers, it’s this man! This man wants to make me his furnace! When I refused, he tried to suppress me by force!"

"Halt!" Hearing their companion speak, although these seven or eight people felt that the rapidly approaching Wang Baole looked somewhat familiar, they didn't have time to think because of his speed. One of the Great Circle Planet realm cultivators immediately stepped forward to block him.

"I am Wang Baole. I am hunting this person. Uninvolved parties, get out of the way!!" Wang Baole had been hunting Chen Han for a long time. With the start of the Third Day and Third Life approaching, he had no time to waste. He let out a sudden roar. The sound transformed into a sonic wave, erupting forward like a massive tidal wave.

It swept through like a storm, exploding like heavenly thunder. The Great Circle Planet realm cultivator bore the brunt of it and spat out blood. His companions’ expressions shifted, and they instinctively tried to resist. One youth among them, upon hearing Wang Baole’s name, had a cold light flash in his eyes.

"So it’s you. I won’t move!" As he spoke, he directly pulled out a wooden carving and activated it. A light as bright as a star erupted from the carving, transforming into the power of a star as it surged forward.

Amidst the roar, even someone as powerful as Wang Baole was momentarily obstructed. But in the next instant, Wang Baole’s voice echoed in all directions.

"Light!"

As the word left his mouth, Wang Baole’s body erupted with a blinding, brilliant radiance. A sea of light surged forth as if he himself had become a beam of light in that moment, suppressing everything.

Agonizing screams rang out from the surroundings as the explosion occurred. All the obstructors coughed up blood and were sent flying. The youth holding the wooden carving fared even worse; his carving shattered instantly, and he was swept away in a spray of blood, falling to the ground and losing consciousness immediately.

As for those who didn't faint, they were all wearing expressions of utter horror, their eyes filled with unprecedented fear.

As the sea of light dissipated, Wang Baole’s figure reappeared. He looked up toward the distance. During the moment he was blocked, the woman possessed by Chen Han had already retreated and vanished into the distant fog. Wang Baole calculated the time and realized he didn't have enough left to completely kill the opponent. A cold light flashed in his eyes.

However, he wasn't too disappointed. After all, the days ahead were long.

But he didn't plan on letting the people in front of him off easily. It would be one thing if they didn't know who he was, but after he had announced his name, they had still actively tried to block him. Although the rules prevented him from killing them, a price still had to be paid.

Realizing they had provoked a massive trouble, these people didn't wait for Wang Baole to speak. They immediately began to apologize one after another, voluntarily handing over their Traction Lights.

Only then did Wang Baole’s expression soften slightly. After taking their Traction Lights, he stepped onto the unconscious youth whose carving had shattered. He crushed the bones in the youth's legs, waking him up with the sheer pain, and forced him to tremblingly surrender his Traction Light as well.

Then, without a word, Wang Baole turned and left amidst their terror. He found a clear space and recalled all his clones, setting them to guard the perimeter. As he sat down cross-legged, an ancient voice echoed in his mind.

"The Third Day, the Third Life!"

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END OF Chapter 1056
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START OF Chapter 1057
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The heavens… were a stretch of void. Countless bolts of lightning seemed to flash incessantly, occasionally weaving into a giant web that made the entire world tremble amidst violent rumbles.

The earth… was the same!

There was no soil, no mountain peaks, and no vegetation. There was only endless void! Whether looking up, down, or all around, from any vantage point, there was only lightning and void, like an omnipresent abyss.

But I… still prefer to call this place a grave. My foolish third master was only smart once, and that was in sharing this perception with me.

In light of this, even though he was very foolish, I reluctantly allowed him to obtain my power. But he didn't know that the reason I considered this place a grave was because I was buried here. Or more accurately, I… was born here!

I cannot remember when I gained consciousness, nor can I distinguish the exact moment I began to perceive my surroundings. In this void of a grave, there might have originally been other life forms like me, but it seems that from the moment of my birth, they were all trembling.

Perhaps they were afraid of me.

But they shouldn't have been afraid, because food… does not need to have emotional fluctuations. The purpose of their existence was perhaps to serve as nourishment for whenever I grew hungry.

"If you're hungry, you must eat." This was something my fourth master often said. Every time I recall it, I find it quite sensible.

So, although they tasted terrible and their bodies were hard and stiff, making them quite uncomfortable to eat, I eventually found a method I liked: crushing them into fragments and savoring them slowly.

This way of eating continued until my eighth master. He didn't like it and stopped me many times, so I simply ate him as well.

I’m getting old… and so my memories are always led astray by trivial details. Let us go back to the food I enjoy.

What I like to eat most are actually their souls. They are delicious, so much so that I sometimes lose myself in the state of devouring and forget to sleep. Even when I am no longer hungry, I cannot help but enjoy the pleasure that follows the swallowing of a soul.

In my memory, across the countless years since my birth, occasional rebels would appear among the food. They didn't seem to want to be devoured by me. Every time I encountered such food, I would be especially happy… though according to my seventh master, that wasn't called being happy; it was called being bloodthirsty and cruel.

I enjoyed tormenting them to my heart’s content, letting them struggle and despair time and again until their entire bodies emitted a scent that left me obsessed. Only then would I take bite after bite, letting them feel the agony of their bodies being gnawed until they wailed and died.

But unfortunately, until I met my thirteenth master, I never encountered one who could endure for more than three days. This makes me miss my thirteenth master very much, and I deeply regret that in a fit of madness, I actually sucked her dry.

But it doesn't matter. Being sucked dry by me only proved that she wasn't the master I had been waiting for.

I can’t remember when it was—perhaps the very moment I was born—but a voice seemed to tell me to wait for a certain person. I didn’t know who this person was, only that… this was likely my destiny.

However, waiting is not in my nature. Thus, one day, after I had almost finished eating all the food in the grave, I wanted to leave. I wanted to go to the outside world to find new food… or more accurately, to find new rebels and strugglers. But I wouldn't say such things directly. If anyone asked me in the future, I would tell them that the reason I left the grave was because I was going to find my master.

A master whom even I did not know.

And so, I released my aura, guiding countless external wills to perceive me. Then, one day… someone entered the grave.

It was an old man whose life force radiated a sense of decay. I didn't like him because I thought he was a lunatic. Otherwise… why did he simply freeze there in shock after seeing me and capturing me? Then he threw his head back and laughed wildly until tears fell and his body shook, as if he were excited to the extreme, even roaring some nonsensical words.

"I’ve finally found it! The torture and injustice I, Tu Ling, have suffered in this life—I will surely make you all endure it a hundredfold, a thousandfold! I—"

I found him very annoying, so in one bite… I swallowed the lunatic.

And so, my first master was gone.

I often wonder if the reason my subsequent masters were swallowed for various reasons was because I found the soul of my first master so much more delicious than any other food.

Whatever the answer, I soon guided another entity to me. It was a young girl with a very sweet scent. I liked her quite a bit and planned to just go with her, but after seeing me, she actually showed a look of horror and turned to flee…

So, feeling insulted, I swallowed her too.

Reflecting on it now, I was too impatient back then. I shouldn't have swallowed them so quickly. Because after that, no other entities arrived for a very long time, to the point that I remained hungry for a considerable number of years.

Just as I was about to faint from hunger, someone finally came. It was a middle-aged man filled with resentment and coldness, permeated by the aura of death. After arriving at my side, he was similarly stunned, similarly ecstatic, and similarly frenzied. This made me think he was also a fool. Just as I intended to swallow him in my hunger, he spoke a single sentence.

"No wonder this place is listed as one of the three great forbidden zones. In this grave-like abyss of void, there actually was born… a Forbidden Weapon!"

I learned the word 'grave' at that time and grew fond of it. Perhaps because of that, or perhaps because I was afraid I would starve to death if I kept waiting, I reluctantly allowed this foolish third master to pull me out of the abyss!!

Yes, I… am a Forbidden Weapon born within the Abyss Void, one of the three great forbidden zones of this universe!

My form is that of a pitch-black saber shaped like a dragon's tooth!

After that foolish third master took me out of the abyss, my life… began to experience upheavals. Because this master was bloodthirsty, I helped him kill and devour countless beings. Eventually, I felt he was becoming inadequate, so to better assist him, I made a request.

"Every day, you must use me to slaughter ten million living beings!"

Thus, on the second day, when my foolish third master failed to fulfill this request, he was swallowed by me.

Soon after, my fourth master appeared. One thing I appreciated about him was that he loved to eat; he ate all things. I thought we would get along famously until one day, while I was napping, he conceived the idea of eating me and acted upon it. Instead, he was instinctively swallowed by me. I lost him with great regret.

But it didn't matter. The thing I lacked least was masters. Amidst my expectations, my fifth, sixth, and seventh masters, all the way to my seven thousand five hundred and forty-sixth… appeared one after another over the course of ten thousand years.

They were male and female, old and young, from many different races. But without exception, they were all eventually swallowed by me. It was precisely because of this that I gained another name.

The Ominous Grudge Weapon!

It seemed that because all my masters were swallowed by me, and because I had slaughtered so much in my life, accumulating the boundless, towering resentment of countless lives and races… my new name was quickly recognized by all existences.

But I don't like this name. I have always believed that I am just a little saber wanting to find its true destined master. If the other party doesn't come for me, then I can only go looking for them. In the process of searching, those former masters who deceived and misled me were swallowed merely as a sign of my respect for my true master.

I am very pure.

These four words were what I said many years later, when questioned by a new master.

This new master was a young girl, a very beautiful girl wearing palace robes. As she walked toward me, she smelled very fragrant and sweet.

I thought secretly to myself: She should be quite delicious.

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START OF Chapter 1058
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Chapter 1058: Atonement!

“You are evil.”

That was the favorite phrase of my little missy master.

But I felt I was innocent. My life was inherently different from theirs. As a weapon, I felt my destiny shouldn’t be to serve as a mere decoration.

But my little missy master said I was just making excuses.

It didn’t matter. As an old fellow, I didn’t care for the opinions of a young girl. Yet for some reason, when she called me evil, I felt a bit unhappy. So I thought… I wouldn’t eat her just yet. I wanted to watch her hold me and walk step by step toward the same evil I possessed.

I would surely succeed.

However… compared to her calling me evil, what I disliked even more was her gaze. Those eyes were so pure, like a mirror that allowed me to see myself within them. At the same time, those eyes held pity. This made me feel even more uncomfortable. I hated pity, and I hated purity. I wanted to devour her.

But I restrained myself. I wanted even more to see if, on the day she became just like me, those eyes would still hold such pity, and if they would still be as pure as starlight.

During the first year, I failed.

I hadn’t expected that after becoming my master, she wouldn't use even a shred of my power, let alone slaughter any living being. Even though she wasn’t happy that year.

The second year was the same. It continued until the fifth year, when I could no longer endure the days without food. An indescribable bloodlust resided within my body. It transformed into a hunger that drove me mad with the desire to destroy everything. Once again, I saw that purity in her eyes, saw that pity, and I could not forget the words she said to me then.

“Must there be slaughter?”

“I am hungry!”

“I understand.”

After our conversation, this master of mine sliced open her own wrist, dyeing my body red with her blood. I greedily drank her blood; its sweetness left me infatuated. It wasn't until I looked at her increasingly withered face and saw that ever-unchanging gaze that I suddenly felt a bit afraid.

Afraid of what? I didn’t know. But for the first time in my life, I restrained my instincts. I fell silent. I hated this purity even more. I told myself I had to see the day her gaze changed.

I thought that day would come soon. In the ninth year of her being my master, the sect she belonged to was invaded by a group of demonic cultivators who slaughtered the entire sect.

When she returned with me, she trembled as she looked at the ruins and the remains of countless familiar people. She cried. At that moment, I told her I could help her seek revenge. As long as she allowed me to erupt with my power, I could help her kill them all. I could even go to the enemy’s minor world and have countless lives buried with her sect.

I tempted her constantly, guided her incessantly, but I didn't understand why I failed.

She did not choose to use me. Instead, she left in silence. But for a brief moment, I clearly felt a violent surge of emotion within her.

The days that followed were the same. In the thirty-seventh year, a spirit beast she kept was brutally slaughtered. She remained silent. In the sixty-fifth year, an old friend of hers died a tragic death. She remained the same.

Time after time, she faced life-and-death partings. Time after time, she endured unfair treatment. Time after time, she witnessed the darkness of the world. She walked this path until she was exhausted, but her gaze never changed.

There were even many times over the years where, if not for my field instinctively spreading out to shield her from danger, she probably would have died already.

I didn’t understand, so I finally couldn’t help but ask her.

“Why are you like this?”

“Because I owe you. So I don’t want you to slaughter anymore, even if I am very sad, even if I want revenge, even if I feel that living is a form of torture. For me, the most important thing… is you.” I didn't believe her answer.

But my desire to see her gaze change grew even stronger. So I suppressed my hunger, only letting her dye me red with her blood once every ten years. In this way, with such persistence, I traveled the starry sky with her.

Perhaps it was an accident, perhaps it was my guidance, or perhaps it was her fate, but in the years that followed, her life was miserable. She faced helplessness again and again, and loss again and again. Every time this happened, I would tell her that as long as she allowed me to strike, I could change everything for her.

But even until her hair turned white, my wish remained unfulfilled.

Until one day, she died.

Looking at her corpse, I clearly should have been happy. I should have been joyous because I was finally free. I could go back to slaughtering, back to devouring. No one would bind me anymore, and I would never have to see that gaze and pity I loathed so much.

But… why did I seal away the memory of that day?

I didn’t know why. But after she died, I became silent. A clump of emotion seemed to exist in my heart that could not be sealed. It was heavy, very heavy, pressing down on me.

Under the weight of this emotion, I felt a certain discomfort toward slaughter. I didn't want to admit it, but I had to admit that during those few hundred years of companionship, that girl had influenced me. It resulted in me meeting countless masters in the life that followed, but more and more of them proactively abandoned me.

Because I no longer slaughtered. Because my blade had dulled. Because my mood was low. Because my power… as that emotion permeated me, it gradually dissipated.

Ten thousand years later, I was no longer a demonic weapon. I had turned into mortal iron.

Rust began to cover my body. My ill-omened nature became a thing of the past. Decay appeared on my frame. My life… also seemed to be gradually vanishing.

I didn't understand why it was like this, until the moment my life completely dissipated. The memory of the day I had sealed, the day I had forced myself to forget, surfaced before my eyes.

On a red mountain peak, she lay there, stroking me while gazing at the starry sky. Though her hair was white and her face was covered in wrinkles, her eyes were still pure.

“What are you looking at?” I asked.

“Looking at the starry sky.”

“It’s pitch black. What is there to look at?”

“In my heart, what is pitch black is this world. The starry sky possesses the brightest light.”

“I don't understand.”

“Then look more. Look for a hundred years, for a thousand years… if you can’t finish looking in this life, continue in the next. One day, you will understand.”

“I have a next life? I wonder if my next life will be a stronger weapon!”

“Do you know about zombies… born from gathered resentment, living eternally in the darkness. I will accompany you. This is my atonement.”

“Atonement… why do you always say you owe me?” I asked after a long silence.

But there was no longer an answer. Her blood dyed my body red. This time, she held nothing back. Perhaps… I had also forgotten to restrain myself.

Or rather… it wasn’t a "perhaps."

It was I who killed her.

I looked at her corpse and fell silent for a very, very long time… I finally knew. It turned out that what I had sealed wasn't her, but that one sentence.

“I will accompany you.”

I finally understood. It turned out I had always been… very lonely. From the moment of my birth until now, I was lonely.

I also finally understood. She was the person I had been waiting for all along. In the moment I slaughtered her, my own life had also ceased to exist.

As the memory surfaced, I struggled to lift my decaying blade, struggling to look toward the starry sky…

Tears flowed down unconsciously. Not from the demonic blade surfacing in the memory, but from Wang Baole’s eyes. As he sat there in meditation, his eyes had opened at some unknown point.

As they opened, an endless intent to devour erupted within his soul, causing the Devouring Seed in his body to be completely suppressed in an instant. Among the nine laws, his resonance with the Devour Dao skyrocketed in that breath, until it reached 97 or 98 percent—the same level as his Light Dao!

But none of this could give Wang Baole any sensation. At this moment, he lowered his head blankly, looking at his own hands, and murmured in a low voice…

“A past life… does all of this really exist? Why does my past life… contain karma… and her, who has always existed…”

Wang Baole fell silent. He suddenly raised his right hand and waved. Immediately, a blurry black shadow appeared in his right hand. The past life demonic blade… loomed indistinctly!

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END OF Chapter 1058
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START OF Chapter 1059
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Chapter 1059: Reflections of Three Lifetimes!

Gazing at this demonic blade, Wang Baole remained silent. His mind was still filled with the memories of that lifetime as a weapon, as well as the starry sky he had seen through those eyes at the very end.

He did not ask the little missy anything else. Perhaps it was important, or perhaps it no longer mattered. If she wanted to speak, the little missy would; moreover, he realized that her previous actions were a deliberate attempt to avoid his questioning.

Vaguely, Wang Baole might have already had an answer in his heart, but he didn't want to dwell on it. He buried that answer in the deepest recesses of his soul.

Yet, contradictorily, while burying it deep, he also felt a strong desire to know. If he were to sink into his past lives again, would he find another answer? Or would he be able to further verify his own enlightenment?

This contradiction made the look in Wang Baole's eyes grow deeper. He slowly shifted his gaze away from the illusory demonic blade in his right hand and looked up at the white mist ahead, continuing his silence.

At this moment, the thought of searching for the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Sect had already faded. The emergence of one past life after another had left both his body and his heart in a state of exhaustion.

"There are still six hours until the fourth day," Wang Baole murmured after calculating the time. A sense of persistence slowly appeared in his eyes. This persistence was like a fire, burning brighter and stronger in his heart.

"Perhaps during the next time I sink into a past life, I will understand everything!" With this thought, Wang Baole took a deep breath. As he looked down to examine his body, he felt his cultivation level rising once again. Now, he was only a hair’s breadth away from stepping into the late Planet realm.

The near-perfect resonance achieved by his Devouring Dao had also significantly improved his magical techniques and divine abilities. Wang Baole himself wasn't even clear on what level his current combat power had reached.

But he knew... once that flickering demonic blade transformed from his right hand fully erupted, it would be a form of near-limitless madness. Its power was infinite; it was only that his current self lacked the strength to fully display its true prowess.

Perhaps it wasn't that he was unable to, but rather that he could not. If he were to unleash it completely without the ability to control it, then the only outcome... would be that he might lose the ability to distinguish who was Wang Baole and who was the demonic blade.

After sensing the terrifying aura within the demonic blade, Wang Baole also noticed that the Guiding Light on his body—the light that allowed him to sink into his past lives—had become quite dim.

This light was the key to entering a past life. Each entry consumed a portion of it. Even though his supply had increased before, looking at it now, this dimness would likely affect his comprehensions.

Wang Baole didn't know if everyone else consumed so much or if it was just him. Regardless, according to his judgment, even if the Guiding Light on his body could support another session of comprehension, it would be a struggle.

"In that case..." A cold glint appeared in Wang Baole's eyes. He sat down cross-legged once again. Following the movement of his divine sense, his surrounding avatars instantly turned into afterimages, charging into the mist in different directions and vanishing in an instant.

At this moment, Wang Baole himself hadn't realized that the comprehensions from his previous lives—the emergence of those memories and the experiences of those worlds—had ultimately affected him.

Or rather... it couldn't exactly be called an "effect." Instead, it was as if layers of veils were being peeled away from him, gradually revealing the essence of his soul!

But ultimately, this current life was the primary host. Although a cold light shone in Wang Baole's eyes, his avatars did not go out to plunder those cultivators who kept to themselves. Instead, he set his sights on the predators currently in the mist who were using various methods to constantly steal Guiding Light from others.

There were many such predators in this trial!

This was because people had long since discovered that the more Guiding Light one possessed, the easier and clearer it was to sink into a past life. More importantly... one could bring back more of their own power from those past lives.

Thus, as Wang Baole's avatars traveled through the mist, whenever they encountered these predators, the avatars would strike instantly. Their speed was so fast and their combat power so strong that they seemed to surpass the Planet realm, forming an absolute suppression over any cultivator they encountered!

They had no rivals!

Because the strength of the main body directly influenced the strength of the avatars, and Wang Baole's avatars were extremely special—they were Source Dharmic Bodies. Fundamentally, they weren't far behind his main body.

Although they were currently numerous and scattered, making each one slightly weaker, that was only in relative terms. Overall, because Wang Baole was so powerful, even his scattered avatars were enough to sweep through all directions.

Booming sounds echoed continuously within the range of the mist. Soon, the Guiding Light on Wang Baole's body grew more and more intense. In just two hours, his body had become a massive luminous entity, and even the open space he occupied was completely shrouded in light.

This scene acted like a magnet, attracting the attention of cultivators passing nearby. But without exception, when these cultivators arrived cautiously and saw Wang Baole, they all hesitated.

Clearly, the aura emanating from Wang Baole at this moment made everyone who felt it tremble with fear, causing them to retreat one after another.

But ultimately... there were still powerful individuals in this trial. For instance, right now, with an hour and a half remaining until the fourth day, the meditating Wang Baole suddenly opened his eyes.

One of his avatars had actually been destroyed. Even the source essence contained within it had been intercepted and was seemingly being refined by someone.

Although the Source Dharmic Body was stronger than other avatar-type divine abilities, it also had a drawback. Once damaged, it would affect Wang Baole's main body more severely than other avatar techniques.

Even though what had been destroyed was only a second-tier avatar split from the Source Dharmic Body, and the source essence it contained wasn't much, it still could not be lost.

So, in the next instant, Wang Baole opened his eyes and his body blurred, vanishing from the spot instantly. Carrying the momentum of a crashing thunderbolt, he charged toward the location where his avatar had been destroyed.

While speeding along, his expression was ice-cold. He raised his right hand, quickly forming a hand seal, and spoke softly.

"Curse!"

Almost at the same time Wang Baole spoke, within a patch of mist some distance from his main body, the seventh disciple of Divine Emperor Giga—the youth who, like Wang Baole, possessed nine ancient stars—was staring at a ball of nine-colored light in his palm with a strange glint in his eyes.

"This avatar is very strong; it should be one of Wang Baole's primary avatars. That's why it contains such good stuff... By refining this source, perhaps I can find the secret of Wang Baole's ancient star Dao within it..." As the seventh disciple of Divine Emperor Giga, he had always been full of confidence. His own strength had reached the pinnacle of the Planet realm. Although Wang Baole's avatar was strong, it was still no match for him.

However, it had still caused him a bit of trouble. Based on his judgment of the avatar, he believed he had grasped Wang Baole's true combat strength. This made him certain of himself. He didn't leave, choosing instead to refine it on the spot while waiting to see if Wang Baole would dare to show up.

He was confident that even if Wang Baole's main body arrived, he could still suppress him.

But he didn't know that this was merely one of many avatars split from Wang Baole’s Source Dharmic Body. Calling it a secondary avatar would be more accurate. Compared to Wang Baole’s main body... the difference in combat power was vast!

This error in judgment caused the light source in front of Divine Emperor Giga’s seventh disciple to instantly transform into flames. It emitted a startling aura, condensing into a curse seal that flew straight toward his forehead.

This happened very suddenly, but Giga’s Seventh Son had fought for many years and his reactions were extremely fast. He retreated instantly, avoiding the seal. A cold light flashed in his eyes as he formed a hand seal, preparing to continue the suppression. But right at that moment...

As the light source turned into flames, using the explosion of its positioning aura, an earth-shaking and terrifying fluctuation suddenly billowed from the distant mist, charging straight for this location.

Before the person even arrived, a voice suddenly erupted from within the flames transformed from the light source.

"Suppressing my Dharmic Source... you are looking for death!" The voice was bone-chilling. As it wavered, Wang Baole's face emerged within the fire. This face looked like a zombie, yet also like a member of the Divine Race, and also like a demonic blade. These images fused together into a bizarre power, causing the expression of Giga’s Seventh Son to change as his heart skipped a beat like never before.

Without any hesitation, his body retreated rapidly.

But it was too late...

***
Apologies, I really don't have the state of mind today and can't write anymore. I don't want to just phone it in, and I've tried my best. Tomorrow's noon update will also be delayed. I will make up for the missing chapters this week.

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END OF Chapter 1059
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START OF Chapter 1060
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Chapter 1060: The Fourth Life!

Almost at the instant the Giga Divine Emperor’s ninth disciple retreated, the distant fog roiled violently, spreading outward like a tidal wave. An aura of boundless, freezing killing intent erupted from within the mist.

During this eruption, a figure charged forward. He moved so fast that his appearance was a blur; one could only feel a heaven-shaking momentum that seemed capable of crushing everything in its path. Like an overwhelming mountain or a crashing sea, he drew near, finally manifesting as a hand that appeared before the ninth disciple’s forehead, thrusting a finger toward it with savage force!

The ninth disciple’s pupils constricted, his expression filled with utter horror. He desperately wanted to see who his attacker was, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't see the figure clearly. He wanted to dodge, but his consciousness and body seemed to fall out of sync at that moment. No matter how he tried to control himself, his body remained sluggish, completely unable to avoid the incoming finger!

In that heartbeat, as a powerful sense of mortal crisis exploded within him, the index finger of that hand landed on his forehead. Upon contact, a massive boom caused the world to change color. The fog in all directions rolled back, and a thunderous roar echoed across the land.

A wretched scream tore from the ninth disciple’s mouth. Cracks instantly spiderwebbed across his forehead. Although the nine ancient stars behind him rapidly manifested, they were still unable to resist the power contained within that finger. Cracks began to appear on all of them!

It was because… this finger contained not only blood qi pushed to the absolute limit, but also a dense resentment. Yet, it simultaneously held an infinite light that seemed capable of purifying all things. These two contradictory powers were bizarrely fused together, and the key to their fusion was a heaven-towering intent of slaughter and devouring.

It was like a blade’s edge, gathering all available power into a single point—a tip sharp enough to pierce through any Planet-level cultivator… If the person facing this attack were not the disciple of the Giga Divine Emperor, they would have surely suffered total physical and spiritual annihilation!

Ultimately, however, the Giga Divine Emperor’s ninth disciple possessed deep reserves. In that life-or-death moment, a massive number of runic seals suddenly surfaced on his skin. These seals contained powerful fluctuations that did not belong to him; they were imprints left by his master, intended to save his life in a moment of crisis.

As these imprints were fully activated, they formed a protective barrier, causing Wang Baole’s descending finger to stall. Taking advantage of this pause, the ninth disciple, his face pale, retreated rapidly until he was over a hundred feet away. He spat out a mouthful of blood, the horror in his eyes impossible to hide. Without a moment's pause, he used the blood he had spat out to activate a secret technique, fleeing frantically.

He did not even hesitate to burn a portion of his life force to trade for a short-term burst of power, making his speed even faster. In an instant, he vanished from the spot, heading deep into the fog.

As he fled, his heart was anything but calm.

"He also gained insights into his past lives. Damn it… how can he be this strong?!" The ninth disciple’s heart was currently tossed by waves of indescribable shock. In truth, he knew very well that the life-saving imprints given by his master would only be triggered when encountering power at the Stellar level. He had never heard of any Planet-level cultivator capable of displaying Stellar-level might while still in the Planet Realm!

In that moment just now, the hand that had appeared before him didn't feel like it belonged to a Planet-level cultivator anymore; it felt like it had reached the Stellar level. In particular, the rules of Light and Devouring contained within it were terrifying. What horrified him most was that for a split second, that finger gave him the feeling of facing a most wicked weapon, one that seemed capable of devouring him entirely.

He was well aware that while the imprints his master gave him seemed powerful, they were limited by his own cultivation level and thus had a breaking point. If they were shattered too many times, he would surely die here.

Thus, he fled desperately. Back at the site of the brief clash, as the ninth disciple fled, the space behind the attacking hand distorted, revealing an arm, a shoulder, and eventually Wang Baole’s entire body!

Clad in long purple robes with long black hair, his tall, straight figure was like a sharp sword. Standing there, Wang Baole’s face was expressionless, his eyes icy cold. At the same time, the two rules of Light and Devouring churned around him. Within the nine ancient stars behind him, the faint image of a demonic blade flickered in and out of existence.

Face as cold as a zombie, body as strong as a god, soul as sharp as a demonic blade!

This was the unique form Wang Baole had taken after absorbing the insights from his first three lives. As he stood there, the surrounding spatial distortions continued to spread, gradually influencing a large area in all directions.

"I should be able to destroy that protection several times over..." Wang Baole cold-eyed the direction in which the ninth disciple, Ling Lan, had fled. He let out a cold snort, but he did not pursue. On one hand, time was limited; on the other, even if he did catch up, it wouldn't be wise to actually kill him here.

Wasting time was meaningless. It was better to use this time to collect more Attracting Light. After some thought, Wang Baole withdrew his gaze and decided to stay put, continuing to let his scattered clones gather the Attracting Light for him.

As time slowly passed, the place where he stood gradually became a forbidden zone. Any cultivators passing by felt their hearts tremble as they approached, and they all made sure to stay far away.

As his scattered clones continued their search, the Attracting Light on Wang Baole’s main body grew brighter and brighter. As the time limit drew near, the clones all returned under Wang Baole’s divine sense. When they finally appeared around his position, a weathered, ancient voice from the outside world once again echoed in the minds of the remaining trial-takers within the fog.

"The fourth day, the fourth life!"

"Perhaps in this life, I can get the answers I want!" As the Attracting Light on his body grew increasingly dazzling, completely enveloping his figure, Wang Baole felt the world spinning around him and his consciousness sinking. With the last shred of awareness he possessed, he murmured softly.

Following his voice, Wang Baole’s consciousness… dissipated.

***

"Our Sacred Sect was founded by the Sixth Immortal after the Six Path Immortals created the heavens and the earth. Together with the sects founded by the other five Immortals, we dominate the eight directions of the universe and jointly control all that exists!"

"The five of you are fortunate to be able to enter our sect. This is the greatest luck of your lives!"

"In the entire universe, across countless stars and countless heritages, among the five levels of Mortal, Dust, Spirit, Star, and Immortal, only our Six Path Laws can reach the heavens. Only the Six Paths can take the road to its ultimate end and become an Immortal..."

The aged voice, filled with majesty, echoed across a vast plaza. Currently, on this plaza, there were nearly a hundred thousand young boys and girls. Most of them stood there with nervous expressions, filled with envy as they looked at the five youths standing at the very front.

These five—three boys and two girls—were all around thirteen or fourteen years old. At this moment, they were respectfully listening to the voice coming from an unknown source.

Chen Yang was one of them. Today was the day he officially entered the sect.

As the most talented person of the Chen family’s current generation, high hopes had always been placed upon him. Furthermore, because the Chen family was one of many Daoist families within this specific branch—the 197,381st branch of the Sacred Sect—and ranked within the top five hundred, their resources were quite substantial. This meant that from the moment Chen Yang was found to possess startling talent as a child, the entire family's resources had been tilted in his favor.

Though he was only thirteen, his cultivation had already reached the height of the Ninth Forging of the Mortal Realm. Once he broke through, he would become a practitioner of the Dust Realm and could choose a master from the Spirit Realm to join.

According to the judgment of the family’s ancestor, with Chen Yang’s talent and the family's assistance, he would certainly not stop at the Spirit Realm in the future. He had a significant chance of… reaching the Star Realm!

One had to understand that the Star Realm was already considered a peak existence in the entire universe. Above it was only the Immortal Realm, but the Immortal Realm… throughout all of history, there had only ever been six!

Therefore, possessing such talent, Chen Yang had naturally stood out from the initial hundred thousand people to earn this opportunity to officially join the sect!

Even though the branch he was joining was but one of countless branches of the Sacred Sect.

After all, the Sacred Sect was far too massive. Even joining a branch was enough for Chen Yang to feel proud!

So, although he was nervous, his heart was full of excitement and anticipation for the future. This included his determination to make his family stronger, his wish for his loved ones to reach a higher status, and… his expectation of becoming Dao partners with the junior sister standing beside him.

As well as… the beautiful, virtuous ideal most young people held: the desire to champion justice!

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END OF Chapter 1060
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START OF Chapter 1061
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Chapter 1061: Destiny!

Chen Yang was kind-hearted. This was partly due to his innate nature, and partly due to his upbringing. Although his father’s cultivation was not high, his scholarship and character were recognized not only by his clan but even by the common folk.

His mother was likewise a lady of a prominent family, refined and cultured. Her education of Chen Yang was subtle and constant, ensuring that he did not feel superior to others like his peers did. Instead, he was gentle and humble.

Combined with his handsome appearance, all of this meant that Chen Yang’s childhood was filled with joy, and it made him firm in his ideals.

Do good throughout the world, slay demons and eliminate evil!

And indeed, he lived by those words. Shortly after joining the Saint Sect, his cultivation broke through to the Dust Realm, and he began his travels for experience. During these travels, he saw the evil of the world and the chaos of the outside, but he used his cultivation and the sword in his hand to do his best as he walked through the world, doing good in all directions.

He saved many mortals and slew just as many demons. Because of his gentle personality, his willingness to help others, and his own extraordinary nature, he gradually gained more friends from his own sect and other Daoist sects.

Some people are perhaps destined to be extraordinary from the very beginning; Chen Yang was such a person.

Upright, loyal, helpful, gentle, sunny, humble... many beautiful words could find their definition in him.

Such a person, possessing startling talent, was in many ways already a winner in life.

Thus, in the tenth year after joining this branch of the Saint Sect, having reached the Great Circle of the Dust Realm, he was recognized by almost all his peers and acknowledged by all his elders, becoming the Eldest Senior Brother of this generation.

At that moment, his smile still contained beauty and expectations for the future. Even though he had seen much of the world's darkness, his smile remained unchanged.

At that moment, he was the one on whom the sect placed high hopes, the pride of his family, the role model for his fellow disciples, and the focal point of all glory.

"I cannot change the world, but what I can do is be the best version of myself. Only then can I not fail you in this life!" These were the words he said to himself, and the words he spoke to his little junior sister, who had always admired him, during their engagement.

At that moment, his heart held many ideals: to make his parents happy, to make his family better, to keep the smile on his lover's face forever, to grow alongside his friends, to reduce the number of people crying, to let happiness accompany more people throughout their lives, and to let the world slowly become a better place because of his small contributions...

If nothing had changed, following his trajectory, perhaps Chen Yang really could have reached higher and further. His relatives indeed would have been happy, his family indeed would have fared better, the smile on his little junior sister’s face likely would have stayed forever, his friends would have been the same, the number of people crying would have truly decreased, and happiness might indeed have permeated the lives of many more.

However, sometimes, no one knows what will happen tomorrow, and no one can predict how a single choice might change or reverse everything!

This choice arrived after his cultivation broke through the Dust Realm and he stepped into the Spirit Realm.

He was scouted by the Main Sect of the Saint Sect and given the opportunity to enter it.

As the number one prodigy of this local branch sect, Chen Yang was exhilarated when he received the news. His family felt the same. His only regret was that the reporting time given by the Main Sect was very short, which forced his wedding with his little junior sister to be delayed.

"After I report to the Main Sect, I will apply for a period of leave to come back and marry you." This was the promise Chen Yang gave before leaving, gazing at his little junior sister and lightly kissing her forehead.

But it was destined... that this promise would never be fulfilled.

Because Chen Yang never could have imagined that what awaited him at the Main Sect was a nightmare that would accompany the rest of his brief life...

Immediately upon arriving at the Main Sect, he and ninety-nine other prodigies from various branches who had been summoned like him were, for no reason at all, directly imprisoned together!

The place where the hundred of them were held was called Blood Hell!

This was a prison, a prison filled with gloom and evil. On the first day they entered, their cultivation was suppressed. A low, cold voice told them that the rule here was to kill!

They had to kill each other, and every person had to kill one person every day. If they succeeded, they would be given food and spirit stones to restore their strength and a tiny bit of their cultivation.

But for those who failed—as long as someone died—their relatives, friends, and all related parties would be executed!

If a person did not die themselves but failed to complete the task, they would witness the scenes of their friends and family dying with their own eyes.

Finally, only when a single living person remained would the prison doors open.

The echo of that voice sent tremors through the hearts of all one hundred people. Chen Yang found it utterly absurd. But no matter how they shouted, how they searched for an exit, or what methods they tried, they all ultimately failed...

Until the first day passed. Aside from a few individuals who completed the task, the vast majority of cultivators, including Chen Yang, did not kill anyone. As the midnight bell tolled, a scene that drove Chen Yang into a frenzy appeared before his eyes.

It was a great divine ability that projected images directly into the minds of all those who had not completed the task, showing each of them different scenes.

What Chen Yang saw was his father... his father, who was always smiling, gentle toward others, and had lived a life without a single blemish, was having every bone in his body crushed bit by bit. Amidst bouts of shrill screams, his flesh was then ground into paste until both body and soul were extinguished!

Chen Yang did not believe it. He felt this must be fake. He was a disciple of the Saint Sect. He had done nothing to betray the sect, and he had certainly committed no evil. Therefore, these things could not, and should not, happen to him!

"This must be a test for entering the Main Sect. This is an illusion!"

Chen Yang murmured, constantly telling himself that all of this was impossible. He didn't just tell himself; he told others as well. Amidst such firm conviction, though some chose to believe him, more people fell silent. They instinctively separated from one another, and the occasional glints of ferocity and struggle in their eyes created a sense of oppression that made one's heart palpitate. The separated crowd began to choose their own hiding spots.

Chen Yang did the same, because on the second day, a few more people chose to kill. However, the majority still chose silence. But when midnight arrived and the images appeared again, some people let out wails and frenzied roars.

"Why? Why? Why!!"

"I gave my heart and soul to the sect! I saw the sect as my home! Why do this to me!!"

Amidst the roars of those around him, Chen Yang’s body trembled. In the image that surfaced in his mind, it was his uncle, being tortured and killed in the same manner, dying in agonizing screams!

"Fake... fake... it’s all fake..." Chen Yang trembled, constantly telling himself that this must be a test from the sect. It had to be.

Soon, the third, fourth, and fifth days passed. Chen Yang’s hair was disheveled as he hid in his refuge. During these days, he saw more of his relatives die miserable deaths. At the same time, he discovered that those who chose to kill became increasingly silent, and the group had split into two parts.

One part was like Chen Yang, those who had never killed. The other part consisted of those who had already killed, and by the second time, their strikes had become even swifter.

The number of people in the latter group grew larger. Whether it was because they believed the images, or for food, or for spirit stones to restore their suppressed cultivation—there were too many reasons, forcing more and more people to choose to kill!

Until the ninth day arrived, and a young man with a fierce look in his eyes walked toward Chen Yang’s hiding place.

Chen Yang remembered him. On the very first second day, he was a fellow disciple who, like Chen Yang, believed this was an illusion. Now, he clearly no longer believed.

"Chen Yang, since you’ve always believed this is an illusion, a test from the sect, then let me kill you here. I’ll help set you free, and help you verify the answer."

"Perhaps, after dying here, you will wake up within the Main Sect. At most, it would just be failing the test." The young man spoke slowly, stepping closer and closer...

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START OF Chapter 1062
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Chapter 1062: Chen Yang!

Chen Yang did not want to die!

Even though he kept telling himself that this was an illusion, when the other party choked him—when that feeling of suffocation and the aura of death arrived—Chen Yang chose to fight back.

Two people whose cultivation had been suppressed, stripped of their Dharmic powers, engaged in a life-and-death struggle within this cave-like hiding place. In the end, Chen Yang won.

At the cost of losing an eye, he snapped the young man's neck.

However, the sorrow in the young man's eyes before he died and the final words he uttered left Chen Yang frozen in place.

"You will soon understand… what is real and what is fake."

Those words echoed in Chen Yang's mind until midnight arrived. For the first time, the images appearing in Chen Yang’s mind were not of his family and friends dying. Instead, an old man appeared.

Chen Yang had never met this old man, but he had seen his statue. This was… the creator of the Saint Sect, one of the only six Immortals in this universe. The members of the Saint Sect called him the Sage Immortal Ancestor.

"Everyone participating in this game who has fulfilled a requirement can see this projection of mine!

"Do not question, and do not hold onto hope. This is not a trial, nor is it a test. Everything you see is real. If you saw your family and friends die, then they are truly dead.

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you. If you no longer wish to participate, you may simply commit suicide or be killed by another. But if you wish to continue, then when you have killed a hundred people, I will tell you a few of the answers you seek.

"And so on. At the milestones of one thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand, a million, and even ten million people, I will reveal parts of the answer to you, until the very end… I wonder who will be qualified to receive the complete answer from me!"

The image vanished. Chen Yang stood there blankly, silent for a long, long time. Finally, he walked out of his hiding place. At this moment, there was still a spark of light in his eyes. Though it had dimmed, it still existed.

A few days later, nearly ninety percent of his batch of one hundred people had died. At that point… another hundred cultivators descended into this blood-colored prison.

And so, a new round of slaughter began. One person, every day!

Every few days, another hundred people would descend, causing the color of this blood prison to turn completely crimson. Eventually, even the ground turned into a slurry of bloody mud. The stench of rot and the aura of death permeated the air, growing deeper and deeper.

It felt as if there was no end. It felt as if a moment where only one living person remained would never come. This was because if a person killed a second victim within a single day, an invisible force would descend, weakening the killer time and again. This made the killer so frail that they could easily be counter-killed by someone who possessed a killing quota for that day.

The cycle repeated, surpassing the bounds of a nightmare.

Days passed like this. Chen Yang’s ears were gone. A hideous scar had appeared across his nose. One of his legs was lame.

These were the prices he paid to finally reach a hundred kills. Once he did, the figure of the Sage Immortal reappeared in his mind.

"What is life? Junior ones who can hear my voice, you may ponder this carefully. I will tell you my view when you reach a thousand kills."

the image vanished, leaving only that single sentence.

In Chen Yang’s remaining right eye, the light that once existed was almost gone. To hear those words and see the Sage Immortal’s figure, the price he paid was not just his own body. Several times during this period, when he failed to complete a kill due to various accidents, he saw his family members die agonizing deaths in his mind.

His mother died. His grandfather died…

With every death of a relative, the light in his eyes diminished further. Days continued to flow in this cycle. He didn't know how much time had passed, but one day, when the image of his last living relative dying appeared in his mind, the light in his eyes became like a tiny, flickering flame that could be extinguished at any moment.

It was then, in this prison permeated by the stench of blood where even his own body was dyed red, that Chen Yang saw the Sage Immortal’s figure for the third time and heard his voice.

"Life… is an illusion. It is nothing more than a joke. Just as time is running out for this universe. In thirty years, it will perish and be restarted… And we need a ritual. A… God-Slaying Ritual!"

The information contained in the Sage Immortal’s voice this time was immense. However, as it fell upon Chen Yang’s ears, his expression didn't change at all. This was because, in this small blood-colored prison, he saw a familiar figure among the hundred new cultivators who descended a few days later.

"Little Junior Sister…" These were the first words Chen Yang had spoken since his very first kill. As the figure appeared and the words left his mouth, his expression began to tremble. Light returned to his eyes, and a sense of longing reappeared.

Two people who were once betrothed met again, but it was in this blood-soaked hell. Although there should have been no warmth here, the appearance of his Little Junior Sister gave Chen Yang’s nearly withered life more motivation to strive to live. Because… she was his hope!

They leaned on each other for support.

His Little Junior Sister told him everything. Just as the Sage Immortal said, his family was dead. The world outside had undergone cataclysmic changes. Planets were beginning to collapse without any warning.

Countless lifeforms had gone mad for no reason. The entire universe seemed to be trembling…

Chen Yang remained silent. He no longer wanted to think about the outside world. He only wanted to be with his Little Junior Sister and strive to live here until death arrived.

But things rarely go as planned. Although the strength of two people was great, as time passed, the wounds on Chen Yang’s body increased. Though his cultivation was recovering, it couldn't keep pace with the severity of his injuries. Finally, one day, the blood-colored prison he was in was opened.

He had succeeded. Before the next batch of descendants arrived, he had finally made it so that only one living person remained in the blood prison. This wasn't because he had struck, but because… the other person had committed suicide.

That person was his Little Junior Sister.

"Master Brother, the blood prison is open. Go and see for me… what has happened to this world, to this universe." These were the soft murmurs of his Little Junior Sister before she took her own life.

Holding her corpse, Chen Yang cried. He wailed loudly, his body shaking violently. A pain that grew deeper and deeper accumulated in his heart, erupting constantly.

At the same time, he saw the world that appeared before him after the blood prison opened… It was a blood-colored world, vast and boundless, covered by a sea of blood. This sea of blood was formed by the blood flowing out of countless islands.

The blood prison was merely one small island. Outside the prison… was an even larger prison of heaven and earth. It was still blood-colored, and there was still no hope.

The slaughter… continued. The rules had not vanished. One kill, every day.

As for the targets, they were the cultivators who walked out of their respective islands. Because there were so many islands, Chen Yang could not calculate the number of cultivators. But he understood one thing: this so-called game did not just involve the Saint Sect. All sects, the entire younger generation, had been sent in one after another.

If one did not kill, because they no longer had family members left to die, the punishment turned into a soul-tearing agony within themselves.

It was a form of torture!

In this larger prison, even though there were many cultivators, every single one had struggled out of a slaughter. Not one of them was easy to kill.

Therefore, for most of the time, the majority of people were in a state of punishment. Their bodies, their souls—everything was being torn apart in agonizing pain.

"What is happening to all of this…" Chen Yang didn't know how much longer he could hold on. He didn't even know what he was holding on for. Many times, he had thought of suicide.

"Perhaps, I just want to hear the answer!"

Time slowly trickled away amidst his pain. Because he was unable to complete the task for a long time, after the agony reached a certain threshold, his other eye lost all its light.

The entire world should have turned black in his eyes. But after losing his sight, all Chen Yang could see was blood-red—a thick, inseparable crimson.

Yet he still persisted. For a long, long time… until Chen Yang’s arms melted away and half of his body rotted. He could only soak in the sea of blood. The pain was beyond the description of words, but he remained alive, never choosing suicide.

The Sage Immortal’s voice never appeared again, as if he had forgotten this place…

Until an unknown amount of time passed, and the other half of his body had also rotted away. His entire being consisted of only half a head. He clearly should have been dead, yet he continued to live in this bizarre state!

At that moment, a cold, detached voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

"Everyone else is dead. Why do you still persist?"

"Because I have resentment in my heart. Resentment toward the Sage Immortal, resentment toward everyone, resentment toward this world, resentment toward this universe…"

"I hate this heaven and earth! I hate all life! I hate my fate!!"

"Therefore… I must live. I want to see the destruction of this universe with my own eyes!!" Chen Yang didn't know what he was saying. He only knew that he had gone mad.

The cold voice remained silent for a long time—perhaps a year, perhaps ten years, or perhaps a century—before speaking again.

"The Six Immortals of this universe wanted to forge a weapon capable of killing me to resolve the restart of the universe. That is why the agonizing resentment of all living beings like you was brought forth…

"The six of them failed. And you… you were not their choice. You were forgotten in this place. It is a pity those six were foolish and chose the wrong target. Had they chosen you, whose resentment has reached such a level, perhaps they truly could have killed me…

"But in the end, your resentment and hatred share Karma with me… I do not know what my personality will be like after I awaken in my next life. I might be like I am now, or I might become incomparably kind. But I think… if you were to become a weapon, it might be very interesting.

"A weapon capable of killing me. A weapon that gathers all of your hatred and resentment.

"I look forward to it." As the voice echoed, a massive force gathered from all directions, sweeping over Chen Yang’s remains and whisking away his consciousness. At this moment, the world Chen Yang saw was completely different from when his eyes were still intact.

It was pitch black. It looked like the universe, but it had no color. It looked like a starry sky, but there were no stars. There was only a void, and within that void… stood a woman dressed in a white palace gown.

The woman’s beauty was transcendent. She stood there leisurely, holding a phantom book in her hand. At this moment, she raised her hand and turned a page. On this page were images of all living beings, seemingly representing everything in this universe.

Now, as she turned the page, it was about to be flipped over. But in that instant, the woman’s hand suddenly paused.

"It seems… I have seen that somewhat special soul before…" The woman frowned. After thinking carefully, she sighed softly.

"So it was him…" In her murmuring, a hint of reminiscence appeared in her eyes.

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END OF Chapter 1062
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START OF Chapter 1063
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Chapter 1063: Awakening!

Within the Weiyang Dao Domain, in the Heaven’s Fate Star System, upon the Heaven’s Fate Star.

Inside the trial mist, the interior had originally been divided into over a hundred thousand small zones, each occupied by a cultivator. But now... nearly half of these zones had become empty.

Almost half of the trial participants, after experiencing the insights of their first past life, were given no chance to proceed to the second. For various reasons, they had been forced to give up on this fortuitous opportunity.

Some were unable to withstand more insights from their past lives; the toll on their physical bodies was too great. Although their gains were significant, their souls seemed to have reached a limit that could not be reversed.

Others were capable of enduring it, but they met with man-made disasters. Malicious individuals used their clan backgrounds, personal combat strength, or financial power to plunder them. Faced with such situations, they could only surrender their remaining Guiding Light. Without the Guiding Light, they would be teleported out of the trial area when the next life began.

As for the remaining half of the trial participants, they too could not escape these two paths. On the second and third days, one after another lost their eligibility. Overall, though the fourth day and the fourth life were currently underway, ninety percent of the cultivators had already returned to the outside world.

Consequently, the outside world was now crowded. Atop the thirty-nine Primordial Beasts, cultivators were packed densely. Some discussed in low voices, some ground their teeth in silent indignation, and others were lost in thought as they absorbed their gains.

Without exception, however, they all kept a portion of their attention fixed on the white mist still churning above the volcanic island.

Because of the difference in the flow of time, the four days inside the white mist did not seem long from the outside. Thus, everyone was waiting... waiting to see who would ultimately be able to perceive their first ten past lives!

While the crowd waited, on the island above the crater, Tianfa Shangren, who sat in the central position, slightly opened his closed eyes. He looked up at the mist, his gaze deep, seemingly containing a dense, hard-to-dissipate ancient sorrow formed after the passage of endless eons.

"What day is it?" After a few breaths, Tianfa Shangren spoke softly.

"Master, it is already the fourth day," the old slave beside him, a powerful expert at the Star Domain realm, replied in a low voice.

"The fourth day, is it..." Tianfa Shangren murmured, then fell silent, speaking no more. Meanwhile... within the mist, amidst the many empty zones, several figures were rapidly approaching the area where Wang Baole was located.

These figures were all trial participants, numbering over a hundred. Every one of them had lusterless eyes, appearing like puppets. Strangely, despite their great speed, they moved in complete silence.

Behind these hundred-plus cultivators, within the mist, were two figures separated by a distance of about ten feet. They could only see each other vaguely as they faced one another.

"Since you found his location, why are you willing to give up his Dao Star and only ask that I slay him?" one of the figures asked indifferently, his voice cold and permeated with an air of arrogance.

"Yinling knows that she already possesses a Dao Star and has no need for more. Furthermore, Yinling understands her own value and knows her limits; I will not be overly greedy. Therefore, I do not want his Dao Star!"

"The reason I insist on killing him is for personal reasons. What... as the Seventh Dao Child of the Nine Provinces Dao, the number one sect of the Left Path, could it be that you fear this is a conspiracy? Or rather, are you afraid of this Wang Baole?" The speaker was a woman—it was none other than Xu Yinling.

"There is no need to provoke me with such childish words. His Dao Star is something I am determined to obtain. And what of you two? What do you seek?" The Seventh Dao Child of the Nine Provinces Dao spoke indifferently, his gaze sweeping toward another part of the mist.

As he stared, a figure soon coalesced within the mist. As he stepped out, the figure slowly became clear. It was... the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao!

"And your Highness—since you are here, why not come out!" Coldly glancing at the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao, the Seventh Dao Child of the Nine Provinces Dao turned to look at the mist on the other side.

Instantly, that patch of mist churned, and the figure of the Ninth Disciple of Divine Emperor Giga emerged. With killing intent in his eyes, he spoke in a low voice.

"I only want him dead!"

"As do I!" The Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao also spoke, cold light flashing in his eyes.

The reason the three of them were here at the same time was that Xu Yinling had used some unknown method to find Wang Baole’s location for meditation and insight and had informed them. Had it been when they first entered, the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao and the Ninth Disciple of Divine Emperor Giga would have disdained joining forces.

But now, after having experienced clashes with Wang Baole, they were deeply shaken by his prowess. They knew very well that individually, they were absolutely not Wang Baole's match.

That was why they had hit it off and formed this brief alliance. Because... the two of them knew very well that if they did not suppress Wang Baole now, they feared that after he gained more insights from his past lives, they would become nothing more than ants in his eyes.

Ultimately, Wang Baole’s growth speed had made them wary to the extreme.

As for the Seventh Dao Child of the Nine Provinces Dao, although he did not fully understand the situation, he was no fool and had guessed some of the answers. Although there was an unavoidable suspicion of being used, he didn't care. What he wanted was the Dao Star! As for the rules, he had plenty of ways to bypass them!

"Let's go!" Therefore, after seeing that both had appeared, his body flickered as he charged behind the hundred people toward the place where Wang Baole was located.

Following him, the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao, the Ninth Disciple of Divine Emperor Giga, and Xu Yinling also rushed out instantly, heading straight for the front where Wang Baole was in seclusion.

About a dozen breaths later, the trial cultivators who had first flown toward Wang Baole’s seclusion spot—their eyes dim and void of spirit, as if their consciousness was missing—had already approached. They did not pause for a moment, instantly bursting through the mist. When they appeared... they immediately saw the center of this empty zone, where Wang Baole sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.

And... around Wang Baole, there were more than a dozen equally cross-legged figures. The moment they appeared, the eyes of these figures all snapped open.

Without a single word, the moment their gazes met, a slaughter erupted with a bang. Over a hundred trial participants rushed straight for Wang Baole's avatars. Thunderous sounds immediately echoed to the heavens, rolling in all directions and causing the surrounding mist to shake.

Naturally, the situation leaned in Wang Baole's favor. Although there were over a hundred attackers, their overall strength was insufficient. Though they spread out and multiple people besieged a single avatar, the gap in combat power still meant that this raid basically served no great purpose.

However, although they lacked consciousness, it was precisely because of this that these trial participants were fearless of death. At the slightest touch, they did not hesitate to self-detonate!

No matter how weak they were, they were still in the Planet realm. Furthermore, those who could come to offer birthday greetings to Tianfa Shangren were not weaklings to begin with. Thus, the power of their self-detonations was naturally terrifying.

Especially... this was Wang Baole’s place of seclusion and insight. Self-detonating here while he was still immersed in his insights would naturally cause a massive impact. And this... was precisely the first wave of Xu Yinling’s plan!

Amidst the booming sounds, as those trial participants self-detonated, Wang Baole's avatars were forced to retreat slightly. His main body also seemed to begin trembling due to the fluctuations of the explosions... And just as the entire scene turned violent and Wang Baole's main body trembled, a figure crashed down from the mist above.

This figure was a burly man... He was not one of the four masterminds, but rather the strongest seed Xu Yinling had planted within this trial ground among her subordinates. Although his fame was not as great as the other three, his combat power had already reached the Great Circle of the Planet realm. Combined with the supreme treasure Xu Yinling had given him, this man... at this moment, seemed like a deity descending to the mortal world!

"Die!!"

With a low roar, the burly man held a battle-axe of white light in his right hand. He swung the axe down toward the head of Wang Baole's cross-legged main body. His momentum was like a rainbow, earth-shaking, even kicking up a violent shockwave that caused the surrounding cultivators to pause.

But just as they paused, just as the man roared and the axe descended... the trembling Wang Baole suddenly snapped his eyes open!

It was impossible to describe what kind of gaze that was. Crimson pupils occupied the entirety of his eyes, and his distorted expression contained an endless madness. When combined, a single word involuntarily surfaced in the minds of all who saw him!

Resentment!

That was the ultimate grievance, that was the heaven-towering hate, that was the frantic blood!

That was... an eruption of resentment directed at the entire world, the entire universe, and all things between heaven and earth—boundless and driven to the absolute peak of madness!

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END OF Chapter 1063
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START OF Chapter 1064
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Chapter 1064: Why are you chasing me?!

"DIE... FOR ME!!" Along with an explosion of resentment, a frenzied divine sense erupted from Wang Baole’s soul. This divine sense was like a storm, violently sweeping out in all directions!

"You..." The burly man holding the giant white ax, who was currently swinging down toward Wang Baole, saw his expression change drastically. Although he had been planted with a star seed, his sheer strength and the importance Xu Yinling placed on him allowed him to maintain his sanity. At this moment, he felt an indescribable aura—one filled with a powerful sense of invasion—surging directly toward him.

It felt as if the person before him had transformed into an unimaginable source of grievance in that instant. That resentment was deep and dense to the extreme, and the peak of madness within it was equally heaven-shaking. Everything turned into a bloody hue, and even the surrounding mist seemed to be stained red in an instant.

Naturally, this included... his battle-ax!

The white ax was completely stained crimson in a heartbeat. Simultaneously, as the storm expanded, the resentment churned, and the blood-red color spread. The burly man, a Great Perfection Planet realm cultivator, began to tremble violently, losing all power to resist. Although he was mid-air, blood began to leak from his seven orifices.

His consciousness was being invaded; his soul was being corroded. Everything about him was sinking into darkness. A world of blood appeared before his eyes, and in a short span of time, he experienced the entire life of Chen Yang. He clearly lacked Chen Yang’s perseverance—or rather, there were very few people in this world who could hold on until the very end like Chen Yang did!

Thus, only one voice echoed in his mind right now.

That voice said... Die!

Gradually, this voice became his entire world. It forced him to raise his right hand, clutching the crimson giant ax, and with an exaggerated amount of strength, he swung it violently across his own neck!

Instantly... blood sprayed. His head flew into the air, and his body crashed down. As blood pooled, his divine soul was also torn apart by his own hand. He was thoroughly dead!

Dying along with him... were the surrounding trial cultivators controlled by Xu Yinling who had not yet self-detonated. Every single one of them was immersed in that world of blood. Under that endless pain and torture, they trembled and raised their hands. Even though they had no sanity left, even though they were missing their consciousness, the resentment of a past life emitted by Wang Baole the moment he woke up still caused them to bleed from their seven orifices. After raising their hands, they all slammed their palms onto their own foreheads!

In an instant... the remaining dozens of people had their heads caved in. Amidst the spreading blood, they fell one by one. This scene was eerie to the extreme. The storm of resentment continued to spread, causing the second batch of trial cultivators arranged by Xu Yinling outside the mist to tremble and raise their hands in suicide before they could even charge in!

Not only that, but the four masterminds were also horrified to the core at this moment. At the very front, the Seventh Dao Child of Kyushu Dao trembled all over. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he relied on a life-saving treasure given by his sect to barely maintain his consciousness. Terror filled his eyes as his body retreated rapidly.

"What kind of monster is this?!"

Also coughing up blood and retreating at high speed was the Ninth Disciple of the Giga Divine Emperor. His face was pale, and the fear in his eyes was incredibly thick as he cried out in alarm.

"He actually got stronger again!!"

"Damn it!!" The Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao wiped the blood from his mouth, regret appearing in his eyes for the first time. He felt that he must have had things too easy in the past... So what if he had proactively provoked someone only to find out he couldn't win and was hunted down miserably? So what if almost all of his clones were destroyed, causing his cultivation to nearly drop and even affecting his future advancement? So what if he, an old fellow living a second life, was chased by a little brat, causing him to lose a massive amount of face? So what if he was just a hair's breadth away... from being decapitated?

How big of a deal were those things? Such small matters weren't worth much... Compared to this, those were nothing! He hadn't died after all, so why did he have to come back and wade into these muddy waters? Why did he have to provoke this freak again?

It was truly because... Wang Baole's outburst this time had completely shocked him. The resentment contained in that storm could actually influence Planet realm cultivators and force them to commit suicide. This matter had reached an appalling degree.

While the three of them were retreating, Xu Yinling retreated the fastest. Her face was deathly pale, and her heart was shivering. At this moment, the only thought in her mind was to escape immediately! After all, although the rules here forbade killing, there were too many ways to circumvent them!

She could never have predicted that after driving hundreds of Planet realm cultivators and enlisting three other powerhouses—a plan she had been certain would succeed—everything would be crushed like rotten wood because of a single sentence spoken when the opponent woke up!!

"How is this possible!!"

At the moment the four of them retreated, the crimson color within Wang Baole’s pupils rapidly dissipated. It was all fused into the Blood Laws within his Ancient Star. In an instant, it pushed the resonance of these laws directly to ninety-seven or ninety-eight percent.

And his cultivation finally broke through during this elevation, reaching... the late-stage Planet realm!

The rise in cultivation and the resonance of laws weren't the only reasons why Wang Baole’s single sentence had caused hundreds of people to commit suicide. In truth... Xu Yinling and the others were also unlucky; they just happened to catch the moment Wang Baole woke up.

If they had arrived after he had already awakened, they might have actually had some impact on him. But at the very instant he woke up, the resentment emanating from his eyes was something he had realized from his past life—it was the combined hatred of an entire world. Most importantly, deep within the crimson of his eyes was the projection of Chen Yang!

If not for the fact that he hadn't brought back much... forget these few Planet realm cultivators; even a Stellar realm expert or a Star Domain powerhouse would have had their divine sense strongly affected!

It could be said that in that instant, the one who made hundreds of Planet realm cultivators commit suicide wasn't Wang Baole, but the projection of his past life... Chen Yang!

And he would not be able to re-condense that power again. As for now... as his sanity returned, as he cleared his mind, and as the past life dissipated, clarity filled Wang Baole’s eyes.

"You lot..." After waking up, a cold light flashed in Wang Baole's eyes. He sensed that this past-life realization had a significant impact on him. The main effect was a heavy feeling of mental suppression!

Even though the source of the past life was gone now that he was awake, the anger in his heart continued to erupt due to the sneak attack.

"Die!!" Wang Baole let out a low growl. All his injured clones from the surrounding area returned from all directions in an instant. After they rapidly merged into him, his aura exploded toward the heavens like a torrent. As he stood up and charged out, he shook the surroundings, causing the faces of the four fleeing people to change drastically!

Without the slightest hesitation, the four of them immediately split up. They fled in four different directions, each unfolding secret techniques to increase their speed by dozens of times as they galloped madly.

The reason they didn't stick together wasn't that they didn't understand the logic behind it, but because... the four of them didn't trust each other to begin with. In such a situation, the probability of them staying united while fleeing was too low; it was more likely they would plot against each other.

Since that was the case, it was better to split up. They especially saw that Wang Baole's clones were all injured, so it was unrealistic for him to send clones to chase them. The greatest possibility... was that one of the four would be the unlucky one!

As for who it would be... everyone felt it might be themselves. But no matter what, the slowest one had the highest chance!

Therefore... at this moment, each of them unleashed their speed to the limit, instantly pulling a massive distance between one another.

Their judgment was correct!

Currently, because Wang Baole's clones were damaged, it wasn't suitable to release them. Thus, he could only chase... one person. After his divine sense swept out, he first saw Xu Yinling, then the Seventh Dao Child of Kyushu Dao, then the Ninth Disciple of the Giga Divine Emperor, and finally the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao.

The moment he saw the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao, Wang Baole thought about how this person had almost escaped before. Without knowing exactly why, he shifted his direction and suddenly gave chase!

"Aaah! Why are you chasing me?! Why are you chasing me?!" When Chen Han, the Seventeenth Son of the Seven Spirit Dao, sensed this, his soul almost dissipated in fright. He began to wail as if he were about to cry.

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END OF Chapter 1064
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START OF Chapter 1065
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**Chapter 1065: The Miserable Chen Han!**

"How am I so unlucky!" Chen Han screamed inwardly as he fled at top speed. Though he was fast, the Wang Baole behind him was even faster. Amidst thunderous booms and a relentless pursuit, the surrounding mist churned violently. A killing intent locked onto him, making Chen Han feel as though his body might explode under the pressure of that sensory lock.

"This guy... is a total freak!!" Chen Han’s scalp tingled. He felt a stinging pain throughout his body, and even his soul was being slightly affected. He even had a sensation that the thing chasing him wasn't a person, but rather endless light, endless blood, and an endless devouring.

Otherwise, why would his body feel like it was melting under that light? Why would the blood in his entire body feel like it was going out of control, as if drawn by the aura behind him, as if their bloodlines were becoming one? Yet clearly... he and Wang Baole shared no ancestral ties.

And beyond the sensation of blood and light, there was a devouring force constantly radiating outward, making it difficult to pull away regardless of how fast he moved.

"Aaaargh!!" Seeing the killing intent behind him drawing closer, Chen Han’s internal frustration reached its limit.

"Xu Yinling is the mastermind! Why aren't you chasing her?! That kid from Kyushu Dao was the main attacker, why aren't you chasing him?! And that bastard among the nine disciples of Giga, that kid is arrogant as hell, go hit him!"

"Why chase me? Why chase me... you're just bullying an honest man!!"

"Noisy!" The response he received was Wang Baole’s icy voice and an even more sharp explosion of aura. Amidst the booming, the two of them—one in front and one behind—pushed their speed to the absolute limit within the white mist. The sound of their whistling flight not only echoed far and wide but also caused the mist to churn away from them frantically.

It was as if even the mist could not obstruct their figures. As for the remaining trial participants, anyone near their path recoiled in horror, retreating to stay clear.

The fluctuations coming from the mist were, in their perception, simply too terrifying!

Amidst the booming, Chen Han’s miserable scream echoed through the mist. The sound was so wretched that those who heard it quickened their pace to get away. By this point, one of Chen Han’s arms was already gone...

Just a moment ago, Wang Baole’s speed had suddenly surged. He arrived in an instant and clawed downward. Unable to dodge in time and facing a crisis, Chen Han had been forced to self-detonate his right arm, turning it into a blood mist to block the strike in exchange for a burst of speed.

While this technique of self-detonating limbs could provide a temporary boost, it was followed by a strong sense of weakness. Most importantly, it caused extreme pain—that was the reason for Chen Han’s scream.

Having lost an arm and used a frantic burst of speed, he finally managed to pull a bit of distance away. He was truly on the verge of tears. He felt that his good luck had completely reversed the moment he encountered Wang Baole.

"How can it be like this... everyone is sensing their past lives, so why is this freak so strong? What was he in his past life!" Chen Han even began to doubt his current situation. He felt something must have gone wrong. Otherwise, why would someone like him, who usually had explosive luck, be suppressed like this? Especially when he thought about his own past lives, he felt even more like crying.

"In my last life, I was a martial artist, stepped to death by a member of the God species. Two lives ago, I was a mortal, bitten to death by a zombie. Three lives ago, I wasn't even human, I was a flower... and the most tragic was four lives ago. I was fucking bacteria in someone’s gut!!!"

"Think of me, Chen Han! At seven, I received an empowerment from the Ancestor. I was a chosen of heaven from birth. I cultivated until I became a Star Domain powerhouse. I reincarnated once just to charge into the Universe Realm, then at fourteen, I chanced upon a fragment of the Heavenly Dao and fused it into myself... After that, I lived a third life, and at twenty-one, I picked up a Thread of Rule, making myself even stronger..."

"But to reach the Universe Realm, I lived yet another life, and at twenty-eight, I obtained the rare Holy Blood of Frost, which caused my soul to undergo a qualitative change... In this current life, according to my deductions, I should have obtained the Great Dao of my past lives right here at the age of thirty-five. I am thirty-five this year..." The more Chen Han thought about it, the sadder he became, and the more he felt like losing his mind. But no matter how sad or crazy he felt, it didn't help his current situation...

Not long after, the booming echoed again!

This time, the price Chen Han paid was his other arm...

The pursuit continued... half a pillar of incense later, as the booming echoed once more, Chen Han’s scream became even more shrill. Because this time... he self-detonated his right leg.

Then his left leg, then his waist, then his upper torso...

An hour later, Chen Han, who was now nothing but a head, stopped with a look of extreme grievance. He looked at Wang Baole, who appeared before him in a flash.

"Senior Brother Baole..." The head-only Chen Han spoke in a pitiful voice.

"Go on, self-detonate. Weren't you quite good at running? Come, come, I'm waiting for you." Wang Baole stared straight at Chen Han’s head. Even his own cultivation was a bit turbulent at the moment. The other party’s escape speed had been far too fast, and the constant self-detonations had wasted his time while making the pursuit exceptionally exhausting.

So now, having caught him, Wang Baole wasn't in a hurry. He stared at Chen Han and let out a cold snort.

"Senior Brother... I can't blow up anymore..." Tears streamed down Chen Han’s face.

"Why?" Wang Baole asked, knowing full well the answer.

"Senior Brother, I... I only have a head left..."

"I see. Come on, then. Either say something I like to hear, or keep blowing yourself up."

"Senior Brother, Martial Uncle, Master... Grandmaster, Grandpa, Master! I was wrong, okay?!" Chen Han wailed, hoping to trade his life for submission. But Wang Baole didn't even look at his submissive expression; instead, his eyes widened.

"That didn't sound good. Not blowing yourself up yet? Then I'll help you!" As he spoke, Wang Baole’s body blurred as he lunged forward. As he raised his right hand, the Rules of the Blood Dao within his palm manifested instantly. In Chen Han’s eyes, it looked like a sea of blood containing endless resentment, about to drown him.

"Big brother, Uncle, Dad..." Under the crisis of life and death, Chen Han couldn't care less about face. He wailed in desperation. He had seen those people commit suicide before and realized clearly that once he was submerged in the sea of blood, he would likely become the next one to take his own life.

Whether dying here would be like the outside world—where he could live again after many years—he didn't know. But his intuition told him... if he committed suicide here, he might never have the chance to live again. This made him extremely anxious, but just as he thought he was doomed, Wang Baole’s hand stopped right in front of his forehead.

"What did you just call me?"

The despairing Chen Han froze for a moment, then, as if grabbing onto a lifeline, he spoke rapidly.

"Big brother? Uncle? Dad?! Dad, Dad, Dad!!" Chen Han’s reaction was lightning fast. He quickly discarded the first two titles and shouted "Dad."

This long-lost title caused a hint of reminiscence and sentimentality to appear in Wang Baole’s eyes. After experiencing these few lives, he had almost forgotten that he enjoyed the pleasure of being someone’s "Dad."

"Dad, I was wrong! Little Han was really wrong!!" Noticing the sentiment in Wang Baole’s eyes, Chen Han immediately grew excited and spoke with extreme sincerity. Finally, he very proactively handed over his Origin and even took the initiative to accept Wang Baole’s mark branded onto his mind.

Having done all this, he had completely placed his life and death in Wang Baole’s hands. Only then did he heave a sigh of relief, though sorrow and frustration still flooded his heart.

"Think of me, Chen Han, a hero of a generation with heaven-defying luck... only to find that at thirty-five in this life, I didn't get some peerless treasure of heaven and earth, but instead got... a Dad..." Thinking of this, the head of Chen Han floated beside Wang Baole as they moved to a nearby clearing. He really wanted to have a good cry...

Especially since Wang Baole stopped paying attention to him and sat down cross-legged to meditate, seemingly waiting for the fifth day to arrive. Floating alone in mid-air, Chen Han couldn't hold back his tears.

"Think of me, Chen Han! Why did I stop being a perfectly good Star Domain powerhouse... Why, oh why... why couldn't I just be content? Why did I have to keep reincarnating..."

"No, I'm not resigned to this! Dammit, why does that Kyushu Dao kid get to escape? Why does the disciple of Giga get to live in peace? I have to find a way to make them get a Dad too!!" A crazed look appeared in Chen Han’s eyes. He felt that since he was in this state, nobody else should think about having it easy!!

Amidst his teeth-gritting, time slowly passed. Soon... that ancient, vicissitudinous voice echoed once again in the minds of all the trial participants within the mist.

"The fifth day, the fifth life!"

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END OF Chapter 1065
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START OF Chapter 1066
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I was born on the day the Heavenly Clouds descended.

My mother told me that on that day, fire fell from the vault of heaven, igniting the clouds and plunging the entire world into a sea of flame.

On that day, the majority of my kin perished. And it was on that same day that I was born.

I had no name. In my clan, names seemed to serve no purpose. All that mattered was… how to survive in this cruel world!

For reasons I did not understand, despite being a species that never killed, we were always the prey of others. Humans loved to hunt us, stripping us of our hides to fashion their garments.

The blood on the fur can be washed away, but can the lingering aura of death ever be cleansed?

They would sever our horns to create what they called "souvenirs."

But what right did creatures as weak as us have to become souvenirs?

They would drink our blood raw, believing it could cure their ailments.

Yet, as the daggers pierced our hearts and released that warm lifeblood, they were taking our entire lives in exchange for their cure!

Thus, from the moment of my birth, I was always afraid. I was always hiding, staying vigilant at every moment. But clearly, that was not enough… because this world belonged to steel, to humans, and to those towering city walls they had erected.

It was also because I seemed somewhat special. My fur was white, unlike any of my kin. My horns were white, and even my eyes were the same!

And this uniqueness, once discovered by humans, brought an endless catastrophe upon me…

It was through this catastrophe that I learned why the "Fire of the Heavens" my mother spoke of had come on the day of my birth. It was a weapon—a weapon that was said to be capable of destroying this entire world.

I learned this because I could not escape the hand of fate. During that catastrophe, my clan abandoned me. My mother discarded me. Because of my existence, it seemed I would become the source of the entire clan’s extinction.

I wanted to run. I wanted to chase after them. But I didn't dare… From birth, I had lived with extreme caution, so I didn't dare cry out loudly, nor did I dare run at full speed. The sound of running would only plunge me into deeper danger.

Ultimately, after being abandoned, I became the trophy of a man whose name I did not know.

What he required was not a hide tainted by the aura of death, nor blood that had lost its warmth. He wanted me alive. I was a gift—a gift to be presented to a City Lord.

And so… after being hungry for a long time, I was brought into the city and became one of the so-called "rare beasts" in the City Lord’s backyard.

Sometimes I thought I was lucky. Although I had lost my freedom and my kin, and was kept in an enclosure, I no longer needed to hide. I didn't need to be afraid, and there was no need to run. Furthermore… I made some friends here.

Among my friends, there was a wise Old Ape, a combative Little Tiger, and a charming Fox. As for the others… I didn't like them much because they were too fierce.

The Old Ape was a very strange fellow. He was very, very old, covered in wrinkles from head to toe. He liked to sit cross-legged on a small hill and arrange pebbles around himself. Every year on a specific day, he would call us over to celebrate his birthday.

He said this was called "offering birthday wishes."

He seemed to have been here for a very, very long time—so long that he appeared to know everything, becoming the omniscient presence of the backyard.

Little Tiger was different. He loved to fight, seemingly striving to become the hegemon of the courtyard. It was because of him that I wasn't bullied here. He also had a particular hobby: he loved water. He once said that when he grew old, if he could be buried in a waterfall pool, that would be wonderful.

As for the Fox… though we were friends, I didn't quite like some of the things she did. She was brought here after me. Once she arrived, she liked to give her fur to the other rare beasts. Every beast that received her fur seemed very happy.

But I worried that one day she would go bald. Moreover, I discovered one of her secrets: the fellows who received the most of her fur often died silently shortly thereafter.

Regardless, we were friends, so I would never accept the fur she offered me.

I thought that perhaps my life would simply continue in this courtyard until I reached the Void, that perhaps one day I too would become a sage like the Old Ape. That was until I met… her.

She was a little girl who looked to be only three or five years old. Her expression was a bit cute, and she was trying hard to act like a little adult, except… she had a bit of baby fat.

But her eyes were very bright, like stars.

Beside her was a middle-aged man with a full head of white hair. Their clothing was different from everyone else in this world. I didn't know how to describe it, but the wisest one in the backyard, the Old Ape, told me they were called "Immortals."

I didn't know what an Immortal was, but I knew that when the white-haired man arrived, the City Lord—who in my eyes was like the heavens—trembled and knelt down in worship like a servant.

Perhaps that wouldn't have meant much on its own, but if every City Lord in this world were kneeling there, the meaning… would be different.

"My daughter wants to write a book, so I brought her here to look for material." Those were the words spoken by the white-haired man to the countless kneeling City Lords.

I understood what a book was, but I didn't understand what "material" meant. It didn't matter, though; the wise Old Ape explained everything to me. But sadly… even though I tried my best to look at the little girl, as she passed by the backyard, she didn't notice my existence.

This was our first encounter, and the beginning of a life of companionship… because just as I thought the little girl would disappear from my sight, as she was skipping and running happily, she tripped and fell.

Her father did not help her up. Instead, he watched her gently, seeing the little girl pick herself up. But at that moment, I don't know what power drove me—perhaps it was the girl's purity, or perhaps it was the way she tried so hard not to cry after getting up, even as tears fell anyway.

So, I walked over. Amidst the astonishment of all my friends and the panic of all the City Lords, I came to her side and licked the tears from the corners of her eyes.

It seemed my tongue tickled her, for the little girl let out a giggling laugh. Her eyes filled with curiosity as she used her small hand to stroke the fur on my head.

It felt very comfortable.

"Daddy, can I have this little white deer?" The little girl turned her head to look at the white-haired middle-aged man. I turned my head as well and looked over.

In the white-haired man's eyes, I saw my own reflection: a young white deer.

This was me. Perhaps due to the influence of that weapon on the day I was born, I… had stopped growing after reaching a certain point, remaining forever in a juvenile state.

For some reason, there seemed to be some other meaning hidden in the white-haired man's eyes. I didn't know what it was, but it didn't matter, because he nodded.

This was the first time since entering the backyard that I left.

When I left, I said goodbye to the Old Ape. I told him that I might not be back for the next birthday celebration. The Old Ape said it was fine, that we would meet again.

Though the Old Ape's gaze grew deeper when he said this, as if he were looking into the future, far, far away… I didn't pay it much mind, because I knew his eyesight wasn't very good.

As for Little Tiger, he had gone off to fight again, so my goodbye was unsuccessful. But the Fox cried; it seemed because I still refused her fur during our final parting, she cried very sorrowfully.

But I wasn't sad, because after leaving the City Lord’s estate and traveling this world with the little girl and her father, I finally had a name.

"Little white deer, let me give you a name. You'll be called… Little White-White!"

I liked the name very much and was just about to nod when her father spoke from the side.

"That won't do."

"Why, Daddy?"

"..." The middle-aged man didn't speak, but the little girl kept asking. Finally, he spoke with what seemed like a hint of helplessness.

"Because Daddy doesn't like the word 'White'."

"Then let's call you Baobao," the little girl pouted, but she quickly thought of a new name. Hugging my head, she spoke continuously.

And so, I had a name. That name was Baobao.

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END OF Chapter 1066
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START OF Chapter 1067
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Chapter 1067: Three Feet Above!

Chapter 1067: Three Feet Above!

I wasn't very fond of this name.

But I liked the smile on her face and her crescent-moon-like eyes when she called my name. So, in the years that followed, I accompanied her and her father as we wandered through this world.

Or to be more accurate, this was just a part of the world. According to the little girl, this was a star, and beyond the star was the universe. The name of this universe was Taihao.

As for why it was called Taihao, the little girl's answer to me was... she thought Taihao might be a painter, which was why she wanted to come here to find material to write her book.

This answer made me feel like there was something a bit wrong with her logic, but it didn't matter as long as she was happy. So we walked across mountain ranges, crossed vast oceans, watching the sun rise and set, watching the transition of day and night.

She told me about her dreams.

"Baobao, I want to be a painter!"

I looked at her in astonishment. In my memory, it seemed she had said long ago that she wanted to write a book...

"I want to draw the entire universe. Everything in here will be painted by my own hands. So I want to walk through every corner of this world and remember all the scenery."

"Baobao, what do you think of my dream? Doesn't it sound especially beautiful?" The little girl hugged my neck, letting out a bell-like laugh. In the distance, the morning sun was slowly rising. I looked at the morning sun, then looked at the little girl, and listening to her words, I suddenly felt that this scene was very beautiful.

I thought that if all of this could be drawn, it would indeed be very beautiful.

So I nodded in agreement and continued to accompany her and her father, walking through every corner of this planet. We saw war, we saw ugliness, and we also saw kindness and beauty...

Until one day, she took me away from this star. Right before leaving... I made a small request. I wanted to go take one last look at my former friends.

And so, we returned to that initial city, but unfortunately... here, I didn't see Lao Yuan, nor did I see Xiao Hu. Even Ah Hu was gone.

Because the city had already become a ruin. Many years ago, it had been razed to the ground by a war.

I was a little sad. I thought... I might never see Xiao Hu again, never see Lao Yuan again. Perhaps seeing my sadness, the little girl turned to look at her father, that white-haired middle-aged man who always made me somewhat afraid.

He seemed to think for a moment, then took us to a nearby forest. I clearly remembered that this forest, originally my birthplace, had been reduced to nothing long ago. But at this moment, I didn't think too much about it, because in the forest, I saw my friends.

I saw Xiao Hu. He had already become the king of the beasts in the forest, occupying the largest pool and waterfall. He sat cross-legged there like a human, looking very majestic.

I also saw Ah Hu. What made me breathe a sigh of relief was that he wasn't bald; instead, his fur was even more vibrantly colored. And it seemed he had also achieved his dream. Although all the beasts revered Xiao Hu as their king, every single one of them had a strand of Ah Hu's fur on their bodies.

Finally, I saw Lao Yuan. He was in the deepest part of the forest, where there was a volcano. He sat cross-legged at the mouth of the volcano, surrounded by numerous blurry figures, as if they were celebrating his birthday.

Without disturbing their lives, I silently greeted them from afar, then happily left this star with the little girl. We went into the starry sky.

The days that followed felt like a journey to me. The little girl, her father, and I walked through the starry sky, entering one strange and bizarre star after another, each with different customs and different species.

On every star, I left my footprints, the little girl's happy laughter, and our memories. It was as if time had become eternal for us; she retained the appearance of a little girl, as did her personality, and the same was true for me.

Sometimes, in the night sky, she would also tell me about her dreams. This dream changed every time...

"I don't want to be a painter anymore. I want to be a musician!"

"Being a musician isn't good either. Baobao, I've decided, I want to be a doctor, I want to heal the wounded and rescue the dying!"

"Being a doctor is too tiring. How about this, Baobao, let's change it again. I want to be a scholar, an omniscient scholar. What do you think?"

Just like that, amidst her constantly changing dreams, I don't know how much time passed. We traveled across almost ninety-nine percent of this universe. When it seemed that this universe held no more secrets in her eyes, her dream changed once again.

"Baobao, this time I've really decided!"

"I want to pursue my original intention. I still want to be a writer and write a book... and the protagonist of the book is you!"

"Me?" I looked at the little girl blankly.

"That's right, it's you! The name of this universe has to be changed too. It can't be called Taihao. That name doesn't sound good. It should be called... Baobao, Baobao World, Baobao Universe." Speaking of this, the little girl was visibly excited, throwing her arms around my neck and letting out a happy laugh.

"That's how it is. This is Baobao's world, and also my, Wang Yiyi's, nursery rhyme!"

I licked her cheek with my tongue, paying no mind to her words. To my mind, perhaps in a few years, her dream would change again.

But I didn't expect that in the years that followed, until we finished wandering through the final region of this universe, her dream remained unchanged. Instead, she kept telling me about the story she wanted to create.

The story was very simple. It was just everything we saw on our travels after we met. Perhaps because I was the protagonist in it, I also listened with keen interest.

And whenever this happened, her father, that white-haired middle-aged man, would always stand gently by the side, softly stroking the little girl's head. His eyes and expression were filled with deep, doting love, as if as long as his daughter was happy, he would spare no cost.

I had originally thought that this kind of life would accompany me until the end of my life, but until one day... she was lying on my back as I walked forward in the starry sky, and I suddenly sensed that her small body was slowly turning cold.

This coldness made me panic a little, because I had felt a similar coldness in other exotic beasts in my early years. According to Lao Yuan's explanation back then, I knew this was called leaving, also called returning to the ruins, and even more so, called death.

So I stopped in my tracks in terror, and her body seemed to lose its strength, sliding down.

I turned around in fear, looking at the pale-faced little girl. I licked her cheek with my tongue over and over, trying to wake her up, but it was of no use. And when I anxiously looked up at her father, a profound sorrow emerged in the eyes of the white-haired middle-aged man.

This sorrow made my entire body tremble.

But fortunately... as he raised his hand and gently stroked the little girl's head, she gradually opened her eyes. Looking as if she had just woken up and was still a bit sleepy, she mumbled softly.

"Baobao, stop messing around. I'm a little sleepy. When I wake up, I'll play with you again. Let me... sleep for a while. I'll be fine after a sleep."

Her voice grew lower and lower, until the cold feeling surfaced once more. Her father gently picked her up and walked step by step into the distance.

Looking at his back, and the little girl's figure merging into that back, an indescribable feeling welled up in my heart, as if... I had lost something.

"Is she sick...?" I murmured blankly. After looking down at my own chest, a bright light returned to my eyes. I remembered... one of the reasons my tribe had been slaughtered was seemingly because our heart's blood could cure illnesses.

"Yes, my heart's blood can cure illnesses!" Thinking of this, I swiftly raised my head, looking at the gradually receding figure. I ran as hard as I could, wanting to catch up...

However, his strides were not large, and his speed was not fast, yet for some reason, I just couldn't catch up. I could only watch him walk further and further away. This made me anxious. I ran with all my might. I thought of my birth, of the scenes when my tribe abandoned me. At that time, I didn't dare to run at full speed because I was terrified that the sound of my running would attract the attention of predators.

But at this moment, I was no longer cowardly. At this moment, I was no longer timid. At this moment, I was no longer afraid, because my heart's blood could cure illnesses, because I didn't want to lose... her laughter that had accompanied me all my life.

And so, my speed grew faster and faster, my mind went blanker and blanker. There was only one thought inside—I have to catch up!

I leaped over star after star, I swept past galaxy after galaxy, continuously running towards the figure in the distance. I don't know how long I ran, until there were no more stars around, until the universe itself seemed to begin to blur, until... a certain end seemed to appear before me!

I didn't hesitate. Even though I was exhausted, even though my consciousness was about to separate, even though my body had already begun to dissipate, I still... crashed directly into that end!

A sound that I didn't know how to describe boomed and echoed in my ears. My body collapsed, my consciousness shattered, but in a certain instant, I seemed to pierce through some barriers. I seemed to have arrived in a bizarre world. I seemed to... see something in the three feet above when I raised my head...

"What did I see..." Within the mist of the Destiny Star in the Weiyang Dao Domain, Wang Baole blankly opened his eyes and murmured softly.

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END OF Chapter 1067
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START OF Chapter 1068
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**Chapter 1068: The Special Sixth Life!**

Wang Baole’s eyes were vacant. Although he entered this state every time he submerged into a past life, this time… he remained lost in a daze for a very, very long time.

One hour, two hours, three hours…

During Wang Baole’s period of confusion, no one came to disturb him. The area within the surrounding mist had long since become a forbidden zone. The remaining trial-takers were either too far away or had already lost their eligibility. As for those who remained, they did not dare approach.

After all, a great battle had occurred here previously. Furthermore, the pressure emanating from Wang Baole’s body spread invisibly, causing anyone who even neared him to feel a sense of heart-pounding dread, forcing them to flee quickly.

While outsiders did not dare disturb him, Wang Baole’s avatars were also very quiet. Even Chen Han, who was now just a floating head nearby, did not dare to startle Wang Baole in the slightest.

Like Wang Baole, he had just been submerged in the insights of a past life. However, what left him feeling desperate and miserable was that his previous life had once again been full of misfortune…

He had been a flea living on a tiger.

Yet, he was already quite satisfied. Compared to previously being a bacterium in some creature’s intestines, even though he was a flea this time, he had clearly made a qualitative leap in both size and combat power!

Chen Han considered this progress. It proved that everything was starting to move in a positive direction. What made him proudest was that his life as a flea had ended with the destruction of the entire universe…

Now that he was awake and reminiscing, he felt satisfied. He also felt that his jumping ability and blood-sucking skills had reached a considerable level. It was just that… despite this newfound confidence, he felt a strange sense of panic as he looked at Wang Baole.

He sensed a faint, vague familiarity from the current Wang Baole. This feeling was precisely the source of his panic, palpitations, and even terrifying horror.

"This aura… it’s a bit… a bit like…" Chen Han’s breathing grew ragged. In his past life, although he was just a flea on a tiger, he had his own consciousness. He remembered following that tiger in a large courtyard where many other exotic beasts lived.

Among them, one exotic beast had lived to become a legend!

It was a little white deer. For many years after it followed a little girl and left the courtyard, countless rumors were told by an old ape. The tiger heard them, and so did the flea on the tiger's back. These rumors said that the little white deer had traveled to countless stars and traversed the entire universe. It was even said that the name of that universe and all its laws had changed because of it.

In the end, this white deer began to run toward the end of the universe, running endlessly. No one knew how many years it ran until it shattered the universe and disappeared into the sea of stars. Following its impact, the entire universe began to collapse, and a storm appeared…

And he had died in that storm that swept across the entire universe.

"It can't be…" Chen Han’s body trembled. The horror in his eyes reached its peak as he looked at Wang Baole. He suddenly understood why the other party had become so much stronger after gaining insights from his past life… Because if his guess was true, it would be strange if he *wasn’t* powerful!

Therefore, he did not dare to disturb Wang Baole at all. He watched Wang Baole from the side as if looking at a god. While his eyes showed bursts of trepidation, they also contained a hint of curiosity.

He was curious. If that little white deer really was the past life of the Wang Baole before him, then… to what extent would such a person reach in this life?

"It all feels a bit illusory…" Alongside this curiosity, Chen Han also felt an indescribable sensation. He felt that his worldview had undergone a world-shaking change after this trial of past lives. With such thoughts, he suddenly felt that perhaps the "Dad" he had gained at thirty-five years old in this life… was very likely the greatest and most mysterious opportunity he had ever encountered in all his reincarnations. There was no "one of"; it was simply the best.

As Chen Han was filled with awe and sentiment, the vacancy in Wang Baole’s eyes finally slowly dissipated. Following this, the Blue Dao of Wind within him—the law of this ancient star—erupted with a roar!

This eruption instantly transformed into a massive wave, drowning everything about Wang Baole in a breath’s time. The Dao of Wind was a manifestation of speed; it was the ultimate release!

When he was the little white deer, during that endless running and constant chasing, its speed had reached the limit. Now that he was awake, even though he had only brought back a portion from his past life, it still caused his Dao of Wind to resonate and improve frantically. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, it directly reached the extreme level of ninety-eight percent.

But this… was not the end!

In the next instant, Wang Baole slowly raised his head. Although his eyes were clear, everything from his insights still surfaced in his mind, especially… everything he had seen three feet above when he shattered the barrier at the end!

It was a hand… the same hand that had pressed against his forehead at the end of his first insight when he was a member of the Starfire God Race!

The first time he saw this hand, he felt more shock than understanding. Now, seeing it a second time, he felt more understanding than shock. Thus, he was able to see it more clearly. It was an illusory hand, and the blurriness upon it seemed like the most mysterious illusion in the world, making it impossible to distinguish between the real and the fake, or to distinguish anything at all.

With just a single glance, the little white deer's consciousness had completely collapsed. But it was also this single glance that caused the Green Dao of Cloud within Wang Baole’s body to erupt in resonance following the Dao of Wind!

Clouds were ever-changing, just like illusions!

In an instant, the Green Dao of Cloud reached ninety-eight percent resonance!

And this… was also the first time he had gained such strong resonance for two laws simultaneously during a past life insight!

His cultivation also erupted alongside the increase in law resonance, climbing once more within the Late-stage Planet realm. Though he had not reached the Great Perfection of the Planet realm, he was not far off!

It could be said that this improvement surpassed all his previous ones. The hand he saw also seemed to form an illusory connection with his earliest insight.

Five lives, a circle, like Karma!

The 'Cause' of all this… was a girl named Wang Yiyi who wanted to write a book, and so he became the protagonist. Until the next life, where he should have started anew, he became a discarded pawn in the God-Slaying Plan. Carrying endless resentment, he met her again…

At that time, perhaps she no longer remembered the little white deer, and because of her final words, he transformed into an Ill-omened Blade in the next life until he was stained with her blood. After a life of confusion, he became a zombie in another life—existing in darkness, yet looking up at the starry sky in search of light…

Her companionship had always existed until his wish was fulfilled. Looking back now, he had become a member of the Starfire God Race, passing on the light in what should have been a past life.

In this life, she was not there, but that final hand… had brought everything together to form the 'Effect.'

In silence, Wang Baole lowered his head and took out the mask fragment. After staring at it for a long while, the words Li Wan’er had told him surfaced in his mind.

"Are there deities three feet above one's head…" Wang Baole closed his eyes. When he opened them again after a long moment, not a single trace of abnormality could be seen in his gaze. Regarding what he had seen, experienced, and heard, he did not believe it entirely!

He only believed in his own judgment!

And currently, the source of his judgment was singular, so it was not enough.

"I wonder how my next past life insight will be…" A strange light appeared in Wang Baole's eyes as he waited silently. The wait was not long.

Because he had spent too much time in a daze after waking up previously, only an hour passed before he heard that ancient voice echoing in his mind once again.

"The sixth day, the sixth life!"

The feeling of being pulled remained, and the sensation of sinking was no different from before. The surrounding mist also began to rotate, but… as this feeling continued and progressed, Wang Baole’s consciousness did not begin to disappear as it had in the past…

His consciousness actually remained clear throughout. Yet, the sixth life that should have appeared did not arrive for some reason. All that appeared in Wang Baole’s consciousness was a patch of pitch black…

A boundless, limitless darkness…

Cold, and dark.

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END OF Chapter 1068
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START OF Chapter 1069
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Chapter 1069: Into the Dream!

This coldness was like lying naked in ice and snow. Amidst the endless freezing wind, one’s entire body and soul seemed to slowly wither away. Even though Wang Baole was currently only a consciousness, his experience of this coldness was even clearer.

Accompanying the coldness was loneliness. This emotion stemmed mostly from the surrounding darkness. Although Wang Baole remained conscious, the more aware he was, the more intense the feeling of loneliness became.

There was no sound, no light, no images—nothing. It was as if in the entire void, only Wang Baole remained.

One day, one month, one year, a hundred years, a thousand years… it was still cold, still dark, and still lonely.

Wang Baole did not know how much time had passed. Perhaps… the concept of time simply did not exist here. None of this was something he could change or control; all that lay before him was waiting.

Thus, without him realizing it, Wang Baole’s thoughts slowly came to a halt. His entire being seemed to truly… become still, as if falling into a deep slumber.

Until one day, a massive force suddenly erupted from the darkness. This force possessed a suction that, in the next instant, seemed to turn into a vortex, violently dragging Wang Baole’s consciousness away.

His mind shuddered as he jolted awake from that slumber. When he opened his eyes, what he saw… was the endless white mist of the surroundings, his own avatars circling him, and the floating head of Chen Han not far away, enveloped in Guiding Light.

This was… Planet Destiny, the trial grounds.

A strange light flickered in Wang Baole’s eyes. After carefully recalling the scenes from before, his brows slowly furrowed. This sixth life was truly bizarre. He had been trapped in darkness until his life force became still, yet his consciousness remained clear. This meant… he had not actually entered a sixth life.

“Could it be… that I don’t have a sixth pre-life?”

Wang Baole murmured softly, his expression gradually turning puzzled. He couldn’t understand why this was happening, because according to his understanding, such a thing should be impossible. Beyond that, there was one other explanation…

“Or perhaps, the Guiding Light isn’t enough?” Wang Baole pondered, looking down at his body. He could clearly see a massive amount of Guiding Light upon him, several times more than what Chen Han possessed.

Therefore… the likelihood of that being the reason seemed low.

“There is another explanation: the further back one tries to perceive, the greater the difficulty. Could my limit… be here at the sixth life?” Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He didn’t believe it, but he had few clues at the moment. However, he quickly calmed his thoughts and looked at Chen Han, a strange light appearing in his eyes.

He thought of a divine ability he had seen among the techniques of the Dark Sect: the Dark Dream. This divine ability could pull others into a great dream that felt exactly like reality. However, even for the current Wang Baole, the difficulty of performing it was too high. It involved constructing a dreamscape and grasping the underlying rules.

But… if he wasn't constructing a dream himself, but rather watching like a spectator—viewing the images in someone else's mind without trying to control or interfere—then with Wang Baole’s current cultivation level and the unique laws of his Dao Star, it was possible to achieve through a dream-entry method. If it were any other target, Wang Baole might have to expend some effort, but he didn't need to with Chen Han. After all… Chen Han bore his brand.

After observing Chen Han for a long while, this idea grew stronger in Wang Baole’s mind. Finally, he raised his hands and rapidly performed incantations. Dark Fire erupted within him and swirled around his body. With a flick of his finger across the distance, the Dark Fire converged into a single thread that shot toward Chen Han. In an instant, it enveloped Chen Han’s head within the Dark Fire.

“Enter the dream…” Almost at the moment of envelopment, a low voice escaped Wang Baole’s lips. In the next instant, his body began to adjust rapidly. This adjustment was mostly on the level of the soul—it wasn't a total transformation, but a technique of imitation. Or more accurately, a replication!

What he was replicating wasn't rules or laws, but… Chen Han’s soul!

It was as if he were draping himself in a cloak of soul-frequency identical to Chen Han’s, allowing himself to achieve connection and resonance with Chen Han in that moment!

This was the first time his Dao Star and Dark Sect techniques had cooperated. Although the process was slow and he failed several times, under Wang Baole’s continuous adjustments, his mind roared during the seventh attempt.

In the next instant… the world before Wang Baole’s eyes changed abruptly. He saw a vast expanse of green land… and Chen Han… was on this green flatland, crawling forward incessantly while letting out low growls.

“Mate! Mate! Mate, mate, mate!!”

This scene felt incredibly bizarre to Wang Baole. But because his perspective originated from Chen Han, he couldn't see what Chen Han looked like. He could only look at the green land and judge Chen Han’s speed…

As he judged it, Wang Baole began to feel a headache coming on.

“What kind of thing is Chen Han in this life? Why is he crawling so slowly, and why is he shouting about mating…” Not long after these startled thoughts arose, the green land suddenly trembled violently, shaking like sea waves. Fierce winds howled, and in the next instant… the land was actually flipped up! Amidst screams, Chen Han was swept away by the gale, his entire body falling toward the distance.

Chen Han, immersed in terror, didn't notice the world he saw as he tumbled, but Wang Baole saw it clearly… That wasn't green land at all. It was… a giant leaf!

That leaf was easily a hundred feet wide, and the tree it was connected to could only be described as towering. One couldn't even see its end; it seemed to reach as high as the heavens.

The sky was so far away that it was blurry, showing only overflowing radiance. As for the other surrounding areas, countless similar giant plants could be seen, each one immense. At the same time, there was no ground here, only a void.

It was as if the entire starry sky was a bizarre jungle.

Wang Baole also saw Chen Han’s appearance reflected in a massive drop of dew… He was a… caterpillar!

If he were multi-colored, it would be one thing—at least he might be a bit poisonous. But the caterpillar Chen Han had become was entirely a sickly greenish-yellow. He looked disgusting and very weak.

“Is Chen Han’s past life really this weird…” Wang Baole was shocked. Recalling his own past lives, he suddenly felt a surge of pity for Chen Han.

It seemed his pity acted as a blessing. Chen Han, swept up by the wind, did not fall to his death but landed on another leaf. Thus, very quickly, he began to crawl and crawl again, continuing to shout and shout…

Wang Baole watched for a long time. It was truly boring, but he was unwilling to leave just like that. He simply suppressed his impatience and continued to wait. In this way, he watched the caterpillar Chen Han became turn into a chrysalis amidst great excitement after a long period of crawling and feeding.

This piqued Wang Baole’s interest. After observing for a long time, just as his remaining patience was about to dissipate, the chrysalis finally broke open. A… beautiful butterfly emerged, flapping its wings and struggling to fly out.

It was as if this was a specific point in time. At the same moment Chen Han flew out, a massive number of butterflies flew out around him. There were densely packed millions of them, making it seem as if the entire world was being painted in that moment!

Infinite beauty!

These butterflies were brilliantly colored, each emitting a blue halo. As he flew out and merged into the swarm, Chen Han’s expression was full of excitement as he let out a loud cry.

“Mate, mate, mate!!” During this flight and exhilaration, the butterfly Chen Han became, along with all the other butterflies, soared over leaf after leaf toward the summit. Just as Wang Baole was feeling cringed but nonetheless concentrated on using Chen Han’s perspective to observe the world, a familiar voice suddenly drifted down from above.

“Daddy, this swarm of butterflies is so pretty.”

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END OF Chapter 1069
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START OF Chapter 1070
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The appearance of this voice caused Wang Baole’s consciousness to shudder violently. It also seemed to startle Chen Han and the rest of the butterfly swarm, causing them to scatter in a frenzy. At that moment, using Chen Han’s perspective, Wang Baole saw it...

On the sky that was overflowing with flowing light, a massive human face appeared!

This face occupied nearly half the sky!

It was a pale, sickly little girl. she was looking at the swarm of butterflies with curiosity. Standing beside her was a white-haired, middle-aged man, who was also looking down.

The sky... was not a sky at all, but a giant glass cover. At the same time that he saw these two figures who shook his soul, Wang Baole also saw what lay behind them... it was a room!

A girl’s bedroom!

"This..." As the shock in Wang Baole’s heart reached its absolute peak, the white-haired man’s gaze swept across the area. Suddenly, his eyes sharpened.

"Hmph."

A cold snort exploded like heavenly thunder directly within Wang Baole’s consciousness!

With that explosion, Wang Baole’s consciousness was instantly dispelled by a powerful force. In the next instant, Wang Baole, who was sitting cross-legged within the mists of the Planet of Fate, snapped his eyes open. His breathing was ragged, and his expression was filled with unmistakable shock.

"I was only observing; I didn't participate or change anything... and all of this happened in a previous life, the sixth one. So why... why was I discovered?!"

"This isn't right!!"

"Just what... is a past life? Or rather, is a past life really a past life?!" The doubts Wang Baole had barely managed to suppress before, the suspicions he hadn't wanted to think deeply about, were now uncontrollable, churning wildly in his mind.

He didn't know why his own sixth past life was a void of darkness, nor did he know the answer to the doubts currently swirling in his head. But he knew one thing.

"Without enough evidence and clues, I cannot let my thoughts wander. Because once I start thinking the wrong way... I won’t be any different from a madman!"

Wang Baole struggled to suppress his thoughts, but his mind couldn't help but recall what Xie Haiyang had once said—that his family possessed an ancient text which recorded a powerful expert who claimed that this world... was fake!

"There is a major problem... with this world!" Wang Baole’s soul trembled. He suddenly didn't dare to look up... didn't dare to look three feet above his head. Only after he repeatedly suppressed his emotions and buried his thoughts deep in his heart did he take a deep breath and instinctively look up at the sky.

There... was only mist. Nothing else.

After staring for several breaths of time, Wang Baole withdrew his gaze and took out the mask fragment. He looked down at it, saying nothing. After staring for a while, he put it away again, a profound light gleaming in his eyes.

An hour later, Chen Han’s head jerked, and he opened his eyes blankly. At that moment, perhaps because he had just woken up, he didn't notice Wang Baole’s piercing gaze. It wasn't until a long moment later that he shook his head and realized Wang Baole was watching him.

"Ah, Dad, you’re awake! I just recovered, I didn't mean to—"

Chen Han spoke quickly, but before he could finish, Wang Baole waved a hand and spoke calmly.

"In that sixth life, what did you see at the very end?"

"Huh?" Chen Han blanked for a moment. After blinking several times, a look of bashfulness appeared on his face.

"That... Dad, my sixth life this time was a bit unusual... I was extraordinary from the moment I was born, possessing infinite power and the ability to sense the vibrations of the world!"

"A voice in my head told me that my future lay ahead. Though it was destined to be rocky, as long as I walked forward with determination, I would surely carve out a path of glory!"

"And so, the first half of my life was spent constantly struggling forward on the path of life, experiencing grievances, hatreds, and love, witnessing the changes of the world..." Seeing Chen Han speak with such sentimentality, Wang Baole frowned slightly. He naturally knew that Chen Han had been moving forward, but it wasn't a "struggle"; he had been crawling...

As for grievances and hatred, Wang Baole guessed it was probably that gust of wind that blew him away, making Chen Han hold a grudge. As for love... Wang Baole didn't recall any such experience.

And regarding the "changes of the world," Wang Baole understood that too—it was just moving from leaf to leaf. In Chen Han’s exaggerated description, every move was a change of the world.

"Was it a bug?" Wang Baole replied.

"How could that be!" Chen Han shuddered, becoming a bit agitated.

"Dad, in my past life, I was a rare beast that eventually transformed into a streak of multicolored light soaring through the nine heavens!" At this point, pride appeared on Chen Han’s face.

"Tell the truth." Wang Baole looked at Chen Han. His gaze made Chen Han tremble.

"Dad, your misunderstanding of me is too deep, I..."

Chen Han looked aggrieved, but his heart was pounding. He wondered how Wang Baole knew his past life was a bug; this was too eerie. Just as his instincts drove him to explain, Wang Baole closed his eyes and said a single sentence.

"One last chance."

As soon as those words were uttered, Chen Han shivered and quickly cried out.

"Dad is wise! As expected, nothing Little Han does can escape Dad’s eyes. Dad, in my insights this time, my sixth life really was a bug!" Chen Han was nervous, but he still tried his best to act cute.

"It was a caterpillar. Eventually, through my hard work, I finally turned into a butterfly and spent my life happily with my butterfly friends... until I died of old age."

Hearing this, Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Nothing else? Outside the sky, what did you see?"

"Outside the sky?" Chen Han was stunned.

"Dad, I didn't fly outside the sky, and I didn't notice anything there. The place I was in was just a forest..." As Chen Han spoke, Wang Baole stopped talking, but his heart shook once more.

He could sense that Chen Han wasn't lying. However, in his previous observation, he had seen those things through Chen Han’s eyes. This meant either what Chen Han saw was different from what he saw, or... Chen Han, the other butterflies, and all living things had certain memories regarding the outside of the sky erased from their minds.

"Such a strange sixth life... it makes me even more interested in the next insight!" Wang Baole closed his eyes and stopped communicating with Chen Han, instead waiting silently.

Time passed. During this wait, Chen Han was also terrified. He felt that Wang Baole was too god-like. How could he know his past-life identity from the last insight? This made him think of the rumors about Wang Baole being a little white deer, and the reverence in his heart grew stronger. But the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was off.

"He must have been guessing. I must have let a flaw slip when I was talking earlier!"

"Even though this guy is a powerful freak, there’s no way he could know my past life. He must be bluffing me just to satisfy his shameless heart’s desire to pry into other people's privacy!"

"I don't believe he’ll know next time!"

While Chen Han was lost in his private musings, the sixth day finally passed. The seventh day arrived, the sounds remained the same, the white mist spun as before, and the guiding light shone with its usual brilliance.

When the sensation of sinking appeared, coldness and darkness once again surfaced in Wang Baole’s conscious mind. Even though he was mentally prepared, his soul still trembled violently.

"Still nothing?" After spending an unknown amount of time in that cold and dark void, Wang Baole opened his eyes again. He looked at the white mist and then at Chen Han, who had already entered his past-life insight, a deep sense of confusion in his eyes.

"Do I only have five lives?" After deliberating for a long time, Wang Baole looked at the immersed Chen Han once more. A flicker of hesitation appeared in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a look of decisiveness.

"Even if I am spotted again, so what!" Once Wang Baole made his decision, he immediately performed a hand seal. Suddenly, Dark Fire spread out and enveloped Chen Han. As the fire permeated him, Wang Baole adjusted his own vibrations to resonate with Chen Han's. In the moment of fusion, he saw... a strange, almost absurd world.

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END OF Chapter 1070
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START OF Chapter 1071
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Chapter 1071: Flowing Moon!

The sky was transparent. Looking through it, one could see what appeared to be a cover or a curtain draped over the world. The reason it seemed transparent was that the patterns embroidered onto the curtain were visible from below.

That pattern… was an irregular sun.

It was clear that the embroiderer’s skill was quite poor. The sun, which should have been a perfect circle, had been stitched into an oval shape, resembling a giant winter melon. Furthermore, there were many visible traces of needlework corrections, as if the person who embroidered this sun had tried very hard to adjust it, but had clearly… failed.

Regardless, this winter melon-shaped sun still possessed a mysterious power, radiating light and heat that penetrated the transparent sky to fall upon the earth.

The ground… was covered in mushrooms.

Mushrooms of every color spread across the land, stretching beyond the horizon. If one could look down from the highest point, they would see a vast sea of mushrooms. It was as if this world had no mountains or oceans, only a flat expanse filled with an uncountable variety of mushrooms.

Perhaps because this world currently lacked a moon, darkness reigned whenever night fell. Within this darkness, the boundless and countless mushrooms would one after another open their eyes.

“It’s dark!”

“The immortal has gone to sleep!”

“Hahaha, we can play now!”

“Keep it down! If we wake up the devil girl, we’re all dead!”

“Yes, yes, that devil girl is terrifying. A few days ago, I saw with my own eyes as Little Yellow was snatched away by her…”

“Which Little Yellow? There are too many Little Yellows here, which one are you talking about?”

Every single mushroom was talking. They seemed to be conversing with one another, but upon closer inspection, most were actually talking to themselves. This caused the entire world to instantly become a cacophony of noise. As the clamor echoed, these mushrooms actually stood up.

They grew legs and arms, and a single eye opened on top of their heads. As they laughed and played with each other, the land became a bustling, lively scene.

Chen Han was one of these mushrooms!

Compared to the other mushrooms, his color was quite ordinary, even a bit rustic. His entire head was an earthy yellow, making him very inconspicuous. This caused Wang Baole, whose soul was resonating with him, to feel a bit of sentiment.

“Although Chen Han’s past lives are becoming more ordinary each time, this fellow seems to have some luck. After all, when the ordinary reaches its limit, it becomes extraordinary!”

While Wang Baole was sighing with emotion, Chen Han also let out a shout.

“It couldn't have been Little Yellow! I saw it too—it was Big Red! The one the devil girl snatched was Big Red! I want to testify for our Little Yellow clan, it wasn't us!”

As if thinking his voice wasn't loud enough, Chen Han even jumped up, standing on the heads of other mushrooms in an attempt to attract the gaze of his companions. This gave Wang Baole a bit of a headache. Using Chen Han’s vision, he scanned the surrounding boundless sea of mushroom-people. While he felt the place was too noisy, he also tried to look up and observe the firmament.

But unfortunately, Chen Han’s attention wasn't on the sky at all, so Wang Baole couldn't see anything. Just as Wang Baole was growing impatient and Chen Han continued his constant hollering—even climbing onto more mushrooms stacked on top of each other—a beam of light suddenly pierced the pitch-black world.

This light fell from the sky. The moment it appeared, every mushroom on the ground trembled. They instantly crouched down, their limbs disappearing as they transformed back into normal mushrooms.

Chen Han and a few other more arrogant mushrooms froze like statues, turning completely still. In that instant, the entire world fell into absolute silence.

Fortunately, as Chen Han froze, his final gaze happened to be directed toward the sky. Through his perspective, Wang Baole saw a corner of the curtain being lifted, revealing an eye.

“Which one should I eat today… let this princess see who’s being naughty…” As soon as this voice spoke, Wang Baole found it familiar. At the same time, he sensed the surrounding mushrooms trembling in what seemed like intense fear.

However, although Wang Baole’s divine sense wavered, he wasn't shocked by the eye or the voice in the sky. He felt like he had already grown used to it… in every world, he would encounter her.

The eye in the sky belonged to a little girl, and the voice likewise belonged to the Wang Yiyi in Wang Baole’s memories, though she sounded like a much younger version of herself.

The voice wasn't particularly terrifying; it carried a childish playfulness and was clearly meant to be a prank. But obviously… to these mushrooms with limited intelligence, this was already a life-or-death catastrophe.

However, it seemed that today, Wang Yiyi had no interest in catching mushrooms. Instead, she pulled back the curtain of the firmament entirely, causing the whole world to brighten instantly. In that flash, Wang Baole saw the world outside!

It was… still the room he had observed last time!

The furnishings in the room hadn't changed at all. The only difference was the absence of Wang Yiyi’s father—the white-haired middle-aged man. Only Wang Yiyi was there, and she did indeed look younger than she did in Wang Baole’s memory.

Her hair was tied into two little buns, making her look quite cute. Holding the curtain, she pouted.

“It’s just embroidering a moon, how hard can it be? Daddy actually said I couldn't do it. Hmph, there’s nothing that Yiyi can't do!”

“Don't you all agree?” After speaking, the little girl looked down at all the mushrooms. Very quickly, among these mushrooms that didn't dare to move, some clever ones spoke up. Within moments, the noise erupted again, filled with words of flattery. However, the flattery was quite low-level and mostly direct.

Wang Baole ignored these bootlicking mushrooms and didn't look at the seemingly satisfied Wang Yiyi. Instead, he concentrated his divine sense, following the opening in the firmament to observe the room.

He wanted to go out!

After experiencing Chen Han’s sixth life, this was now the deepest thought in Wang Baole’s mind.

But clearly, this thought was unrealistic. He couldn't do it now, but that didn't stop his observation. The room was simple, mostly filled with various toys, and there was nothing particularly extraordinary about it.

As Wang Baole was observing, Wang Yiyi’s voice drifted into the world.

“Blazing Sun, Flowing Moon, Waning Night… they're so hard. I’ve learned Blazing Sun, but how does Flowing Moon flow? How do I draw it… and then there’s Waning Night, that’s just impossible to learn. Aside from my freak of a father, I don't believe there’s another freak in this world who can learn Flowing Moon and Waning Night!” Wang Yiyi seemed a bit frustrated. Her voice also drew Wang Baole’s attention, causing him to stop observing the room. His divine sense carried a complex emotion as he looked at Wang Yiyi.

“Little missy… what exactly happened to you…” Wang Baole murmured as he gazed at Wang Yiyi. But soon, his complexity faded, and his mind wavered again because he saw that after her outburst, Wang Yiyi once again began to perform a technique she had been repeatedly attempting…

That technique seemed to be called Flowing Moon. In Wang Yiyi’s hands, invisible threads seemed to gather, weaving together as if forcibly altering the laws. In that instant, the void changed from formless to tangible, transforming into ripples that spread outward.

Everywhere the ripples passed, time seemed to accelerate. When they spread into the world of mushrooms, the feeling of time passing became even more intense. In just a single breath, it felt as though several decades had passed!

“This is… the Law of Time!!” Wang Baole’s mind roared. He was well aware that among the laws of the world, Time and Space were the most mysterious. Very few possessed them, and those who could even slightly explore them were all great experts!

Furthermore, for cultivators, they often never had the chance to gain enlightenment regarding these two laws in their entire lives. This was because too few had mastered them, because they were too difficult, and because they were, to some extent, considered forbidden arts. At the same time… special stars possessing the Law of Time or Space seemed to be even rarer than Dao Stars!

In his entire life, the only thing Wang Baole had come into contact with that barely fit the Law of Time was the Dark Dream.

Thus, at this moment, Wang Baole experienced a sudden moment of inspiration. He ignored everything around him and everything in the room outside. Within his divine sense and his soul, only one thing remained… the threads of the Law of Time in Wang Yiyi’s hands!

As Wang Yiyi performed the technique again and again, failing each time, Wang Baole continuously observed and gained enlightenment. He didn't even notice that within this state of comprehension, faint fluctuations gradually appeared around him… fluctuations that seemed capable of resonating slightly with the threads in Wang Yiyi’s hands!!

“Argh! I can't learn it! It’s too much of a freak show, too much of a freak show! This is simply impossible to learn!” During Wang Baole’s enlightenment, Wang Yiyi’s even more frustrated voice drifted in from outside the firmament.

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START OF Chapter 1072
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Chapter 1072: I Make a Wish!

"No way. If there is anyone in this world who can truly learn Flowing Moon and Waning Night, it has to be me, Wang Yiyi!" Outside the firmament, the constantly practicing Wang Yiyi eventually gritted her teeth, a look of determination in her eyes.

"I’ll keep practicing tomorrow!"

As she spoke, she replaced the pot lid over the firmament of the world where Wang Baole was, plunging the entire world into pitch-black darkness. As the darkness fell, a series of sighs of relief echoed out across the land.

"The witch is finally gone!"

"Too terrifying, simply too terrifying! I must record this. On a certain day of a certain month in a certain year, the witch of the Mushroom-Eaters descended upon the earth. With a wave of her hand, she devoured countless brothers of our tribe!"

"It’s fine. I have a feeling that a hero will definitely rise from our race. He will succeed the Immortal, marry the witch, and reach the peak of mushroom life!"

"Haha, how could I accept such praise? But since everyone thinks I can do it, I, Little Yellow, will give it my best shot!" The mushroom Chen Han had transformed into laughed loudly. However, many other mushrooms were saying similar things at the same time. Soon... the group of mushrooms began to bicker, arguing over who would become that hero.

As for Wang Baole, he ignored Chen Han. At this moment, he had even lost his perception of the outside world, completely immersed in his comprehension of the Time Law.

Though the fluctuations around him were faint, they lingered for a long time. His enlightenment was continuous, but... because the little missy had left, he had lost the source for his observation, so his progress was slower than before.

Although the Dao Star’s marking technique could play a small role, it seemed difficult to completely engrave the Law of Time as it usually did.

Thus, after some time, Wang Baole ended his meditation and began to wait. He was waiting for the little missy to appear again.

But this wait... was quite long. It seemed as though Wang Yiyi had forgotten to practice. Even when most of the mushrooms around Chen Han had withered and died, giving way to a new generation, the little missy still had not arrived.

As for Chen Han, Wang Baole didn’t know what his original fate was supposed to be, but now, under the influence of Wang Baole's comprehension of the Time Law, his body did not age like the other mushrooms.

This caused Wang Baole’s emotions to surge violently. If this truly was related to him, it meant... this Law of Time could actually alter events that had already occurred in a past life!

He didn't know what this represented or exactly what its significance was, but he understood one thing... this seemed to be a power capable of prying apart the entire world.

With this realization, Wang Baole looked forward to the little missy’s reappearance even more. Finally, after Chen Han’s surrounding neighbors had reached their great-great-great-grandchild generation, Wang Baole finally saw Wang Yiyi again.

By now, Chen Han had long since become a famous "eternal" mushroom in the vicinity, hailed as a hero. He even believed it himself...

Of course, this was also related to a whisper that frequently echoed in his heart. So, when the firmament was lifted once more that day, Chen Han instinctively stayed still, but he opened his eyes and looked toward the sky.

Using Chen Han's vision, Wang Baole quickly caught sight of Wang Yiyi!

However, the Wang Yiyi of today was not practicing the Flowing Moon technique. Instead, her eyes were red, and she stared blankly at the mushrooms in the world. After a long while, she murmured softly.

"A few days ago, a very fierce uncle came by. He had a disagreement with Daddy. I overheard him... it seemed like he didn't understand some of the things Daddy does..."

"He wanted to kill all of you..."

"But Daddy chased him away. Don't worry, I will protect you!" Having said this, Wang Yiyi bit her lip, turned around, and walked toward the place where her toys were kept, seemingly looking for something.

Wang Baole’s heart shook. Other mushrooms might not understand or know what was happening, and their memories would likely be erased anyway, so hearing it meant little to them.

But he was different. After hearing Wang Yiyi’s words, Wang Baole's mind was in a state of upheaval. He could sense a different underlying meaning in her words, something that seemed to contradict his earliest judgments.

"What exactly is going on with this world!" While Wang Baole’s heart was trembling, Wang Yiyi seemed to have found the item she was looking for and reappeared outside the firmament. In her small hand, she held a tiny bottle.

Wang Baole, who had been focusing on her the entire time, concentrated his gaze. In that instant, a massive wave of shock erupted in his heart.

"That is..." Wang Baole’s mind buzzed. He found the bottle incredibly familiar, but its appearance here was so shocking that even though he recognized it immediately, he dared not believe it.

Because that little bottle... was currently inside the storage bag of his physical body. It was... the Wishing Bottle!

In the moment of Wang Baole’s shock, the little missy holding the Wishing Bottle showed a look of determination, as if she had made a major decision.

"This was a gift from a very handsome uncle. He told me back then that I could use it to make a wish. I wish... that you will all be well, and that no one can truly harm you!" As she spoke, Wang Yiyi raised her hand and seemed to pry open a crack in the firmament!

She threw the Wishing Bottle in her hand inside with all her strength!

The moment the firmament was opened, an aura from the outside world rushed in, causing the entire world to shake violently. The Wishing Bottle that had been thrown in rapidly shrank, eventually turning into a streak of light that sank into the world.

As for Wang Baole, although he had received too much information, causing his mental fluctuations to grow stronger and stronger, the moment the firmament opened and the outside aura poured in, he instinctively tried to rush his consciousness out through the gap to see the world outside.

However... things did not go as planned. Just as Wang Baole was about to rush out, Chen Han—his host—also looked up. Who knew what this fellow was thinking? It was as if he had been brainwashed so thoroughly that he truly believed he was a hero. After looking up, he let out a roar.

"Witch, marry me! I am the hero of the Mushroom race, destined to marry the witch, succeed the Immortal, and reach the peak of mushroom life..."

The emergence of this voice immediately excited all the surrounding mushrooms. Even Wang Baole was stunned for a moment. As for the little missy outside the firmament, she seemed dumbfounded, looking at Chen Han as if he were an idiot.

Before there could be any other reaction, suddenly... beside Wang Yiyi, her father—that white-haired, middle-aged man—abruptly appeared, likely sensing the fluctuations from the Wishing Bottle and the opening of the world.

He saw the Wishing Bottle that had been thrown into the world, he saw the still-shouting Chen Han, and more importantly... he saw Wang Baole, hidden within Chen Han.

"It's you again!" As he spoke, an invisible force instantly gathered from all directions. It was like a wind that could erase all existence, sweeping toward Wang Baole with sudden intensity.

Wang Baole felt that if he had a scalp right now, it would be exploding. An intense crisis of life and death caused his entire consciousness to teeter on the verge of collapse. In this critical moment, without knowing why, Wang Baole used his final bit of consciousness to send out a divine sense transmission.

"I record my will...

To seal the heavens and the earth, all living beings must transcend the infinite tribulation...

A single obsession to leave the abyss...

I dedicate myself to the path of cultivation!"

It was the Dao Scripture!

The moment the Dao Scripture was transmitted, the wind that could erase all existence around Wang Baole suddenly paused. Seizing this brief pause, the narrow-escaped Wang Baole did not hesitate for a second. He instantly severed his connection with Chen Han. In the next instant... when his eyes snapped open as he sat cross-legged within the mist of Heaven's Destiny Star, his body jerked violently.

He spat out a mouthful of blood. His cultivation base felt as though it were about to collapse, and his body even began to split apart. It felt as if his hands, feet, and even every internal organ had gained its own consciousness and wanted to leave his body!

Countless meat sprouts began to grow uncontrollably from his skin!

The blood he had spat out even transformed into tiny little people, scurrying away in all directions.

Wang Baole had never encountered something like this before, but he understood that the white-haired man hadn't even truly attacked. He had merely been glanced at across the years of the past.

Even so, he couldn't withstand it. Clearly, pills would not solve his problem. Seeing that he was about to completely disintegrate, Wang Baole did not hesitate to pull out the Wishing Bottle from his person.

"I wish for all my injuries to recover completely!!" Using the last of his consciousness to barely suppress his splitting body, Wang Baole let out a low, sudden growl.

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END OF Chapter 1072
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START OF Chapter 1073
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As Wang Baole’s voice echoed, the wish bottle in his hand suddenly grew hot. This wish bottle, which normally had a low success rate, rarely responded on the first try. In any other situation, Wang Baole would have been overjoyed.

But now, his consciousness was dissipating; he wasn’t even aware that the wish had succeeded. Even across the ages of the past, being caught in a casual glance from Wang Yiyi’s father was undoubtedly a catastrophe for him.

The disparity between them… was simply too vast!

Fortunately, the wish bottle possessed a bizarre efficacy. As it grew hot, a burst of pressure erupted from within, instantly blanketing the misty, empty area where Wang Baole was. Then, centered on Wang Baole, it suddenly contracted.

It seemed to contain a power capable of contending with Wang Yiyi’s father, causing this patch of space to become imprisoned, creating an intense pressure. Under this pressure, the tiny figures formed from the blood Wang Baole had coughed out were revealed and forced to draw back toward him.

In an instant, they returned directly into his mouth. Simultaneously, the fleshy sprouts swaying on Wang Baole’s body rapidly shrank, seemingly pressed back in by the weight of this pressure.

His limbs, his body, his internal organs, his flesh and blood—the sense of separation grew weaker and weaker. He was like a stone statue on the verge of collapsing, unable to crumble under the intense external force, and as he was nourished and repaired, he began to heal.

A moment later, the last fleshy sprout on Wang Baole’s body disappeared. As the heat of the wish bottle rapidly cooled, the surrounding pressure vanished instantly. Wang Baole’s body trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes. Initially, they were blank, but he soon felt a lingering sense of dread. He quickly checked his body and let out a sigh of relief.

"That was close..." Wang Baole muttered. As his heart pounded with lingering fear, he gained a profound understanding of the horror that was Wang Yiyi’s father.

"The person who could create the Dao Scripture..." Wang Baole fell silent, then suddenly turned his head, glaring fiercely at Chen Han, who had also opened his eyes. Chen Han’s gaze was blank, as if his soul had wandered off to some distant place.

When Wang Baole had made his wish, Chen Han had already awakened. However, this perception of his past life was different from his previous ones, so his soul hadn't quite returned yet, leaving him with a dazed expression.

Looking at the vacant Chen Han, Wang Baole’s teeth itched with annoyance. If this guy hadn't suddenly rushed out at the final moment, shouting about marrying Wang Yiyi and reaching the peak of mushroom life—thereby attracting attention—Wang Baole might have had a sliver of a chance to charge through the opened sky and see the world outside.

Though… even if Chen Han hadn't shouted, Wang Yiyi’s father would have appeared regardless. Nevertheless, Wang Baole felt a surge of humiliated rage.

Even though… the reason Chen Han had acted like that was because Wang Baole was testing whether he could influence past-life events, constantly sending hypnotic mental fluctuations into Chen Han’s mind.

He had thought these fluctuations were a failure, but looking at the final result, they seemed… quite perfect.

Even with these two reasons, Wang Baole knew his own responsibility wasn't small, but his teeth still itched. As he glared, Chen Han seemed to sense something. His body shivered, and his eyes instantly cleared. He immediately saw Wang Baole’s unfriendly gaze.

"Dad?"

"Tell me, what happened in the past life you perceived this time?" Wang Baole retracted his gaze and spoke coolly. He planned to question him thoroughly to see if his experiment had truly succeeded and if the other party had some key memories wiped, just like last time.

The more he acted this way, the more nervous Chen Han became. He had just awakened and was still immersed in the glory of his past life. Now, being questioned by Wang Baole, he blinked, unable to quite figure out the other’s intent. But he quickly remembered that this Wang Baole seemed to be a pervert who liked prying into people's privacy, so he spoke cautiously.

"Dad, my seventh past life… please don't be upset if I say it. That… Dad, you should have been there too. I wonder if you’ve heard of the Hero…" Chen Han was very cautious, afraid of provoking Wang Baole, but he couldn't help but want to show off in his heart. According to his thoughts, Wang Baole was probably in there too, just one of the mushrooms, so he must have heard of his legend.

Hearing the word "Hero," Wang Baole’s face twitched.

*This guy was very likely one of those grandsons around me...* While Chen Han was daydreaming, he was also observing Wang Baole’s expression. Noticing the twitch on Wang Baole’s face, he felt even more triumphant.

"Dad, that… to describe my seventh past life simply, it can be summed up in one sentence: Marry the demoness, replace the immortals, and reach the peak of life!"

If he hadn't said it, it would have been fine, but once those words came out, Wang Baole felt a surge of wicked anger that he could barely control. However, Chen Han, immersed in his pride, clearly ignored this.

"This was my mission, because I discovered that from the moment I was born, I was different. Everyone liked me, everyone supported me. In my heart, a voice constantly told me that I was born with great destiny, destined to lead my clansmen out of the sea of bitterness and achieve supreme hegemony!"

Wang Baole’s anger, which had reached a certain level, froze when he heard this. His face darkened slightly. These words were exactly what he had repeatedly induced in the other’s mind.

"For this goal, I studied hard and trained hard. Finally, when the end of the world arrived, I let out a cry toward the heavens. My voice moved heaven and earth. Although I didn't succeed in marrying the demoness in the end, I… I became the eternal hero of our race, reaching the peak of life all the same!!"

"You mean the peak of mushroom life!" Wang Baole replied irritably. Unexpectedly, after Chen Han heard this, he burst into loud laughter.

"Dad, you really were a mushroom too! I was just thinking, in that previous life, there were no other beings at all, just mushrooms. Haha, you must have heard of me. Come on, tell me, were you from the Little Yellow Race, the Little Red Race, or maybe the Little Blue, Little Purple, or Little Green?"

Wang Baole let out a cold snort and suddenly raised his right hand, grasping through the air. Chen Han’s laughter came to an abrupt halt. As his head was grabbed by Wang Baole, he hurriedly screamed for mercy.

"Tell me, what race am I?"

"Dad, I was wrong! Dad, you are an immortal! An immortal!"

"An immortal?" Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and began to question him in detail.

"The elder of the demoness! Dad, didn't you see it later? An immortal descended upon the world, seemingly looking for something. Then, not long after, another immortal came. The two of them fought, and then… our mushroom world collapsed."

Chen Han spoke quickly, observing Wang Baole as he did. Noticing Wang Baole’s thoughtful expression, he thought to himself that this Wang Baole was probably just a short-lived little mushroom who died early. He couldn't possibly compare to a hero of the mushroom race like himself, so he didn't know about the later events. Thinking this, he immediately felt a sense of superiority.

*Hmph, this Wang Baole just has good luck. My luck in this life is just a bit bad. If this were in the life I just perceived, with one word from me, I could make this Little Baole kneel and beg for mercy, calling me 'Dad'.*

While Chen Han was daydreaming, a thoughtful look appeared in Wang Baole’s eyes. Although some parts of Chen Han’s memories had been wiped, the general gist remained. As for what Wang Yiyi’s father was looking for, Wang Baole felt it might be himself, or perhaps that wish bottle.

But that felt somewhat illogical.

As for another immortal arriving and the two fighting, causing the world to collapse, it made Wang Baole think of what little missy had said—that a "fierce uncle" had come…

In the silence, Wang Baole involuntarily took out the mask fragment again. Staring at the fragment, he called out once more.

"Little missy, are you there?"

There was no response.

After waiting for a long time, Wang Baole silently put away the mask fragment. He thought of another question.

"I searched the entire Federation before, but the other fragments of the mask were always missing. Could this… also be a clue?"

In his contemplation, Wang Baole buried all the clues deep in his heart. Although the answer to this matter seemed to be on the verge of coming out, Wang Baole remembered a line from the *High Official's Autobiographies*…

*Sometimes, when you think you see everything clearly, it is often… what others want you to see!*

Therefore, not drawing conclusions easily, but confirming and verifying repeatedly, was the only path to the truth!

Thinking of this, Wang Baole took a deep breath, letting his mind slowly calm down. The technique he had perceived earlier surfaced in his mind… the *Flowing Moon*!

"Compared to questioning this world, I believe more in… my own strength!"

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END OF Chapter 1073
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START OF Chapter 1074
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**Chapter 1074: Remnant Moon!**

"Time flows like the alternation of the sun and moon... It can surge endlessly forward, calculating the future, or flow infinitely backward, returning to the origin..." Wang Baole sat there cross-legged, murmuring in a low voice. His mind constantly replayed the Flowing Moon technique he had seen Wang Yiyi perform.

However... the Law of Time was far too difficult. Furthermore, the Flowing Moon Wang Yiyi had displayed was not a complete divine ability; it could only be considered half a technique. After all, at that point in time, she hadn't truly mastered the Flowing Moon.

Moreover, Wang Baole had only witnessed her performance on that single day. Though he had attempted to comprehend it multiple times during that day, his understanding ultimately fell slightly short.

Because of these combined factors, the Flowing Moon technique Wang Baole had gained enlightenment of was incomplete. It was vastly different from the true Flowing Moon. Nevertheless, this was the Law of Time. In terms of sheer level, it was the highest-tier divine ability Wang Baole had ever seen in his entire life!

Even his Master, even Chen Qingzi—neither of them possessed a technique that could be called the ultimate manifestation of the Dao. In fact, looking across the entire Weiyang Dao Domain... there might not be a single person capable of performing a technique identical to the true Flowing Moon.

Wang Baole was certain of this. Even if he didn't understand the Divine Emperors, he had an intuition while comprehending the Flowing Moon: if this technique were ever truly and fully unleashed, every galaxy, every star, and every living being within the Weiyang Dao Domain—regardless of cultivation level or tier—would instantly return to their point of origin.

Fundamentally, such a technique was no different from restarting the world.

If someone in the Weiyang Dao Domain truly wielded such a divine ability, then this world wouldn't be plagued by cycle after cycle of past lives.

To use an analogy, the Flowing Moon technique was like the pinnacle of all laws. Precisely because its level was so high, even Wang Baole’s indirect and imperfect comprehension had a gargantuan, vast impact on him.

His cultivation level almost instantly broke through to the Great Circle of the Planet realm because of this insight. While he hadn't reached the absolute limit of the Great Circle, he was not far off. Most importantly, every one of his rules was touched in that instant.

First were the five rules that had already reached ninety-eight percent resonance: the Red Path of Blood, the Cyan Path of Clouds, the Blue Path of Wind, the Purple Path of Devouring, and the White Path of Light. Originally, ninety-eight percent was the limit, but now, under this stimulation, all of them rose again, reaching the peak level of ninety-nine percent!

As for the others—the Orange Path of Music, the Green Path of Plants, and the Black Path of Death—they also advanced rapidly. Like the Yellow Path of Flame, they all reached ninety percent resonance. This comprehensive elevation across his nine ancient stars brought Wang Baole a qualitative transformation!

His combat power had now completely transcended the limitations of his cultivation level. He could no longer be measured by the standards of a Planet. Within the Planet realm, he was now nearly immune to these nine rules. This meant that if an opponent unleashed any of these nine rules with their full power, more than ninety percent of that power would be neutralized upon striking Wang Baole.

Conversely... when Wang Baole struck, these nine rules would be invisibly buffed, becoming even more powerful and formidable!

Consequently, although he was not yet a Supernova, his combat power was that of a Supernova! While his other rules performed as usual, Wang Baole’s Dao Star was a replica; this heaven-defying law had finally patched his final weakness!

Even those who had just ascended to the Supernova realm would likely feel their hearts tremble when facing Wang Baole. Though there was still a gap in cultivation level, his mastery over and immunity to rules were enough to compensate for everything!

Yet, these improvements still weren't Wang Baole's greatest gain from this experience. The highlight of this session was his comprehension of the Law of Time. Even if he hadn't grasped much of it, its inherent level ensured its fundamental uniqueness.

Unconsciously, a purple imprint the size of a fingernail appeared on Wang Baole’s glabella. The mark flickered between the illusory and the real. If a powerful expert were to look, they would see that every time the mark shifted between void and substance, ripples of the Law of Time would spread out.

However... the duration of time contained within these ripples wasn't long. It was only ten breaths. Furthermore, it seemed it could only turn counter-clockwise; it could not flow forward.

This was a point of regret for Wang Baole. According to his understanding, if he could truly master the Flowing Moon, every shift of the imprint between void and substance would be a restarting of the entire universe.

But for him, there were only ten breaths.

In other words, he could change time, causing everything within his immediate vicinity to instantly flow backward by ten breaths. The terrifying aspect of this technique lay in its high status; it could affect cultivators of extremely high levels. If used correctly, its power would be indescribable!

He felt regret only because he was comparing it to the true Flowing Moon. For the cultivators of the Weiyang Dao Domain, if they learned of this, they would be horrified to the extreme. It would cause a sensation across the entire Weiyang clan and the ten thousand sects.

This was Wang Baole’s greatest harvest!

"I can definitely affect Supernovas. I just don't know if Stellar Domain experts would be influenced by my technique..." A sharp light gleamed in Wang Baole’s eyes. His right hand appeared to rise slowly, but in the next instant, his hand blurred. Then, his entire arm actually vanished. When it reappeared, it was further away—at the position his arm had occupied ten breaths ago.

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. In the next moment, he stood up and appeared directly beside Chen Han. He reached out with his right hand, and Chen Han’s head was instantly and uncontrollably grabbed by him.

"Dad!!" Chen Han was startled. Just as his scream began, the mark on Wang Baole’s glabella suddenly shifted. Instantly, his body vanished. Chen Han vanished as well. In the next moment, Chen Han was still standing there daydreaming, and Wang Baole was still sitting cross-legged in his original spot!

This scene caused Wang Baole’s breathing to quicken, a strange light appearing in his eyes.

"This technique... is even stronger than I imagined!!"

As for Chen Han, he shook his head vigorously, a look of hesitation in his eyes. He glanced sideways at Wang Baole. He felt as though something had just happened, but he had no memory of it whatsoever. He found it strange, but after peeking at Wang Baole and seeing nothing unusual, he didn't think much of it.

His hesitation indirectly confirmed the terrifying nature of the Law of Time for Wang Baole. After a moment of contemplation, Wang Baole suddenly raised his right hand, and a flying sword appeared. The sight of the sword gave Chen Han a fright.

But when he saw Wang Baole snap it in half with one hand, Chen Han grew hesitant. He felt like the Wang Baole in front of him was acting a bit strange!

In the next instant, as the mark on Wang Baole’s glabella glowed, the broken flying sword disappeared. Wang Baole paused, looked around, and immediately realized what had happened. He quickly checked his storage bag and soon pulled out that very same flying sword, completely undamaged!

"If it works on objects, I wonder if it works on injuries..." As Wang Baole’s eyes lit up, Chen Han felt a wave of disdain in his heart. He thought to himself, *Did Wang Baole get hit in the head during his meditation and turn stupid? He broke his own sword, put it back in his storage bag while acting surprised, and then pulled out a new one.*

"Damn, are you performing a magic trick? Or have you gone crazy?" Chen Han sneered internally, but his mouth let out a loud shout.

"Dad, you're amazing!"

It would have been fine if he hadn't shouted. Wang Baole hadn't been paying him any mind. But now, that shout made Wang Baole look up. Before Chen Han could react, the flying sword in Wang Baole’s hand swept out, instantly slicing off one of Chen Han’s ears.

Perhaps the sword was too fast, or perhaps Chen Han’s reaction time was lacking, but it took two or three breaths before Chen Han’s eyes went wide. He let out a blood-curdling scream and tried to reach for the wound, only to remember he had no hands...

"Dad, I was wrong! Dad, spare me!!"

"Noisy!" Wang Baole spoke coolly and unleashed the Law of Time. The mark on his glabella flickered, but... he seemed to lack the necessary stamina to sustain it. This startled Wang Baole, and he hurriedly circulated his cultivation. His nine ancient stars vibrated, finally allowing the Law of Time to successfully trigger at the tenth breath.

At the moment of activation, Chen Han’s ear reappeared. The flying sword was still in front of him, but it veered off course and returned to Wang Baole’s hand.

Holding the flying sword, Wang Baole ignored the dazed Chen Han and fell into thought.

"Is it because I just comprehended the Law of Time, so I'm not proficient? Otherwise, why would I lack the stamina just now... but that doesn't seem to make sense. After all, the power of laws is omnipresent; I am merely fluctuating it."

Wang Baole frowned, his musings yielding no result, but this didn't dampen his excitement over the technique.

"This technique is not enough to compare with the true Flowing Moon. I'll call it... Remnant Moon!"

"Next up is the eighth life... I wonder if I will still only feel the cold and the darkness in this life. As for Chen Han... I still have to go!" Wang Baole murmured. Time passed, and soon... amidst Chen Han’s various internal grumblings, an ancient, gravelly voice echoed in both their minds.

"The eighth day, the eighth life!"

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END OF Chapter 1074
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START OF Chapter 1075
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Chapter 1075: A Stroke of the Brush Becomes Han!

As the ancient, gravelly voice echoed, Wang Baole, sitting cross-legged, took a deep breath.

He desperately wanted to know why Chen Han could possess these subsequent past lives while he could not. This question had long since taken root and sprouted within his heart. Now, with the arrival of the eighth life, Wang Baole watched the swirling mist around him and felt his consciousness sinking. He murmured softly.

"I hope this time won’t be like the ones before... I hope there’s something..." Wang Baole closed his eyes, feeling his consciousness sink continuously until it felt as if he had entered a vortex.

Then... came the familiar cold.

This chill caused Wang Baole’s heart to sink. The fact that his self-awareness remained made his already low spirits even more suppressed. As his divine sense spread and his consciousness perceived his surroundings, he saw the familiar darkness. This caused Wang Baole to sigh.

"Is there still nothing...?" Wang Baole felt unwilling to give up. He tried to expand the range of his perception, but no matter how much effort he put in, the final result was the same.

Cold, darkness, and loneliness.

Wang Baole fell silent. He was just about to give up this futile effort when suddenly, his consciousness jolted violently. Under this fluctuation, the sensation of sinking actually reappeared!

"This feeling..."

Before Wang Baole could react, a thunderous roar erupted within his consciousness, like heavenly lightning echoing through his mind. As it exploded, his consciousness instantly scattered and vanished!

An unknown amount of time passed. When Wang Baole’s consciousness gathered once more, he had forgotten his name, forgotten that he was perceiving a past life, and forgotten everything else.

He could not open his eyes or lift his body. He did not know where he was or his own origins. All he could feel was that his surroundings were very cold—a cold that could penetrate the body and freeze the soul. All he could see was the darkness beneath his eyelids, vast and boundless.

Aside from that... there was another even more intense sensation. That was... pain!

An overwhelming pain, like a crashing sea, submerged him time and again. It was like a sharp blade constantly carving his consciousness. He wanted to scream, but he couldn’t. He wanted to struggle, but he couldn’t do that either. He wanted to fall unconscious to avoid the agony, yet even that remained impossible!

He could only clearly experience this extreme pain within the cold and darkness. It made his consciousness seem to tremble. Fortunately, although the sensation of pain was like the cold and darkness—existing from the moment it appeared as if it would last for a very, very long time without end—its intensity did not increase.

After an unknown period, while Wang Baole’s mind was exhausted under this torture of agony, he suddenly discovered... the sensation of pain seemed to have lightened slightly. This was not an illusion. The pain was indeed slowly weakening.

But along with the weakening of the pain, his consciousness also began to fade. As the pain dissipated, a sense of slumber grew stronger and stronger in his mind.

At the very moment the pain vanished completely, his consciousness slowly drifted into a deep sleep. As he slept... it was as if everything had ended. Wang Baole, sitting cross-legged within the mist of the Planet of Fate, felt his physical body jerk violently. His eyes slowly opened.

This time, there was no confusion in his eyes, only profound depth. After sitting there for a long while, Wang Baole’s breathing became slightly ragged. He was certain that when he felt that second sinking sensation earlier, his consciousness had scattered—exactly the same as his experience in the first five past lives.

"This means... at that time, I truly succeeded in perceiving my eighth past life!"

"But this eighth past life of mine is a bit special..." Wang Baole lowered his head, a strange light appearing in his eyes. Just recalling that intense pain made his body tremble slightly even now. However, it was precisely this special experience of the eighth life that gave Wang Baole a faint suspicion.

"It’s not that I don’t have a sixth or seventh life. It’s because for some reason, during those two lives, I was asleep... That sleep was an unconscious coma. That’s why all I could feel was cold and darkness!"

"And the reason for the coma in those two lives is directly related to the pain I felt in the eighth life. This pain... is it a kind of injury? Was the final coma for the sake of healing? Until finally, the injuries were healed, and I had my fifth life where I became a white deer?" Thoughtfulness appeared in Wang Baole’s eyes. After a while, he rubbed his brow. He felt that the fog surrounding his past lives, this world, and little missy Wang Yiyi had not cleared with the addition of more clues. Instead... it was becoming increasingly blurry.

While pondering, Wang Baole looked up at Chen Han. A look of decisiveness flashed in his eyes. He performed a hand incantation, and the Dark Fire instantly spread out to shroud them. Their souls resonated and synchronized in an instant. In the blink of an eye... an even more inconceivable world appeared before Wang Baole’s eyes!

The sky... was very, very far away. So far that it couldn’t be seen clearly, just a blur. One could only see that its color was that of wood. This color wasn’t dull; it carried a warm, cozy feeling that made one feel comfortable upon seeing it.

As for the sun, it was also very, very far away, so blurry it was almost invisible. One could only see a light source emitting light and heat, making the entire world very warm. The ground... was very clear. It was white, an endless expanse of white.

As for the space between heaven and earth... perhaps because the distance was too great, it was equally blurry. However, Wang Baole could still faintly see what seemed to be countless towering objects, as well as bursts of terrifying auras that made his heart skip a beat. Unfortunately, they weren't clear.

He didn't know what those things were, but for some reason, everything here gave him a sense of déjà vu. Yet, Wang Baole felt certain he had never seen them before.

"The outside world of the previous two lives was Wang Yiyi’s bedroom. So this time... where is it?" While Wang Baole observed silently, he was also searching for Chen Han...

Indeed, he was looking for Chen Han, because after arriving here, though he could see his surroundings, he couldn't see Chen Han.

This clearly defied logic and made Wang Baole feel it was inconceivable. But no matter how he searched, he couldn't find a single trace of Chen Han in this strange world. It was as if Chen Han didn't exist. Furthermore, the blurriness of the world made Wang Baole feel somewhat uncomfortable.

It was like having a veil over his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, he still couldn't see this world clearly. It was as if a person with severe myopia in reality had taken off their glasses; everything they saw was basically what Wang Baole was seeing now.

This state lasted for a very long time, until one day, Wang Baole saw a massive pillar descend from the sky. As it drew closer, Wang Baole gradually saw it clearly. This pillar appeared to be a calligraphy brush!

There was still ink on it... This scene caused Wang Baole's consciousness to shake. He also saw the hand holding the brush. It was a small hand. Before Wang Baole could see it clearly, the brush landed on the white earth. With some clumsy drawing technique, it drew an even clumsier little person...

As the little person was completed, a giggling sound came from the sky. At the same time, the drawn little person actually seemed to be endowed with life, crawling right up from the ground.

As Wang Baole’s consciousness fluctuated again, the brush fell once more. Soon, one little person after another was drawn like this. The owner of the brush seemed to find joy in this drawing. In the days that followed, little people were constantly being drawn. This continued until one day, amid Wang Baole’s mental shock, he saw the brush shake due to some accident. The drawn little person was clearly deformed.

It was a little person with one long leg and one short leg. The moment this little person was drawn, Wang Baole immediately sensed Chen Han’s aura. Moreover, as that little person struggled to crawl up, all the blurriness around Wang Baole’s eyes became clear in an instant!

He saw the sky. The reason it was wood-colored was because the sky was actually a ceiling. The white ground was a sheet of white paper. As for the void in the surroundings—whether they were the towering buildings or figures—they were all actually toys. As for the sun, that light source was a crystal emitting light to illuminate the entire room.

And the hand holding the brush belonged to... a little girl who looked less than three years old!

Wang Baole’s divine sense fluctuated. He only did a rough sweep and didn't have time for a careful observation because his main attention was currently focused on the lifted brush. Using the connection established at the moment the brush drew Chen Han and gave him life, Wang Baole’s consciousness suddenly leaped up. He actually moved from Chen Han... into the ink of that calligraphy brush!

As the brush was lifted, rising higher and higher... Wang Baole’s consciousness fluctuated even more violently until... the brush completely left the ground, carrying him... out of that world!!

"I'm out!" Wang Baole’s mind trembled. An unprecedented sense of anticipation instantly flooded his entire consciousness!

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END OF Chapter 1075
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START OF Chapter 1076
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Chapter 1076: Just One Look!

The moment he left the white paper world, an unprecedented sense of lightness instantly surfaced within Wang Baole’s consciousness. It felt as if certain shackles on his body had been unlocked, as if a mountain weighing down on his soul had been moved away.

That comfort, that freedom, caused Wang Baole’s heart to shake violently. He felt an indescribable sense of liberation.

"This feeling of release..."

As Wang Baole’s heart shook again and this intense feeling of lightness surfaced—making even his consciousness feel much swifter—waves of Rules and Laws suddenly descended at that very moment.

In an instant, Wang Baole’s consciousness fluctuated violently. The Rules he resonated with actually began to show signs of instability, as if they were being erased!

It seemed the Rules and Laws within the white paper world were different from those outside. Or more accurately, the Rules and Laws outside were more complete and perfected. This caused Wang Baole’s consciousness to suffer a powerful impact the moment he leaped out.

This impact was like heavenly thunder, continuously exploding within Wang Baole’s consciousness, threatening to scatter his awareness and shaking his mind. Fortunately, he possessed nine ancient stars and a Dao Star. Although the impact was immense, he managed to barely delay the inevitable. However, he knew very well... he could not withstand this onslaught of Rules and Laws for long.

Taking advantage of this brief reprieve, Wang Baole rapidly scanned his surroundings. He had scanned the area before and knew this was a room. The sense of familiarity he had felt earlier came from this very room. To be precise, he had seen this room through Chen Han’s perspective in his previous two lives.

This... was Wang Yiyi’s bedroom!

All the furnishings were mostly the same as what he remembered from his previous two lives, with only minor differences. But this time, he had actually left his world. After scanning with his divine sense, he could see everything more clearly and in greater detail.

He saw that besides daily necessities and a large number of toys, there were many shelves around the room holding beads of various sizes. He didn't know what function these beads served, but they emitted waves of soft light.

Aside from those, there were many medicine bottles. Perhaps because there were so many, the entire room was permeated with a thick medicinal fragrance. There were no windows on the surrounding walls, making it impossible to see the scenery outside. The only exit was a tightly closed door.

As all of this entered Wang Baole’s sight, his divine sense spread out rapidly, attempting to penetrate the room to see the world outside. However, the room seemed to possess some kind of restriction. When Wang Baole’s divine sense touched it, it was like a clay ox entering the sea, vanishing instantly without causing even the slightest ripple.

This caused Wang Baole’s heart to sink. He didn't dare to try too much for fear of triggering changes like in his previous two lives. He quickly lowered his head to look at the white paper world he had just left. Upon looking, he immediately saw a book lying on the floor!

At this moment, there were many little figures on the pages. That book... was the world he had left behind!

"It really is that book..." Wang Baole’s consciousness shuddered. He was about to take a closer look when a voice suddenly drifted from beside him.

"How did you get out?"

As the voice appeared, Wang Baole instinctively looked over. He saw Wang Yiyi holding a brush. She was even smaller than when Wang Baole had seen her in his previous life. Right now, she was sitting there, looking at the tip of her brush with a face full of curiosity.

She was looking at the tip of the brush, but in Wang Baole’s perception, she was looking at him. It was as if, invisibly, their eyes met at that moment!

Gazing into Wang Yiyi’s eyes, Wang Baole’s consciousness paused. His heart was filled with complex emotions, and he wanted to say something, but he didn't know where to start.

"Why aren't you talking? So strange, you can actually come out from inside... What’s your name? Did you come out to play with Yiyi?" The little girl’s curious eyes revealed a sense of childish innocence and anticipation.

"I... want to go outside to take a look," Wang Baole spoke softly after a moment of silence.

"Outside? Here? Or there?" The little girl was startled and pointed toward the door.

"There..." Wang Baole gazed at Wang Yiyi and sent out a thought, indicating the door.

"But... Mother said there are monsters outside that eat children. You’re so small and weak, you won't be able to come back if you go out," the little girl said seriously. Then she turned to look around and picked up a monkey doll.

"How about you don't go outside? I’ll give you this doll to play with."

Looking at the monkey doll, Wang Baole found it somewhat familiar. He suddenly remembered that this monkey seemed quite similar to the Old Ape he had seen in his previous lives.

However, the impact of the Rules and Laws here had already reached the limit of what Wang Baole could endure. He knew he couldn't hold on for much longer, so he withdrew his gaze and immediately sent out another thought.

"I still want to go outside... to see this world."

"Is that so..." The little girl seemed very troubled. She looked at the door with some hesitation, then at her brush, and finally spoke in a low voice.

"Just one look?"

"Just one look!"

"Okay, whoever lies is a puppy!" As the little girl spoke, she scrambled up from the floor. Holding the brush, she tottered toward the door. Soon, to Wang Baole’s excitement, she reached the door. She was about to raise her small hand to push it open, but she lost her footing and fell, bumping into a nearby shelf. A little fox doll sitting on the shelf tumbled down.

It hit the little girl on the head and then landed on the floor.

Looking at the little fox doll, Wang Baole’s mind shook again. Before he could identify it carefully, the little girl had already snatched the doll up.

"Little fox, you're naughty, daring to hit me... but I still like you." As she spoke, the little girl held the fox doll in front of her and gave it a kiss. She seemed very happy and let out a giggling laugh, completely forgetting about pushing the door open to take Wang Baole outside.

Wang Baole felt a bit of a headache. He was about to speak, but right at that moment...

A woman’s gentle voice came from outside the door.

"Yiyi, what are you so happy about? Tell Mother."

As she spoke, the tightly closed door was opened from the outside. While streams of sunlight poured in, a middle-aged beautiful woman wearing a long blue dress crouched down in front of the little girl with a gentle expression. Her eyes were filled with doting affection as she lightly stroked the little girl’s head.

"Mother, the little fox wasn't being good just now and hit me, but I taught it a lesson. Oh, right, Mother, can I go out and play for a while?" The little girl smiled and pleaded.

The woman was beautiful and very gentle. She seemed to possess a unique temperament that could make anyone feel peaceful upon seeing her. However, at this moment, as she heard the little girl’s request, a flash of sorrow appeared deep within her eyes. Her hand stroking the little girl’s hair became even more tender.

The little girl didn't see this sorrow, but Wang Baole sensed it. However, he had no time to think too much now. His entire mind was captivated by the world outside.

As the woman opened the door and crouched down to stroke the little girl’s hair, Wang Baole, situated on the brush tip, saw the outside world through the open door!

It was a field of grass. The sky was blue, and the sunlight was bright. The entire world was brilliant and colorful, infinitely beautiful, yet filled with an indescribable temptation and attraction. It caused a strong impulse to rise within Wang Baole’s consciousness. In that instant, his entire consciousness made a sudden leap!

He headed straight... for the space beyond the open door!

At the moment he traversed the doorway, he vaguely seemed to see Wang Yiyi’s mother turn her head to look at him. But Wang Baole couldn't care about anything else. The leap of his consciousness caused him, in the next instant... to pass directly through the doorway and arrive in the true outside world!

But the moment his consciousness leaped outside... the grass before his eyes vanished, becoming a wasteland. The bright sunlight dissipated, becoming pitch black. The blue sky did the same, turning into a grayish-white. The entire world, the entire heaven and earth, all the brilliant colors turned into ruins in the blink of an eye.

"This... this is..." Wang Baole’s consciousness roared. He instinctively turned his head to look back at the room he had just leaped out of, but the sight he saw caused an unprecedentedly violent upheaval within his consciousness!!!

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END OF Chapter 1076
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START OF Chapter 1077
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**Chapter 1077: Allegory!**

The moment Wang Baole turned his head, he did not see the house from before. Instead, he saw… a massive coffin!

This coffin was not made of wood but was crafted entirely from crystal. It was translucent and crystal clear, yet it also emitted a brilliant radiance. Even in this pitch-black void, it shone as dazzlingly as a star.

Perhaps it was because of its brilliance that Wang Baole could not clearly see the specific appearance of the figure lying inside the coffin. He could only be certain… that someone was indeed lying within!

He could not tell if it was a man or a woman, nor could he see their features. However, the moment he saw this coffin, the shock and intense horror in Wang Baole’s heart surged like a heaven-toppling wave.

No matter what, he never could have imagined this. He had thought that after stepping out of the house, he would see the true world, but he found a wasteland of ruins. He had thought that after leaving the world of white paper, he would see Wang Yiyi’s bedroom, but in reality… he saw a coffin!

Everything was far too impactful. Wang Baole’s divine sense fluctuated violently, showing signs of imminent collapse, as if the sudden influx of too many thoughts was more than he could bear.

But what he saw did not remain static; a new change occurred. In the void behind the coffin, ripples suddenly spread. Within those ripples, a hundred-zhang-long, blood-colored centipede silently crawled out. With one leap, it landed on the lid of the coffin.

Its upper body reared up, its countless legs bristling malevolently. As its antennae swayed, the massive blood-colored centipede’s murky yellow eyes fixed upon Wang Baole.

Almost the instant Wang Baole’s gaze met the centipede’s, a roar erupted in his mind. The centipede’s body suddenly collapsed, transforming into countless tiny centipedes that covered the entire coffin. Then, those countless tiny centipedes converged again, protruding rapidly from the surface of the coffin to finally form a human face!

This face was eerie and androgynous. Wang Baole found it unfamiliar, yet deep within his soul, there was an indescribable sense of familiarity. It looked at Wang Baole… and revealed an enigmatic smile.

"This… this…" Wang Baole’s mind trembled, his thoughts nearly exploding. His divine sense seemed on the verge of dissipating. In that fleeting moment, a soft sigh echoed in his mind.

"Baole, what you see… is not necessarily the truth…"

This voice did not come from Wang Yiyi’s father, nor from that gentle woman from before, nor from the eerie face formed by the centipede. It came from the little missy inside the mask fragment.

That is to say… the grown-up Wang Yiyi!

The appearance of this voice was like a peerless medicine. In an instant, it stabilized Wang Baole’s mind, allowing his consciousness to recover slightly. But before he could ask anything, the difference between the laws of the outside world and the laws of the white paper world reached a breaking point. Wang Baole had been barely suppressing the strain, and now he had hit his limit. Without anyone else taking action, a massive suction force pulled directly from the coffin, instantly yanking on Wang Baole’s divine sense.

This suction was too powerful for Wang Baole to resist. In a flash, he was dragged toward the coffin. Fortunately, as he drew near, the coffin and the protruding centipede face changed once more in his vision, reverting back into Wang Yiyi’s bedroom with the door open. In the blink of an eye, his consciousness returned to the room, back to the page of the open book on the floor.

The moment he merged back into the page, Wang Baole’s consciousness felt utterly exhausted. Unable to hold on any longer, it slowly faded away.

An unknown amount of time passed. When Wang Baole regained his strength and opened his eyes, he was no longer in the world of white paper. He had returned to the trial mist of the Star of Fate.

The familiar mist before him caused the confusion in his eyes to slowly dissipate. Chen Han, floating in front of him, served a similar purpose, helping Wang Baole gradually recover from his previous state.

After recovering, as the scenes from the white paper world resurfaced in his memory, Wang Baole’s body began to tremble. He was truly lost now.

He realized that through these various enlightenment sessions and the past lives he viewed through Chen Han’s perspective, every time he thought things had become clearer and the answer was about to be revealed, more mysteries would instantly appear, shaking the foundations of the answers he thought he had found.

It happened like this every single time.

He thought this world was real, but all clues pointed to a book.

He thought he might really be living inside a book, but soon discovered the book was located in a child’s room.

He thought that reaching the room meant entering the real world, only to find the room was sealed by a restriction that isolated everything.

He thought that after struggling to break out of the room, he would see the truth, but what he saw was a void.

The void would have been one thing, but when he turned back, he discovered his world was actually a coffin.

He thought the coffin was the answer, but then the blood-colored centipede appeared, along with that eerie face!

Everything had repeatedly overturned his perception of reality. At the final moment, the words from the little missy seemed to hint that what he saw… was not entirely real.

"Just… just what is going on!?"

"Also… my flight out just now seemed… too smooth. It was so smooth it was unbelievable, as if it were a deliberate indulgence, arranged specifically for me to see those things!"

"And… the final things I saw didn't seem like actual images, but rather some kind of… allegory!!"

"What did the ruins represent? What did the coffin represent? What did the blood-colored centipede represent, and what was that eerie face formed by the centipedes…?" Wang Baole fell silent. After a long while, he looked around, doubt gradually creeping into his eyes.

He began to harbor suspicions even toward this so-called sensing of past lives. He took out the mask fragment and gazed down at it, his eyes filled with complexity.

"Little missy, you should give me an answer!"

This time, the little missy did not remain silent as usual. After a long while, she gave a light sigh and spoke.

"My memory is missing a great deal, but I can be certain of one thing. In sixty-eight years, there will be an opportunity that will allow you to know a portion of the truth!"

"Sixty-eight years?" Wang Baole was stunned. This was the exact timeframe Li Wan'er had mentioned, the date her sect's ancestor had made an appointment with him.

"But—"

"Don't ask me anymore, Baole. I beg you, don't ask me anymore. My head hurts so much…" Just as Wang Baole was about to ask more, the little missy’s pained voice made his heart tremble.

He thought of the little girl during his life as a white deer, the girl in white during his life as a demonic blade, and the companion who sat with him watching the sky during his life as a zombie… Eventually, Wang Baole sighed softly and did not press her further.

Instead, he sat there silently with his eyes closed, recollecting everything he had sensed over these past few days. After a long time…

When he opened his eyes, they gleamed with a more determined and decisive light!

"So what if it's the truth? So what if it's a lie? And as for that so-called allegory… I can’t exactly go mad and commit suicide just because I know these things, nor can I stop caring about life and just wait to die!"

"No matter what, my core philosophy remains unchanged."

"My cultivation is weak, my strength is meager, and my power is insufficient. Therefore… grand matters concerning the Dao Domain are for those mighty experts to worry about. I am a minor character; I can’t manage that much, so don't ask me to. As for allegories and such… I can’t change them!"

"So, regardless of whether what I saw was true or false, whether it is closely related to me or distant, it isn't something I can influence."

"Rather than letting my heart be shaken to the point of madness, it is better to steadily strengthen myself. Only by doing so can I stand firmer and go further. As for what happens in the future… who can say for sure?"

A look of decisiveness appeared in Wang Baole’s eyes. Although this enlightenment had not increased his cultivation level, a sense of mental fortitude made him feel as though his entire being had become much more refined at this moment.

During this refinement, he also felt that his technique, the Waning Moon, had improved. It seemed that this excursion had been of great help to his understanding of the laws of time. After testing it, Wang Baole quickly confirmed this.

His feeling was correct. The Waning Moon technique had indeed progressed, increasing from reversing ten seconds of time to twenty seconds!

It was at this exact moment that Chen Han… woke up.

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END OF Chapter 1077
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START OF Chapter 1078
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Chapter 1078: Family Bonds!

After waking up, Chen Han experienced a brief moment of daze before quickly looking toward Wang Baole. Deep down, he had already braced himself for this freak to ask him questions just like before.

In his view, Wang Baole loved prying into other people’s secrets. In this particular realization, he had been a remarkably gifted individual among his peers to some extent. However, after waiting for a long while without Wang Baole saying a word, Chen Han actually felt a bit uncomfortable.

After waiting a bit longer and seeing that Wang Baole still hadn't spoken, Chen Han hesitated for a moment and took the initiative to speak.

"Papa!"

"What is it?" Wang Baole lifted his eyelids and glanced at Chen Han.

"I’m awake."

"Mm." Wang Baole naturally knew Chen Han had woken up. It was just that now that he had steeled his heart, he no longer cared about the other man’s subsequent experiences in the world of the white paper. Instead, he was immersed in the progress he had made with Residual Moon.

However, his lack of questioning made Chen Han feel an itch in his heart. After enduring it for a long while, Chen Han cleared his throat and started talking to himself.

"Papa, the past life I perceived this time was very special. You definitely won’t be able to imagine what kind of world it was. Even I only just realized now that... that was a world of creation, and I was quite different from the rest there!"

Wang Baole ignored Chen Han, closing his eyes to continue sensing and experiencing his Residual Moon.

Seeing that his words hadn't attracted Wang Baole’s attention, Chen Han blinked and spoke again.

"I forgot that you were there too, Papa, so it’s normal that you aren’t surprised. But you definitely don’t know how gifted and extraordinary I was in the hands of the Creator. Every time my peers saw me, they would look on with shock and horror; some were even terrified."

"Unfortunately, my sentience hadn't fully developed back then. If it were the current me, I would definitely have been able to use that unique talent of mine to lead the whole race, command the world, and make—"

"One leg long, and one leg short?" Wang Baole felt that Chen Han was being a bit wordy and was disturbing his cultivation, so he replied somewhat impatiently.

His words were spoken very casually, but to Chen Han’s ears, they were louder than heavenly thunder. In an instant, Chen Han’s head buzzed, and a look of unprecedented horror and disbelief appeared in his eyes.

"Impossible! That’s absolutely impossible!"

"Heavens, how does this freak know everything?!"

Once could be a fluke, twice could be barely accepted, but this third time, the truth had been spoken with a single sentence again. This made Chen Han’s scalp go numb instantly. It was as if he had seen a ghost. He stared blankly at Wang Baole, unable to say a word for a long time.

Even after the time it took for an incense stick to burn had passed and he finally exhaled, the turmoil in his mind remained intense. He truly did not understand why the Wang Baole before him knew the secrets in his heart, as if he had seen his past lives with his own eyes.

This made Wang Baole appear even more mysterious in his eyes. The level of mystery had reached an extreme, turning into fear.

*Something isn't right here!* But Chen Han was a chosen, after all, and an old fellow who had lived many lives. He soon felt that there was a problem. However, no matter what, he could never have imagined that Wang Baole could resonate with his soul and enter his past life realizations. Thus, the instinctive thought in his mind was that Wang Baole must have had an extraordinary identity in those past life worlds!

"I’ve got it!"

"Papa, in the world where I was a butterfly, you were that Great Tree, weren't you?!" Chen Han blurted this out. After saying it, he saw Wang Baole’s expression flicker slightly. This immediately confirmed his theory. Then, he thought of something even more terrifying. His eyes bulged, and he cried out in horror.

"And in the mushroom world, you... you were the Witch in the sky!! Heavens, you were actually the Witch!!!" Chen Han’s entire head trembled. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was correct. Wang Baole’s face turning slightly dark also made him feel that he had exposed the other man's inner secret.

This suddenly gave Chen Han a sense of retching, mixed with a feeling of tragedy. To think he had wanted to marry the Witch and reach the pinnacle of mushroom-life... No wonder this freak had taught him a lesson after he woke up last time. So that was why...

"And in the world of creation, I understand now. You... you must have been that Brush!!!"

"Shut up, you’re the brush!" Wang Baole glared at Chen Han impatiently. He felt that the guy was quite normal before being caught, so why did he turn out like this after being captured?

*Could it be that he blew himself up too many times and turned stupid?* Wang Baole looked at Chen Han, wondering if he should let the man restore his body. On the other side, Chen Han gasped again. In his eyes, Wang Baole’s impatience was him flying into a rage out of shame. Shivering internally, he became even more certain of his answer.

"As expected of a freak. No wonder he was that White Deer that could crush the universe. This guy... he’s on a completely different level from me. I, I, I... I was actually created by him! Heavens, I finally understand why this guy likes me calling him Papa!!" The more Chen Han thought, the more horrified he became. In particular, the title "Papa" felt like a complete realization to him in this moment.

Following that was an even deeper sense of awe, as well as... the feeling that calling him Papa was only natural and right. However, at the thought of being a creation birthed by the "Papa" before him, his gaze inevitably held a great deal of oddness.

That gaze made Wang Baole feel an indescribable creepiness. Especially toward the end, when Chen Han seemed to have figured something out, his gaze was no longer odd. Instead, amidst sighs of emotional lament, it turned into one of filial devotion. Even Wang Baole felt something was wrong.

Thus, he gave Chen Han a fierce glare and decided not to give him the chance to restore his body yet. He was worried that if the guy got his body back, he would habitually blow himself up again and end up turning himself into a total idiot.

However, it had to be said that Chen Han’s presence had unknowingly allowed Wang Baole to slowly and completely emerge from his previous state of inner shock. His mood lightened considerably as a result. Although he felt Chen Han was a bit of a fool, having such a foolish son seemed quite alright. After some thought, Wang Baole spoke.

"There are two days left until this trial ends. What are your plans after the birthday celebration?"

"Wherever Papa goes, Little Han goes! From now on, Little Han will never leave Papa’s side!" Chen Han spoke quickly, his words sounding as if they were a matter of course.

"But Papa, I suggest... before we leave, we must catch those brothers and sisters of mine. We need to make them realize the importance of family bonds. After all, Papa, you birthed them, so it’s time for them to show their filial piety!" Chen Han added another sentence.

Wang Baole fell silent.

"I’ve already thought it through. Our family is too huge. In this life, I should do my best to let more brothers and sisters return to Papa’s side. Sigh, thinking about it now, everything is karma; our fate was decided long ago." The more Chen Han spoke, the more he lamented. Even Wang Baole couldn't help but feel shocked.

In fact, he could see that Chen Han’s words were actually from the bottom of his heart. Just as Wang Baole was feeling a rare sense of embarrassment, that ancient voice surfaced once more in the minds of those remaining in the trial.

"The ninth day. The ninth life!"

In an instant, the surrounding mist swirled. Wang Baole’s consciousness sank once more. Just like before, he quickly lost consciousness during this descent. A feeling of intense pain surfaced strongly, deeper than the last time.

It was as if the injuries of this life had just been inflicted. Not only was his body in excruciating pain, but his soul also felt as if it were being torn apart. Even his memories were chaotic and completely unable to gather together, turning into countless fragments that flashed rapidly through his mind.

Almost ninety percent of the fragments were severely damaged, making it impossible to see what they were. Only a portion of the fragments were relatively complete, but they seemed to be covered by some kind of power, making them equally unclear...

The only exception... among these countless fragments, were seven or eight that were barely clear. As Wang Baole scanned them rapidly, he saw that within these fragments, there was the figure of... a giant, blood-colored centipede!

Wang Baole, having forgotten who he was, felt his consciousness fluctuate violently the moment he saw that blood-colored centipede in his daze. It was as if there was a conflict with his memories from when he was lucid. As the conflict grew stronger, his mind roared, and his body trembled. With a heavy breath, his eyes snapped open!

The surroundings were filled with mist. This was no longer the past life realization, but Planet Eye of Destiny.

"The scene just now..." Wang Baole’s heart was still roaring. But before he could recall it carefully, a surprised greeting came from beside him.

"Papa, what’s wrong? You didn't have a ninth past life either?"

Hearing this voice, Wang Baole was stunned. When he looked up, he saw Chen Han. He was floating there, the guiding light on his body dissipating rapidly. His expression carried some helplessness; clearly, his past life realization had failed!

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END OF Chapter 1078
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START OF Chapter 1079
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Chapter 1079: I’m in a Hurry!

"Dad, your eyes!!" Almost the instant Wang Baole looked at Chen Han, Chen Han’s eyes constricted, his hair seemingly standing on end as he cried out in alarm.

"Hmm?" Wang Baole’s expression was weary. Although the duration of his previous enlightenment had been short, the toll it took on him was heavy. Seeing Chen Han’s reaction, Wang Baole was taken aback. He raised his right hand and waved it, immediately manifesting a watery mirror-like surface in front of him to reflect his face.

In the reflection, Wang Baole immediately saw the clear, vivid figure of a blood-colored centipede within his own eyes!

"This..." This sight sent a jolt through Wang Baole’s heart. He quickly closed his eyes. Only after a long while, when he opened them again, did the shadow of the centipede in his gaze gradually vanish.

Chen Han was still trembling with lingering fear. In that split second when he had seen the blood-colored centipede in Wang Baole’s eyes, he had felt a sensation of trepidation as if he had encountered a natural enemy in the depths of his soul. It felt as if everything about him would instantly collapse under that gaze.

Even though Wang Baole had returned to normal, the feeling from a moment ago still remained in his heart. After a long silence, Chen Han finally forced himself to speak, trying to change the subject.

"Dad, I had enough Guiding Light, but I still didn't succeed in my enlightenment." Chen Han spoke, but Wang Baole was in no mood for conversation. The anomaly he had seen in his eyes and the images from his enlightenment still lingered in his mind. He simply nodded to Chen Han and closed his eyes once more without saying a word.

Seeing this, Chen Han didn't dare to continue disturbing him. He backed away a bit, his expression filled with uncertainty as he looked at Wang Baole. He vaguely felt that Wang Baole’s state was not quite right.

As for Wang Baole, with his eyes closed, he worked hard to calm his thoughts. It took quite a while before he managed to do so. Only then did he begin to re-examine the numerous fragmented memories that had surfaced during his previous enlightenment. Although there were only eight clear images, they brought an endless shock to the now-sober Wang Baole. It wasn't just because every image contained the shadow of the blood-colored centipede, but because of... other factors!

The first image was of a vast universe. There were countless stars and countless living beings in that universe. Among these beings were a multitude of races, and the dominant power was a titanic force called the God Race!

Within the God Race, there were countless deities. What the image described was a member of the God Race named Xin Huo, who was slaughtering everything in a state of madness!

In that image, there was a blood-colored centipede crouching on a star, watching that Xin Huo of the God Race from afar!

This scene caused a violent tremor in Wang Baole’s mind. The second image was equally shocking. It was a universe world dominated by zombies. In the image, Wang Baole saw a zombie who liked to look up at the sky, and he saw a young girl silently accompanying the zombie.

This should have been a warm scene from a previous life in his memory, but now... in this second memory fragment, up in the sky... there was actually a giant blood-colored centipede looking down at them with malice!

"This... this..." Wang Baole’s chest heaved as he quickly looked at the third memory fragment. What appeared inside was his life as a Magic Blade. As the Magic Blade, he had continuously devoured his masters until he met that woman. What the image described was the scene where the Magic Blade killed that woman!

Wang Baole clearly saw that at the moment the Magic Blade pierced the woman, their surroundings had turned blood-red, shrouded within the massive body of the blood-colored centipede!

The fourth image was the same. Within that endless sorrow and madness, amidst the emotions of the family prodigy Chen Yang—who hated the heavens, the earth, and everything else—there was also a blood-colored centipede in that world, watching it all!

Then came the fifth memory fragment. What appeared there was Wang Baole’s previous fifth life. There, he was a Little White Deer carrying a little girl through the starry sky. The blood-colored centipede in the image still existed at the end of the starry sky. When it gazed upon them, it seemed to be... restraining itself.

Seeing this, Wang Baole already understood the reason for the blood-colored centipede’s restraint. It must have been because... the little girl’s father was right there!

"What exactly does the blood-colored centipede represent..." Wang Baole’s breathing was ragged as he quickly looked at the sixth memory fragment. He remembered clearly that he had not succeeded in gaining enlightenment for his previous sixth life; there had only been coldness and darkness.

Therefore, he really wanted to know if what appeared in this sixth memory fragment... would be the Butterfly World...

But... soon Wang Baole’s mind roared again. What he saw in the sixth fragment image was not the Butterfly World, but the starry sky!

In that starry sky, there was a special star. The reason it was special was because the star was not fixed; it was constantly contracting and expanding, just like a heart!

And crouching upon it was a massive centipede. This centipede was continuously devouring the star, letting out hissing sounds. The sounds echoed in Wang Baole’s mind, making him feel as if his own heart was also being struck by sharp pain.

This intense pain caused Wang Baole’s body to twitch. His mind was blank, and while he didn't know why this was happening, he gritted his teeth and looked at the seventh memory fragment.

In the image was a vast ocean. It was a cyan sea that looked clear and transparent. But soon... a patch of blood-red appeared within it. This blood-red color spread instantly, covering the entire ocean in a flash. Then it gradually dried up until the entire ocean was parched, revealing a hideous blood-colored centipede deep on the seabed!

"Why is the image like this..." Wang Baole’s mind trembled as he suddenly looked at the final memory fragment. In that fragment... what surfaced was actually the scene he had seen after rushing out of the house earlier!

When he had rushed out of the house, he had seen the blood-colored centipede. But in the current image... it seemed the perspective had changed. He was standing on the coffin, and he saw... himself!

The images ended right there. When Wang Baole’s eyes snapped open, his internal energy surged, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His body swayed, his face turned pale, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Why... why was the final fragment of the image me standing on the coffin... seeing myself? It clearly should have been that blood-colored centipede. This isn't right!"

"And what’s even more wrong is that looking at the timeline, this previous ninth life happened in the distant past. So why did the memory fragments show my later lives instead!" At this thought, Wang Baole abruptly raised his head, a sharp light gleaming in his eyes.

"I’ve been interfered with!" This was the most direct reason he could think of. Only this reason could explain the issue with the timeline. Furthermore, if he traced the source, everything began when he saw that blood-colored centipede in his previous eighth life!

Wang Baole’s breathing was heavy. As he continued to excavate his past lives, the secrets and answers regarding all of this were being revealed to him bit by bit. Thus, having seen all the memory fragments, his instinct was to go see someone else’s ninth life!

"It’s a pity Chen Han didn't gain enlightenment for a ninth life... but it doesn't matter. In this trial, someone will surely have succeeded!" Thinking of this, a cold light flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. He stood up abruptly. Without waiting for Chen Han to ask anything, Wang Baole’s body flickered, and he instantly stepped into the mist, racing through it.

"There are about seven or eight hours left until the tenth day. There should be enough time!"

With this thought, Wang Baole moved at high speed. Amidst a continuous roar, he spread out his Divine Sense within the mist and began his search. Although there were restrictions on Divine Sense here, those were meant for ordinary Planet realm cultivators. At this moment, although Wang Baole’s cultivation was still a hair’s breadth away from the peak of the Planet realm’s Great Circle, his combat power had long since surpassed it.

In particular, the resonance of laws and regulations brought about by his insights into his previous lives, along with the influence of the laws of time, allowed Wang Baole to resist the power the restrictions here had displayed from the beginning.

However, this was the trial ground of the Heavenly Fate Planet after all, so the power of the restrictions seemed to have no end. As Wang Baole’s Divine Sense spread out, even though it expanded significantly in an instant, the mist immediately began to push back. It was as if the power of the restrictions had been increased to force Wang Baole back to the level he was at before.

Seeing the restrictions continuously increasing and the pressure arriving with a roar, Wang Baole’s Divine Sense was also being suppressed. This caused him to frown slightly. A flash crossed his eyes, and after a moment of deliberation, he suddenly spoke.

"Old Ape, I’m in a hurry!"

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END OF Chapter 1079
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START OF Chapter 1080
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**Chapter 1080: The Origin of the Hand!**

As soon as Wang Baole spoke, the restriction power that was rapidly increasing within the surrounding mist suddenly paused. After a silence that lasted for several breaths, the restrictions within the mist began to recede like an ebbing tide.

They didn’t vanish completely. Instead, a gap was opened specifically for Wang Baole, allowing his Divine Sense to sweep across the entire misty region in an instant!

Wang Baole himself was momentarily stunned by this development, and his breathing quickened once more. He had only spoken just now as an experiment; if it hadn’t worked, he had other ways to search for the trial-takers.

He hadn't expected it to be so effective...

The implications of this caused Wang Baole to fall silent after his initial shock. However, he had no time to ponder it at the moment. He clasped his hands in a bow toward the mist, and as his Divine Sense spread out, he immediately locked onto several targets.

Currently, there were over thirty people immersed in their perceptions of the Ninth Life. The one closest to Wang Baole was someone he didn’t recognize, but one a bit further away was very familiar to him.

It was none other than... Xu Yinling!

Wang Baole naturally chose to go the long way. Even if she was a bit further, it would only waste a hundred breaths of his time at most. In a flash, his figure became like a rainbow, whistling toward Xu Yinling’s location.

Xu Yinling was extremely cunning. The place she chose for her perception was different from the others; instead of an open area, she had used special methods to hide deep within the mist.

If Wang Baole’s Divine Sense hadn't been able to sweep across such a massive range, or if he had only focused on the open areas, he likely wouldn't have found her. Furthermore, Xu Yinling had set up other arrangements, placing her in a relatively safe environment.

But to Wang Baole, these arrangements were like dry weeds before a wildfire. Under the sweep of his Divine Sense, nothing could obstruct him in the slightest. He soon neared Xu Yinling’s location, speeding through the air while waving his right hand. Every time his hand swept out, the sound of something hitting the ground echoed through the surrounding mist.

Occasionally, the sound of arrays shattering accompanied these thuds. Within the mist, if anyone possessed a Divine Sense as vast as Wang Baole’s, they would clearly see the various cultivators controlled by Xu Yinling trembling and collapsing, unconscious. The threads of her array formations were also snapping one after another.

This entire process lasted for about thirty breaths. The arrangements Xu Yinling believed were foolproof all vanished. Wang Baole’s figure flickered, and when he reappeared, he was standing directly in front of Xu Yinling, who sat cross-legged, immersed in the perception of her past life.

Gazing at the beautiful woman with her seductive figure, Wang Baole’s eyes showed none of the emotional fluctuations a typical man might have. Instead, he performed a series of hand seals. Seals instantly descended around Xu Yinling, binding her body in layers and suppressing the surrounding area. He even targeted her Dao Star, manifesting his own Dao Star to suppress it yet again. Only then did he sit down cross-legged, manifesting a clone to stand guard beside him.

Then, Dark Fire flickered in his eyes. He opened his mouth and exhaled, causing the Dark Fire to erupt and envelop them both. With the guidance of the Dark Fire, Wang Baole’s soul used a method similar to the Dark Dream to begin resonating with Xu Yinling’s frequency.

Wang Baole was already well-versed in this process. Thus, after another thirty breaths or so, Wang Baole’s body jolted, and a... strange world appeared before his eyes!

This world had no sky and no earth. There were only bubbles floating in the void. These bubbles varied in size; some were colorful, some were dull, some were transparent, and some were in the process of shattering.

There were so many of them that they stretched as far as the eye could see.

They weren't static, however. They moved as a whole according to a certain pattern. At the same time, though every bubble was blurry to varying degrees, a closer look revealed flickering phantom images within all of them.

Those phantoms were all different. There were cultivators, mortals, fierce beasts, plants, and even some bizarrely shaped creatures. They were living lives that were either ordinary or extraordinary, filled with love, hatred, and bizarre events. Each bubble seemed to represent a story, a world.

"These are..." Wang Baole’s consciousness fluctuated. After scanning the bubbles he could see, he suddenly detected a familiar scent from them.

It was... the scent of dreams!

Because he had researched the Dark Dream and even used it to enter the past lives of others, Wang Baole was somewhat familiar with dreams. After confirming it several times, he arrived at a general answer.

"These... are all dreams!!"

"The Ninth Life is actually countless dreams. I just don’t know if these bubbles represent the dreams of everyone in this world, or if... they are all the countless dreams of a single person!" Wang Baole was quite experienced, so he quickly recovered from his shock. He immediately sensed the bubble he was currently in.

That was Xu Yinling’s dream.

In the dream, Xu Yinling was a fish. She was very ordinary, swimming constantly in a river without waves or counter-currents. The only thing special about her was that she liked to swim near the surface, as if wanting to see the world above the water.

But she never seemed able to do it. She tried again and again, failing repeatedly, yet she remained persistent.

Watching the fish that Xu Yinling had become, Wang Baole remained silent. He was just about to leave when he saw a fox appear on the bank of the river in Xu Yinling’s dream!

Wang Baole recognized this fox. It was the same fox from the Little White Deer world, and also... the fox doll that had hit the little girl Wang Yiyi on the head.

The appearance of this fox made Wang Baole pause. He watched as the fox crouched on the bank, staring at the fish beneath the surface. Slowly, it reached out a paw. With a strange light in its eyes, it struck... and snatched the little fish that was Xu Yinling right out of the water!

No matter how the little fish struggled, it was futile. The little fox licked its lips and was about to put the fish into its mouth when Wang Baole spoke.

"Put her back."

The moment his voice rang out, the little fox froze. it suddenly looked up, staring right at where Wang Baole was.

One man and one fox stared at each other.

After a long while, dissatisfaction slowly surfaced in the little fox’s eyes, and the paw holding the fish tightened slightly.

"Hmm?" Wang Baole uttered the sound indifferently.

As the sound echoed, the time laws contained within the Waning Moon technique rapidly enveloped the area. The little fox trembled. The dissatisfaction in its eyes was instantly replaced by terror. It quickly dropped the fish back into the water, turned around, and fled at high speed.

Looking at the little fish that had returned to the water and the claw wounds on its body, Wang Baole shook his head. The reason he had spoken was because he had entered this past life perception through Xu Yinling. If Xu Yinling died, the perception would end. If she woke up, he would wake up as well.

He ignored the fish that was Xu Yinling and leaped with his consciousness. In an instant, he flew out of Xu Yinling’s dream and sped through the void, following the countless bubbles around him.

He was going to find the source of these bubbles!

Wang Baole, having left Xu Yinling’s dream, did not see the little fish in the water. Though it was still shaken, it endured the pain and approached the surface again, looking in the direction... where Wang Baole had departed.

It seemed to know that the being who had left had saved it.

Even if Wang Baole had known this, he wouldn't have cared. The only thought in his mind was to find the source, to see if the origin of this world would still be Wang Yiyi’s bedroom.

But the answer was no!

Within the void of countless bubbles, Wang Baole flew an unknown distance before he finally saw the structure of this world... These dream bubbles were all rotating around a vortex.

And deep within that vortex... was not Wang Yiyi’s bedroom, but...

A crystal coffin!

A massive, blood-colored centipede was still crawling upon this coffin. The moment Wang Baole looked over, the centipede twisted and transformed into that face Wang Baole had seen before, looking at him with a faint, mocking smile.

"It’s hidden with you, isn't it..."

"I will... find you, observe you. If you are suitable... I will choose you!"

The appearance of the voice was like heavenly thunder exploding in Wang Baole’s consciousness. This was because this voice... had echoed at the moment the hand dissipated in the world of the Kindlefire Divine Race!

"Next time, I’ll choose you!"

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START OF Chapter 1081
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**Chapter 1081: The Little Fox's Karma!**

As the voice echoed, Wang Baole’s consciousness trembled with an intensity that reached the absolute limit!

In this moment, he seemed to understand something, yet even more doubts surfaced in his mind. These uncertainties and misgivings, along with countless tangled thoughts, surged into his divine sense. They eventually converged into a single thought-seed that he struck out toward the blood-colored centipede!

"Who... are you, exactly?!" This thought-seed contained the mysteries of nine lives and his current, deepest bewilderment. He had a feeling that in his current state, as long as he asked, the other party would answer!

The feeling was strange, as if it were an instinct!

And the reality proved it true. After Wang Baole’s thought-seed transmitted, the face formed by the blood-colored centipede gazed at Wang Baole with an eerie light in its eyes. Its expression, a half-smile that wasn't quite a smile, exuded a pervasive weirdness and a hint of playfulness as it slowly opened its mouth.

"If someone else asked, I might not tell them. But since it is you who asks... what harm is there in telling you? I am..."

Wang Baole focused with rapt attention. He felt that all the answers he needed were about to be revealed. But at the very instant the blood-centipede face reached that point in its sentence...

A massive force suddenly lunged out from the void behind him, enveloping him in an instant. It jerked his consciousness back, dragging him away!

This pulling force was irreversible. No matter how Wang Baole struggled, it was useless. He could only watch as the blood-colored centipede receded further and further from his sight. Its voice became incredibly faint, until he could no longer hear it clearly!

"Damn it!!!" Wang Baole had rarely felt as furious and crazed as he did now. That sensation of being on the verge of knowing everything only to be interrupted by an external force caused his consciousness to hum with unprecedented fluctuations.

But compared to the pulling force enveloping him, his fury and madness were of no use. He could only watch helplessly as he moved away in an instant, watching countless bubbles whistle past him. In the next breath, his consciousness was dragged into Xu Yinling’s dream.

He merged into... the body of the small fish Xu Yinling had transformed into!

At that same moment, the small fish that was Xu Yinling lost its life. Because... its body was being crushed by a fox's paw, its life-force snuffed out by the forceful squeeze!

And this was the reason Wang Baole’s consciousness had been forced back!

The last image Wang Baole saw before his consciousness dissipated was the fox that had previously left. It had returned and crushed the fish Xu Yinling had become, killing it outright. Then, it flashed a triumphant smile at the fish—or rather, at Wang Baole’s consciousness that had just returned to the fish’s body.

In the next instant, back on the Heavenly Fate Planet, within the trial mists, Wang Baole—who was sitting cross-legged in front of Xu Yinling—snapped his eyes open. His eyes were bloodshot and filled with madness. This gave his gaze an aura of boundless killing intent, and the ferocity on his face made it seem as though a murderous aura was about to erupt from his very being!

This gaze and expression were immediately seen by the waking Xu Yinling. The daze she felt upon waking was instantly replaced by the feeling of being plunged into an ice cellar. She shuddered, her expression turning to one of sheer terror. Instinctively, she tried to retreat, her heart trembling, but a moment later, her face turned deathly pale.

She realized she had been sealed. She couldn't stand up, and her cultivation was completely suppressed. An intense, overwhelming terror surged within Xu Yinling. She even tried to circulate her secret techniques to summon the cultivators she controlled in the surroundings, only to find that the area within the reach of her techniques was completely empty!

None of her arrangements, whether overt or hidden, showed any reaction!

This caused her heart to sink further as her terror turned into panic!

She didn't know how Wang Baole had found her, but she knew that the current situation was a life-and-death catastrophe unlike any she had ever faced!

She discovered that even her Dao Star was currently unresponsive. The pressure bearing down on her from another Dao Star made it clear... she had no power to resist!

While her heart trembled and she desperately searched for a way to survive this despair, Wang Baole’s expression remained incredibly grim. His gaze seemed capable of devouring everything. He looked like he was barely suppressing the killing intent and murderous aura filling his body; a single spark could cause him to explode.

Only after a long while did Wang Baole manage to slowly force down the killing intent in his heart. However, he had already made a Dao oath without hesitation. He would repay the debt of having the truth stolen from him tenfold, a hundredfold!

"A little fox, is it... I basically know your identity now... Zi Yue!!!" Wang Baole was no fool. If he couldn't guess Zi Yue's identity after all those clues, then with such a low intellect, he would have died on the path of cultivation long ago and never reached his current level.

Though the killing intent was suppressed, the residual murderous aura in his eyes continued to churn, making Xu Yinling’s heart tremble even more violently. What shocked her even more, however, was the sentence Wang Baole had just uttered!

In those words, there were two terms that sent waves of shock through her. One was 'little fox'—the culprit who had killed her at the end of her past-life enlightenment. The second term was... the name of her mysterious Master!

This double psychological blow allowed Xu Yinling to barely regain control over her facial muscles.

"Senior... Senior Brother Wang..." Shaking, Xu Yinling squeezed out a smile, trying her best to look as charming and pitiable as possible.

"Shut up!" But before Xu Yinling could finish, Wang Baole suddenly looked up and swept an icy, cold glance over her.

Xu Yinling’s voice cut off instantly. She didn't dare say another word, her body and soul trembling. Yet, amidst this trembling... for reasons she herself didn't understand, a surge of excitement actually rose from the depths of her heart!

It was as if... the more dangerous the situation, the more she was shouted at, and the more her life and death were out of her control, the more she couldn't help but feel excited. Although these two emotions were contradictory, they manifested in her simultaneously, even bringing about some physiological reactions.

Particularly under this contradictory reaction, her mind recalled that being she had looked at through the surface of the water in her past-life enlightenment—the one who had saved her. The answer was now essentially obvious.

She was an intelligent person. Based on Wang Baole’s behavior and his words just now, she had more or less made a judgment in her heart. He... must have used some method beyond her imagination to enter her past-life enlightenment and even influence it!

This answer filled her heart with even more horror. As her fear grew, so did her sense of excitement. Even her face began to flush a deep red. Her abnormal state was quickly noticed by Wang Baole.

Wang Baole frowned. He was in a terrible mood, and seeing Xu Yinling like this filled his eyes with disgust. He raised his right hand, intending to end their grievances then and there. But at that moment... Xu Yinling, keenly sensing that death was imminent, endured the torture of mingled excitement and fear and spoke out in a trembling, hurried voice.

"Senior Brother Wang, I can help you find my Master, Zi Yue!!"

"Truly?" Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed as he spoke indifferently.

Though his voice wasn't loud, having experienced nine reincarnations and nearly seeing the truth of the world, even his ordinary speech carried a weight of pressure that was different from before.

To be precise, his words now faintly carried the resonance of the Dao. It was the Dao of the God Race, the Dao of the Zombie, the Dao of the Demon Blade, the Dao of Resentment, and the Dao of the Little White Deer!

At the same time, it was a deeper level of the Dao gained after nearly walking out of the entire world!

Thus, when these words reached Xu Yinling’s ears, her body shook once more. She had a feeling that if she lied to Wang Baole, he wouldn't even need to strike; she would instantly suffer the destruction of both body and soul!

It was only an instinct, not necessarily a reality, but Xu Yinling didn't dare to gamble. The fact that her instincts could feel such a thing was enough to prove that this Wang Baole's gains within those nine lives were appalling.

"I would never dare to deceive Senior Brother Wang!"

Hearing her words, Wang Baole stared coldly at Xu Yinling for a long time. It wasn't until Xu Yinling’s trembling became increasingly violent that Wang Baole retracted his gaze and closed his eyes, ignoring her.

Seeing that she had escaped death for now, Xu Yinling finally let out a long breath. Her body and mind turned weak and limp. Simultaneously, because the life-and-death crisis had been temporarily averted, the suppressed excitement surged up. Her cultivation was sealed, and in her momentary lapse, she nearly became immersed in the feeling, a trace of dazed longing appearing in her eyes.

"Is she sick in the head?" Wang Baole’s brow furrowed. He raised his right hand and waved it, instantly condensing a patch of freezing cold water above Xu Yinling’s head, which splashed down upon her in a sudden drench...

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START OF Chapter 1082
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As the cold water fell, the sensation was beyond description. The sudden shift from heat to cold caused a violent jolt; Xu Yinling, whose eyes had been filled with a dazed blurring, let out a scream. Shivering, she snapped back to her senses instantly.

Her entire body trembled. Ignoring the water dripping from her hair, she looked at Wang Baole with an incredibly complex expression, unable to say a word for a long time.

"If you're awake, then immediately regulate your cultivation. The tenth day is coming soon; hurry and prepare to seek enlightenment!" Wang Baole spoke indifferently. Xu Yinling did not dare to disobey; she could only lower her head and murmur her assent.

The restrictions on her body had been partially undone by Wang Baole when the cold water fell. Although some limitations remained, they would not affect her ability to perceive her past lives.

Soon, the place where the two of them sat fell into silence. Xu Yinling remained quiet, while Wang Baole was immersed in deep thought. Although he hadn't been able to clearly hear the final words spoken by the face formed by the centipede due to the little fox's intervention, the centipede's earlier words had still revealed a vast amount of information.

"There are two possibilities... First, although I was influenced and interfered with by the opponent, the sequence of my past lives is likely correct. It was because I had the experiences of those previous nine lives that the hand the opponent transformed into said those words after killing me in my first past life..."

"The second possibility is... the interference from the centipede face blurred all cause and effect, forcibly grafting itself onto my original memories to make me believe those words were spoken by its incarnation, when in reality... there is some other reason involved!"

It was difficult for Wang Baole to judge the truth. Both possibilities existed, making it a fifty-fifty split. But compared to that, what concerned Wang Baole more was the very first sentence the opponent had spoken.

"Hidden on my body? What was it referring to? Little missy? The wishing bottle? Or something else I'm unaware of?" Wang Baole thought it over repeatedly but still found no answer.

Regardless, everything he had seen this time with Xu Yinling's help had pushed him slightly closer to the truth of this world. It felt as though the veil before his eyes was about to be completely lifted.

"There is one last chance..." Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He knew the trial would eventually end, and now only the tenth day—the tenth life—remained.

Perhaps he had a previous eleventh, twelfth, or even an eighty-ninth life, but it was clearly impossible to experience them all one by one in this trial. Therefore, to some extent, this opportunity might be the final one.

Thinking of this, Wang Baole looked down at his own body. As he raised his right hand, a crystal appeared in his palm. This object... was exactly what Heavenly Daoist had sent over, an opportunity his master, Flame Patriarch, had exchanged for him.

"Perhaps for me, it isn't necessarily the last time..." Wang Baole's eyes narrowed. By calling the other party 'Old Ape' earlier, the restrictions of this place had ceased to affect him. This made Wang Baole suddenly feel that the opportunity his master had secured for him might have been intentionally granted by Heavenly Daoist.

"The Old Ape is Heavenly Daoist, the fox is Purple Moon, so the little tiger... who is it?" After some deliberation, Wang Baole had several candidates in mind, but he couldn't be certain and would need to verify it later.

Thinking of this, Wang Baole took a deep breath, suppressed his stray thoughts, and closed his eyes. He circulated his cultivation to maintain his peak state, waiting silently.

Thus, an hour passed... that ancient, weathered voice that had appeared multiple times surfaced once more within the minds of the few remaining cultivators in the trial.

"The tenth day, the tenth life!"

As the voice appeared, the surrounding mist remained unchanged in Wang Baole's eyes. This time, he didn't even feel the sensation of sinking. On the contrary, the guiding light on Xu Yinling's body flared brilliantly, and she sank into enlightenment with incomparable smoothness.

"If she can do it, why can't I?" Wang Baole frowned. But if he couldn't perceive it, he couldn't perceive it; it was difficult to force. After a long silence, seeing the guiding light on his own body beginning to dim despite its initial flare, Wang Baole sighed. He raised his right hand to perform a hand seal, preparing to use the Dark Dream to attempt to enter Xu Yinling’s perception again.

But just then... the crystal given to him by Heavenly Daoist suddenly erupted with an intense light. This brilliant radiance directly influenced the guiding light, pouring new strength into the fading glow. It flared up violently once more, the intensity of the light surpassing anything seen before. It transformed into a sea of light that completely enveloped Wang Baole's figure.

As he was submerged, Wang Baole’s mind shook. In his eyes, the surrounding mist finally began to rotate. That sensation of sinking... had finally arrived!

What shocked him even more was that this sensation of sinking was far more intense than any of the previous times. After an unknown amount of time, a boom echoed in Wang Baole’s mind, and his consciousness... vanished.

There was no cold.
There was no darkness.
There was no excruciating pain.

The sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze blew, swaying the willows by the river. The willow branches brushed against the water’s surface, creating ripples that spread outward. Soon, these were met by more ripples created by a rowing boat in the distance, merging into tiny waves before dispersing again.

Spreading out along with the ripples was a loud, clear song. One didn't need to hear the lyrics clearly; the melody alone conveyed the joy of a fisherman's life. It blended into the noisy chatter of the crowd, infecting the people coming and going along both banks of the river.

The calls of street vendors, the exchange of pleasantries, the shouts of acrobats, the laughter of men and women, and the crowing of roosters—accompanied by the occasional bark of a dog—all these sounds seemed to fuse together in an instant, raising the curtain on this entire world.

It also woke a young man dressed as a scholar, who was currently napping at a table in a riverside teahouse.

The young man was lean and quite ordinary-looking, but when he opened his eyes, they possessed a certain spirit. He stretched lazily, then picked up a black wooden block from the table and brought it down with a crisp *clack*.

"Waiter, is the crowd all here?" The young man feigned a cough. This semi-outdoor teahouse wasn't large to begin with, and one could see everything at a glance. Nearly every seat was taken. Yet, the young man maintained his posture and called out in a resonant, rhythmic voice.

"They’re here, they’re here! Mr. Sun, you’ve finally woken up. Everyone’s been here for quite a while, but we didn't dare disturb you. We were thinking of waiting a bit longer." The teahouse waiter was a clever-looking youth. Hearing the call, he ran over quickly with a towel over his shoulder and a large teapot in hand. He wiped the table a few times, filled the young man's cup, and offered a flattering smile.

At the surrounding tables, the people who had arrived long ago let out a chorus of laughter upon seeing the young man wake up.

"Mr. Sun, we’ve been here for ages. Now that your nap is over, how about a segment?"

"Mr. Sun, give us a segment!"

"That’s right, Mr. Sun! Last time you mentioned two 'big somethings' fighting for a Celestial Seat. After I went home, my heart was itching so much I couldn't wait to hear the rest."

The crowd chimed in, making the teahouse even more lively. Seeing this, the young man gave a dry cough and pointed at the person who had just spoken.

"Big something? Those are called 'Mighty Beings'!"

"Right, right, Mighty Beings! Mr. Sun, please start quickly, everyone is anxious!"

The young man’s gaze swept across the room, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He picked up the black wooden block and slammed it onto the table. After the crisp sound echoed, he swayed his head and began to speak in a rhythmic, cadence-filled voice.

"Last time we spoke of ninety million immeasurable kalpas before the destruction of the Vast Expanse Dao Domain. Beyond the Primordial Heavens and Earth, in the depths of the endless and foreign starry sky, two Mighty Beings who had existed since the dawn of time were fighting for the Celestial Seat!"

"You must know that the Dao has its affinities, the Universe has its laws, and the stars have their regulations. Therefore, whether it be Celestial, God, Devil, Demon, or Ghost, there can only be one supreme being for each... and among them, the Celestial ranks first, capable of suppressing all!"

"Therefore..."

"The struggle between these two was world-shaking, echoing through the universe!"

"Countless star systems were destroyed because of it, and countless laws collapsed. From the ninety million heavens above to the ninety million earths below, all crumbled and restarted time and time again within their struggle!"

The young man swayed his head, speaking with a silver tongue about myths the crowd had never heard before. Because of his unique voice and the occasional *clack* of the wooden block on the table, the myths he told seemed to weave a dreamlike image in the minds of the listeners. People couldn't help but become lost in the story, and before they knew it, time had slipped away into dusk.

"...Then, the Mighty Being who called himself Luo used a move called 'Nothingness becomes a Prison.' But little did he expect that the other one would unfold an even higher level of profound technique, which was... to decree that the ninety million Heavenly Daos were guilty, and command all the Daos to set out on a campaign..."

Reaching this point, the young man saw that the crowd was completely enthralled. In his pride, he pressed the black wooden block onto the table with a final *clack*.

"If you wish to know what happened next, you must wait for the next installment. My fellow townsfolk, this Sun is hungry and is off to have some wine. I shall wait for you here tomorrow at noon." With that, the young man laughed heartily and stood up with pride. He pocketed the silver coins brought by the waiter, cupped his fists to the frustrated crowd whose curiosity had been piqued to the limit, then turned and walked out of the teahouse with a rhythmic stride, humming a little tune.

From afar, his tune drifted back, echoing outside the teahouse as he walked further and further away.

"Demons are obsessions, rarely seen in samsara,"
"The Demon's fate seals the heavens amid mountains and seas,"
"None know for whom the thought of Eternity began,"
"Half-god, half-immortal, all is turned upside down!"

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START OF 0073_串休一天.txt
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"The older the ginger, the spicier it truly is." Having witnessed this play of illusions with his own eyes, Wang Baole returned to the pagoda feeling as though he had truly gained some insight today.

Through a series of maneuvers involving the Flame Patriarch and his clones, Xie Haiyang had been completely and unconsciously bound to the Flame Galaxy. As for Xie Haiyang himself, even if he didn't understand the cause and effect, there was effectively no downside. In fact, to a certain extent, it was highly beneficial.

The Flame Patriarch had simply guided and transformed what Xie Haiyang considered a transactional relationship into a true sense of sect belonging. After all, belonging was a complex emotion; touched, conflicted, detached, or intimate—all of these could increase the sense of belonging to varying degrees. Once the full spectrum of emotions was present, it would form thousands of inextricable threads.

"Later on, it will likely be the First Senior Sister or Master, or perhaps the Seventh or Fifteenth, stepping in to rescue Xie Haiyang when he's in danger, thereby completely branding the relationship into his heart... Until one day, even if the truth is revealed, not only will it not affect the relationship, but it will instead make Xie Haiyang’s sense of belonging even stronger."

While sighing with emotion, a surge of warmth rose in Wang Baole’s heart. He knew clearly that everything his Master was doing couldn't possibly be for himself; it was obviously all for Wang Baole!

"Teaching me the Flame Spirit Curse, then arranging a disciple nephew for me... Master, oh Master, just what are you preparing for?" Wang Baole fell silent. As a bystander who had seen all this, an uneasy feeling inexplicably surfaced in his heart.

This unease did not come from himself, but from the Flame Patriarch.

Clearly, Wang Baole had no answers for now. With a light sigh, he suppressed his doubts and began to immerse himself once more in the cultivation of the Flame Spirit Curse, studying the details of the technique.

Time passed slowly, and another three months went by. During these three months, Wang Baole managed to achieve a basic level of proficiency in the Flame Spirit Curse. As for Xie Haiyang, he had grown smarter. No matter who tried to bait him, his mouth was full of nothing but praise for the Patriarch, and he worked even harder as Wang Baole’s attendant.

Wang Baole hardly needed to collect his own cultivation resources. As soon as he spoke, Xie Haiyang would surely deliver them. His flattering rhetoric became increasingly skilled, always making Wang Baole feel incredibly comfortable. Consequently, in his good mood, Wang Baole spoke to his Master, asking for Xie Haiyang to accompany him to offer birthday congratulations.

After the Flame Patriarch agreed, the two prepared for several days. Then, under the watchful eyes of the First Senior Sister and the others, they boarded a spirit boat of the Flame Galaxy and left the Flame Main Star.

As the Successor of the Flame Galaxy, Wang Baole’s travels were naturally different than before. He was accompanied by Stellar-grade powerhouses from other civilizations within the Flame Galaxy, acting as his Dao protectors.

A total of eight Stellar-grade powerhouses traveled with Wang Baole. Their mission was to ensure his safety throughout the journey. Among them was the Stellar-grade expert from the Scorching Spirit Civilization.

Combined with Xie Haiyang’s own protective forces, the power surrounding Wang Baole was comparable to a significant faction.

No one found this display of grandeur excessive. Currently, Wang Baole represented the Flame Galaxy; as its Successor, he had to maintain such a presence.

Thus, when they left the Flame Galaxy and sped through the starry sky, the number of spirit boats reached over a hundred. Not only were there eight Stellar-grade experts, but there were also many Planet-grade cultivators. The massive procession stirred powerful fluctuations in the starry sky as they sped toward the Planet of Destiny, where Heavenly Dharma Senior resided.

Inside the main boat at the center, Wang Baole wore a magnificent crimson robe and golden war boots. His aura was staggering and noble. At that moment, he held a jade slip, his eyes filled with contemplation.

Xie Haiyang wore a similarly styled outfit, though the color was noticeably lighter. Standing beside Wang Baole, he spoke in a low voice.

"Disciple Nephew, this Heavenly Dharma Senior is just like our Grandmaster within the Never-Ending Dao Domain. He is a mighty figure the Never-Ending Clan is unwilling to provoke. In fact, because the former excels at divination and can help people alter the laws of heaven and earth, he has friends across the entire Dao Domain and receives even more respectful treatment from the Never-Ending Clan!"

"His cultivation is equal to Grandmaster's. He also possesses a secret treasure called the Mark of Destiny. With this treasure, Heavenly Dharma Senior's cultivation and combat strength receive an infinite boost... Some speculate he is comparable to the Universe Realm!"

"Therefore, for his old senior's birthday feast, factions from all sides will send representatives. Besides the necessary etiquette, there is another reason: at every birthday feast, Heavenly Dharma Senior sets up a trial. The trial changes every year, but no matter what it is, whoever gains his recognition will be granted the qualification to flip through the Book of Destiny!"

"The Book of Destiny?" Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed. Before setting out, the Flame Patriarch had summoned him and informed him that he had exchanged something for an opportunity for Wang Baole to perceive the Mark of Destiny at Heavenly Dharma Senior's place. But his Master hadn't mentioned the Book of Destiny!

He already knew about the former from his Master. He understood that perceiving the so-called Mark of Destiny would allow him to cross the long river of time. From the shadows of the past, he could condense countless versions of himself from different time periods and gather them at the moment of perception, allowing his life force to receive a summarized increase and explosion!

This kind of perception determined the length of time he could trace back based on his aptitude and potential. This was Heavenly Dharma Senior's supreme divine ability; every time it was performed, it caused irreversible damage to himself.

To have Heavenly Dharma Senior perform it once for him—though he didn't know what price the Flame Patriarch had paid—he could imagine it must have been extremely heavy.

Hearing Wang Baole’s words, Xie Haiyang’s answer interrupted his thoughts about his Master.

"The Book of Destiny is a miraculous object whose origin no one knows. This item grows on the Planet of Destiny. Even the God Emperors cannot take it away. Only Heavenly Dharma Senior can exercise limited control over the book. There are rumors... that Heavenly Dharma Senior himself is the artifact spirit of this book, but no one knows if that's true."

"Flipping through this book, each page represents five hundred years. One can see fragmented images of their own future... This prophetic divine ability is indescribably powerful. If it weren't for the fact that people have confirmed the images shown are only one of infinite possibilities and not a certainty—and that one cannot fix the view on specific content but can only see random displays—its power would be even more terrifying. Furthermore, every page flipped consumes one's own life force, so one cannot check too much!"

"Seeing the future?" Wang Baole’s eyes widened, and his breathing became ragged as he looked at Xie Haiyang.

Xie Haiyang nodded.

"We cultivators are all full of confusion about the future. We don't know what will happen, when death will arrive, or if our cultivation can break through. There are too many unknowns. Precisely because of this, the trial during Heavenly Dharma Senior's birthday feast is highly sought after. Everyone wants to gain the qualification to flip the Book of Destiny and see their future..."

"Even if the shadows of the future are shown randomly, and even if it's only one out of ten million possibilities, it can still serve as a massive guide for oneself!"

Wang Baole pondered for a long while before nodding. He was very intrigued by this Book of Destiny; he also wanted to see what his future would look like.

"The past, the future..." Wang Baole murmured in his heart, feeling a sense of anticipation for this trip to the Planet of Destiny. Several days later, as the spirit boats sped through the sky and completed thirty percent of the journey to the Planet of Destiny, dozens of massive blue ships appeared ahead of them!

Each of these giant ships was as large as a planet. While being vast and staggering, dozens of them lined up gave an even more shocking feeling. Everywhere they passed, the starry sky distorted.

Furthermore, a significant number of cultivators could be seen moving back and forth between the various ships. It was very bustling. On every single ship, there was a large flag with a clearly written character... Xie!

"It's my family's interstellar bazaar. It serves for transport, passenger travel, and material trade!" The moment he saw these ships, Xie Haiyang’s eyes narrowed. After speaking slowly, he immediately took out a jade slip. After sending a message, he laughed and looked at Wang Baole.

"Sixteenth Uncle, the destination of this interstellar bazaar isn't far from the Planet of Destiny. Shall we head up and take a look? They are faster, and it gives your nephew a chance to show some filial piety?"

Wang Baole glanced at Xie Haiyang, a smile appearing on his face. This was too coincidental. If Xie Haiyang hadn't prepared this in advance, Wang Baole wouldn't believe it. However, the gesture still made him feel very comfortable, so he nodded.

"Let’s go!"

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END OF 0073_串休一天.txt
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START OF Chapter 1083
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Chapter 1083: Sun De!

Watching the young man’s receding figure slowly vanish into the crowd, the listeners inside the teahouse sighed with emotion. They occasionally discussed the plot of the story amongst themselves. Even though the tale had reached a stopping point, the atmosphere was more heated than before.

“I bet that mighty expert named Luo will eventually win. Just think about it—turning the entire void into a prison. Even just thinking about that divine ability makes one feel it is extraordinary.”

“Impossible! Villains must die. This guy named Luo clearly isn't any good. The other one will be the final victor!”

“But Mr. Sun has been telling this story for half a month now. Why hasn't he mentioned the other person’s name yet?”

“Rather than what the other person is called, I’m more curious about how Mr. Sun’s brain is wired. To be able to tell a story that makes one so unable to stop listening...”

“Exactly! Proprietor, where exactly did this Mr. Sun come from?”

As the crowd discussed, tea sales increased, making the waiter even busier. The proprietor’s face was filled with smiles. Hearing someone ask a question, he coughed and poured himself a cup of tea.

“Speaking of Mr. Sun, he is quite an eccentric man. I heard him say that he originally passed the imperial exams and became a Juren, but his heart was not set on a career in officialdom. Instead, he wished to travel ten thousand miles, observe the lives of the common people, and witness the changing of the sun and moon. His ultimate goal is to record a hundred-year history of our dynasty. This elderly gentleman was passing through this area, and only after I pleaded with him for a long time did he agree to stay for a while. You are all fortunate to hear his stories; this is something worth passing down for a lifetime.”

Hearing the proprietor’s words, the listeners all showed expressions of admiration. They discussed the plot further until dusk when, as new guests arrived, they departed one after another.

As they left, the Mr. Sun they so admired had already returned to the inn where he lived. Along the way, many people smiled and greeted him upon seeing him. Even the inn's staff did the same; seeing him return, a waiter hurriedly ran over with great attentiveness.

“Mr. Sun is back! What would you like to eat today?”

“The usual signature Three Treasures of your establishment.” The young man named Sun struck a pose and smiled slightly. After nodding to the waiter, he swayed his head and entered his own room. As he closed the door, he heard the waiter’s loud voice outside calling out the order.

The moment he entered the room, his posture vanished instantly. He sat sideways in a chair like a little hooligan, one leg crossed over the other. He placed the black wooden clapper on the table, then quickly pulled some silver from his robe. He toyed with it excitedly and even bit it to confirm the silver was genuine. The excitement in his expression grew even more pronounced.

“Who would have thought? Storytelling is actually this profitable! The local customs here are simple and honest; this is a good place!” The young man named Sun chuckled. Excitement and smugness radiated from his entire body, his eyes shining as he began to ponder how to make even more money here.

In truth, this young man’s real name was Sun De. He was not a Juren as the teahouse proprietor had claimed. He was originally from the capital. Although he had studied, his mind was too scattered. While he didn't commit petty theft, he spent his time lingering between gambling dens and courtesan houses, hopelessly obsessed. His family's originally decent fortune had been squandered by him, and he had failed the imperial examinations several times. Forget being a Juren, he wasn't even a Xiucai; to this day, he was still just a Tongsheng.

Eventually, he fell deep into gambling debt and could no longer survive in the capital. He was forced to flee his hometown in desperation. Along the way, relying on his glib tongue to cheat and swindle, he had nothing but the clothes on his back and nearly empty pockets before arriving here.

However, fate seemed to finally treat him a bit better after he arrived in this remote little county town. On his first day here, he actually had a dream. In the dream, he saw a mythological world. After waking up, he thought about it for a long time and tried to find a teahouse to tell a segment of the story from his dream.

He never expected... that the story itself was so legendary that, combined with his gift of gab, it became an instant hit. The teahouse proprietor saw the business opportunity and immediately recruited him. The two hit it off, and Sun De took the opportunity to fabricate an identity. Thus, the proprietor not only arranged an inn for him but also invited him to tell stories every day.

Half a month had passed. As the story unfolded, his fame in this small county town skyrocketed. He could be said to have gained both fame and fortune, making his life very comfortable.

“I don’t know how much longer that story in the dream is. I should tell it slower and in smaller portions from now on. That way, the water flows long.” Sun De blinked, pondering this matter. Before long, hearing a knock at the door, he quickly hid the silver, sat up straight, and put on his scholarly pose again, speaking indifferently.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and the inn waiter entered enthusiastically, carrying the dishes and a jar of wine. After quickly placing them on the table, he asked a few more attentive questions. Upon learning that this master had no other needs, he finally left. As soon as he was gone, Sun De slumped down and began eating and drinking. Only after he was full did he pat his stomach in satisfaction.

“What a great place. Not only are the people simple, but the women in this water town are so supple. Their small waists can be held in one hand, truly a feast for the eyes. It’s a pity... having just arrived, it’s not good to immediately go to a courtesan house to experience it, or the gambling dens...” Sun De rubbed his hands. After restraining himself for a long while, he decided to put off the gambling for now.

“The most important thing right now is to hurry and see the new story.” Thinking of this, Sun De carefully took off his clothes, folded them neatly and placed them aside, and flicked off the dust. Then he lay on the bed and gradually fell asleep.

As he drifted into deep sleep, the mythological dream slowly unfolded before his eyes once more.

In this way, time slowly passed. The story in Sun De’s dreams reached its climax alongside his daily storytelling...

“The struggle between those two caused the Void Prison to collapse, and ninety million Heavenly Daos crumbled. A storm swept through the entire universe...”

“Then, the mighty expert who condemned the Heavenly Dao transformed into ninety million avatars. Within ninety million worlds, he deployed a heaven-reaching method. Luo did the same, transforming into ninety million avatars to battle him through life and death, through endless reincarnation. In every life, they would awaken from a state of confusion and continue to play out a battle without beginning or end!”

“In the long river of time, their figures are everywhere. Their struggle seems to have no end. Sometimes they transform into mortals in a life-and-death battle, sometimes into wild beasts devouring each other desperately, and sometimes into cultivators, using domains as stakes to fight once more!”

“Countless geniuses are their incarnations; countless legends are derived from them... and the incarnations of these two always contain Karma. Before awakening from their confusion, they are sometimes man and woman, sometimes father and son, sometimes master and disciple, sometimes brothers... until after ninety million infinite kalpas, the appearance of the Cangmang Dao Domain and the Weiyang Dao Domain. This is a crucial point in time. Because of their struggle, at this moment, after experiencing countless lives and countless kalpas, it has reached the moment that will decide victory and defeat!”

As Sun De’s story reached its climax, his fame in this small county town reached its peak. Every day, not only were the seats in the teahouse full, but the outside was the same. All of this caused him to rise from a small-time gambling wretch a few months ago to a considerable height in an instant.

Along with this came invitations from the wealthy families in the county. In this short period, Sun De experienced the feeling of being a celebrity. What made him even more excited was one wealthy family that had no sons with academic degrees. Perhaps they took a fancy to Sun De’s fame, or perhaps they favored his supposed status as a Juren. After learning that Sun De was not married, they actually had the idea of betrothing their daughter to him. They asked for his birth characters and noted down his fake ancestral records.

That woman had fair skin, a beautiful face, and a moving figure. In this small county town, she was considered a refined lady from a great house. Sun De’s eyes nearly popped out upon seeing her, and his heart was itching with desire.

However, he knew he wasn't really a Juren. If someone put their heart into investigating his background, they would eventually find the truth. Thus, after thinking it over, Sun De spread the news that he was about to leave and return to his hometown to get married.

Once this news came out, because the story wasn't finished, all the listeners became anxious. The wealthy family with the marriage proposal was even more anxious. Under the urging of friends and relatives and their own desires, they were unwilling to give up this opportunity. Without even waiting for the results of their investigation, they directly decided on the marriage.

With the announcement of this marriage, Sun De became even more like a fish in water in this small town. On the day of the wedding, when he was stumbling drunk and lifted his bride’s veil to look at that moving and charming little face, Sun De’s heart grew hot. He felt that the best choice he had ever made in his life was coming here.

Carrying the influence of the alcohol, Sun De lunged forward... As for the possibility of being exposed later, although Sun De was apprehensive, his gambling nature was great. He felt he could take a gamble. As long as his story remained exciting enough, even if he was exposed, it wouldn't cause too much damage.

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END OF Chapter 1083
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START OF Chapter 1084
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Chapter 1084: Luo Tian Fears the Immortal!

And indeed, that was the reality. As the marriage took place and Sun De’s storytelling progressed, his true background was eventually uncovered by the wealthy family. Though they were furious, the deed was done. Furthermore, Sun De’s fame had not only taken this small county by storm, but had spread to all the surrounding counties.

Thus, the wealthy family could only endure it. They even used their influence and spent a considerable amount of silver to help him cover up his false identities.

However, the price was that while Sun De was respected by those outside, his status within the household plummeted. Because he knew he was in the wrong, he willingly accepted their rebukes. Even his beautiful wife’s attitude toward him changed; she began to order him around like a servant. Yet, in his eyes, even when the beauty frowned, she was still beautiful.

Sun De loved his wife to his very marrow. He felt that being able to marry such a woman in this life was a blessing he had accumulated over several lifetimes of virtue.

While Sun De carefully served his parents-in-law and his wife, he also intended to turn over a new leaf. He broke his habit of going to the gambling dens and swore to himself that he would never step foot in a gambling house or a brothel again.

He even picked up his books again, intending to put in the effort alongside his storytelling to participate in the imperial examinations once more. He wanted to earn his status legitimately. While this approach brought a measure of comfort to his father-in-law, his wife was unimpressed. Her temper became increasingly arrogant, and the contempt in her eyes even began to carry a hint of disgust.

Sun De didn’t mind. He believed that as long as he was sincere, he would eventually cause his wife to become as virtuous as she had been when they first married. But fate… seemed to turn its gaze away from Sun De at this moment.

The day finally came when his story reached its end.

“Ninety million infinite kalpas mark one beginning and one end. Within this beginning and end, the Dao is born and the Dao is extinguished; the universe is birthed and the universe dies; stars fall and the void vanishes… This is the First Ring!”

“Last time, we spoke of those two great experts who fought for an entire Ring. As the First Ring dissipated and the Second Ring began, their struggle finally reached its conclusion. Within those ninety million worlds, Luo’s countless incarnations were defeated and destroyed in ninety-nine percent of cases, causing the Immortal Position to tilt completely toward the other person. And that person… finally obtained his title at that moment. He called himself… the Ancient Immortal!”

Inside the teahouse, Sun De placed the black wood block in his hand onto the table. It let out a crisp *clack* that echoed throughout the building.

Even though the place was packed with people, everyone was listening with rapt attention, so the sound of the wood hitting the table spread clearly.

“At the start of the Second Ring, the first infinite kalpa was named the Wei Yang Dao Domain. The second infinite kalpa that followed was the Vast Expanse Dao Domain… A war marking the start of the Second Ring broke out between these two Great Dao Domains!”

“Though the start of the war between these two Dao Domains had nothing to do with those two great experts, its conclusion was directly linked to them. Because this point in time was exactly when the struggle for the Immortal Position underwent a reversal!”

“The Ancient Immortal appeared to have won, but he underestimated Luo!”

“Luo had been setting a trap. A trap that spanned ninety million infinite kalpas, laid from the very moment their struggle began. The reason the void was turned into a prison was to force the Ancient Immortal to pass judgment upon the Heavenly Dao, thereby causing the ninety million worlds to collapse and forcing their struggle onto the level of ninety million incarnations.”

“It appeared that within those ninety million worlds, Luo’s ninety million incarnations fell and perished one by one across time. It appeared that the Immortal Position was tilting toward the Ancient One. But all of this… was also part of Luo’s plan!”

“Luo was waiting… waiting for the end of the First Ring. Because the moment of its end—the moment the Ancient Immortal believed he had certainly won—was the only opportunity Luo had been waiting an entire Ring for!”

“This opportunity appeared during the war between the two Dao Domains at the collapse of the First Ring and the start of the Second! Luo perished, the Ancient Immortal emerged victorious, and the divine sense transformed from the ninety million clones returned!”

“But in the moment before his return could fully coalesce, a sudden and violent change occurred!”

“Luo… had not perished. Though his ninety million incarnations were destroyed, the karma still existed. It was the karma of brotherhood, the karma of love between man and woman, the karma of master and disciple, the karma of parents… Utilizing the karma between the ninety million incarnations and the Ancient One, and utilizing the connection between the two that could no longer be severed in time, Luo usurped his place and attempted to possess him!”

“Because the goal of Luo’s plan, which spanned ninety million infinite kalpas and an entire Ring, was never the Immortal Position. He had only one goal, and that was… the Ancient Immortal’s divine soul and physical body!”

“Their fundamental goals were different to begin with. Add to that the fact that one was calculating while the other was unaware, plus a plan that lasted an entire Ring… how could the Ancient One not lose? The process of his divine sense returning was the process of Luo using him to be resurrected!”

“But the Ancient One was also extraordinary. Though he suffered a crushing defeat and his divine sense was forced to return and gather uncontrollably under Luo’s interference—allowing Luo to seize his soul and body to be reborn—he still managed to have a single strand of divine sense escape. It did not return, but instead shattered the void and flew… to the battlefield of the Vast Expanse Dao Domain and the Wei Yang Dao Domain!”

“Because of his escape, although Luo obtained his body and plundered his divine soul, the soul was incomplete. The Immortal Position was the same. Therefore, he could not be considered a true Immortal. Furthermore, because of this near-identical origin, that remnant soul of the Ancient Immortal became… Luo’s only flaw!”

“However, because that remnant soul was too fragmented, it was muddled and senseless, as if it had lost its mind. Yet, as a great expert, even when in an absolute disadvantage and reduced to a mere remnant soul, the Ancient One performed a heaven-shaking technique in a fleeting moment of clarity before falling into muddledness. Using the beginning of the Second Ring as a foundation and the future end of the Second Ring as a time limit, he condensed a curse!”

“This curse states… that if Luo falls, the Ancient One shall persist. But if the Ancient One dies, Luo himself shall collapse!”

“Until the end of the Second Ring, the curse will remain in effect. Therefore, from that time on, a saying has been passed down: Luo Tian fears the Immortal! And the true Immortal Position… remains empty to this day!” As Sun De spoke to this point, he struck the table once more with the black wood block. The sound echoed, causing the entranced audience to gasp.

“However, the story… is not over!” Sun De himself felt a sense of melancholy. When he saw all of this in his dreams, his entire being had been submerged in it, as if he had lived through countless lifetimes within the story.

“The first infinite kalpa of the Second Ring, which is the Wei Yang Dao Domain, was powerful enough to launch a war of extermination against the Vast Expanse Dao Domain. Naturally, it had its reasons for confidence!”

“And indeed, that war proved it. The once-magnificent Vast Expanse Dao Domain suffered a total defeat. Its living beings were slaughtered, and everyone perished. From then on, it drifted in the endless Vast Expanse like a ghostly realm of the nine underworlds. Occasionally, the living would stumble into it, where they could seemingly hear countless wails and cries of grief!”

“As for the Wei Yang Dao Domain, though it won a great victory, it likewise had no future. Because the Ancient Immortal’s remnant soul had fled there, the entire Dao Domain was sealed by Luo, who had chased it through the void. Together with the Ancient Immortal’s remnant soul, it was transformed into an eternal stone tablet, suppressed forever in the depths of the starry sky, becoming a legend!”

“Luo cannot destroy the Ancient One, nor does he dare to merge with the cursed remnant soul. But he can wait… wait for the end of the Second Ring. When that time comes… it will be the moment he devours the remnant soul, completes himself, and becomes the one and only Immortal!”

“And within this Second Ring… several people appeared one after another. The Devil’s obsession leaves reincarnation thin; the Demon’s life seals the heavens amidst mountains and seas. Unknowing from whom the Eternal thought arose; half-god, half-immortal, topsy-turvy!” Sun De spoke softly, bringing the story from his dreams to a close.

For a long time after he finished, the teahouse remained silent, both inside and out. It felt a bit oppressive, much like the dark clouds currently gathering in the sky. After a long while, Sun De gave a light sigh. He touched the black wood block in his hand, lifted it, and let it fall onto the table one last time.

*Clack!*

The echo seemed crisper than ever before, spreading in all directions and causing the listeners to wake from the story. However, a great deal of daze still remained in their eyes, as if it would take a long time before they could truly walk out of this tale of Luo and the Ancient One.

Sun De, too, felt his interest waning. He stood up silently, gave a deep bow to the surrounding listeners, and walked out of the teahouse…

On the streets of the small county, there was a sense of daze in Sun De’s eyes as well. The story had ended, but his own story was just beginning. He didn’t know what he would rely on next to maintain his income, to keep up his dignified appearance in public, and to preserve the final shred of his wife’s tolerance at home.

Because… after the story in his dream ended half a month ago, no new dreams had appeared since.

In the silence, Sun De’s daze was tinged with panic. He felt very uneasy. He instinctively felt around his person and eventually pulled out that black wood block, stroking it gently…

“If there are no more dreams, then I will create my own stories. I can still take the exams for a government post. Life will get better. Sun De, you can do this!!” Sun De took a deep breath, hope and anticipation gathering in his eyes.

But the somber sky began to rain at that moment. Cold raindrops fell onto Sun De’s body. It was very, very cold… as if it intended to completely extinguish all of his hope and anticipation.

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END OF Chapter 1084
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START OF Chapter 1085
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Chapter 1085: The Old Beggar!

Time flowed. Thirty years had passed since the end of Sun De’s story about the struggle for the Immortal position between Luo and Gu.

Thirty years was essentially half a lifetime for a mortal. Too many changes could occur; too many turning points could pass. In this small county town, while batches of children were born, grew up, married, and had children of their own, there were also batches of people who declined, grew frustrated, aged, and eventually died.

What remained unchanged was the county town itself. Be it the buildings, the city walls, the government yamen, or... that teahouse from years ago.

It still maintained its former appearance. Even if there was some damage, the overall structure hadn't changed much. It was just that the houses were missing a few roof tiles, the city walls were missing a few bricks, the yamen courtyard was missing a few plaques, and... the teahouse was missing the storyteller of old.

However, the county town had gained new people and things. There were more shops, the city walls had gained watchtowers, the yamen courtyard had gained a drum, the teahouse had gained a new waiter, and... under the East City Bridge, there was a new beggar.

The beggar had a head of white hair and filthy clothes. His hands looked as if the grime had grown into his skin. He leaned against the wall behind him, a splintered wooden table placed before him. Upon the table sat a black woodblock. Currently, the old beggar was staring at the sky as if in a daze. His eyes were cloudy, looking as if he were nearly blind. His entire body was filthy, but his wrinkled face... was very clean. Very clean.

It seemed this was his only remaining shred of dignity.

But this clean face was out of place among the other beggars, and equally discordant with the crowds passing by and the bustling noise surrounding him.

He didn't seem to care. After a long while, as dark clouds began to gather in the sky, a gurgling sound emerged from the old beggar’s throat. He lowered his head with a sound that was half-laugh and half-sob, picked up the black woodblock on the table, and brought it down with a crisp smack, just like in the old days.

"Last time, we spoke of ninety million limitless kalpas before the destruction of the Vast Expanse Dao Domain. Out beyond the Black and Yellow of heaven and earth, in the depths of that endless, strange, and distant starry sky, two mighty beings who had existed since the dawn of the primordial era fought one another for the Immortal position!"

"The one named Luo raised his right hand and snatched the Heavenly Dao, preparing to crush it..."

"But Gu was one step ahead, and in a flash, he actually reversed time..." The old beggar's voice rose and fell in a rhythmic cadence. He swayed his head, seemingly immersed in the story. It was as if in his dim eyes, he didn't see the hurried, indifferent crowd, but rather the rapturous gazes within the teahouse from years ago.

Even though his voice drew the dissatisfaction of the other beggars around him, he continued to strike the table with his black woodblock, swaying his head as he continued his storytelling.

"Old man, you've been telling this story for thirty years. Can't you change it to something else?"

"You there, Sun! Shut your mouth. You’ve disturbed my nap. Do you want another beating!?" The voices of dissatisfaction grew stronger. Eventually, a fierce-looking middle-aged beggar stepped forward, grabbed the old beggar's clothes, and glared at him.

"Old Sun, do you still think you're the Teacher Sun from back then? I’m warning you, if you disturb my dreams again, you can... get the hell out of here!"

Though the old beggar’s eyes were dim, he glared back, staring defiantly at the middle-aged beggar clutching his collar.

"How bold! I am Teacher Sun. I am a Juren. My name is known throughout the world! I..."

"You crazy fool!" The middle-aged beggar raised his right hand, prepared to deliver a slap, when a low shout came from the distance.

"Stop!"

Following the voice, an old man appeared from beside the bridge, slowly walking over while carrying a five or six-year-old child.

Seeing the old man approach, the middle-aged beggar quickly let go. The ferocity on his face turned into sycophancy and flattery as he spoke up.

"So it’s Squire Zhou. This lowly one offers his greetings to you, elder."

"Leave us." Squire Zhou frowned, taking out some copper coins and tossing them over. The middle-aged beggar quickly scooped them up, his smile becoming even more fawning as he retreated.

Ignoring the man, Squire Zhou looked at the old beggar with a gaze full of sentiment and complexity. The old beggar straightened his clothes and sat back down, raising his hand to smack the woodblock against the table again.

"Teacher Sun, if you have time, please tell a segment. I would like to hear again the part where Luo plotted for ninety million limitless kalpas and the final battle with Gu," Squire Zhou said softly.

The old beggar looked up, scanning Squire Zhou. After studying him for a moment, he gave a faint smile.

"So it’s the waiter boy. Is everyone here yet?"

Squire Zhou smiled at those words, seemingly lost in memory. After a long pause, he spoke.

"Teacher Sun, everyone is here. We’re all just waiting for you." As he spoke, he set down the curious child in his arms and stepped forward to wipe the table with his sleeve.

The old beggar smiled proudly. He picked up the black woodblock and struck the table with a loud *thwack*.

"Last time, we spoke of..." The old beggar's voice echoed through the bustling noise of the crowd, seemingly carrying him back to those years. Squire Zhou, sitting opposite him, seemed to be transported as well. One told the tale, the other listened. This continued until dusk. As the old beggar drifted off to sleep, Squire Zhou took a deep breath, looked at the gloomy sky, and took off his outer coat to cover the old beggar. He then bowed deeply, left behind some silver, and departed with the child.

From a distance, the child’s curious voice could be heard.

"Grandpa, who is that old beggar?"

"Him? That is Teacher Sun. Back when Grandpa was still a waiter in the teahouse, he was the teacher I admired most."

"But why is he here? Doesn't he go home?"

"Teacher Sun’s dream was to travel over ten thousand mountains and rivers to see the lives of the common people. Perhaps he is tired, so he is resting here for a while." The old man's sighing voice merged with the child’s crisp tones as they walked further and further away.

He couldn't see that behind him, the seemingly sleeping old beggar was trembling. Tears could no longer be held back by his closed eyes; they flowed down his dignified face. As the tears fell, muffled thunder rolled across the gloomy sky, and droplets of cold rain began to scatter upon the mortal world.

The raindrops were very cold, causing the old beggar to shiver as he slowly opened his dim eyes. He picked up the black woodblock from the table and caressed it; it was the only object that had accompanied him from beginning to end.

Stroking the woodblock, the old beggar looked up at the sky. He remembered the rain that fell when that story ended all those years ago.

The rain thirty years ago had been cold, devoid of warmth. Like fate itself, after the story of Gu and Luo was finished, he had no more dreams. The stories he created about Devils, about Demons, about Eternity, and about Half-Gods and Half-Immortals were not exciting enough. They went from being highly anticipated at the start to being met with impatience, and finally, no one cared to listen.

He had tried many versions, but all failed without exception. The failure of his storytelling made his position at home even more lowly. His father-in-law’s dissatisfaction and his wife’s contempt and loathing left him embittered. His only hope lay in the imperial examinations.

But... he failed those too.

Blow after blow brought Sun De to a dead end. In desperation, he could only return to telling the story of Gu and the Immortal. This allowed him to regain his former life for a short time. But as the days passed—seven years later—no matter how wonderful a story was, it couldn't overcome repetition. Gradually, once everyone had heard it and many others began to imitate him elsewhere, Sun De's path was cut off.

He lost his source of income, and gradually lost his fame and his dignity. During this time, his wife, after countless instances of loathing, took up with another man right before his eyes. When he reacted in anger, she ended the marriage directly and, with her father's support, remarried someone else.

As for Sun De, he tasted the bitterness of his past deceptions. He was severely beaten, both his legs were broken, and he was thrown out of the house. That day, it had also been raining, and it was just as cold.

He had lost his family, his career, his dignity, and his everything. He lost the use of his legs. As he lay in the rain wailing, he finally could not bear the impact. He went mad.

Or rather, he had no choice but to go mad. Because the higher his fame had been at his peak, the greater the despair of having nothing now. This gap was not something an ordinary person could endure.

After going mad, he relied on the occasional pity and handouts of former listeners to survive. Gradually, he became a beggar—a beggar who lived in his own world, still telling his stories.

Many times, he thought he was going to die. But as if refusing to accept it, he struggled to keep living, even if... the only thing accompanying him was that black woodblock.

Caressing the woodblock now, Sun De looked at the rain. He felt that today was colder than usual, as if the entire world contained only himself. Everything in his sight became blurred. Faintly, he seemed to hear many voices and see many figures.

"Teacher Sun, tell us a bit."

"That's right, Teacher Sun. We’re all itching to hear it. Don't leave us hanging, elder."

"Teacher Sun, oh our Teacher Sun, you certainly made us wait. But it was worth it!"

Hearing the voices around him and seeing those enthusiastic figures, Sun De smiled. However, as his body grew cold, his smile was gradually turning into something eternal.

But right then... he suddenly saw two figures in the crowd that were exceptionally clear. One was a white-haired, middle-aged man with sorrow in his eyes. Beside him was a little girl in red clothes. Although her clothes were festive, her face was pale and her figure was somewhat ethereal, as if she might dissipate at any moment.

The two of them sat there, gazing at him.

"I beg of you, Senior, save my daughter. I, Wang Baole, am willing to pay any price for this!" As Sun De looked on, the white-haired man stood up and bowed deeply toward him.

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END OF Chapter 1085
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START OF Chapter 1086
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The white-haired, middle-aged man’s expression was one of absolute sincerity. Upon closer inspection, one could see a deep, agonizing plea hidden beneath the thick sorrow in his eyes.

This plea matched his words; for his daughter’s sake, he was truly willing to give everything, sparing no cost. No matter the conditions, no matter the difficulty, he would fulfill them without a moment’s hesitation!

Even if… it meant trading his life for hers!

Beside him stood the little girl in red. Her face was pale, her eyes vacant, and her body flickered between being illusory and solid. She was suffused with the aura of death; perhaps "ghost" was a more accurate description for her.

All of this left the old beggar, Sun De, in a daze. His own life had been one of bitter suffering. He did not know why this person had found him or why they believed he could save anyone.

"I can’t do it." Sun De felt exhausted. He could barely keep his eyes open, and the biting cold grew stronger, making his body shiver. It felt as though all his strength was rapidly dissipating; even his voice had become incredibly weak.

The white-haired man fell silent. He slowly raised his head and gazed at the old beggar. After a long moment, a bitter expression appeared on his face. He looked at his daughter, then at Sun De, as if reaching a decision. He spoke softly.

"Senior, may I tell you a few stories?"

"Stories?" Sun De was taken aback. Hearing those words, he forced himself to focus. He gripped the black wooden board in his hand tightly and looked at the white-haired man, his dim eyes showing a hint of anticipation.

"This story takes place within the numerous Infinite Kalpas of the Second Ring. It is a story about the Barbarian, and a story about destiny…"

"The story begins with a tribe of the Barbarian Race. There was an Elder, there was Xiao Hong, and there was a promise made in the wind and snow to walk together until their hair turned white…"

Sun De listened quietly as the white-haired man spoke slowly. Through this story, Sun De seemed to see a person constantly pursuing the boundary between truth and falsehood. Amidst constant illusions, he struggled from death to life, through many cycles of reincarnation… until only one remained.

"The difference between being the only sober one while everyone else is drunk, and being the only drunk one while everyone else is sober… what is it? When the Dao reaches its limit, and only oneself remains, versus the Dao reaching its limit and only oneself is lost—what is the difference between these two?"

"What is true, and what is false? All of this… is the process of the heart’s transformation. All of this is due to obsession! When obsession reaches its peak, only the word ‘Devil’ is worthy of being its name!"

"Therefore, I call this story… the Story of the Devil. And the end of the story is that he cut off a finger of Luo Tian!"

"The Devil is obsession; in reincarnation, few remain!" Sun De’s body jolted. A bright light shone in his eyes. This story was far more brilliant than any of the versions of the story of the Devil he had tried to tell over the years.

The white-haired man remained silent and did not answer. After a long while, he spoke softly again.

"The second part of the story is also a tale of obsession. The story begins… in a place called the Suzaku Star, in a country named Zhao…"

Compared to the first, the second story told by the white-haired man had many more details. It spoke of a man who sent his clones to constantly restart the flow of time, while he himself merged into one life after another, searching for a chance to resurrect his wife!

It was a battle against gods and a struggle against Immortals. If the Heavens willed your death, I would madly snatch you back.

"Compliance is mortal, defiance is Immortal…"

"Half-god, half-Immortal, topsy-turvy!" Before the white-haired man could finish, Sun De immediately finished the line. His eyes grew even brighter. His scalp tingled as he listened; the level of detail made the story incredibly soul-shaking.

"This person also cut off a finger of Luo Tian!" the white-haired man said slowly. Then, he spoke again.

"The third part of the story takes place between the Nine Mountains and Nine Seas. It is about a scholar who, after throwing away a wishing bottle, walked out into a life of a Demon!"

The story described the scholar’s life, crossing mountains and seas, struggling in despair, and transforming into a Demon in madness. His eerie laughter carried a frenzy that made the soul tremble, accompanied by the desolation and resentment left behind in the Vast Expanse Dao Domain floating in the void!

"He once said, my life is like a Demon, wishing to seal the Heavens. He too… severed Luo Tian’s finger. He even went a step further, transforming himself into Luo Tian to comprehend his life before eventually joining the others to finally slay… Luo Tian!" The story of the Demon told by the white-haired man had fewer details than the second story, but it did not hinder Sun De’s comprehension. His eyes grew increasingly spirited, and he murmured in shock.

"So this is what it means for a Demon’s life to seal the Heavens between the mountains and seas!"

"Then I wonder, where does the Eternal Thought begin? What story is that?" Sun De’s breathing grew rapid as he looked urgently at the white-haired man.

"Senior, that story… I cannot tell," the white-haired man said softly after a long silence.

Sun De did not speak. He tightened his grip on the black wooden board, then loosened it, then tightened it again. After thinking for a long time, he seemed to understand something and nodded.

"Is there anything else you can tell me?"

"My daughter was injured. Even I… cannot save her. I searched for many people… finally, someone told me that this injury… can only be saved by the Immortal!"

"I searched all the Infinite Kalpas of the Second Ring, scouring every inch of time for traces of the Immortal, until one day, I found a stone tablet!"

"I did not hesitate to turn against others to refine a sliver of that tablet, leveraging the curse of the Infinite Kalpas to finally enter the legendary Weiyang Dao Domain where the Immortal was sealed. And then… I discovered a secret!"

"A secret regarding the Weiyang Dao Domain, a secret regarding the Immortal. I wish to use this secret in exchange for Senior saving my daughter!" A strange light gleamed in the white-haired man’s eyes as he looked at Sun De.

At that moment, Sun De also raised his head. A strange light pierced through his dim eyes. After a long silence, he spoke bitterly.

"I really want to know, but… I truly do not know how to save people. I am not some senior. I am just a storyteller…"

"As long as Senior agrees, that is enough!" Persistence showed in the white-haired man’s eyes.

Sun De sighed.

"Fine, I agree!"

The white-haired man also took a deep breath. Even he showed a glimmer of excitement in his eyes as he clasped his hands and bowed to Sun De once more!

"Thank you, Senior. The secret I discovered is that this place… is not the true Weiyang Dao Domain!"

"At the beginning of the Second Ring, the first Infinite Kalpa born was Weiyang, but it was not the true Weiyang. The true Weiyang is outside the Ring!"

As soon as those words were spoken, Sun De’s body began to tremble violently. He didn't know why he was trembling, but he couldn't control it. It was as if a consciousness was awakening and exploding within his body and soul. The world before him began to blur and crack. The figures of the white-haired man and the little girl twisted as if everything in existence was beginning to collapse!

This caused him to instinctively grip the black wooden board that had accompanied him his entire life with a death-grip. Perhaps because his strength was too great in that moment, cracks began to appear across the black wooden board. If it were a person, their body would have likely shattered; it would have been very, very painful!

As for Sun De, unfortunately… by the time the world before him completely collapsed, the awakening pulse within his soul seemed to have reached its limit. It failed to awaken successfully and instead… began to dissipate.

This was… a true dissipation.

But it was not death. Instead, it was an eternal merging into the world. Before Sun De’s consciousness vanished, he suddenly had a realization. This dissipating consciousness was perhaps the Residual Soul of Gu from the stories. The time limit of the Second Ring’s curse was likely ending, and this consciousness would never truly awaken again.

Gu had lost, because the residual soul had never awakened from its muddled state until now.

But Gu had also won, because the white-haired man said that Luo Tian had been slain.

However, he still thought of the story the man hadn’t told—the story of the Eternal Thought. But he didn't want to think about it anymore.

"I won't think about that. I'll think about myself. I've told stories my whole life, but it turns out… I was telling my own story." Sun De smiled. His body collapsed and dissipated along with the world. After he vanished, the black wooden board that had accompanied and witnessed his life remained. It was covered in countless cracks, looking as if it would fall into pieces at any moment as it dropped into the void.

Within the void, amidst the darkness and the cold, it continued to fall, fall, fall, and fall…

It seemed as if a lifetime passed, then another, then another, and another. Gradually, the cracks upon it began to heal…

Some changes, unprecedented since ancient times, slowly began to appear on its surface as the cracks mended.

Eventually, the void turned from pitch black to bright light. The starry sky transformed from deathly stillness to recovery. In this new world, the board turned into a streak of light, landing on an ordinary planet, in a forest, and into the womb of a doe that was about to give birth…

***

Author’s Note:

Ten lives—perhaps it’s a coincidence, but I’ve unknowingly written exactly one hundred thousand words for this part.

Fellow Daoists probably didn’t expect that Wang Baole wasn't Sun De, but rather that black wooden board :)

Some fellow Daoists actually said Sun De was Er Gen. In terms of cultivation, I'm not as good as him, but when it comes to writing books, he can't compare to me at all! His rank is too low, hahaha. Anyway, I’m taking my dad for a check-up tomorrow, so I’ll be taking a day off.

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END OF Chapter 1086
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START OF Chapter 1087
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Chapter 1087: Awakening!

Time flowed by. No one knew exactly how long had passed, and Wang Baole’s consciousness remained submerged. This seemingly long passage of time was, in reality, less than a single day within the trial of the Planet of Fate.

Of the twelve double-hours that made up this tenth day, eleven had already passed. Less than an hour remained before the end.

Compared to Wang Baole, several other trial-takers had already successfully gained enlightenment regarding their tenth lives and finished. However, because Wang Baole had not yet awakened, the trial continued, and the surrounding fog had not dissipated.

He was currently the only person in the fog trial who had not yet woken up.

At the spot where he was meditating, Xu Yinling sat before him. Her heart was currently churning like a stormy sea, her expression shifting in an unprecedented manner. Everything she had witnessed over these eleven double-hours had caused her internal state to shift from shock to astonishment, then to horror, until finally, she was trembling with profound awe.

She had failed to gain enlightenment regarding a tenth life, which was why she could clearly see the entire process of Wang Baole’s enlightenment. She wasn't seeing the images of his past lives, but rather the fluctuations and changes in the aura of Wang Baole as he sat there cross-legged!

In the beginning, Wang Baole’s aura was dim, almost non-existent. This had even given Xu Yinling an illusion—it felt as if the person sitting there was not a living being, but a corpse.

Perhaps describing him as a corpse wasn't quite right; it was more accurate to compare him to a dead object.

In her eyes, the Wang Baole of that moment was no longer a person, but an object. This feeling was so distinct that it shocked even Xu Yinling herself.

She didn't know what Wang Baole’s tenth life was, so countless guesses surfaced in her mind. But before she could guess for long, the aura of the cross-legged, object-like Wang Baole underwent a new change.

Though the change was slight, it was very clear. It was as if the dead object had birthed a spark of spiritual light, which gradually transformed into a dazzling radiance. During this process, the surrounding fog began to roar like muffled thunder, even beginning to truly rotate. Upon closer observation, one could see that the rotation of the fog was centered entirely on Wang Baole.

It was as if the appearance of this spiritual light within him had affected the entire range of the fog, and even influenced the Planet of Fate itself. As for how far the influence extended, Xu Yinling didn't know, but she could feel the earth trembling!

This caused Xu Yinling’s heart to transition from shock to astonishment. She couldn't imagine what kind of past-life enlightenment could cause such a staggering change. This astonishment didn't last long either; as a new change occurred, her heart surged with waves of shock, her thoughts elevating to the level of horror.

This was because… as the spiritual light on Wang Baole grew stronger and the fog and the world continued to vibrate, his expression changed. His features twisted as if he were enduring unimaginable pain, and his body began to tremble.

That wasn't the main point. The main point was that as his expression twisted, Xu Yinling saw visible cracks spreading across Wang Baole’s body like a spiderweb.

It was as if… his body was being physically squeezed by an indescribable force, about to be crushed!

As these cracks spread, the spiritual light on Wang Baole grew even more intense. Eventually, he seemed to become a massive source of light, to the point where Xu Yinling felt a stinging pain in her eyes just by looking at him.

This shook her even more fiercely. Before long, as the cracks multiplied and the spiritual light became more blinding, a new change manifested!

An aura that filled Xu Yinling with horror and made her body shake erupted directly from within Wang Baole. Instantly, Xu Yinling’s mind went blank, as if all consciousness had vanished, leaving only this ethereal aura before her!

Within this ethereality, her instinct was to prostrate herself in worship, like a mortal encountering an immortal god!

One had to remember that Xu Yinling possessed a Dao Star status. Yet even so, she was lost in this sensation. One could only imagine the extent to which the aura and fluctuations currently radiating from Wang Baole had reached!

Fortunately, this aura did not last long. The entire process lasted about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before the aura retracted inward. Everything returned to normal. Life force reappeared in Wang Baole’s body, and the cracks vanished completely.

Xu Yinling slowly woke from her ethereal state. The moment she regained her senses, her scalp felt numb as if it were about to explode. Her body shook uncontrollably. Looking down, she realized that at some point, she had actually knelt down in worship.

"This… this is…" Xu Yinling trembled. Regarding the cause and the answer to this phenomenon, she didn't even dare to think about it. Her intuition told her that she had to bury everything she had just seen in the deepest part of her heart.

She knew very well that her Dao Star had an extremely high status. Even if Wang Baole’s Dao Star was superior, it shouldn't have been able to surpass hers by that much. Yet, compared to the aura radiating from Wang Baole just now, her own Dao Star status was far inferior. It was as if, in that moment, the will of the entire world had converged within Wang Baole.

It was a bizarre feeling, purely intuitive, but it had terrified her to the point of reverence. It was as if she had seen… the center of the universe!

"I don't dare think deeper, I cannot think deeper…" Xu Yinling murmured, her body racked by wave after wave of intense trembling. It was at this moment…

Wang Baole woke up.

In Wang Baole’s perception, it felt as if the universe had shattered into a blurry void. After an unknown amount of time, at a specific moment… his consciousness returned, and he opened his eyes.

His eyes were vacant. He didn't seem to see the fog in front of him, nor did he see the cautious Xu Yinling. What he saw… was the life of a storyteller named Sun De, and… an endless, void-like darkness.

It wasn't Sun De’s perspective. It was the perspective of the black wooden board Sun De held, which had accompanied him throughout his life. He saw the hand that held him; he saw the proud, flying expression of the young Sun De; and he heard the crisp sound he made when he was picked up and struck against the table.

That sound had accompanied the entire story of Luo and Gu.

At the same time, he saw Sun De’s legs being broken in the wind and rain, saw the tears shed as he struggled in the rainwater, and heard the wails that came from his mouth.

He also saw Sun De in his later years, a madman immersed in his stories, and that final bit of dignity…

Until the appearance of that father and daughter. Until the description of those final stories. Until… his own form was pinched and cracked, witnessing… the final dissipation of the remnant soul of Gu.

And at the moment Sun De dissipated, he, the shattered board, seemed to have inherited something…

Wang Baole remained silent for a long time. Finally, with a long exhale, clarity slowly returned to his eyes.

"What was inherited… was the obsession of the unwillingness and regrets that Gu never spoke… Demons are obsessions, their cycles of reincarnation few; Monsters’ lives seal the heavens within the mountains and seas. None know from whom eternal thoughts arise; half-god, half-immortal, all turned upside down." Wang Baole murmured. It wasn't until this moment of wakefulness that he truly knew—his tenth life wasn't the storyteller Sun De, but the black wooden board in his hand.

At the same time, he understood that this world—regardless of whether it was true or false, whether it was a book or a nursery rhyme—was actually… merely inside a stone tablet.

He also knew that the Weiyang here was not the real Weiyang.

Although many truths were now known, more new questions followed. For instance, where was the real Weiyang? Were his connections with Wang Yiyi in his subsequent lives related to this life?

Furthermore… what was that blood-colored centipede…

And… his own future.

All of this left Wang Baole silent, his heart filled with complexity. On one hand, he had learned the answers regarding the world; on the other hand, it was because of his own past life.

"A black wooden board…" Wang Baole murmured softly, mocking himself. He felt that, to some extent, he might just be an Artifact Spirit born from a chance encounter, not the Child of Destiny he had once thought himself to be.

"But so what!" A moment later, a sharp light flickered in Wang Baole’s eyes. He didn't care about his past lives. He only knew that in this life, he… was called Wang Baole!

The moment this firm realization surfaced in his heart, the light in Wang Baole’s eyes intensified. It was as if his cultivation and his will had reached resonance. A humming sound echoed within him as the gift from his past-life enlightenment erupted instantly!

But at the very moment his cultivation was about to erupt, a question suddenly appeared in Wang Baole’s mind!

"Wait!!"

"How come I can't remember… when exactly did I first appear in Sun De’s hand?"

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END OF Chapter 1087
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START OF Chapter 1088
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Chapter 1088: The Trial Ends!

Wang Baole’s expression shifted. As the cultivation within his body erupted and climbed, his thoughts seemed to sharpen. Yet, no matter how keen his mind was at this moment, and no matter how he tried to recall or sense his tenth past life, he could find not a single clue regarding his meeting with Sun De!

It was as if... from the very first moment he sensed that past life, he had already appeared in Sun De's hands!

To Wang Baole, there were perhaps two possible answers to this mystery. One was that because his self in that life had been too mundane, he had possessed no consciousness before gaining the spiritual light required to become an artifact spirit, and thus had no memory of it.

But there was another possibility...

*Do Sun De—or more accurately, the Ancient Remnant Soul—and I possess an even greater karma? This would explain why, until the moment he dissipated, only I... inherited his will!* As Wang Baole thought of this, great waves rose in his heart. He did not know what the answer was, and the eruption of his cultivation at this moment did not allow him to remain distracted.

In the next instant, amidst the thunderous roars echoing within his body, his cultivation rose abruptly. In its constant ascent, it reached... the Great Circle of the Planet realm!

This was a true Great Circle. He was now only a single step away from the Stellar realm. Once he found his direction, completed the ritual, and obtained the necessary components for advancement, Wang Baole could ascend to the Stellar realm and become a powerhouse!

One had to understand that within the entire Weiyang Dao Domain, while Planet realm cultivators were strong, it was only a relative term. Only upon reaching the Stellar realm could one be truly called a powerhouse of the region. In the vast majority of civilizations, a Stellar realm cultivator was already a peak-level ancestor, an existence capable of founding a civilization.

The Zijin Civilization, which had once harbored ill intent toward Wang Baole and was the number one sect in the vast region where Earth was located, possessed only three Stellar realm experts.

Once Wang Baole ascended to the Stellar realm, possessed a Dao Star, and achieved near-perfect resonance with the nine Great Rules, his combat strength would not be inferior to those veteran Stellar powerhouses!

As for the Star Domain realm... every single one of them possessed their own title and was a hegemon. Any one of them could make the former Zijin Civilization tremble in terror, bowing and kneeling in submission.

Not only that, but Wang Baole’s Star Sealing Incantation also began to circulate automatically at this moment. It directly broke through the second layer and reached the third. The third layer was even on the verge of completion, ready to enter the fourth layer at any time!

At the third layer, he could already seal Immortal Stars. Once the shadow of the Divine Bull, formed from tens of thousands of Immortal Stars, was successfully manifested, its power would be great enough to shake the eight directions. However, the rewards Wang Baole had reaped from this trial could only be described as a miracle. Thus, the third layer was already insufficient for him. He would soon be able to leap across it and display the power of the fourth layer!

The fourth layer... pointed directly toward the path of ascending to the Stellar realm. Although this technique theoretically could not seal special stars, under the empowerment of Wang Baole's Dao Star, nothing was set in stone.

This was also part of the reason why the Flame Ancestor had given Wang Baole the Star Sealing Incantation.

If Wang Baole truly succeeded in sealing tens of thousands of special stars and used them to form the phantom of the Divine Bull, even he himself would find it difficult to estimate just how great that power would be!

At the same time, Wang Baole had long since realized that the empowerment of the Dao Star might allow for the sealing of special stars. In fact, he had long ago decided on his own direction for the Stellar realm—that was... to use a massive number of special stars as a foil to lift up his Dao Star, causing it... to ascend from a Planet to a Stellar star!

To become... the Stellar Dao Star!

Throughout the ages, because Dao Stars were so rare, no one besides the supreme ancestor who founded the Weiyang Clan had ever achieved this. Previously, although Wang Baole had the ambition, he didn't have much confidence. But now... after sensing his previous lives, he suddenly felt that he... might not necessarily fail!

As for special stars... given his relationship with the Starfall Land, sensing and obtaining tens of thousands of special stars would not be particularly difficult.

These thoughts caused a brilliant light to flash in Wang Baole's eyes. Although he could not understand how he had met Sun De in his tenth past life, and although he now knew a portion of the truth of this world—with even more confusion surfacing in his heart—one point remained unchanged.

"Only by constantly making myself stronger can I have a foundation to stand between heaven and earth. To hell with what the future holds or what the past was like; as long as this life is brilliant, it is enough. As for the next life, whether it exists or not, I don't care!"

A sharp glint flashed in Wang Baole's eyes. The overbearing aura that came with practicing the Star Sealing Incantation erupted within his heart at this moment. So what if the world was false? So what if the universe was a stone tablet? What did the truth or falsehood of Weiyang have to do with him!

I am the artifact spirit, I am the white deer, I am the Source of Grievance, I am the Demonic Blade, I am the zombie, I am the God Race, but above all... I am Wang Baole!

The eruption of these thoughts seemed to trigger a resonance with heaven and earth. Muffled thunder suddenly exploded over the Heavenly Fate Planet, and even the starry sky outside the planet began to roar.

This caused the hearts of countless cultivators on the Heavenly Fate Planet to tremble, all of them unsure of the cause. The Heavenly Dharma Superior, who was sitting on the island above the volcanic crater, suddenly opened his eyes. A gratified smile appeared at the corners of his mouth, while a flash of undisguised astonishment crossed his eyes.

Wang Baole did not know what was happening in the outside world. He only knew that at this moment, as his resolve became firm, his heart felt suddenly enlightened. His aura surged violently, and following the enhancement of his cultivation and the Star Sealing Incantation, another supreme divine ability he possessed also rose in power!

That was the core technique of the Flame Ancestor—the curse technique, the Flame Spirit Incantation!

Previously, Wang Baole’s mastery of the Flame Spirit Incantation could only be considered a meager initial success. Although he could use it, he had to exercise restraint because his life force was insufficient. But now... having obtained the insights of his past ten lives, this deficiency had been compensated. With sufficient life force and sufficient memories, his Flame Spirit Curse finally took a step forward at this moment, stepping into the realm of true initial mastery!

Though it was only initial mastery... one had to know that even the Flame Ancestor had not reached Great Mastery; he was only barely approaching it. Furthermore, once used, it would consume all of his life force.

Therefore, even if it was only initial mastery, relying on this technique alone was enough to give Wang Baole a terrifying trump card among those in the same realm. Because this incantation... had no limits regarding the enemy's cultivation or one's own!

A mortal could just as easily curse an immortal or a god, so long as they could pay the price!

That price was life force, as well as resentment. While Wang Baole did not possess much of the latter, he had more than enough of the former!

And this was exactly where the terrifying power of this divine ability lay. It was also the very foundation of the Flame Ancestor's fame!

It could be said that Wang Baole’s current comprehensive combat strength... was already at the Stellar realm. Even an ordinary early-stage Stellar realm cultivator would not be his match. Such a Great Circle of the Planet realm was not the only one in the long river of the Weiyang Dao Domain’s history, but looking across history, they were as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns!

However, Wang Baole himself was not surprised by his own strength. His previous lives had each been lived brilliantly; so what if this life was a bit more brilliant?

"In the stories told by Wang Yiyi’s father, 'Demons are rare in the cycle of reincarnation because of their obsession.' If that senior could walk from death to life with a mad obsession, then I can also walk from nothingness... to existence!"

"I surely can!" Light shone in Wang Baole's eyes as his body suddenly stood up from its cross-legged position. The moment he stood up was exactly... the moment the twelfth watch of the tenth day passed.

*Rumble!*

The mist where he was located churned violently. Amidst this churning, it retreated continuously. The entire process took only seven or eight breaths of time. All the surrounding mist... vanished in an instant, converging into a gourd. That gourd was currently appearing in the hand of the Heavenly Dharma Superior!

The entire trial grounds also began to shrink as the mist disappeared. As everything around them became clear, the giant beasts surfaced once more. The crowds atop them looked up, the volcano below roared, and the eighty-nine projections within the island at the summit raised their heads to watch. In mid-air...

Wang Baole and the few other chosen who had also sensed their tenth lives appeared one after another!

"Congratulations to the five fellow daoists for obtaining the qualification. Please take your seats. The birthday banquet shall officially begin!" Beside the Heavenly Dharma Superior, his old servant spoke slowly, his eyes shining with a strange light as he looked toward Wang Baole and the four others appearing in the sky.

Those who obtained the qualification were not the ten people mentioned at the beginning, but only five!

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END OF Chapter 1088
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START OF Chapter 1089
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**Chapter 1089: Differential Treatment!**

The five figures rapidly shifted from a blur to clarity, allowing many onlookers to instantly identify them.

"It’s them!"

"The ninth disciple of Divine Emperor Giga… this man is incredibly arrogant. He’s the one who snatched my traction light. Truly hateful, but he’s too strong. He looks down on us like ants, leaving us helpless!"

"And Xing Jingzi… that guy has a heavy murderous aura. I didn’t expect him to succeed as well!"

"Wang Baole is among them too!"

As the identities of the five became clear, a sudden clamor erupted from all directions, forming a wave of sound that spread outward.

Among the five figures in the sky, there was the Ninth Young Master of Divine Emperor Giga’s lineage and the Seventh Daoist of the Nine States Dao. Aside from those two, the other three were slightly less famous. While Wang Baole attracted attention, in the minds of the crowd, he still didn't quite measure up to the Ninth Young Master—at most, he was on par with the Seventh Daoist of the Nine States Dao.

As for the final two, one was Xing Jingzi, who had crossed paths with Wang Baole in the Starfall Land and carried a greatsword and a heavy murderous aura. The other… was Xie Haiyang!

As they appeared, the old slave beside the Heavenly Dharma Superior on the island above the volcano’s mouth spoke. On the thirty-nine giant beasts surrounding the volcano, the gazes of all the cultivators were filled with envy, jealousy, hatred, and complexity. After all, being able to comprehend ten lives required a certain degree of fortune and opportunity, making it naturally enviable. Those who lacked it could only watch others qualify, making jealousy understandable.

As for hatred… in reality, among these hundreds of thousands of cultivators, it was impossible for only five people to have comprehended a tenth life. It was just that during the trial, most had their traction lights plundered and were forced to abandon the trial. Seeing these five now naturally stirred up feelings of resentment.

High in the sky, under the focus of countless gazes, the Ninth Young Master of Divine Emperor Giga’s lineage was the most dazzling. As a member of the Weiyang Clan, he was inherently superior, and with the added prestige of his master’s name, he became the center of attention wherever he went.

As for the others, aside from the Seventh Daoist of the Nine States Dao and Wang Baole, who could barely compete for glory, the surrounding cultivators didn't think the rest could surpass the Ninth Young Master in terms of presence.

But this took a long time to describe, and soon, a scene that no one could have imagined unfolded. As the five figures became clear and their minds recovered, they all saw one another. In an instant… the Ninth Disciple of Divine Emperor Giga, the man everyone considered the head of the geniuses and who was peerlessly arrogant, underwent a sudden and drastic change in expression!

He discovered that he was actually standing right next to Wang Baole, and Wang Baole was even smiling at him.

"..." This discovery made his heart tremble. He almost cursed out loud. Wang Baole’s power had already instilled a powerful dread within him. He couldn't forget the scene where everyone fled, none wanting to be targeted by Wang Baole. His scalp went numb, and in his shifting expression, he instinctively retreated, instantly putting distance between himself and Wang Baole.

The Seventh Daoist of the Nine States Dao also had a drastic change in expression. Gasping, he retreated instantly to create distance from Wang Baole, as if only this would make him feel safe.

Consequently, although Xing Jingzi and Xie Haiyang didn't move, the expressions and actions of the Seventh Daoist and the Ninth Young Master immediately stunned the hundreds of thousands of cultivators below.

"What’s going on?"

"Am I seeing this right? The Ninth Disciple of the Divine Emperor and the Daoist of the Nine States Dao are actually avoiding Wang Baole?"

"Could it be that they fought Wang Baole inside and suffered a loss?"

While the crowd was filled with astonishment, Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and scanned the Ninth Young Master and the Seventh Daoist, who were clearly nervous under his gaze. He wasn't surprised that these two had comprehended a tenth life. As for Xing Jingzi, he was inherently extraordinary, so he was also within expectations. However, Xie Haiyang being here was something Wang Baole hadn't anticipated.

After nodding to Xie Haiyang and Xing Jingzi, Wang Baole turned and flickered, walking toward the Ninth Disciple of Divine Emperor Giga, his eyes narrowing further.

His pace wasn't fast, but it caused the Ninth Disciple’s expression to change again. His body retreated once more as he let out a low growl.

"Wang Baole..."

But before he could finish, Wang Baole’s seemingly slow steps appeared to cross the void in just a few strides, bringing him directly in front of the Ninth Young Master.

At the same time, the old slave beside the Heavenly Dharma Superior frowned, about to intervene, but a light cough from the Heavenly Dharma Superior came from behind him.

Hearing this cough, the old slave, who possessed a Star Domain level cultivation, lowered his head and stopped his interference.

With no one to stop him, it didn't matter how the Ninth Disciple growled or performed hand seals in an attempt to resist; it was all for naught. Upon appearing, Wang Baole clenched his right hand into a fist and struck!

The punch was plain and ordinary, yet it contained world-shaking power. As it landed, the heavens and earth roared, and the void rippled with tearing waves, like a storm sweeping through everything, exploding right in front of the Ninth Disciple.

Amidst the booming roar, the Ninth Young Master had no power to resist at all. All his defenses were like paper, crushed by Wang Baole’s punch like dried weeds. After his defenses collapsed, the blow hit his body. He shuddered violently, coughing up blood as his body was sent flying back three hundred feet. He coughed up blood again, and a large number of rule-threads manifested across his body. These were not his own rules, but the power of the nine major rules contained within Wang Baole’s punch.

These rule-threads had shifted from intangible to tangible, constantly circulating inside and outside his body, making his injuries even more severe. They even shook the foundation of his Ancient Star, causing his own Ancient Star to dim rapidly and even develop cracks.

This caused the Ninth Disciple’s heart to tremble wildly. His face turned deathly pale, and he couldn't hide the horror in his eyes, yet his anger still erupted uncontrollably as he let out a hiss.

"You..."

"This punch is the interest on the price you must pay for ambushing me during the trial. Say one more word, and today... I will slay you!" Wang Baole spoke calmly, his cold gaze fixed on the Ninth Disciple. Caught in that gaze, the Ninth Disciple felt as though a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head. His body trembled instantly. He sensed the killing intent and immediately fell silent.

Ignoring the Ninth Disciple, Wang Baole turned his head to look at the Seventh Daoist of the Nine States Dao, whose expression had completely changed.

This Daoist was a decisive person. Seeing Wang Baole’s move, he was certain he couldn't dodge and would find it hard to resist. Thus, he actually raised his hand and struck his own chest. With a series of cracks, his sternum seemed to shatter. His injuries appeared severe, and he seemed unable to stand steadily, blood continuously seeping from his mouth. But he didn't seem to care; instead, he looked up at Wang Baole.

"I was previously deluded by others and caused offense. I hope Fellow Daoist can forgive me!"

His injuries seemed heavy, but in reality, he hadn't damaged his foundation; medicinal pills could restore him. This was where he was clever, for he knew very well that if Wang Baole acted, there was an eighty to ninety percent chance his planet would shatter. If that happened, simple pills wouldn't be enough to recover.

Seeing the Seventh Daoist of the Nine States Dao be so decisive, Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and gave him a deep look before withdrawing his gaze. Before the eyes of the countless shocked cultivators below, he walked toward the island above the volcano. Upon arriving, Wang Baole chose one of the only ten tables on the island that didn't have a projection and walked over. He didn't sit down immediately; instead, he turned toward the center and bowed with cupped fists to the cross-legged Heavenly Dharma Superior.

"Superior, your elegance remains unchanged. May your life be as eternal as the heavens."

These words of congratulation caused the old slave beside the Heavenly Dharma Superior to frown again, about to shout a reprimand, but a scene occurred that shook him to his core!

The cross-legged Heavenly Dharma Superior actually… stood up and returned Wang Baole’s greeting!

This scene immediately caused the eyes of the old slave and all the surrounding cultivators to shrink!

Wang Baole also went silent for a moment before cupping his fists again and sitting down. As he sat, the table blurred, emitting a powerful light that shot into the clouds. As it shone in harmony with the other eighty-nine projections, Xie Haiyang and Xing Jingzi also arrived quickly, suppressing their internal shock. They landed at other tables and bowed to offer their congratulations.

As the light belonging to them pierced the sky, the pale Seventh Daoist and Ninth Disciple also approached in silence, choosing to offer their congratulations and take their seats.

However… the congratulations of those four only received a smile and a nod from the now-reseated Heavenly Dharma Superior. Compared to him standing up to return the greeting earlier, the difference in treatment was like heaven and earth!

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END OF Chapter 1089
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START OF Chapter 1090
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Chapter 1090: Pa!

As Wang Baole and the others took their seats, the atmosphere of the birthday celebration became somewhat strange because of him. Even though Master Tianfa should have been the sole focus of everyone’s attention, more than half of the cultivators situated on the giant beasts around the crater were currently gazing toward Wang Baole.

Among these people were those who had participated in the trial and those who had not. Xu Yinling and the newly restored Chen Han were among them. However, compared to the others, these two clearly knew the truth.

“Father truly is Father. So formidable, so powerful!” Chen Han thought with deep emotion. He felt more and more that the greatest opportunity of his new life was finding this father.

As for Xu Yinling, her entire body was trembling. Her mind couldn't help but recall the sensation she had felt when she personally witnessed Wang Baole's enlightenment during the tenth life—the feeling of him being the core of the world. Her breathing unconsciously quickened, and a slight flush appeared on her face.

The more nervous and shocked she felt, the more she experienced a bizarre sense of excitement...

It wasn't just the cultivators on the giant beasts who were observing Wang Baole. Xie Haiyang and Xing Jingzi, who were on the islands above the volcano, were watching him as well.

Xie Haiyang’s heart was equally shaken. However, he understood Wang Baole better than most. Seeing how the disciples of the Divine Emperor and the Dao Children of the Nine Darknesses remained as cautious as if they were facing a great enemy even while sitting there, he could more or less guess the answer despite not knowing the full truth.

The reason he had succeeded in his own enlightenment was related to his own abilities, but it was mostly because his trial location was remote, which meant he wasn't heavily affected. That kind of luck was the key.

“But compared to Uncle-Master Baole... I’m still not good enough. He’s the real monster. Seeing him strike just now, the increase in his combat power compared to before the trial is simply unbelievable!” Xie Haiyang took a deep breath. He felt that he must continue to serve Wang Baole well. If he did, the crisis facing his father would be much easier to resolve.

As for the black-robed Xing Jingzi, who carried a great sword on his back and radiated a powerful murderous aura, his expression was equally solemn. As his gaze swept over Wang Baole, a faint battle intent flickered in his eyes. There was no hostility, only the desire to fight.

As if sensing his battle intent, the great sword on his back—rumored to be a demonic blade—vibrated slightly. But this vibration made Xing Jingzi’s heart sink.

Because he shared a spiritual connection with his demonic blade, he immediately realized that this vibration wasn't the usual excitement it felt when it was about to be unsheathed. Instead... it was a shiver!

“A shiver? My demonic blade seems to be... afraid.” This realization stunned Xing Jingzi, and he fell into deep thought.

They weren't the only ones observing Wang Baole. Also watching him were the projections on the island that seemed to be non-existent. After Master Tianfa returned Wang Baole’s greeting, these projections turned their heads one by one, their gazes falling upon him.

Before participating in the trial, Wang Baole had felt that these projections were unfathomable. But seeing them now, his mindset was different. He felt more of a sense of melancholy and a stir of memories.

Furthermore, the old servant standing beside Master Tianfa was also staring at Wang Baole. A look of doubt flashed in his eyes, but since the birthday banquet was about to officially begin, the old man had no time to think too much. With a flick of his sleeve, his ancient voice echoed in all directions.

“Let the banquet begin!”

Melodious celestial music drifted down from the heavens. The tune was elegant and ethereal, echoing throughout the entire Planet Fate. It caused all distracting thoughts in the hearts of those who heard it to vanish, leaving them immersed in the heavenly sounds. Figures of celestial maidens, seemingly manifested from the music, stepped out from between heaven and earth. Carrying celestial fruits and fine wine, they descended upon the islands and respectfully placed them on every table.

As for the cultivators on the giant beasts, they were not neglected. As a gentle breeze swept through and the celestial music brushed past them, celestial fruits and fine wine manifested before them as well. Soon, the previously somber atmosphere became lively. Cultivators began to fly out one after another, cupping their fists toward Master Tianfa in mid-air to offer their blessings and birthday gifts.

Each time, Master Tianfa would respond with a smile. On the islands, some of the projections would occasionally stand up to toast Master Tianfa. If one hadn't already made a judgment, it would be difficult to tell that these toasters were illusory projections.

“Perhaps they aren’t truly illusory...” Wang Baole narrowed his eyes as he looked around, feeling the liveliness of the place. Whenever his gaze swept past the projections, they would look back at him, raising their cups with a smile.

Wang Baole raised his cup in return, slowly savoring the wine, until his gaze finally landed on Master Tianfa. As if sensing Wang Baole’s gaze, the seated Master Tianfa turned to look back at him.

Their gazes met in that instant. Looking into those wise eyes, Wang Baole’s vision blurred slightly. He seemed to return to the world of the Little White Deer, to the backyard of the City Lord’s manor, where the Old Ape sat on the rockery while a multitude of rare beasts offered their birthday greetings.

“Long time no see,” Wang Baole said softly after taking a deep breath and clearing his vision. His voice was very faint, inaudible to others, but Master Tianfa clearly heard him. A meaningful smile appeared on the Master's face, and his lips moved slightly, transmitting an ancient voice that only Wang Baole could hear.

“Welcome back.”

Wang Baole smiled and said no more. Master Tianfa also shook his head with a smile and looked away. The birthday banquet continued... until the day-long celebration neared its end. As the setting sun in the distance turned crimson, a familiar figure suddenly flew up from the giant serpent that had carried Wang Baole there.

“Disciple Li Wan'er of the Moon Star Sect, on behalf of my sect's Ancestor, offers birthday greetings to the Master. As the seasons change and years cycle, I wish the Master to be as enduring as the moon, as rising as the sun, as eternal as the universe, never to decline or fall. Like the pages of the Book of Fate, may everything be inherited by you!”

The speaker was indeed Li Wan'er, dressed in a long blue flowing cloud dress. Although she wore a mask that hid her features, her light and ethereal voice still gave off a sense of beauty. Especially with her long hair fluttering, the sense of elegance she exuded was unforgettable.

Her words were also extraordinary and held deep meaning. Wang Baole’s expression shifted when he heard the final line.

The pages of the Book of Fate represented one life per page. The phrase "everything be inherited by you" expressed a sense of succession and legacy.

These words caused Wang Baole to raise his head, a strange light appearing in his eyes. After his gaze swept over Li Wan'er, he looked at Master Tianfa. Upon hearing those words, Master Tianfa actually started to laugh.

It wasn't a soft smile like before. His laughter echoed loudly. It was unclear whether he was happy because of the birthday greeting or because of the person Li Wan'er represented.

“Why didn't your Ancestor come?” Rare as it was, Master Tianfa spoke after his laughter subsided.

“The Ancestor is in seclusion and will emerge in sixty-eight years,” Li Wan'er replied respectfully with a bow.

“Why bother?” Master Tianfa shook his head, picked up his wine cup, and took a large gulp. Li Wan'er bowed again in mid-air, her gaze sweeping over Wang Baole as she raised her head, before returning to the giant beast.

As Wang Baole narrowed his eyes, pondering the meaning behind their exchange, another person flew out from a different giant beast in the distance. This person was entirely shrouded in a black robe, making it impossible to discern their gender. However, the words they spoke caused Wang Baole to look over sharply and made Xu Yinling’s body tremble.

“A nameless slave, on behalf of Master Zi Yue, offers birthday greetings to the Master. My Master is unable to come in person due to certain matters, so she asked me to ask a question while offering her greetings...”

“Master says her memories have recently begun to return. She asks the Master: when can they be returned to her?”

“Sixty-eight years from now!” Master Tianfa’s expression remained unchanged as he spoke calmly.

“Thank you, Master. Additionally, my Master also ordered me to take someone away.” The black-robed person nodded, then turned to look at Xu Yinling in the crowd.

Xu Yinling’s breathing became erratic, her trembling grew more intense, and her body stood up involuntarily. She walked forward uncontrollably, but the struggle in her eyes was incredibly fierce. She tried to look toward where Wang Baole sat on the island, her eyes filled with a plea for help.

Master Tianfa frowned slightly but did not stop it.

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. After a moment of thought, he gently placed the wine cup in his hand onto the table before him. At the moment he set it down, his right hand seemed to manifest a black wooden board to replace the cup. Although this manifestation lasted only for a fraction of a second, a crisp, ethereal sound echoed when it hit the table!

*Clack!*

The black-robed person shuddered violently. With a bang, their body turned directly into a cloud of mist and dissipated into the world. Xu Yinling, who had walked into mid-air, also trembled and spat out a mouthful of blood. She regained control of her body and, filled with gratitude, bowed deeply toward Wang Baole.

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END OF Chapter 1090
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START OF Chapter 1091
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**Chapter 1091: Not a God!**

"Thank you for your assistance, Fellow Daoist!"

Almost the very instant Xu Yinling bowed in gratitude, the expressions of all the cultivators atop the thirty-nine surrounding giant beasts changed. They all turned their gazes toward Wang Baole.

Shock was written across their faces. Many were even in a daze. The sound Wang Baole had made by tapping the table just moments ago had carried an indescribable power, as if it had influenced the Laws themselves, possessing the ability to make one’s soul tremble.

Everyone who heard it felt their spirits shake. Furthermore, witnessing that mysterious black-robed man collapse and dissipate under the sound caused a sense of awe and reverence to grow uncontrollably in the depths of their hearts. At the same time, intense confusion began to surface.

"This Wang Baole… something is wrong!"

"Why do I feel like after he emerged from this trial, his entire being has undergone an inexpressible change? He carries a strange aura now!"

"Wang Baole was strong before, but he didn't surpass us by much. But now… why do I feel like I'm looking at a senior powerhouse of the sect when I see him? Yet his cultivation clearly hasn't reached that level!"

"Whether it was wounding the Divine Emperor’s disciple with one punch, making the Nine Abodes’ Dao Child lower his head, having the Honorable Heavenly Dharma stand up to return his greeting, or that resonant, hall-startling sound… it all points to one answer. In his past-life realizations, Wang Baole must have gained something beyond imagination!"

While waves of shock surged in everyone’s minds, Wang Baole himself was also shaken by the sound of his own tapping. He looked down at his hand resting on the table. The realizations from his past lives flashed through his mind like a series of fragmented images.

He suddenly had a moment of enlightenment.

His current self was likely in a very special state. To a certain extent… after gaining insights into his first five lives, one could say his soul had completed a return. To describe it as 'immortal and indestructible' would not be an exaggeration.

Because death was not his end. He would still exist in the next life; it was just that the roles of everything around him would change. The entire world was like a paradise built of toy blocks. Each life was merely the blocks collapsing, only to be placed in different positions to create different shapes using the same blocks.

Even if his cultivation was not the highest, as long as he chose not to entangle himself with any karma in this world, no one could kill him. The price, however, was to remain indifferent to everything—watching the rise and fall of heaven and earth, the dimming of the starry sky, and the changing of the world.

To silently watch this life end and watch all living beings dissipate, like a high-and-mighty god!

This was a path, and it was a choice of life. As the sound of the tapping echoed, it surfaced in Wang Baole’s consciousness, bringing him a degree of clarity.

"Is this path… suitable for me?" Wang Baole closed his eyes.

At this moment, along with everyone else, the eighty-nine projections on the volcanic island and the Honorable Heavenly Dharma were all looking at Wang Baole.

The eighty-nine projections all had strange light gleaming in their eyes. In that instant just now, their bodies had flickered and blurred momentarily. However, it happened too quickly for outsiders to notice.

But the Honorable Heavenly Dharma noticed. He narrowed his eyes, a look of confusion flashing deep within them. He scrutinized Wang Baole carefully. His lips did not move, but an ancient, weathered divine sense echoed in Wang Baole’s mind.

"Do you know that after your return, calling you a god would not be an exaggeration? You are completely different from before."

"I know. A god whose soul is immortal through cycles of reincarnation," Wang Baole opened his eyes and responded calmly.

"Since you know, and since you have found part of the answer, why do you still wish to entangle yourself with karma? Like me, staying here indifferent to the world, untainted by karma, watching the changes of the world and waiting for this life to enter the reboot phase sixty-eight years from now… Is that not the best and most appropriate choice?"

Wang Baole fell silent upon hearing this. If these words were spoken to anyone else here, no one would understand their meaning. Only he understood what the other was talking about.

But he was unwilling to accept this. Just as he had thought in the realizations of his sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth lives—he wanted to charge out of the world and see what the outside world truly looked like.

He was unwilling to live life after life within a fixed boundary in such a muddled state. The past lives were gone; he could not decide their fate. But this life… he could grasp it.

Even if… he had a premonition that if he did not choose the path of indifference, if he returned from being a god to being a mortal and walked a different direction, he would have to pay a great price.

"Old Ape, you celebrate your birthday time and time again. Is it to prove that you truly exist, or that you once existed?" Wang Baole looked at the Honorable Heavenly Dharma and sent back a divine sense message of his own.

The Honorable Heavenly Dharma fell silent. A long while later, he spoke hoarsely.

"Do you know that this life is somewhat different from the previous eighty-nine… I have a premonition. If you fall in this life, you will truly… turn to ash and cease to exist. If you do not touch karma, you will still have a next life."

"Compared to an existence that silently watches, I would rather have existed brilliantly and without regrets!" After a moment of silence, Wang Baole sent out a decisive thought.

"I don't understand, just like I didn't understand why you crashed into and shattered the starry sky in that life… You influenced the Little Tiger, and you influenced the Little Fox. They, like you, chose to leave. But I will not stop you," the Honorable Heavenly Dharma sighed softly.

"Thank you." Wang Baole nodded in acknowledgment, and the Honorable Heavenly Dharma withdrew his gaze.

Other than responding to the Honorable Heavenly Dharma, Wang Baole paid no mind to his surroundings. He picked up his wine cup with a calm expression, brought it to his lips, and drank. Then, he spoke indifferently to the bowing Xu Yinling.

"Withdraw."

The words were light, but coming from Wang Baole’s mouth—combined with his previous divine ability and the respectful expression of Xu Yinling as she performed a grand salute once more—they instantly made the sense of mystery surrounding Wang Baole even more intense.

He sat there, and although his cultivation was nothing compared to the other projections—he wasn't even a Planet—somehow, in everyone’s eyes, it felt as if he *should* be sitting there. This strange feeling gave rise to an inexplicable sense of awe in the hearts of those around him.

This was not something Wang Baole did intentionally. After experiencing the realizations of those past lives, many changes had indeed occurred within him. On one hand, it was an increase in cultivation, but more so, it was due to a difference in perception!

Whether it was the ferocity of the God race warring across the stars, the life-long realization of the zombie looking up at the light, or the heaven-shaking arrogance of the Grievance Soldier, all of it caused his temperament to change. The life of the Little White Deer and the cognitive shock of jumping outside the world to see the coffin had an even greater impact on him.

But none of these influences could compare to the changes brought about by what he saw and experienced at the hands of the ancient remnant soul, Sun De, or the choice Wang Baole made after his conversation with the Honorable Heavenly Dharma.

He would not be a false god trapped in eternal reincarnation; he would only be a brilliant human in this life!

As for killing the black-robed man, saving Xu Yinling was merely incidental. Wang Baole’s true goal was to find Zi Yue—or rather, to make Zi Yue come to him!

"I don't believe that in the ninth life where Xu Yinling was a small fish, Zi Yue's act of pinching her to death—preventing me from hearing the answer—was an accident. Therefore, the only current clue regarding the blood-colored centipede is likely… Zi Yue!" A sharp light flickered in Wang Baole's eyes. In his past-life realizations, the thing that had kept him most vigilant from beginning to end was that blood-colored centipede!

The thing that centipede represented could be an object, but more likely, it was a person. Wang Baole had no clues, and the little missy in the mask remained silent. Thus, to understand that blood-colored centipede, Wang Baole felt that Zi Yue might be the breakthrough point.

As for Zi Yue's cultivation and the crisis her potential methods might bring, Wang Baole could guess some of it. Although it was dangerous, if he missed this opportunity, Wang Baole didn't know when he would truly be able to find Zi Yue again.

Compared to the uncontrollability of the future, at least the connections, cultivation, and background he possessed now could allow the danger to be weakened to the greatest extent. Therefore, in Wang Baole’s view, now was the best opportunity.

"Zi Yue, will you… actually show up?" Wang Baole murmured in his heart. Then, he looked down at his chest. Inside his robes lay the mask fragment.

"Yiyi, what do you think?"

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END OF Chapter 1091
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START OF Chapter 1092
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Chapter 1092: Future Afterimage!

"Dead fatty, don’t you call me Yiyi! Are we really that close?!" The long-absent voice of the little missy rang out in Wang Baole's mind.

Hearing this voice, Wang Baole smiled, looking extremely happy. The emergence of this voice suddenly made him feel that the world was wonderful and seemed to become more real.

"Fine then, how about I call you Sweetie?"

"Shameless!" Inside the mask, Wang Yiyi huffed and stopped speaking. However, her huffing still significantly brightened Wang Baole’s mood. When he looked up, he gazed at Sovereign Destiny.

Sovereign Destiny was also looking at him, his eyes filled with profound meaning.

After their gazes met, they both looked away, and the birthday banquet continued. Whether it was the celestial music or the successive voices offering birthday wishes, they continued to echo across the Star of Destiny. Moreover, when the bright moon rose, Sovereign Destiny began to preach a sermon on the Dao, speaking of the Law of Affinity.

Everyone around was listening, and all the projections on the island were listening. Only Wang Baole... did not listen. This was because the little missy, after being silent for several hours, suddenly spoke again.

This time, her voice was somewhat low and carried a sense of seriousness.

"Fatty, have you really made up your mind?"

"I have," Wang Baole answered.

"You didn't even ask what I was asking about, and you say you've made up your mind? How insincere!"

"My bonds are too deep, and I have too many stray thoughts. Therefore, I cannot become a god who looks down indifferently upon the world." Wang Baole smiled, a brilliant and persistent smile. His eyes became incredibly clear, like those of a white deer.

"Why?"

"For myself, and for you." Wang Baole blinked and spoke softly.

The little missy fell silent. It wasn't until a long time later that a faint sound, almost inaudible to Wang Baole, drifted out.

"Thank you."

Wang Baole didn't speak again because, without him noticing, Sovereign Destiny’s lecture on the Law of Affinity had already ended. As the morning sun appeared in the sky and the night passed, the birthday banquet... reached its final stage.

"A few young friends, please come forward to contemplate the Book of Destiny and observe the afterimages of your future!" The old servant beside Sovereign Destiny stepped forward at this moment. After asking for instructions from Sovereign Destiny, he looked toward Wang Baole and the others.

However, when his gaze swept past Wang Baole, he subconsciously looked away. The "young friends" he mentioned clearly did not include Wang Baole. As Sovereign Destiny's attendant, his worship of Sovereign Destiny was absolute. It was precisely because of this that he clearly sensed... that Sovereign Destiny treated Wang Baole differently.

It was as if their status was no longer one of superior and inferior, but one of equality.

It was precisely this equality that caused a massive shock in the old servant’s heart. Consequently, he instinctively did not dare to address him as a "young friend."

As soon as he spoke, the disciple of the Giga Divine Emperor and the Daoist Child of Kyushu Dao both looked excited. Even Xie Haiyang and Xing Jingzi were the same.

To them, although the insights from their past lives provided great gains, compared to being able to see an afterimage of the future, the latter was clearly more important. After all, past events could not be changed, but the future was something that could be grasped in one's hands!

Xie Haiyang and Xing Jingzi were the same, their eyes shining as they looked at Sovereign Destiny.

Only Wang Baole’s expression remained as usual, without a hint of fluctuation. He had long known the origin of this Book of Destiny and understood that the so-called future afterimages were merely deductions of future changes based on the life trajectories of all living beings recorded within it for this lifetime.

One could say they were real, and there was a truthful side to them; one could say they were unreal, and there was also logic in that. However, for the vast majority of people, they perhaps did not have the qualifications to change their life trajectories, so the future afterimages they saw became real.

Because of this difference in perception, Wang Baole’s state of mind remained calm. Watching the excitement of the other four, he merely smiled without saying a word. Soon, the disciple of the Giga Divine Emperor, following the old servant’s invitation, was the first to stand up and flicker straight toward Sovereign Destiny.

He arrived in an instant. Amidst Sovereign Destiny’s smile, the Giga Divine Emperor’s disciple bowed excitedly. Then, he took a deep breath. With a wave of Sovereign Destiny’s hand, the Book of Destiny, which contained an ancient and weathered aura as well as supreme majesty, appeared before him. The Divine Emperor's disciple raised his hand and pressed it onto the Book of Destiny!

Almost the instant he placed it down, the body of the Giga Divine Emperor’s disciple trembled violently. His eyes revealed disbelief and even horror. The entire process lasted for only three breaths before he could no longer hold on. His body abruptly retreated. Even after backing away more than ten feet, his body continued to shudder, and his eyes were still filled with terror. He turned around quickly and actually looked at Wang Baole!

"You..." When the Giga Divine Emperor’s disciple looked at Wang Baole, his expression was as terrified as if he had seen a ghost. This scene immediately caused an uproar in the surroundings and caused Wang Baole, who originally hadn't had much expectation or interest, to narrow his eyes slightly.

To Wang Baole’s regret, the Giga Divine Emperor’s disciple did not finish his words. Instead, while constantly gasping for breath, he clasped his hands toward Sovereign Destiny and, without hesitation, took out a golden sheet of paper. He tore it apart instantly, and his body was immediately enveloped by the mist emanating from the torn paper. He actually disappeared directly!

This shocked the people around even more, and the uproar grew louder.

"What is going on?!"

"He actually just teleported away?"

"Why did the look in his eyes carry such terror when he looked at Wang Baole?!"

"Silence!" The uproar of the crowd was quickly suppressed by a low shout from Sovereign Destiny's old servant. But even though the people no longer spoke out loud, their gazes were now concentrated on Wang Baole.

Wang Baole frowned slightly. He felt that something was not quite right about this matter. Although everything seemed to be that the Giga Divine Emperor's disciple had seen something about him in the future afterimage, there was another possibility.

*This guy wouldn't be doing this on purpose to set me up, would he?* While Wang Baole was pondering, the Daoist Child of Kyushu Dao took a deep breath and flew out to stand before the Book of Destiny. After paying respects to Sovereign Destiny, he similarly raised his hand and pressed it onto the Book of Destiny.

His time was about the same as the Divine Emperor's disciple, both lasting three breaths. Then, his body retreated while trembling, his face pale without a drop of blood. He suddenly looked at Wang Baole. This time, before he could speak, Wang Baole’s voice already spread in all directions.

"What did you see?"

The Daoist Child of Kyushu Dao remained silent for several breaths before his raspy voice drifted out.

"I saw myself dying at your hands." After saying that, he didn't look back but turned and flew off the island, heading straight for the sky. The surrounding crowd was shocked once again, and their eyes were filled with a strange light as they looked at Wang Baole.

Wang Baole frowned and did not speak. Beside him, Xing Jingzi had already stood up and walked to the Book of Destiny. After pressing down on it, his time lasted for five breaths.

Five breaths later, he lifted his hand with a calm expression. He looked at the sky and pondered for a moment, then touched the demon blade behind his back. His peripheral vision swept toward Wang Baole; he seemed to want to say something but hesitated. In the end, he actually bowed separately toward Sovereign Destiny and Wang Baole, then turned and departed.

At this moment, Wang Baole was truly surprised. He could choose not to believe the performances of the Divine Emperor’s disciple and the Daoist Child of Kyushu Dao, but Xing Jingzi clearly had no need for such a display.

While Wang Baole was deep in thought, he looked at Xie Haiyang.

Xie Haiyang was also curious. After nodding to Wang Baole, he stood up and walked over, pressing his hand onto the Book of Destiny. His time was not as long as Xing Jingzi’s; he retreated after only two breaths. A strange light appeared in his eyes. Under the unblinking gaze of the crowd, he also looked at Wang Baole and sent a divine sense transmission.

"Uncle-Master Baole, something is a bit wrong... I don't know how to describe the afterimage I saw. It didn't seem like an afterimage, but a realization. One day in the future, you... don't seem like you anymore."

"This is getting interesting..." Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed, a sharp light flashing within them. He suddenly stood up and walked toward the Book of Destiny. After approaching it, Wang Baole did not immediately raise his hand to press down. Instead, he looked at Sovereign Destiny before him, bowed with clasped hands, and spoke seriously when he looked up.

"Sovereign, what did they see?"

"I do not know either." Sovereign Destiny shook his head. He was not lying; he truly did not know everyone's future.

"Is that so..." Wang Baole thought for a moment, the light in his eyes growing more intense. He raised his right hand and suddenly pressed it onto the Book of Destiny. However, the instant he pressed down, the blurry shadow of the Black Wooden Plank flashed and disappeared within his right hand.

*Snap!*

The Book of Destiny trembled for the first time in history, as if it were unable to bear the weight. Ripples of fluctuations spread out with Wang Baole as the center, instantly permeating the surroundings and the entire Star of Destiny!

At that moment, the future afterimage was revealed before Wang Baole's eyes!

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START OF Chapter 1093
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The sky was clear, and sunlight bathed the earth, falling upon mountain peaks, into mountain ranges, and into the rivers and seas. The entire world was vast and boundless; no matter the height one stood at, the end could not be seen.

It was as if the size of this world was as infinite as one’s cognition. If you believed it was small, perhaps it truly was small. But if you believed it was large, then… it was infinitely vast.

"This place is strange!" Wang Baole's eyes narrowed as he realized that he was no longer on the volcano island on Destiny Star, nor was the Book of Destiny in front of him. Instead, he was standing at the summit of a mountain peak so high it seemed to pierce the clouds, as if vying with the heavens themselves.

Sea of clouds churned around him, and a wailing wind filled the air. Because of the difference in temperature, the mountain below his feet was covered in snow from the waist up.

However, this snow was not white; it was blue.

Blue snow, a violent wind, a boundless sea of clouds, and an earth that still seemed endless even when peering through the mists—this was the scene that greeted Wang Baole’s eyes.

Had his consciousness not been so clear, Wang Baole would have thought he had once again fallen into a realization of his past lives. But it was precisely because his consciousness was clear that he found this remnant image of the future quite interesting. Everything around him—whether perceived by his eyes, felt by his body, or recognized by his soul—was conveying a single message.

All of this… was real.

The wind was real, the snow was real, the sea of clouds and the earth were all real. Yet, in Wang Baole’s perception, the entire world lacked any aura of life, as if this were a lifeless planet.

This, too, was real.

Wang Baole’s brow twitched slightly. He scanned the sea of clouds for about seven or eight breaths of time until his expression suddenly shifted, and he looked toward his right.

The moment he looked, he saw two figures appearing in the boundless sea of clouds in the sky to his right. One was Master Tianfa, and the other… was Wang Baole himself!

"It has been sixty-eight years," Master Tianfa murmured from atop the clouds.

Wang Baole heard these words, as did the other version of himself standing beside Master Tianfa.

"Is the time up?" This was the other Wang Baole. After a moment of silence, he spoke in a raspy voice. If anyone else were here, they might not have understood the meaning behind those words, but the person who understood oneself best was often oneself.

Thus, Wang Baole could hear other layers of meaning in his other self's voice… there was regret, and even more so, a sense of confusion.

But before Wang Baole could observe and savor the moment further, a light appeared in the sky—or more accurately, in the cosmic starry sky. It was a multicolored light that seemed capable of melting everything. It covered the entire Wei Yang Dao Domain and also blanketed Destiny Star…

Wang Baole did not know what happened next, because the moment he saw that light, everything before his eyes vanished. When he opened his eyes, he heard the sounds of breathing around him and felt the convergence of countless gazes. He saw the Book of Destiny in front of him emitting bursts of repulsive force, and Master Tianfa looking at him from behind the book.

"How much time has passed?" Wang Baole asked with a frown.

"Nine breaths," Master Tianfa answered calmly.

Wang Baole’s frown deepened. He looked around and noticed the hundreds of thousands of cultivators atop the thirty-nine giant beasts outside the island. Every one of them wore an expression of intense curiosity. He also saw Xie Haiyang staring at him unblinkingly, seemingly wanting to know what he had seen.

However, Wang Baole could not describe the remnant image of the future he had seen. That scene had been simple, yet seemingly not simple at all. After reflecting on it, he believed the root cause was that he had seen too little.

Thus, Wang Baole lowered his head, his gaze falling upon the Book of Destiny before him. He could feel the book emitting a continuous and powerful repulsion, as if it were using all its strength to try and bounce Wang Baole’s hand away.

And it indeed succeeded. Amidst its violent tremors, an increasingly strong repulsive force erupted, finally causing Wang Baole’s hand to slowly lift by a few inches.

Beside them, Master Tianfa’s old servant saw this and was about to speak to end this viewing of the future remnant image. But at that moment, Wang Baole suddenly spoke.

"That didn't count. I didn't see clearly. Let’s do it again."

As soon as he spoke, his right hand slammed down again. The Book of Destiny trembled instantly, exhibiting intense struggle and resistance as if it were unwilling to let Wang Baole touch it again. The old servant hesitated, intending to stop him, but seeing that Master Tianfa had his eyes closed and remained silent, he pretended not to see.

However, there were those among the surrounding crowd who saw clearly. They saw the Book of Destiny’s struggle and its repulsion. Each of their expressions turned to astonishment. But the scene that followed caused that astonishment to turn into something strange.

Because after sensing the Book of Destiny’s struggle, the shadow of a black wooden board instantly manifested in Wang Baole's right hand. A massive force that seemed capable of breaking through anything directly shattered all the Book of Destiny’s resistance with crushing momentum. It was extremely violent… as he pressed down directly!

*Slap!*

Wang Baole’s hand landed on the Book of Destiny.

The Book of Destiny shivered several times, appearing extremely reluctant, but it had no choice but to once again release its ripples, spreading across the entirety of Destiny Star…

Thus, the world before Wang Baole’s eyes changed once more. This time, it was different from before. Wang Baole did not see a single image, but… a series of images.

It was as if the Book of Destiny was no longer hiding anything but had released everything in one breath. It was as if, could it speak, it would surely tell Wang Baole: *Watch whatever you want, and please just leave after you’re done…*

So, Wang Baole saw himself…

In the images, after Master Tianfa’s birthday feast ended, he did not choose to leave but stayed on Destiny Star. He watched the cycles of the sun and moon, the movement of the stars, and the changing of the world.

He saw the death of Ancestor Flame, the destruction of the Earth Federation, and the descent of the Dark Sect. He saw his Senior Brother Chen Qingzi going to war, and he saw the God-Emperors of the Wei Yang Clan.

Countless lives died and were born in succession over the following sixty-eight years. So it was for stars, and so it was for civilizations.

During this process, many people came to Destiny Star to pay their respects to Master Tianfa and to see him as well. For instance, Ancestor Flame came before he went to his death; Li Wan'er knelt for a long time, pleading; Zhao Yameng and other familiar faces sought an audience one after another. Yet, immersed in a transcendent state, he… showed no emotional fluctuations toward any of it.

Until sixty-eight years later, when that multicolored light appeared in the starry sky, melting and swallowing everything. Wang Baole saw himself and Master Tianfa standing atop the sea of clouds in the sky, looking out into the starry sky.

"It has been sixty-eight years."

"Is the time almost up?"

"It is both the beginning and the end."

"In that case… see you in the next life."

"See you in the next life."

Above the sea of clouds, Master Tianfa’s figure and the other Wang Baole bowed to each other with clasped hands. Their bodies gradually turned into nothingness, merging into the void along with the arrival of the multicolored light.

The images vanished.

Wang Baole’s body shook, and his eyes slowly opened.

At the same time he opened his eyes, within this universe of the Wei Yang Dao Domain, in the Left Dao Sacred Domain, stood the number one sect: the Kyushu Dao. Within its vast mountain gate that spanned over a hundred thousand civilized star systems, in a system called Tianshui, a giant figure sat cross-legged.

The size of this figure was like that of a star!

Looking closely, one could see… this person seemed to be the actual star of this star system.

His entire body emitted endless light and heat, appearing terrifying to the extreme. In terms of power, he far surpassed the Dao Protectors around Wang Baole. It was as if while both sides were in the Solar Realm, one was like a torch while the other was a true Great Sun.

He was the Second Dao Child of the Kyushu Dao, one who had used a forbidden method to fuse a large number of stars into himself. His cultivation was at the late stage of the Solar Realm, and his battle power was world-shaking!

At this moment, as the Second Dao Child sat meditating in the starry sky with his eyes closed, a shadow of a purple crescent moon appeared out of thin air in the void before him. It eventually transformed into the illusory figure of a woman. Though blurred, she still gave off a sense of peerless beauty.

"Chong Yizi, when I passed that secret technique to you back then, you said you would fulfill one request for me unconditionally. Now, I need you to kill someone for me!"

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START OF Chapter 1094
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**Chapter 1094: The Instruction Manual for the Book of Destiny!**

The massive figure slowly opened his eyes. They were like two stellar suns, and the fiery light that erupted from them set the surrounding starry sky ablaze, turning the entire star system crimson and causing it to tremble. The figure spoke, his voice as calm and unruffled as a deep well.

"Whom shall I kill?"

"This person's name is Wang Baole. Though his cultivation is only at the Planet realm, he possesses Stellar-level combat power." A beautiful figure manifested from the purple moon within the void. She smiled gently, her voice soft as she spoke, seemingly indifferent to the crushing pressure radiating from the massive figure before her.

"Where is he?" The figure sitting cross-legged in the starry sky remained expressionless. After gazing at the beautiful woman for a long while, he spoke again.

"He is currently on Planet Destiny. It is inconvenient for me to move against him there. You may kill him after he departs. Remember... speed is of the essence, for his master is the Flame Patriarch!"

The Second Daoist of Nine States Isle, Chong Yizi, who had been perfectly calm until now, furrowed his brows slightly upon hearing the name "Flame Patriarch."

"I will perform a technique to interfere with karma, ensuring the Flame Patriarch remains unaware of the matter," the beautiful woman said with a smile.

"Very well." Chong Yizi clearly trusted the woman. He pondered for a moment before nodding, offering no further objections.

"Do not underestimate him. Give it your all." The beautiful woman gave Chong Yizi a deep look before her figure slowly vanished. After she departed, a sharp glint flashed in the depths of Chong Yizi’s eyes.

"Do not underestimate him...? A mere Planet realm cultivator... does he truly require my true body to descend? Unnecessary. Ten percent of my power is enough to instantaneously slay any early-stage Stellar cultivator. This time... I shall condense an avatar with thirty percent of my power." After some thought, Chong Yizi raised his right hand and grasped at the void. Sudden cracking sounds echoed within his palm. In an instant, his entire right arm detached from his body. As it flew into the distance, it squirmed and transformed into a refined-looking middle-aged man with a cold, indifferent expression. The man turned and departed, heading straight for... Planet Destiny!

At that same moment, on the island above the volcano on Planet Destiny, Wang Baole—whose hand was pressed against the Book of Destiny—opened his eyes. He ignored the intense repulsion erupting from within the book. His eyes turned profound, and his brow remained furrowed.

"How was it?" Master Tianfa asked calmly.

"I didn't see it clearly. I need to go in one more time," Wang Baole looked up and said seriously.

Master Tianfa fell silent. Even the old servant beside him couldn't help but twitch his facial muscles. The surrounding onlookers all wore strange expressions upon hearing those words. However, the one who had the biggest reaction... wasn't them, but the Book of Destiny itself.

The book had already been working hard to repel him, wanting Wang Baole to take his hand away. It clearly possessed a spirit; upon hearing that Wang Baole actually wanted to go in yet again, it seemed to go frantic. A thunderous roar erupted from within the book, sounding like a growl of dissatisfaction and threat. Massive amounts of light surged from its pages, forming razor-sharp blades that looked ready to attack Wang Baole!

It was unhappy. It was unwilling. As the roaring and light intensified, an aura surged from the Book of Destiny. In everyone’s eyes, the book seemed to grow infinitely large—so large that Wang Baole appeared like an ant before it, about to be crushed.

Even the thirty-nine giant beasts around the island were affected. They roared, their eyes filled with hostility. The crowd broke into an uproar, crys of shock ringing out.

"This Wang Baole is too arrogant! Master Tianfa is merciful, but he shouldn't provoke the supreme treasure that is the Book of Destiny!"

"In the past, which of our generation hasn't been respectful before the Book of Destiny? This Wang Baole is utterly insolent!"

"Insatiable greed! Looking once is one thing. The Book of Destiny was willing to let him look a second time; he should have knelt in gratitude for that alone. And yet he wants a third time..."

Jealous remarks spread through the crowd. However, before the voices could linger for long, a sudden change occurred between Wang Baole and the Book of Destiny. It caused those speaking out of jealousy to gasp, their expressions shifting to even deeper horror.

This was because at the moment the Book of Destiny erupted in an attempt to suppress Wang Baole, his expression remained unchanged. It was as if he didn't even see the book's outburst. He lifted his right hand a few inches and then—*slap*—pressed it back down.

As his hand landed, the Book of Destiny, which had been in a state of fury a moment ago, suddenly became like an aggrieved young bride. Despite its internal struggles, it was forcibly pinned there, unable to resist. It was as if Wang Baole's hand possessed the weight of ten thousand tons, pinning it down so it couldn't struggle. The only thing it could do was refuse to cooperate!

Thus, even though Wang Baole's hand was pressed against the Book of Destiny, no ripples appeared. If the Book of Destiny could take human form, it would surely be glaring stubbornly at Wang Baole right now, declaring that it would rather die than cooperate.

Wang Baole’s expression remained normal. He simply released a sliver of the aura from his past life's Grudge Weapon. Even if it was only a tiny bit, that earth-shattering baleful Qi was potent to the extreme. Though outsiders couldn't perceive it and Wang Baole retracted it as soon as he released it, the Book of Destiny was terrified. It trembled without the slightest hesitation. Almost submissively, it quickly released ripples that instantly spread across all of Planet Destiny.

Master Tianfa saw this. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately stayed silent, his gaze toward the Book of Destiny carrying a hint of pity.

As the ripples spread, the world before Wang Baole's eyes changed once again.

In the vision, it was no longer the boundless earth from before. Instead, everything was blurry; he couldn't see anything clearly. This caused Wang Baole’s brow to furrow once more. But the moment he showed dissatisfaction, a weak consciousness drifted from the surroundings, echoing in Wang Baole’s mind.

It wasn't words, but a flow of consciousness filled with intense grievance. It told Wang Baole that it wasn't that it wasn't trying its best; it was because the changes in the future were deduced based on past trajectories. The reason the previous images on Planet Destiny were clear was because everything followed a traceable path. This current blurriness was because Wang Baole had chosen a different path, making it very difficult for the Book of Destiny to fully deduce.

"Try harder!" Wang Baole said slowly.

That consciousness became even more aggrieved. The surroundings grew even blurrier until, after a long while, they barely cleared up. A starry sky manifested. In this starry sky, Wang Baole saw a fleet of warships cruising along. Another version of himself was currently inside one of the warships, conversing with Xie Haiyang.

Right then, ripples surged in the starry sky ahead of the warship. An indistinct figure stepped out. As soon as the figure appeared, it attacked the warship. Amidst the boom, the vision turned blurry again.

Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed as he watched this. He suddenly spoke.

"Play it again!"

The aggrieved consciousness seemed to have the urge to curse, but it still obediently worked to make the previous scene reappear before Wang Baole. This time, Wang Baole watched without blinking. The moment that indistinct figure appeared, he suddenly barked:

"Stop!"

The image froze.

"Zoom in!"

The image instantly magnified. As the figure stepping out of the void underwent constant changes in Wang Baole's vision, he finally saw it. Connected to the back of this figure was a single purple thread!

The purple thread extended into the depths of the void, seemingly without end.

Staring at that purple line, Wang Baole spoke slowly.

"Follow this line. Continue the deduction."

The surroundings were silent, and the image remained still. That aggrieved consciousness seemed to have vanished. A sense of anger seemed to be brewing, gathering from all directions as if about to explode. Wang Baole calmly released the baleful Qi of his Grudge Weapon once more, then retracted it.

In the next instant, the anger vanished. The vision moved. Following Wang Baole’s instructions, the image followed that purple thread, constantly pushing deeper into the void, seemingly tracing it back to its source.

Wang Baole was very satisfied. He felt he had finally found the correct way to use the Book of Destiny.

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START OF Chapter 1095
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As the images continued to advance, Wang Baole did not blink. He stared intently, the scenes appearing in his eyes like a lens speeding through the starry sky.

Through this lens, he saw countless stars flash by and countless galaxies pass. He saw the shadows of myriad living beings, as if he were observing the very history of the Never-Ending Dao Domain.

The images progressed too quickly, so everything was a mere blur until, after a long wait, the scenes suddenly shifted. They were no longer advancing at high speed but had frozen upon a stretch of grey starry sky!

In this grey sky, there were no stars and seemingly no civilization. There were only patches of ancient ruins. These ruins did not seem to truly exist; they flickered in and out of reality, giving off an eerie sensation.

Even stranger were the numerous, differing styles within these ruins. If Wang Baole had not experienced the insights of his past lives, his first thought upon seeing these varied styles would have been that the universe was vast, its races many, and its civilizations countless. Naturally, different styles were to be expected; there was nothing odd about it.

But having experienced those past life insights, Wang Baole’s pupils suddenly constricted. Within those ruins, he clearly saw several buildings that matched the architectural styles he had seen in his past lives!

Thus, this grey region of space was anything but ordinary!

As Wang Baole gazed carefully at the area, he saw the purple threads extending into the core of the region. However, they were too far away to see clearly.

"Go in!" Wang Baole said calmly. Though the images moved according to his command, the moment they reached the edge of the region, they were blocked, unable to enter!

Wang Baole let out a soft exclamation of surprise. After a moment of thought, he asked, "What is this place…?"

A sense of endless grievance and a weak consciousness drifted into Wang Baole’s mind.

"Erased?" Wang Baole was stunned. This was the meaning conveyed by the consciousness of the Book of Destiny. Perhaps it did not know what to call this place either, so it relied on its instincts to provide an explanation that fit its own understanding as a book.

Wang Baole pondered for a moment, coming to an understanding. To a book, "erased" meant that words or images written upon its pages had been deleted or scrubbed away due to some error.

Looking at it this way, Wang Baole suddenly understood a little, but it still shocked him. He hadn’t expected such a region to exist within the starry sky.

Clearly, Ziyue was hiding there.

After a brief silence, Wang Baole spoke again.

"Slowly circle the perimeter of this place."

This time, things went smoothly. The images moved instantly, circling the region. This allowed Wang Baole to roughly determine the size of the area. However, the process didn't last long. When he had completed about half a circle, the images stopped again, seemingly blocked once more.

"Blocked again…" Wang Baole felt that this place was becoming increasingly bizarre. This time, what blocked the images was not the grey region itself, but a stretch of starry sky that appeared completely empty.

"Continue the circle from the other direction!" Wang Baole stared at that patch of sky and spoke again. The images retreated and began advancing from the other side, but soon, they were blocked again by the empty void.

The two points where he was blocked seemed to be on the same horizontal plane, as if an invisible barrier—a massive wall—stood there, obstructing everything.

The grey region of space was connected to this wall at one point, making it impossible for the lens to complete a full circuit.

This invisible wall made Wang Baole fall into silence as he thought of the life of the Little White Deer, where he had crashed through the void. His eyes narrowed. After a long while, he took one deep, final look at the grey region.

"Go back."

The moment he said those words, the aggrieved consciousness seemed to erupt with excitement. The images retreated instantly at a speed far exceeding their arrival. The entire process took only about the time it takes an incense stick to burn before the images returned to the starting point and vanished.

The world before Wang Baole’s eyes was no longer a vision, but Planet Destiny. At the moment everything returned to his sight, the Book of Destiny beneath his palm suddenly erupted with a powerful force of repulsion.

This force was far greater than before, as if it had been accumulating all along. With this sudden explosion, it actually forced Wang Baole’s hand more than a foot into the air, completely separating it from the Book of Destiny.

Once Wang Baole’s hand was repelled, the Book of Destiny seemed to emit a cheerful, excited sound. It blurred instantly, as if fleeing for its life, and disappeared… followed by bouts of whistling sounds.

The whistling sounded like the wind, but it wasn't. To the onlookers, everyone shared the same feeling: the Book of Destiny was cursing someone.

That whistling was the sound of profanity!

As for who it was cursing, that went without saying.

The onlookers fell into a collective silence. The old servant standing beside Tianfa Shangren was the same; it was his first time seeing the Book of Destiny display such a human side.

*Just how much torment did it suffer to flee like that the first chance it got…*

But soon, the expressions of the crowd turned strange again, most filled with a sense of pity. This was because almost at the same instant the Book of Destiny blurred and vanished, Wang Baole’s repelled hand descended again.

The spot where he landed was clearly empty, yet the moment his hand dropped, the escaped Book of Destiny automatically reappeared right there, causing Wang Baole’s hand to naturally land back upon it.

The Book of Destiny froze. The entire book went stiff for several breaths before it began to tremble violently. Amidst the shaking, a wail echoed out. The onlookers were at a loss for words.

The old servant opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, ultimately letting out a sigh.

As for Tianfa Shangren, his face twitched. He looked at Wang Baole helplessly.

Wang Baole’s expression remained as usual, as if he hadn't noticed the pity in everyone's eyes. A contemplative look appeared in his gaze as he recalled the route to the grey starry sky. Finally, his eyes flickered, and he looked at Tianfa Shangren, speaking sincerely.

"I didn't see clearly enough. I need to go one more time."

The moment those words left his mouth, the crowd could no longer hold back. An uproar exploded instantly.

"He wants to go again?"

"I've seen people being bullied, but I've never seen a book being bullied like this!!"

"Look at that! The Book of Destiny is such a sacred entity, and look at what it’s been bullied into!"

"A freak, a miracle! I never imagined that viewing shadows of the future could be done like this!!"

Amidst the clamor, the Book of Destiny beneath Wang Baole’s hand seemed to wail even louder. Its sense of grievance had reached its limit. It was as if it believed it had dignity and could not compromise again and again. A sense of resolution erupted from it, carrying an aura of "rather be shattered jade than a whole tile."

Wang Baole sensed this aura from the Book of Destiny, so he called out in his heart.

"Little missy, this book isn't behaving. How about we just tear it up? I'll find you a different one."

A long moment passed before a snort echoed from the mask fragment in Wang Baole's robe.

The moment that snort sounded, the Book of Destiny went silent. In the next instant, just as Tianfa Shangren was about to speak and advise him otherwise, the book suddenly lifted itself up toward Wang Baole’s hand. It very eagerly and proactively met his palm with a loud *smack*.

As if it felt this wasn't enough to prove its obedience, it actively bobbed up and down several times, creating a series of *smack-smack-smack* sounds. It even rubbed against his hand in a fawning manner until an unprecedentedly vast ripple echoed throughout Planet Destiny and the entire Heavenly Fate System.

Tianfa Shangren closed his mouth.

The old servant’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. The crowd was left dumbfounded.

"Where is your dignity?!"

"Heavens, I must be seeing things! Wang Baole, you’ve destroyed the sanctity of the Book of Destiny in my heart!!"

"Why do I feel like… the style of this scene is a bit weird? It’s giving me other ideas…" Li Wan’er’s expression was strange as she glared at Wang Baole from the distance.

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START OF Chapter 1096
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All the cultivators attending the Heavenly Dharma Superior’s birthday feast this time, including Li Wan’er, were struck by a sense of unprecedented novelty.

And the source of it all was... Wang Baole!

The turning point occurred after the trial to perceive past lives. Whether it was Wang Baole wounding the God Emperor’s disciple upon his emergence—forcing the Kyushu Dao Child to self-inflict a wound as an apology—or his later presence among the projections of numerous mighty beings, where he sat without the slightest hint of incongruity as if he belonged there, or perhaps the casual slap that caused the black-robed man to collapse.

There were also the changes in expressions of others after seeing their future afterimages, Wang Baole’s unprecedented way of viewing the future, and the fawning servility displayed by the Book of Destiny. All of these factors ensured that everyone present would have this birthday feast firmly etched into their souls.

Even the Heavenly Dharma Superior’s old servant felt the same. The solicitous and flattering behavior of the Book of Destiny left him in a bit of a daze, making him feel that his reverence for the book over the years might have been a bit excessive.

*I didn't expect you to be this kind of Book of Destiny...* The old servant couldn't help but sigh inwardly. As the ripples spread, the world before Wang Baole’s eyes changed once again.

Perhaps it was the difference between being passive and active, but this time, Wang Baole didn't even need to give a command. Although the initial images were still blurry, that blurriness was rapidly transforming. It was as if the Book of Destiny was performing deductions at a frenzied pace. Very quickly, a series of future scenes appeared before Wang Baole’s eyes.

Every image was exquisitely detailed, down to the finest nuance. Even the fine hairs on a person’s face were clear, let alone the backgrounds, which had reached a level of ultimate perfection.

Furthermore, as if worried that Wang Baole might not understand what he was seeing, the Book of Destiny displayed text above the heads of every person who appeared in the images, explaining their names, origins, cultivation bases, and magical treasures.

But those weren't the things that shocked Wang Baole the most. What truly stunned him was that these introductions actually included the person’s social network and secrets. Moreover, if Wang Baole stared at a person for a long enough time, he could actually see their life’s trajectory!

This scene was somewhat inconceivable even to Wang Baole. He couldn't help but think of a certain type of special existence back on the Federation’s Earth—existences whose persistence could move the heavens and whose fawning could melt glaciers.

With a strange expression, Wang Baole couldn't resist checking a few people. However, supporting this level of observation was clearly a massive drain on the Book of Destiny itself. After watching for a while, the images began to lose their exquisite quality and even became somewhat blurry. Wang Baole stopped checking the trajectories of others and instead quickly flipped through the deduced afterimages of his own future.

He saw the rise of the Dark Sect and endless wars. He saw his own cultivation reach the Stellar realm, then the Star Domain realm. But these were all fragments; there was no process or connection between them, and the images even became illusory. This indicated that these fragments were only possibilities, not the sole reality.

That was until two images appeared which caught Wang Baole’s attention for a significantly longer time. In the first image, there was his master, Ancestor Lie Yan, his senior brother, Chen Qingzi, and himself.

In the scene, Chen Qingzi and Ancestor Lie Yan were already injured, yet they were charging forward recklessly, desperate to rescue him from a perilous situation. The anxiety in their expressions sent a warm current through Wang Baole’s heart.

The second image showed Chen Qingzi solemnly handing a black crystal to him. In the image, he spoke a single sentence.

"Junior Brother, I’m entrusting the Dark Sect to you."

The image ended, and Wang Baole stood there silently as his surroundings became blurry again. The figure of Chen Qingzi lingered in his mind; he missed his senior brother.

Although these afterimages were not events that would definitely happen in the future, Wang Baole was already satisfied. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly thought of the change in behavior the God Emperor’s disciple and the Kyushu Dao Child had shown toward him after they saw their afterimages. His heart stirred.

"Let me see the future afterimages seen by the Giga God Emperor’s ninth disciple and the Kyushu Dao’s seventh Dao Child."

In any other situation, the Book of Destiny would have surely refused such a request. But now... the moment Wang Baole finished speaking, the scene seen by the Giga God Emperor’s disciple appeared before him.

In that image, the ninth disciple of the Giga God Emperor died in an internal struggle within the Weiyang Clan. it had nothing to do with Wang Baole. However, since the disciple had seen this, he had a certain chance of resolving the crisis.

*That guy was indeed trying to screw me over. He put on an act as if he saw how terrifying my future was just to draw attention to me and set me up with a bunch of enemies.* Wang Baole sneered, a cold light flashing in his eyes as he looked at the image seen by the Kyushu Dao’s seventh Dao Child.

This image also had little to do with him. The one who ultimately killed this Dao Child wasn't Wang Baole, but his own fellow sect brother!

*Still trying to set me up!* Wang Baole flipped his right hand. Out of curiosity, he checked the afterimages of Xing Jingzi and Xie Haiyang. But as he watched, Wang Baole’s expression turned grim.

This was because Xing Jingzi’s future afterimage also had nothing to do with him. As for Xie Haiyang, it was the same; there was no major connection. It was far from what he had claimed—that Wang Baole didn't seem like himself.

It was understandable for the God Emperor’s disciple and the Kyushu Dao Child to deceive him, but the possibility of Xing Jingzi doing so was very small, and there was even less reason for Xie Haiyang to lie based on his afterimage.

Wang Baole fell silent. This matter felt eerie, and he couldn't make a judgment for a moment. After a long silence, as he looked at the blurriness around him, a faint sense of inexplicable palpitation began to grow.

"Let’s go!" Wang Baole thought for a moment before speaking slowly.

But right then, the consciousness of the Book of Destiny surged violently. It only had time to transmit a single thought to Wang Baole before it vanished instantly. It was as if another consciousness had arrived from somewhere unknown, directly suppressing the Book of Destiny and descending upon this place!

It manifested as an eerie voice that suddenly echoed within this blurry zone of future afterimages.

"There is one more image. This little fellow doesn't have enough Spirit Soul strength, so it couldn't deduce it. I can, however... do you want to see it?"

The moment those words were spoken, Wang Baole’s hair stood on end. His expression changed instantly, and his breathing quickened. This was because the thought transmitted by the Book of Destiny just now told him that a consciousness from the *future* had descended.

And that wasn't the main point. The main point was that the voice was not unfamiliar to Wang Baole!

It was... the voice of the face formed by the blood-colored centipede he had seen while perceiving his past lives!

"Who are you!" Wang Baole spoke in a low, heavy voice after a moment of silence.

"Didn't I tell you? I won't say the same thing twice. So... what is your answer?"

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. After a moment of thought, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Show me!"

Almost the instant Wang Baole spoke, the surrounding blurriness vanished, replaced by a starry sky. Unlike the previous images, he wasn't just watching a scene this time. It felt as if his entire being had merged into this starry sky, becoming a person within the image!

The moment he stood in the starry sky and looked around, he saw... a hand. A hand that had appeared in his past life memories—the very hand that had killed him when he was a member of the Flame-Devouring God Race!

This hand materialized from the void, pressing gently toward his forehead. Faintly, an eerie voice echoed through the starry sky.

"What should I call you? Black wooden plank? This is your fate... to be possessed by me!"

Wang Baole’s mind roared. The moment that hand descended, Wang Baole, who was already prepared, let a brilliant light erupt from his eyes. He instantly unleashed the Waning Moon technique, and Time descended. Because of the special nature of this art, even that hand was slightly affected. It didn't flow backward, but it did pause!

A single pause was enough!

A zombie shadow instantly manifested within his body, roaring at the approaching finger.

"Light!"

The shadow of the Grudge Blade appeared simultaneously, likewise letting out a low roar.

"Sunder!"

Then, the shadow of the Flame-Devouring God Race appeared, propping up the sky!

"Tear!"

Furthermore, with a resentment capable of shaking the heavens, the shadow of the Heavenly Chosen from that long-ago life manifested and roared.

"Devour!"

Finally, the Little White Deer charged out. Using its antlers, which were capable of smashing through world barriers, it slammed headfirst into the approaching finger!

"Crack!"

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END OF Chapter 1096
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START OF Chapter 1097
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Chapter 1097: Initial Resolution!

To describe all of this in writing still feels somewhat slow; in reality, everything in the vision occurred in a mere flash of an instant.

From the moment he agreed to view the different shadows of his future, Wang Baole had already prepared himself. He naturally knew that since the consciousness of the Book of Destiny had been suppressed, this consciousness from the future—belonging to the blood-colored centipede—had arrived with a clear and powerful purpose.

As such, whether he agreed or disagreed made no difference. The only real difference... was that the opponent was too confident. That posture of playing with his fate, as if standing above all things, was the opponent's only flaw.

By grasping this flaw, he might be able to resolve the matter!

And if he couldn't... Wang Baole didn't want to think about the consequences. There was no time, and his thoughts wouldn't allow him to dwell on failure. The manifestation of the Remnant Moon technique had indeed won him... a sliver of hope!

After all... this was a Great Dao belonging to Wang Yiyi's father. After all, this was a divine supernatural power that was not limited to this universe. After all, while perceiving his past lives and drawing upon the insights of others, Wang Baole had once left this world!

Therefore, even if his Remnant Moon could not compare to the Flowing Moon, it was already a peak-tier divine power within this universe. Its grade was extremely high. Thus, as he unleashed it now, even though the hand possessed a mysterious and unfathomable origin, it was still slightly affected.

The moment it was affected, the shadow of the zombie appeared over Wang Baole’s body. As it roared the word "Light," his surroundings were instantly submerged in a vast sea of light. It pierced through the surrounding void and erased all blurring, converging entirely to strike the approaching finger.

It seemed intent on purging all the darkness represented by that hand within this endless radiance. However, the Dao intent contained within that hand had reached an appalling level. The efforts of the zombie life alone—even though he had spent that entire life cultivating himself into a beam of light—were still not enough!

At most, it only made the hand appear slightly more transparent. But this was not the end. Following the Light, the Peerless Resentful Weapon manifested from Wang Baole’s body. It seemed to stimulate all the power of that incarnation, gathering it here to deliver a sudden slash!

This slash caused the sea of light to erupt in violent ripples, tearing it open. Within that sea of light, the Peerless Resentful Weapon’s shadow struck directly against the tip of the finger.

Amidst a thunderous boom, the fingertip trembled slightly, and a crack appeared!!

Almost at the same time the crack appeared, the shadow of the prodigy incarnation manifested on Wang Baole. It formed a boundless black Qi that erupted suddenly. This black Qi was the hatred of that lifetime!

He hated the heavens, he hated the earth, he hated all living beings, he hated the starry universe, he hated the limits of vision, and he hated the end of all cognition!

Within the sea of light, this black Qi clearly contained hatred and seemed like infinite darkness, yet... it tempered its glare and merged with the dust. Radiance and grime coexisted, seemingly without conflict, as it whistled toward the cracked fingertip where the Resentful Weapon had struck!

Upon contact, there was no explosion. Instead, all the black Qi followed the crack in the fingertip and surged into the interior of the hand, erupting wildly within its body!

This caused the semi-transparent hand to instantly become somewhat turbid. And yet... this was naturally not the end. The Kindling God Clan incarnation appeared, and with a world-shaking roar, it threw a sudden punch. It was as if he were concentrating everything he was into this fist—carrying his doubt toward heaven and earth, his questioning of the world's reality, his infinitely intense and inexplicable headache, and his sheer madness. As this punch landed, coordinating with the divine powers of the previous incarnations, the crack on the fingertip expanded several times over in an instant!

It covered the entire finger; it covered half the hand!

The moment the cracks spread across it, the shadow of the little white deer suddenly charged out. Carrying the confusion born of its obsession with heaven and earth, and the obsession born of its confusion toward the world, the little white deer used the willpower that had once shattered the starry sky in that lifetime. Facing the finger, amidst a deer's neigh, it slammed...

Its head struck with all its might!!

A thunderous roar instantly erupted within the void shrouded by the sea of light, resentment, hatred, and divine madness. The little white deer's antlers crumbled instantly, and its body shattered into pieces. But that hand... that hand covered in cracks also seemed to reach a certain limit at this moment, and it directly began to break apart!

Unfortunately... it only broke apart; it did not collapse into nothingness!

The hand split into five fingers and a palm divided into three parts. They scattered before Wang Baole amidst the booming sounds, but they did not disappear. Like a severed centipede that can still struggle, they attempted to approach Wang Baole once more from eight different directions!

A sharp light glinted in Wang Baole's eyes. The moment the eight pieces of the hand rushed toward him, he closed his eyes, and a Black Wooden Board... instantly manifested outside his body!

As soon as it appeared, it expanded infinitely. In the blink of an eye, the Black Wooden Board, which could originally be held in one hand, grew to the size of a person—resembling a... coffin!

It appeared in the void, pitch-black in color and exuding an aura of ancient antiquity. Its appearance caused the void to tremble, and the fingers and palm pieces approaching it also shuddered at that moment, as if hesitating.

In that moment of hesitation, Wang Baole merged himself into the Black Wooden Board. With a leap, the coffin-like Black Wooden Board suddenly rose into the air, as if an invisible giant had picked it up. It then crashed down... toward the eight pieces of the hand!

*Clap!*

A crisp sound that caused the entire void to begin collapsing suddenly echoed. The resulting ripples accelerated the void's disintegration, and one could see the surroundings shattering like a mirror.

Shattering along with the void were the eight pieces the hand had split into!

The three palm fragments were instantly pulverized. Four of the fingers also seemed unable to endure and dissipated directly. Only the index finger of that hand remained. Though it was covered in cracks, it could still maintain its form. Within the blur of its fingertip, a face emerged; within the illusory nature of the finger's body, the form of a centipede faintly appeared!

It stared at Wang Baole, a powerful light shining in its eyes. The expression on the face carried a smile of what seemed like extreme pleasant surprise, as if this failure and collapse were not a bad thing for it, but rather a good thing.

"Very good. You truly did not disappoint me..."

"Although what appeared today was only one of my countless thoughts made manifest, being able to dispel it... you have still given me quite a surprise."

"The Black Wooden Board... I am becoming more and more interested in you. And what I am even more curious about... is your origin..."

"Interesting. So very interesting. I am about to wake up. When I am fully awake, that will be the moment we meet again. And that day... is not far off." Amidst a bizarre laugh, the finger formed by the centipede vanished into a blur. Almost at the same moment it disappeared, this segment of the void completely tore asunder.

In the next instant, when Wang Baole opened his eyes, he was standing on the island atop the volcano of the Destiny Star. Before him was Tianfa Superior and... the Book of Destiny, whose light had clearly dimmed beneath the Superior's palm.

The sounds of gasping from the surroundings and the shocked gaze of the Superior's old servant didn't matter to Wang Baole. After a few breaths of silence, he first checked the Book of Destiny to confirm that its own consciousness had also awakened. Then, he looked up toward Tianfa Superior, who was also looking at him with doubt in his eyes.

"This time, how long was I in the trance?" Wang Baole asked after a moment of silence.

"A full seven days!" Tianfa Superior replied softly.

"Seven days..." Wang Baole murmured. Following that was a sense of weakness emanating from his body, as if he had been completely overextended, making him feel as though even standing there was a struggle.

However, a sharp light flickered in his eyes. Wang Baole knew very well that this time, he had narrowly avoided a crisis. Had he failed, the consequence would have been his possession. He would have become... the "him" that wasn't him, as seen by the God-Emperor's disciples, the Kyushu Dao-child, Xing Jingzi, and Xie Ocean in those shadows of the future!

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END OF Chapter 1097
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START OF Chapter 1098
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Chapter 1098: Re-entering Previous Lives!

Everything in the world has cause and effect.

For every gain, there is naturally a price to pay. Though the degree of that price varies, it remains an ultimate truth. Wang Baole understood this principle.

It was just like his experiences during Heavenly Dharma Superior’s birthday banquet. From the start of the trials until now, his gains had been immense; his cultivation had soared from the mid-Planetary realm directly to the Great Circle.

Such a heaven-defying fortune naturally demanded a price. And Wang Baole’s attempt to charge out of the world to see the truth of what lay outside was bound to carry a massive karmic burden.

Thus, although he had only succeeded halfway—seeing part of the truth of the outside world—he had also seen that blood-colored centipede sprawling atop the crystal coffin.

Perhaps it was that single gaze that created a karmic link between them, leading to the hand and the words that appeared at the end of his previous life as a member of the Divine Fire Kin.

Or perhaps all of this was inevitable. Regardless, because of the appearance and interference of the blood-colored centipede, his past lives now contained unpredictable variables.

Broadly speaking, his gains were massive, so the accompanying price had risen to a terrifying level. The slightest lapse in concentration could very well lead to his fall.

If it were merely death, that would be one thing, but clearly… the entity intended to possess him.

Consequently, after Wang Baole finished viewing the fragments of the future, the birthday banquet came to an end. While a large number of cultivators departed one after another, Wang Baole… did not leave.

He remained on the Fate Star to heal his injuries.

Though Wang Baole had neutralized the crisis during the battle of possession within the future fragments, the price he paid was staggering. He had sustained injuries across five lives!

The life of the Divine Kin, the life of the Zombie, the life of the Grudge Weapon, the life of the Hate Cultivator, and the life of the Little White Deer… the shadows of these five lives were all severely injured. If he left the Fate Star without fully recovering, it would be extremely detrimental to him.

There was another reason he chose to stay. It was the opportunity his master, Flame Patriarch, had traded for—using the crystal he carried during his meditation on past lives to greatly increase his life force.

Although Wang Baole no longer needed that specific benefit, he still vividly remembered the words the blood-colored centipede had spoken before vanishing.

"My origins…" Wang Baole sat cross-legged atop a mountain peak on the Fate Star. After exhaling the essence of heaven and earth, he slowly opened his eyes, a profound light flickering deep within them.

He had pondered this question before. When exactly had he appeared in the hands of the ancient remnant soul, Sun De? No matter how he tried to recall, he found no answer.

Furthermore, the face formed by the blood-colored centipede had uttered similar words, expressing curiosity about his origins. This caused Wang Baole to sink deeper into contemplation regarding this point.

Therefore, he chose to stay. On one hand, he needed to heal; on the other, he planned to ask Heavenly Dharma Superior for a private session to meditate on his past lives once his injuries were gone.

He didn't want the last ten lives. He wanted to see if he had existed during the first seventy-nine restarts of this universe’s eighty-nine cycles. He wanted to see… his original source!

This was critical. Only by knowing his origins could he find a specific way to deal with the threat of possession from the blood-colored centipede in the future.

Wang Baole admitted that ever since that gaze from the blood-colored centipede, a powerful sense of crisis had loomed over him. This crisis made him feel a sense of urgency—urgency that his cultivation was still insufficient, and urgency to unravel all of this.

"Only by knowing my origins and finding a direction can I target my efforts to constantly improve myself. Only by reaching the peak of cultivation as quickly as possible can I resist the threat of possession from that blood-colored centipede!"

Wang Baole remained silent for a long while before closing his eyes to continue his healing.

Others who had not yet left included Xie海洋 and the protectors from the Flame Galaxy. However, they were not permitted to stay on the Fate Star and could only wait for Wang Baole within their warships stationed outside the planet.

As for Li Wan’er, she had originally intended to wait for him but ultimately chose to leave. Xu Yinling did the same; after some hesitation, she also departed.

Chen Han, however, did not leave. He very diligently followed Xie Haiyang, waiting for Wang Baole within the warship.

Time passed day by day. Three months later, with the help of the Fate Star's natural spiritual energy and the assistance of Heavenly Dharma Superior, Wang Baole’s injuries were finally healed!

With his recovery, his cultivation improved even further. Then… Wang Baole traveled to the volcano where Heavenly Dharma Superior resided. On the now-empty island, Wang Baole sat before the Superior.

The Superior’s old slave stood to the side, his gaze complex as he occasionally looked at Wang Baole.

But whether it was Wang Baole or Heavenly Dharma Superior, neither seemed to have eyes for him. They only looked at each other.

"Now that your injuries are healed, have you come to bid farewell?" Heavenly Dharma Superior spoke softly.

"I have come to bid farewell, but I also have a request." Wang Baole’s gaze was clear as he looked at the Superior.

As if guessing what Wang Baole wanted to say, the Superior fell silent.

Wang Baole did not continue speaking, nor did he rush him. He remained equally silent.

The old slave on the side felt an itch of curiosity. He racked his brain but couldn't figure out what Wang Baole’s request was. He only felt that these two were becoming increasingly unfathomable as the conversation progressed.

After a long while, Heavenly Dharma Superior sighed. He looked into Wang Baole’s eyes and spoke seriously.

"This life is different from the ones before. You actually don't have to leave. It is safest to stay here."

"My mind is made up. I ask the Superior to grant my request." Wang Baole stood up, cupped his fists, and bowed deeply toward Heavenly Dharma Superior.

A complex look appeared in Heavenly Dharma Superior’s eyes. As he looked at Wang Baole, he vaguely seemed to see a little white deer cautiously walking in from the courtyard gate, gazing at him with curiosity after seeing him.

"I cannot guarantee that you will see all your past lives. I can only gather the guiding light of the entire Book of Fate to send your consciousness back. How much you will see, what you will see, and what dangers will occur… I cannot be certain."

"Also, I must remind you. The dangers existing in past lives are a profound mystery of cognition. In other words… if you do not see them, perhaps those dangers will never appear. Conversely… you should understand."

Wang Baole fell silent upon hearing this. He naturally understood. He had wondered if he had not forced his way out of the world and seen the blood-colored centipede, would it have appeared?

Wang Baole didn't know the answer.

But he knew that he would rather exist with clarity and no regrets than exist in a muddle of confusion and ignorance.

"Please help me!" Wang Baole took a deep breath and bowed once more.

Heavenly Dharma Superior closed his eyes. After a long moment, he snapped them open and waved his right hand. Immediately, the crystal he had previously gifted to Wang Baole flew out. As it floated between the two, the crystal emitted a brilliant light. In the next instant, that light erupted, spreading outward in all directions like a crashing wave.

Amidst this expansion, Heavenly Dharma Superior performed an incantation gesture with his right hand. The Book of Fate manifested behind him, its pages glowing with a soft light. From the back to the front… the pages began to flip in reverse!

With every page that turned, Heavenly Dharma Superior’s body would tremble once, and Wang Baole’s soul would sway. Gradually, as the pages flipped back one by one until the eleventh page from the end was lifted and about to be turned, Wang Baole’s body jolted violently. His consciousness began to sink.

He sank deeper and deeper until, at a certain moment, he vanished.

Sitting there cross-legged, he seemed to be nothing more than an empty shell. His soul was nowhere to be found. Opposite him, Heavenly Dharma Superior also had his eyes closed, his body shrouded in vast light. The surrounding world and the entire Fate Star seemed to be vibrating.

The old slave was even more shocked. This was the first time he had witnessed such a scene. He looked at Wang Baole, then at Heavenly Dharma Superior, and finally, his gaze landed on the Book of Fate behind the Superior.

He watched as the book slowly flipped its pages backward!

Page seventy-nine, page seventy-eight, page seventy-seven…

And with every page turned, the eyes-closed Heavenly Dharma Superior would speak.

"Seventy-nine."

"Seventy-eight."

"Seventy-seven."

...

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END OF Chapter 1098
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START OF Chapter 1099
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Chapter 1099: A Different Sun De!

How many times has this world cycled through reincarnation?

How many times has this universe restarted?

In these different cycles, these different restarts, what identities did each person hold?

In these different heavens and earths, these different lives and deaths, what states did each wisp of a soul exist in?

Before perceiving his past lives, Wang Baole did not understand any of this; he did not even have such questions within his cognition. But after perceiving them, he began to ponder these issues.

He wanted to know the answer. He didn’t want to have just "existed"; he wanted to truly exist.

He wanted to know the truth. He didn’t want to be merely a building block in different universes, placed in different positions across cycle after cycle of reincarnation. He wanted to live with clarity.

From the perceptions of his first ten lives, he had learned much, but with that knowledge came a deep sense of confusion. And all this confusion... was no longer important at this moment. As his spirit sank and the pages of the Book of Destiny behind Lord Heavenly Law flipped backward, Wang Baole’s past lives unfolded before his eyes one by one. But... his consciousness was dissipating in the process. He gradually forgot himself, slowly forgot everything, and became pure—until he heard Lord Heavenly Law’s voice.

"Seventy-nine..."

***

"Who am I... Where am I..." In the pitch-black void, I heard a voice murmuring softly in my ear.

It seemed to come from very far away, yet it also seemed to echo right beside me. I didn’t know where the voice was coming from, nor did I know why it asked those two questions.

The voice echoed boundlessly, sounding continuously as if for an eternity. Yet, I heard no response. It seemed no one paid any mind to the voice, and I didn’t know how to speak. Thus, gradually, it seemed only this voice existed in the pitch-black void.

Time passed in this void without leaving a single trace.

Perhaps because of the voice, I also began to ponder. Who... am I? Where... am I?

I pondered for a long time without an answer. The more I thought, the more lost I became, until at one point, I let out a sound.

"Who am I... Where am I..."

The voice was very familiar. After it spoke, I waited for a while and heard an echo.

Then I understood. It turned out that the very first voice I heard was my own. And I... had apparently been repeating these words for an unknown number of years.

This discovery caused a slight fluctuation in my emotions. I didn’t know what to call this fluctuation, so I continued to ponder until, after a very, very long time, I remembered a word.

Happy!

Yes, this emotion should be called happiness. I was very happy because I had discovered the origin of that voice. But how did I know the word "happy"?

I was lost, so I continued to ponder. But this time, before I could think of an answer, the dark void—which held nothing in my eyes—suddenly flashed with light!

The light seemed to come from the outside world, illuminating the entire void. Afterward... it never disappeared. The entire void began to change at that moment. I saw a finger; it rapidly condensed and became a hand.

A hand that seemed to be gripping me. Then I saw an arm, a torso, until a whole person appeared before my eyes. It was a young man. His eyes were closed.

I was very surprised because the young man felt familiar yet strange. But before I could ponder further, ripples echoed out as the first person appeared in this void.

As the ripples spread, I saw a table. Then, other tables and chairs appeared one after another until a teahouse was revealed before me. Then the ripples spread again; other buildings, a river, and trees appeared outside the teahouse. Soon, a small town seemed to be sketched out.

Next... the ripples spread on a massive scale. I saw the earth in the distance, the sky, other cities, and a star turning from a blur into reality.

It didn't end. I saw the starry sky outside the planet. As the ripples echoed, other stars appeared—many, many stars. As they emerged one after another, a universe, a world, was displayed before me.

Then, life appeared.

All living things, all sentient beings, appeared in every position where they were needed at that moment, as if they had never been absent. There were men and women, old and young, different species, and different auras. But they remained still, not moving.

And the young man gripping me was slumped over the table. He was also motionless, but he gripped me tightly, as if he would never let go even if his life came to an end.

But I didn't like him very much.

Just as I began to wonder why I didn't like him, the entire world was suddenly injected with vitality and vigor. In an instant... all living things and all sentient beings began to move.

The wind appeared, the sunlight softened, the leaves swayed, and the river flowed. Songs and laughter, cries and roars, emanated from every corner of the world.

Inside the teahouse, the boisterous noise of a crowd suddenly erupted. At that moment, the young man gripping me tightly trembled slightly. He opened his eyes and lifted his head.

The moment he looked up, I saw his eyes.

I saw myself reflected in those eyes.

I was a black wooden block, gripped tightly in his hand. Then... I was lifted and struck against the table with a crisp *thwack*.

In that sound, the world before me began to continue. I saw the life of this man named Sun De. He became the most prominent storyteller in this county. He married the daughter of a wealthy family and inherited their estate. He was well-fed and well-clothed, and he loved his wife for their entire lives together until he passed away with a smile at the age of eighty-nine.

And I, because his descendants could not pry his fingers open no matter how they tried, was buried with him.

Although I didn't like him, I had to admit that watching the performance of his life was quite interesting. As for being buried with him, it was nothing, because after his death, everything in this world disappeared, turning back into pitch black. My consciousness sank into darkness once more.

Until I heard a voice.

"Seventy-eight."

The appearance of this voice was like a vortex that suddenly yanked me, pulling me into... a lightless void. I couldn't remember who I was. I couldn't remember anything. I was pondering a question.

"Who am I... Where am I..."

My voice echoed until I had pondered for a long time. Light appeared in the void, and a world appeared before me. The first thing to emerge was the young man formed by a slowly spreading finger. He was slumped over a table, gripping me tightly in his hand.

His name was Sun De. He looked a bit familiar, yet also strange. His life was quite good. He became a storyteller. Although he didn't marry the daughter of the town's wealthy family, he returned to the capital and earned official rank. Although he was imprisoned in his later years, overall, his life was very exciting. As for me... I was held in his hand the entire time, never leaving for a moment.

Regrettably, after his death, the world disappeared. I heard a voice.

"Seventy-seven."

That voice dragged me back into the void until I, having forgotten everything, saw the light, saw the world, and saw Sun De.

"Seventy-six."

...

"Thirty-one."

...

"Fourteen."

...

"Three."

Experiencing it again and again, forgetting it again and again. From the moment I realized something was wrong to the point where I was no longer surprised, I eventually understood. I was undergoing a special kind of memory... where after passing through one life, I would forget it, and also forget the lives before and after it...

Strange, why would I have such a thought? Why would I know I was in a memory?

I couldn't figure it out, but it didn't matter, as long as there were stories to watch. Though these stories were surely all the different lives of Sun De.

But I was very curious. Would different scenes appear the very first time we met?

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END OF Chapter 1099
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START OF Chapter 1100
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Chapter 1100: You Dare Suppress an Immortal?

The Sun De of the third life was quite interesting to me. Though he became a local celebrity in the small town by telling stories of Ro and Gu fighting for the Immortal position, he was, by a stroke of luck, favored by a passing cultivator. From then on, he entered a sect and began a bumpy yet amusing life.

In this life of cultivation, I watched as he, possessing great talent, rose through the ranks. It seemed as though a ripple contained within his soul was constantly stimulating the world, causing Sun De’s journey to be fraught with disaster.

This was mainly reflected in... his sects. As I bore witness, I saw that throughout this lifetime, Sun De joined a total of ninety-seven sects. Every single one of them... would be destroyed by powerful enemies shortly after he joined. Some lasted three months; the shortest lasted only a single day.

To the point that in the end, Sun De, despite not having very high cultivation, became a figure of great renown in the cultivation world. He was even kidnapped multiple times by demonic cultivators who, after altering his appearance and placing him under control, would swiftly arrange for him to enter an enemy sect... to be used as an ultimate lethal treasure!

During this process, there were several instances where the sects that kidnapped him couldn’t withstand his supreme luck because they had waited too long to "deploy" him, leading to their own sects being wiped out instead.

But overall, Sun De’s name was thunderously famous across the entire cultivation world. Especially when his supreme luck reached the point where the time it took for a sect to be destroyed shortened—to the point where a catastrophe would descend almost the moment he bowed in greeting to join—Sun De became an existence that made everyone’s faces pale with fear, a being that countless sects guarded against day and night.

It wasn't that no one thought of killing him, but... the terrifying thing was that anyone who put such thoughts into action would die of various accidents before they could even start.

The most exaggerated instance was a mighty expert who had prepared for a long time and even deployed multiple magical treasures capable of resisting bad luck. However, before he could even make a move, he was directly bombarded into a state of near-death by thousands of meteors that suddenly fell from the sky.

As for others who tried to harm him, all sorts of bizarre ways of dying were everywhere. Some were struck dead by lightning; some, just as they rushed toward him, actually tripped and fell, hitting their heads and dying instantly.

It was hard to imagine a cultivator tripping, let alone hitting their head and dying... even Sun De himself was shocked by this.

I was equally shocked.

And so, as time passed, Sun De gradually reached the end of his bizarre life. When he died of natural causes in his old age, I vaguely heard the entire world cheering. Although this cheering only lasted for a fleeting breath before the world crumbled into ash and vanished into nothingness along with Sun De’s final breath.

But I was satisfied. I watched with great interest, and though I knew that I would forget everything when the next memory came, I was still quite expectant.

Amidst my expectation, I heard that aged voice echoing in my ears once more.

"Two."

This time, the voice seemed much weaker, as if it required a great effort just to speak this number. But I had no time to think further before my consciousness was dragged back into the pitch-black void.

"Who am I... Where am I..." I murmured softly, questioning the void. There was no answer, but I was patient, because very soon... I saw light, I saw the world, and I saw Sun De.

This was Sun De’s second life.

To describe this life as "splendid" seemed insufficient. After watching his entire life, I summarized it with one word.

"Miracle!"

Only "miracle" could serve as a description for this life of Sun De. If it wasn't a miracle, why would a mortal like Sun De suddenly possess world-shaking cultivation the very moment he finished telling the story of Ro and Gu fighting for the Immortal position?

The horror of this cultivation was such that with a single thought, every level of life within his sight would instantly perish!

If it wasn't a miracle, why would Sun De, after leaving the town, find magical treasures appearing before him almost every single day? It seemed that as long as he wished for it, anything would appear.

I saw with my own eyes that when he wanted a Dao companion, hundreds of thousands of female cultivators mysteriously appeared that same day, strangely falling in love with him and becoming utterly devoted...

I saw with my own eyes that when he wanted friends, millions of cultivators appeared that same day, flying in from various planets. Upon seeing him, they were incredibly enthusiastic, dragging him off to kowtow and become sworn brothers.

I even saw that when he murmured to himself about why he had no enemies, the entire world, the entire universe, and every existence within it instantly developed the ultimate level of hostility toward him. They would go mad with irreconcilable hatred the moment they saw him.

This kind of omnipotent life, where anything he dared to think of would come true, made me very, very, very envious.

Thus, I truly couldn't help myself. I quietly transmitted a strand of consciousness, guiding Sun De’s thoughts so that one day, he suddenly had an idea. He wanted descendants.

And so... in that instant, the bloodline aura belonging to him appeared within the bodies of the entire world, the entire universe, and every single species... The horror of this event was hard to imagine. Sun De also stood dazed for a long time as he stared at a massive tree that appeared before him.

The tree also possessed the ripples of his bloodline. In a certain sense, this tree was his offspring.

Seemingly shocked by this as well, Sun De lowered his head and began to look at me. And I... was exposed because of this.

Naturally, my body did not have the aura of his bloodline. Thus, I became the focus of his interest. In the days that followed, Sun De, who had already broken the entire universe with his antics, began to study me.

Whether it was suppression by spells, strikes from heavenly lightning, cutting by blades, sealing, burning, or even gathering the power of the entire universe to kill me—all sorts of methods were deployed by him one after another.

This made me very unhappy!

And clearly, Sun De’s efforts would bear no fruit. No matter what method he used or what actions he took, everything remained futile. During this process, I noticed that within Sun De’s body, there seemed to be an incredibly weak remnant soul deep in slumber. This soul was constantly asleep and in a state of dissipation, requiring some sort of opportunity to awaken. But that opportunity was very difficult to come by.

Within this remnant soul, I saw two threads: one black and one red. Compared to the latter, the former, though it spread into the void to parts unknown, was extremely faint. If I wanted to break it, I could do so with a single thought.

It was more like a curse. I didn't know how I realized this point.

But what made me wary was that red thread. It was definitely not a curse, and the thread was not completely one with the soul; even the thread itself seemed to be fragmented. It didn't look like an external seal, but rather something this remnant soul had worked hard to obtain and tried to forcibly integrate into its body.

Its status was high, extremely high!

What was this...?

I didn’t know, but I felt it looked somewhat familiar. Had I seen it before?

However, I was very clear that the moment I saw this thread, I felt a deep sense of dislike in my heart, because I sensed a greed within the thread, and it could pose a bit of a threat to me.

So, in my unhappiness, I thought for a moment and then said a sentence to Sun De.

"This thread shall be eternally suppressed!"

Almost the very instant those words left my mouth, the blood-red thread within the remnant soul inside Sun De’s body trembled violently. It twisted intensely, looking like a centipede, and even let out a crazed, shrill hiss.

"You dare suppress an Immortal?!"

In the roar of that blood-colored thread, the entire world collapsed instantly. After shattering into countless fragments, it surged backward, forming a vortex that swallowed everything. My consciousness returned to the void once more, hearing an ancient, weak voice that seemed to have reached its limit, trembling as it transmitted with all its strength.

"One!"

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END OF Chapter 1100
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START OF Chapter 1101
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Chapter 1101: The First Life!

This ancient voice seemed to have reached its absolute limit. It was like a person of extreme frailty using their last shred of strength to call out, piercing through the endless universe, passing through the long flow of years, and sinking into the cycle of reincarnation. It echoed within this pitch-black void, drifting into Wang Baole's ears.

It seemed to touch his very soul, causing a ripple in Wang Baole’s consciousness. Initially, this ripple was faint, but as the echoes layered upon one another, the fluctuations in his consciousness grew increasingly intense. Finally, Wang Baole’s entire body jolted violently. His consciousness awakened, and his eyes...

Snapped open.

What he saw was not the Planet of Fate, nor was it naturally the Book of Fate, let alone Heavenly Dharma. Instead, it was... a starry sky!

There was brilliant starlight, countless stars, and in the distance—seemingly beyond the edge of his vision—a vast, winding river of stars formed by countless celestial bodies that had fallen here from unknown ages ago.

None of this seemed particularly extraordinary. Even if it was exquisitely beautiful, Wang Baole had seen similar sights while speeding through the starry sky within the Weiyang Dao Domain.

But... it also seemed different. The starry sky here was murkier, yet far more vast. Everything exuded an indescribable sense of antiquity. Merely looking at this starry sky naturally evoked a magnificent feeling of eternal ages passing in an instant, accompanied by the illusion that one was as tiny and insignificant as a speck of dust.

Wang Baole stared at all of this, his eyes filled with blank confusion. Driven by that echoing voice, his consciousness had awakened, but his memories had not yet fully surfaced. He only remembered that with the help of Heavenly Dharma, he had sunk into the comprehension of his past lives. It seemed as though the entire process had happened in a single moment; one breath ago he had just submerged himself, and the next breath he opened his eyes to see this starry sky.

But just as Wang Baole was lost in confusion, the memories of his previous seventy-eight reincarnations suddenly flooded his mind. Each life’s memory was like a bolt of heavenly lightning, exploding within his soul before transforming into a massive influx of information and imagery that filled his brain.

Once, twice, thrice... until the memories of all seventy-eight lives had fully surfaced. Wang Baole’s body trembled, and his expression turned pained. This pain did not stem from emotion, but from the instantaneous integration of all those memories, making his mind feel as if it were about to burst and his brain as if it were being torn apart.

"Sun De!"

"Sun De!!"

"Sun De!!!" A roar erupted from Wang Baole’s mouth as he repeated this name. He repeated the name of the only person who had appeared throughout those entire seventy-eight lives in his memory!

To be precise, in those seventy-eight lives, other than Wang Baole himself, there was only Sun De. It was he who had evolved through life after life, constantly experiencing Sun De's different paths, as if searching for a direction, searching for an opportunity.

"Instinctively... seeking the opportunity to awaken the residual soul..." Wang Baole pressed his throbbing brow. Blood vessels stood out in his eyes due to the massive surge of memories. But as he merged all the memories, absorbing and digesting them, his reason slowly returned. His eyes gradually narrowed, flashing with a sharp light.

Everything seemed to have become completely clear!

As the residual soul of Gu, Sun De had attempted to awaken himself starting from the second life. Unfortunately, until the seventy-ninth life, the residual soul never managed to wait for that opportunity to appear. Although he eventually encountered Wang Yiyi and her father, the residual soul ultimately failed to wake up and dissipated eternally from the world.

Thus, Sun De’s continuous cycle of reincarnation came to an end.

The world that followed should have fallen into pitch-black darkness, with no life remaining, turning into a deathly silence like the Nine Underworlds. However, because of Wang Yiyi’s injuries and the arrival of the father and daughter, all of this changed.

Therefore, in the eightieth life of this universe, Wang Baole had used Xu Yinling’s insight to see the bubbles of various dreams. Recalling it now, that was perhaps the earliest birth of life.

The script, drawings, butterflies, and so on that followed were all the processes of life growing of its own accord and becoming more enriched...

"The last ten lives of this universe were created by Wang Yiyi’s father..." Wang Baole murmured. He thought of a phrase: *Three feet above one's head reside the gods.* At this moment, he understood.

Wang Baole also knew the purpose of Wang Yiyi’s father—it was to heal Wang Yiyi. As for why this father and daughter could create all living beings within this universe, it likely... had something to do with the words Sun De spoke before his death in the seventy-ninth life.

He had promised Wang Yiyi’s father that he would help him save his daughter.

And at this moment, with the integration of the memories from the second life to the eighty-ninth life, Wang Baole knew that he ultimately owed Sun De a favor.

Because if Sun De hadn't given him a certain inheritance at the moment his residual soul dissipated in the seventy-ninth life, then perhaps he would still be that black wooden board floating in the starry sky. Though he might have developed instincts, he would not possess true life.

As for the origin of the blood-colored centipede, Wang Baole had guessed two possible answers. Although he didn't know which one was correct, the truth... lay between them.

"The first possibility is that when Luo and Gu were fighting for the Immortal position, they were constantly entangled in conflict through countless lives and through karma. In the end, Luo won a great victory, but Gu managed to escape with a residual soul, leaving Luo’s Immortal position incomplete and flawed. However, Luo didn't know that within that residual soul... there actually remained a strand of Luo's consciousness. For some unknown reason, that consciousness eventually developed its own sapience."

"As for the second possibility..." Wang Baole fell into deep thought. While organizing his musings, he thought of the roar that had echoed from those blood-colored threads during the suppression he had instinctively disliked in the second life.

"How dare you suppress an Immortal..." Wang Baole murmured. These words were the source of his second hypothesized possibility.

"The second possibility is... those blood-colored threads were not a strand of Luo’s consciousness, but were themselves... the 'Immortal position' that Luo and Gu had fought over for an entire cycle. Perhaps the Immortal position itself possessed a spirit, or perhaps it originally didn't, but here, under special environments and conditions, it birthed a sapience. As for the centipede I saw, that isn't its true form—it is merely a symbol!!"

Wang Baole fell silent. Either of these two guesses could be correct, and both were logically sound. Thus, Wang Baole himself had no way of judging. Just as he wanted to delve deeper into the details of his thoughts, he suddenly... felt a sense of dread. When he looked up, he saw a sea of light in the distance of this murky starry sky.

This light covered an infinite range and carried a powerful, overbearing aura. It was whistling and spreading from the distant starry sky. Looking closely, one could see that within the sea of light, there was a universe!

This universe was infinitely large, containing countless stars, and shocking fluctuations erupted within it. As it arrived, Wang Baole turned his head and saw a massive, bone-white beast manifesting with a roar in the starry sky behind him.

This giant beast resembled a whale and was similar in size to that orb of light. Looking closely, one could see a continent existing within its body. Countless cultivators flew out from the continent, transforming into the flesh and blood of this giant beast, granting it the power to shake the heavens.

In an instant, as the giant beast and the sea of light collided, a war that affected the entire cosmos erupted violently before Wang Baole’s eyes. At this moment, he immediately realized what he was seeing in this first life!

That was... the war of extinction between the first and second universes born at the start of the Second Ring. That was... the war between the Weiyang Dao Domain and the Vast Expanse Dao Domain that occurred countless ages ago!

Standing in the middle of the battlefield, Wang Baole watched the war between these two vast universes with his own eyes. He saw countless deaths, he saw madness and tragedy, and he witnessed the entire process of this battle.

Whether it was the Vast Expanse Dao Domain or the Weiyang Dao Domain, the ultimate power they displayed was strong enough to cause Wang Baole’s heart to shake violently. This was because he remembered the secret Wang Yiyi’s father had told the residual soul of Gu.

*This Weiyang is not the true Weiyang!*

The moment these words echoed in Wang Baole’s mind, he saw that within the body of the disadvantaged pale giant beast, upon that continent, all the cultivators seemed to kneel. They were performing a sacrifice!

And the object of their sacrifice was a statue!

The statue of an old man!

That was... the first cultivator born within the Vast Expanse Dao Domain, and also the supreme will of the entire Vast Expanse Dao Domain. He had no name, only a title.

Patriarch Vast Expanse!

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END OF Chapter 1101
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START OF Chapter 1102
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**Chapter 1102: Three Feet of Black Wood!**

Wang Baole saw it with his own eyes. On the continent within the body of that Vast Expanse Beast, as countless cultivators worshipped, the statue of the old man standing in the center of the land transformed from stone into flesh and blood at a speed visible to the naked eye, until he finally opened his eyes.

Simultaneously, an even more intense feeling of palpitations, carrying a resonance that caused Wang Baole’s very being to tremble, suddenly erupted from the sea of light that was the Weiyang Dao Domain!

“This feeling...” Wang Baole snapped his head around. In that instant, his gaze pierced through the starry sky and the sea of light, seeing that within the Weiyang Dao Domain, countless cultivators were likewise kneeling and worshipping!

And what they were worshipping... was a vortex!

It was a vortex that connected to some unknown place. As the crowds worshipped, and as the Vast Expanse Ancestor—transformed from the statue within the beast—gazed out, a piece of wood appeared within that vortex!

The appearance of this wood filled every cultivator within the Weiyang Dao Domain with excitement. Their eyes even shone with fanaticism; even the powerful experts and mighty beings were the same, their fanaticism even more pronounced!

It was a piece of black wood, resembling a black wood coffin. At that moment, a length of one and a half feet emerged from the vortex... Though it was only a foot and a half, it caused the Vast Expanse Continent to shake violently. The Vast Expanse Beast wailed directly, its body on the verge of collapse, and the Vast Expanse Ancestor within it trembled, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Then... another foot and a half of the coffin emerged from the vortex. This time, the Vast Expanse Beast collapsed directly. Its tragic shrieks echoed through the starry sky, revealing the Vast Expanse Continent within it. On the continent, every cultivator charged out in a shrill, desperate frenzy, looking as if they intended to perish together with their enemies.

The countless cultivators within the Weiyang Dao Domain who were worshipping the coffin were clearly not having an easy time either. Though their fanaticism remained, the flames of their lives had dimmed significantly, as if they had lost seventy percent of their life force. It seemed the power supporting this black wood coffin was none other than their own lives.

By now, they had reached their limit and could no longer sustain it. They could only allow three feet of the black wood coffin to extend from the vortex before they were forced to end the sacrificial ritual.

As the ritual concluded and the vortex vanished, the three-foot length of black wood—evidently only a portion of the complete coffin—seemed to break off of its own accord the moment the vortex dissipated, falling downward.

As it fell, all the power upon it seemed to vanish. Only a trace of what seemed like a lingering attachment to the unknown place within the vortex remained, gradually becoming plain and unremarkable, like ordinary wood.

Meanwhile, Wang Baole’s body trembled as he stared fixedly at the three feet of black wood. He then slowly raised his head to look at where the vortex had vanished. It was as if countless bolts of heavenly thunder had exploded in his mind simultaneously. Amidst the extreme roaring, a sense of longing that seemed buried in the depths of his soul also surfaced in his consciousness.

The war also reached its final stage following the frenzy of the countless cultivators of the Vast Expanse Dao Domain. The cultivators of both sides began to collide with their lives. The tragic battlefield was like a massive meat grinder of flesh and blood, constantly rolling, constantly crushing...

The war only truly ended when everyone in the Vast Expanse Dao Domain had perished and turned into ruins. The Vast Expanse Ancestor had turned back into a broken statue. Accompanied by several instances of collapse and destruction, a portion of the continent, looking like a ghostly domain, drifted toward the depths of the starry sky.

Although the Weiyang Dao Domain had won, it was equally tragic. The sea of light had split into pieces, and the universes within were shattered. However, given time, the Weiyang Dao Domain, having absorbed the foundation of the Vast Expanse Dao Domain, would surely become even more powerful. Yet, just as the Weiyang Dao Domain attempted to pursue the final piece of land escaping from the Vast Expanse Dao Domain... an accident occurred!

It was a streak of light—a purple light surrounded by black and red that was constantly dimming!

This light suddenly flew in from the distant depths of the starry sky. Its speed surpassed everything. Even though Wang Baole was still immersed in his longing for the black wood, he still saw a blurry figure faintly existing within that light.

The appearance... was exactly that of Sun De!

In an instant, at the moment Wang Baole saw it clearly, this light charged directly into the Weiyang Dao Domain, which had just won a Pyrrhic victory and was nearly falling apart. This light seemed to have a precise direction; just as it was rapidly dissipating and about to vanish completely, it headed straight for the falling three feet of black wood!

It drew near in an instant and plunged directly into the black wood, disappearing from sight.

Wang Baole’s heart shook violently. In the depths of the starry sky, at the place where that purple light had appeared, the starry sky collapsed instantly. A massive figure stepped out from the collapsed space, one step at a time.

This figure was incredibly tall, his appearance blurry and indistinct, as if his face were a patch of the universe. Only his eyes could be seen, and those eyes projected a cold indifference, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Aside from that, the most striking feature was his two arms. Although he was humanoid, his arms were much longer than an ordinary person's, seemingly able to touch his knees while standing upright!

He stood there, looking coldly at the shattered Weiyang Dao Domain as if he were looking at an ant nest. That was until his gaze landed on the three feet of black wood. Then, his eyes, which seemed eternal and unchanging, actually contracted for a fraction of a second!

In those eyes, there was confusion, there was shock, and there was even a trace of disbelief. This caused him to stand there, motionless, for a long while. Finally, he raised his hand as if to grab the black wood within the Weiyang Dao Domain, but after raising it, hesitation appeared in his eyes, and he gradually lowered it.

After a long silence, he raised his hand again. This time, he was not grabbing for it. Instead, he pointed remotely at the entire Weiyang Dao Domain, and a low voice emanated from his mouth.

“Seal!”

The moment he spoke, Wang Baole immediately saw ripples appear silently around the ruined Weiyang Dao Domain. After these ripples converged, they seemed to form a bubble that completely enveloped the Weiyang Dao Domain. Then it gradually blurred, as if it were to be immersed in the years, sealed forever.

However, the tall figure did not seem at ease as he looked at the sealed bubble. He actually raised his left hand again and pointed once more.

“By a finger of my left hand, seal!” His left index finger snapped off in an instant, transforming into a patch of gray light that headed straight for the bubble. After surging in, the entire bubble became turbid, as if transforming into a sphere of earth.

But the tall figure did not leave. After standing there in thought for a moment, he spoke again.

“By my second finger...” The tall figure’s raised hand paused. After a long silence, his eyes showed decisiveness, as if he had made a certain resolution. He raised his left hand, and a low voice that seemed capable of echoing through endless ages slowly rang out.

“By my left arm, seal!” As soon as he spoke, his entire left arm vanished in an instant, transforming into a gray light that seemed capable of covering the entire starry sky. It completely enveloped the sealed Weiyang Dao Domain. Under the integration of this gray light, the shape of the sphere of earth rapidly changed. Once all the gray light in the starry sky had condensed, the sphere of earth turned into... a massive stone tablet!

Great waves rose within Wang Baole’s heart as he watched that stone tablet emanate an earth-shattering pressure. It slowly sank beneath the starry sky, sinking deeper and deeper, falling continuously, as if being buried in an endless abyss.

The tall figure, having lost his left arm, watched the stone tablet gradually vanish and be buried. A look of deep loneliness appeared in his eyes. He slowly turned and walked into the starry sky. But at the moment his figure slowly vanished into the void, his low voice suddenly... drifted into Wang Baole’s ears.

“I like this universe of the second ring; it is mine.”

“Do you know... what ‘liking’ feels like?”

The tall figure only transmitted these two sentences before slowly dissipating. In the entire starry sky, only Wang Baole remained. He stood there, looking at where the stone tablet had sunk and where Luo had walked away. After a long silence, he murmured in a low voice.

“Where... do I really come from?”

As his murmur echoed, the starry sky slowly blurred in his eyes until... it vanished completely. The Planet of Fate, the Book of Destiny, and the weary figure of Reverend Heavenly Dharma replaced everything that had been before his eyes.

“I thought you wouldn't be coming back.”

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START OF Chapter 1103
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**Chapter 1103: Departure!**

"How much time has passed?" Wang Baole’s eyes were slightly dazed. After a long moment, he looked toward Master Heavenly Law.

"Seventy-nine days." Master Heavenly Law’s eyes were filled with an exhaustion he couldn't hide. They were bloodshot, and his aura was flickering and unstable. Combined with his pale face, it was clear that allowing Wang Baole to perceive his past lives had taken a massive toll on him.

The Master’s old slave beside him was even weaker. He sat cross-legged, eyes closed in recovery. It was obvious that Master Heavenly Law could not have allowed Wang Baole to fully submerge himself in those memories alone; this journey into the past had been a combined effort from the two of them.

Even the Book of Destiny had turned incredibly dim. It had lost its former brilliance and looked quite ordinary; it would take a long time for it to slowly recover.

Even though Master Heavenly Law had only used the Book of Destiny as a medium and his own power as the initial push—relying primarily on Wang Baole’s own strength—it had still nearly been more than he could support.

The second life through the seventy-ninth life were manageable. But that first life… because it involved existences beyond imagination, it was a miracle they had lasted until Wang Baole woke up.

Although Wang Baole didn't know the specifics, he understood the general situation. In the next instant, gratitude appeared in his eyes. He took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed three times to Master Heavenly Law, the meditating old slave, and the Book of Destiny!

These three bows could not fully express his gratitude. This perception of his past lives had been a monumental gain for Wang Baole. It allowed all his memories to coalesce into a cohesive whole; he now knew his past, he knew his present, and he knew nearly half of the truth behind everything.

This caused his entire aura to change. Almost the moment Wang Baole rose from his bows, his cultivation fluctuations erupted with a roar.

All the insights from his past lives and the accumulation of all those eons surged within Wang Baole’s body. They pushed his cultivation upward in a continuous climb, directly breaking past the limits of the Planet realm and reaching a… special realm that could be described as unprecedented!

It was special because, before him, no Planet realm cultivator had ever reached such a height. This height was reflected in Wang Baole’s nine Ancient Stars, and even more so in his Dao Star!

With the return of his past life insights, the nine Ancient Stars began to resonate. The nine laws and their degree of resonance continued to climb, eventually stopping at exactly ninety-nine percent!

At this level, describing them as Ancient Stars was no longer appropriate. They… should more accurately be called quasi-Dao Stars!

The boost this change gave Wang Baole reached an unparalleled level, causing his combat strength—already at the absolute peak—to soar once more. But the most staggering change was in his Dao Star!

That Dao Star now shone with a brilliant light within his soul. The greatest change was its physical dimensions!

The original Dao Star, though of an extremely high status, was still just a planet. But now… while it was still a Planet realm star, its size had already surpassed that of an ordinary Star!

At the very least, every Star realm sun Wang Baole had seen to date was far inferior to his Dao Star. The power contained within such a massive planet caused Wang Baole’s own mind to tremble when he sensed it.

If one compared Planet realm cultivation to a lake, and the Star realm—where a qualitative change occurred and the lake water turned to ice—to a breakthrough in combat power, then the current Wang Baole might still be in the Planet realm, but his water was not a lake. It was… a vast, boundless ocean!

This ocean surpassed the lake-ice of the Star realm. Even if it was qualitatively inferior, its terrifying quantity could compensate for everything. When the waves of a ten-thousand-ton sea struck, the lake-ice might be hard, but it would inevitably be crushed like dry weeds!

Wang Baole found it difficult to judge exactly how strong he was, but he knew one thing… his cultivation was not his ultimate trump card. His trump cards were his cognition of the world and… the shadows of his past lives!

That was why he was the most unique Planet realm existence in the entire Stone Tablet World to date!

These gains were inseparable from Master Heavenly Law’s assistance. Thus, after his three bows, Wang Baole looked up at the weary Master Heavenly Law and spoke softly.

"Thank you!"

He made no grand promises, but this "thank you" from the bottom of his heart was enough to express his feelings. Master Heavenly Law naturally understood and a smile appeared on his face.

"Take care."

Wang Baole nodded. He looked up at his surroundings, his divine sense spreading out to envelope the Destiny Star. After gazing at the world for a long time, a look of vibrant anticipation for the future appeared in his eyes. He bowed once more to Master Heavenly Law, then his body flickered as he transformed into a long rainbow, soaring toward the sky with a roar!

As his figure ascended, nine laws from his quasi-Dao Stars immediately manifested around him. Accompanied by the support of his vast Dao Star power, his entire body radiated a brilliant light. At the same time, unknown auspicious totems formed in the void before him. As he flew into the firmament, he looked like the very center of the heavens.

Only when he was far away did Master Heavenly Law murmur with a blessing in his eyes.

"In truth, I should be the one thanking you. You allowed me to… understand the origin of this world."

Wang Baole, flying into the heavens, heard those words as well. His body paused slightly, then his speed increased. As he headed straight for the starry sky, a question occupied his mind.

*Where do I actually come from…* The vortex leading to the unknown land from his memories surfaced before his eyes. He desperately wanted to know. He even had a faint feeling that something within that unknown land beyond the vortex was constantly calling out to him.

After a long while, having flown into the starry sky and seeing the warships waiting there, Wang Baole suppressed these thoughts. With a flash of his body, he headed straight for the lead warship.

His divine sense swept out, ignoring the warship's defenses. He saw Xie Haiyang, Chen Han, and the others inside. He also saw the Star realm protectors from the Flame Lineage. A few breaths after his divine sense swept past them, their expressions suddenly shifted drastically.

"Who goes there!" Low shouts immediately erupted from within the warship. The Star realm protectors guarding Wang Baole and Xie Haiyang, as well as the protector following Chen Han, all rushed out of the warship. They stood outside like they were facing a great enemy, staring at the approaching Wang Baole.

There were over thirty Star realm cultivators in total. Aside from two who were Yellow-rank Stars, the rest were Mortal-rank Stars. Despite that, as they appeared now, their momentum and the fluctuations they radiated were still heaven-shaking.

But even with such overwhelming auras, their expressions changed one after another. They stared fixedly at the… terrifying shadow rushing out from the Destiny Star.

In their eyes, they did not see Wang Baole’s true body. It seemed as though some barrier in perception prevented their eyes from seeing anything clearly—neither his aura nor his figure.

All they could see… was a phantom star that transcended the Star realm. It approached them with a momentum that was majestic to the extreme.

Clearly, it wasn't a Star, but a Planet. Yet the pressure it radiated made these Star realm cultivators' hearts skip a beat in horror. Especially when they saw that outside this massive phantom star, there were nine other stars orbiting it like satellites, making its aura even more terrifying. This caused the Star realm experts to instinctively begin preparing their divine abilities.

Xie Haiyang and Chen Han also watched with solemn expressions. Fortunately, Wang Baole immediately realized his current state. It seemed his familiar friends couldn't see him clearly either. He paused his figure and spoke.

"It’s me."

As his voice echoed, Wang Baole intentionally suppressed his power. The Dao Star and the quasi-Dao Stars outside his body rapidly shrank until they were completely retracted within him. Using his Essence Illusion Technique to allow his appearance to be reflected in others' eyes, his figure… finally appeared before everyone.

"Young Master?!"

"Uncle Baole?!"

"Dad?!"

The Star realm cultivators of the Flame Lineage, Xie Haiyang, and Chen Han all widened their eyes. They looked at the Wang Baole appearing before them with disbelief and dazed expressions.

They knew Wang Baole had gained much from his trial on the Destiny Star and had performed brilliantly at the birthday banquet, but seeing that vast star just now and that strange, unobservable state with their own eyes still caused a massive wave of shock to surge in their hearts.

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START OF Chapter 1104
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The storm outside Planet Fate soon subsided. Although everyone’s hearts were shaken, they eventually accepted the reality of what they had witnessed. However, the way they looked at Wang Baole was now completely different.

Previously, the protectors from the Blazing Galaxy had shown him respect primarily because of the Blazing Ancestor. But now, it was different. Through his combat power and his sheer presence, Wang Baole had earned the genuine awe and fear of these Stellar realm cultivators.

In their entire lives, they had never seen a Planet realm cultivator capable of emitting such a terrifying aura. Furthermore… that state where he could not be clearly seen left all the Stellar cultivators on the battleship with countless theories.

Generally speaking, such a situation only occurred when there was an immense disparity in life-form hierarchy. For example, a god could not be stared at directly because all laws and rules around a god were warped. If those with insufficient status attempted to look, they would be severely affected. Unable to withstand the warped laws, their perception would be subverted, leading to a mental and physical collapse.

Wang Baole’s state just now, while not quite reaching that extreme level, possessed similar characteristics. This was the source of the shock felt by all the Stellar cultivators.

Xie Haiyang was equally shaken, but he recovered quickly. He remained by Wang Baole’s side, even more enthusiastic than he had been on the journey here. However, on the return trip, there was someone else by his side working even harder than him.

This person was Chen Han. He had recovered almost instantly. He called out "Dad" with every other breath, completely ignoring the strange looks from his protectors and Xie Haiyang’s frowning dissatisfaction.

Wang Baole paid them no mind. After stepping onto the battleship, he was contemplating a specific question.

Where should he go?

According to his original plan, after attending the birthday banquet, he was supposed to return to the Blazing Galaxy to report back, and he also planned to visit the Divine-Sky Stellar Basin to see his parents and friends.

However, after gaining enlightenment from his past life trials and learning much of the truth, Wang Baole’s thoughts had changed—especially after surviving a crisis where he was nearly possessed.

Although he knew his past life was a mysterious piece of Black Wood that had eventually birthed true sentience thanks to Sun De’s gift, Wang Baole did not believe he was immune to possession.

At the same time, he had a theory.

*I am the Black Wood, but the Black Wood… is not necessarily me!*

*The Black Wood can undergo reincarnation without being destroyed, but I might not be the same… In other words, I am the spirit birthed upon it. I can be erased, just like an artifact spirit on a Dharma Artifact.*

*If an artifact spirit is erased, the artifact might be damaged, but it isn’t a catastrophic impact. One could simply replace it with another spirit and slowly break it in. Or, if it isn't replaced, the artifact itself might birth a new spirit over time in certain special environments…*

*And that newly birthed spirit would be me, yet also not me.* Wang Baole fell silent. Perhaps because he had been involved with artifact refinement from the very beginning, he had his own logic and judgment regarding this.

He was acutely aware of the blood-colored centipede’s intense greed and malice toward him. Perhaps before long, he would have to face that entity again and deal with an attempted possession, just like a Dharma Artifact being fitted with a new spirit.

*If the Black Wood is viewed as a Dharma Artifact and my past life as the artifact spirit, then… this involves a problem. I should be able to manifest the divine might of that three-foot-long Black Wood!*

*When the Three-Foot Wood descends, it can suppress all living beings in a single domain of the Vast Expanse Dao Domain…* Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He understood this, but he understood even more clearly that his current self was nowhere near the level required to control the Black Wood.

There were two reasons for this. First, only in this current life had he truly managed to merge the memories of all his lives. His past incarnations—whether the zombie, the resentful weapon, or the little white deer—had failed to do this.

Thus, based on his analysis, Wang Baole felt that this might be the starting point for gaining control over the Black Wood.

The second reason was that although it seemed his sentience had existed for a long time across several lives, compared to the countless eons the Black Wood had existed, he was merely a newborn—perhaps not even an infant.

Therefore, the difficulty of mastering the Black Wood was immense.

As such, the most important tasks before him now were mastering the Black Wood and figuring out how to resist the blood-colored centipede's possession. After much deliberation, the only thing he could do was raise his cultivation!

Only by becoming stronger could he resolve everything.

*The Stellar realm poses no difficulty for me. If I wanted to, I could breakthrough right now… but while such a breakthrough would be powerful, it would still fall short.* Wang Baole pondered. The Stellar realm he desired was one where "ten thousand stars reflect one another" to support his own star.

To achieve this, he needed more stars!

Special Stars!

*I still need to go… to the Starfall Land!* After some thought, Wang Baole’s eyes turned decisive. He immediately sent a divine sense message to Xie Haiyang, providing a set of starry sky coordinates.

Those coordinates marked the entrance to the Starfall Land he had visited before.

Once they arrived, he wouldn't need a token. Wang Baole believed that the paper people of the Starfall Land would be able to sense him. The reason for this was that he had left his token with Zhao Yameng when he left the Federation, as it served as one of the Federation’s hidden trump cards.

Upon receiving the divine sense command, Xie Haiyang immediately complied. The fleet of battleships stationed outside Planet Fate roared to life, whistling through the void toward the coordinates Wang Baole had provided, gradually leaving the range of the Planet Fate System.

Meanwhile, Wang Baole continued his reflections. This time, he was thinking about… Luo!

*"I like this world of the second ring; it is mine…"* Wang Baole murmured, repeating Luo’s words. It was hard for him to imagine that a mighty being whose eyes were cold and seemingly devoid of any emotion would use the word "like."

Yet, in his memories, he clearly felt that when Luo said those words, they were genuine.

Wang Baole remained silent as he thought of Wang Yiyi’s father and the stories Sun De had told about the Devil, the Demon, and the one who was half-god and half-immortal. The ending of that story involved cutting off Luo’s fingers one by one until the combined strength of everyone finally slew Luo!

Those stories clearly took place after the point in time he had seen in his first life.

*There was also Luo’s sealing of the Black Wood. It went from an ordinary seal to a one-finger seal, and finally, he didn't even hesitate to use his entire left arm to perform the seal…*

*Why did he do that? Was it out of fear of the Black Wood, or… was it to protect the world he liked?* Wang Baole couldn't understand, but he remembered Luo’s final question to him: whether he knew what it felt like to like something.

This made Wang Baole even more silent. At that moment, little missy’s voice echoed in his mind.

"Fatty, you’ve been influenced. Liking often represents possession."

"If you like a butterfly, would you say it's better to watch it fly freely, or is it better to turn it into a specimen and press it between the pages of a book?"

Wang Baole’s heart jolted. After carefully savoring little missy’s words, he whispered softly.

"Neither is good. Because I don't like butterflies, I like you."

"You dead fatty, I’m talking about serious business with you!" little missy huffed.

"I’m also talking about serious business!" Wang Baole blinked and cleared his throat. He found that little missy was the best remedy for his mood, capable of soothing his emotions to the greatest extent. But just as he was shifting his focus to continue soothing his spirits, the fleet of battleships finally exited the Planet Fate System…

The instant they left, a sense of crisis faintly emerged in Wang Baole’s mind. He raised his head and looked into the distance.

There, in the distant starry sky, sat a middle-aged man dressed in black on a meteorite that seemed pinned in place, unable to move. He was cradling a long sword.

A formidable ripple of power emanated from this man. He suddenly snapped his eyes open and looked toward Wang Baole’s fleet. However, he didn't seem to be able to sense Wang Baole’s exact state. A lofty, arrogant smile remained on his lips as he spoke in a voice that was calm yet cold and proud.

"Wang Baole, thank you for keeping your head safe for me for so long. Now, you can hand it over."

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END OF Chapter 1104
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START OF Chapter 1105
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Chapter 1105: Coming and Going in a Hurry!

The speaker was the avatar sent by Chong Yizi. In reality, this avatar had arrived long ago, but he didn't dare to act recklessly within the Destiny Star System, so he chose to wait here.

After all, while the Destiny Star System was vast, for certain special reasons, there was only this one entrance and exit. By waiting here, he was naturally able to wait for Wang Baole to appear.

In his view, this assassination would basically require no effort. The only thing he needed to worry about was Ancestor Flames, but he believed the words of the person who had commissioned him to kill Wang Baole—that they could shield the karma.

Therefore, what he had to do now... was simply to silence everyone present.

As for the other chosen ones inside, he didn't care. And those so-called Dao protectors were, in his eyes, just trash of the Mortal Dao. If numbers alone could win a fight, why would anyone bother cultivating?

Thus, as soon as he spoke, his arrogance was put on full display.

And his words were indeed far too arrogant!

Inside the battleship, almost everyone had a similar thought simultaneously upon hearing his words, and it sparked dissatisfaction among all the Dao protectors.

They could already see that the newcomer was also at the Stellar realm. Although they couldn't see his exact depth... they had over thirty Stellar realm cultivators, while the opponent was alone. No matter how one looked at it, they had the advantage of numbers and held a massive upper hand.

Furthermore... there was the terrifying existence of Wang Baole. Most people reacted with annoyance rather than worry. Xie Haiyang was about to speak, but someone was a step faster.

"Dad, this guy is too arrogant! Let your son capture this person for you!" Upon hearing the words from the person sitting cross-legged on the meteorite outside the battleship, the first person to express anger and dissatisfaction wasn't Wang Baole himself, but his son... Chen Han.

Chen Han was practically bristling with rage. Without waiting for Wang Baole to speak, he immediately waved his hand and shouted orders to his left and right.

"Protectors, please seize this man and bring him to my father for interrogation!"

As a Dao Child of the Seven Spiritual Dao, the protectors by Chen Han's side were of the Mortal realm, but they possessed secret techniques and were quite extraordinary. Following his command, the seven Stellar Dao protectors accompanying him immediately obeyed. They flickered and flew out instantly, racing through the starry sky outside the battleship toward Chong Yizi's avatar.

But the moment the seven of them rushed out, a cruel sneer appeared on Chong Yizi's face. He looked up at the starry sky, and almost at the instant he looked, a beam of purple light carrying a supreme divine might suddenly spilled down from the stars. It transformed into a purple light curtain, directly enveloping the entire area where everyone was located, including all the battleships and Chong Yizi's avatar!

It was like an array, but even more like a seal, cutting off all aura, isolating a portion of karma, and blocking all perception from the outside world. It was as if this place... in this instant, had been separated from the rest of the starry sky.

Before the seven rushing protectors could react, Chong Yizi, seeing the area covered by the purple light curtain, burst into laughter. Killing intent exploded in his eyes as he leaped up. The meteorite beneath him shattered into countless fragments, carrying startling force as they whistled toward the fleet of battleships. He himself was as fast as lightning, charging out in a flash.

In an instant, he collided with the seven incoming Stellar realm cultivators. With just a simple exchange, Chen Han's seven protectors all spat out blood, their bodies blasted back as if they were fragile and unable to withstand a single blow!

"Too weak!" Amidst his wild laughter, Chong Yizi charged violently toward Wang Baole's battleship. His killing intent was intense, and a murderous aura erupted from him. To him, this task was very simple. However, to avoid any accidents, he still intended to kill Wang Baole first to complete the mission before silencing the others. This was the safer approach.

Wang Baole's expression remained calm. He stood inside the battleship, coldly watching the approaching Chong Yizi. Although he didn't move, the Stellar Dao protectors around him all changed expression and rushed out instantly toward Chong Yizi.

Chong Yizi's power was fully demonstrated at this moment. Although this avatar's cultivation was only at the early Stellar realm, when faced with the arrival of these dozen or so Stellar realm cultivators, he simply raised the sword in his arms and slashed down. A terrifying fluctuation erupted from his body, causing the dozen Stellar realm cultivators to tremble and retreat.

"Mortal Dao Stellar realm cultivators—how are you any different from chickens and dogs?" Chong Yizi laughed towards the heavens. As the pale-faced Stellar realm cultivators retreated, cries of alarm broke out.

"An Earth-grade Stellar realm!!"

The Stellar realm was divided into five levels: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, Yellow, and Mortal. Within the same early stage, the Mortal-grade was the weakest, followed by Yellow-grade. Mystic-grade was already rare, and Earth-grade was even more scarce. As for the Heaven-grade... it could only be described as one in a million!

Thus, basically, once an Earth-grade appeared, they could sweep away those in the same realm. Currently, Chong Yizi was doing exactly that, sweeping across all directions. He stepped forward amidst his laughter, racing toward Wang Baole's battleship, his voice ringing out with a wild cackle.

"Wang Baole, no one can save you! I really want to see what a crushed Dao Star looks like!" As Chong Yizi spoke, he had already closed to within a hundred feet of Wang Baole's battleship.

Inside the battleship, Xie Haiyang's expression flickered slightly but returned to normal in an instant. As for Chen Han, he didn't seem to have a shred of worry from beginning to end; instead, he crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes filled with contempt and disdain.

As for Wang Baole, there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes. He really wanted to know what level his current combat power had reached. If he tested it himself, he would always be somewhat restrained. Now that someone had taken the initiative to come forward, his interest was piqued quite a bit.

Of course, the most important thing was that he saw that purple light curtain and... the fragment of the future he had once seen in the Book of Destiny. There was a scene in there that, while not identical to this, was very similar.

"Is it Purple Moon..." Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and released his restraint over the Dao Star within his body. In an instant, his Dao Star manifested outside the battleship, growing from a small point!

At first, it was just a speck of light, but it rapidly expanded to the size of an ordinary Planet. This caused Chong Yizi, who was fast approaching and had reached seventy feet away, to let out a laugh.

"This is it?" Chong Yizi seemed somewhat disappointed. Shaking his head, he approached again. It wasn't until he reached fifty feet that his footsteps faltered slightly for the first time. This was because the Dao Star before him was no longer its previous size; it had expanded to half the size of a Stellar star.

"A bit interesting." Chong Yizi's eyes brightened. As his laughter rose again, his speed increased, and he closed to thirty feet. But in the next instant, his footsteps faltered once more. A look of surprise appeared in his eyes as he looked at the Dao Star before him, which had already expanded to a size comparable to an ordinary Stellar star.

"Not bad, not bad! Now this is fun!" Such a Dao Star did not make Chong Yizi hesitate. Instead, after a brief pause, his expression showed excitement and a strong battle intent. His laughter grew louder as he took another step, crossing ten feet. When he was only twenty feet away from Wang Baole's location, his footsteps... stopped for the third time.

What followed was rapid blinking, and the excitement in his eyes shattered, replaced by a blank daze.

"What is this?" Chong Yizi murmured softly, staring blankly at the terrifying star before him, which was growing larger and larger, already surpassing the size of an ordinary Stellar star by three times and continuing to expand.

Before his very eyes, amidst a thunderous roar, this Dao Star continued to expand to five times, six times... until it reached a terrifying range ten times that of an ordinary Stellar star.

It was like a small portion of a star system. Furthermore, around this massive Dao Star, nine ancient stars like satellites appeared one after another, emitting Heaven-shaking, Earth-shattering laws that shook the starry sky.

Looking from a distance, this majestic Dao Star was like a Cosmic Eye, currently staring down at the miniscule figure of Chong Yizi, whose body was trembling uncontrollably and whose excitement and battle intent had vanished in an instant.

Chong Yizi didn't want to tremble, but his body was out of his control. The terrifying power of laws and dictates from the Dao Star and its satellites affected and distorted the surroundings, causing every bit of flesh and blood on his body to shiver instinctively.

"This is... this is a Planet?" Amidst Chong Yizi's murmurs, the blankness in his eyes finally turned into horror. He remained silent for a few breaths of time...

Then, he suddenly turned around and fled madly toward the rear, putting almost all of his cultivation into his speed, never looking back!

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END OF Chapter 1105
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START OF Chapter 1106
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**Chapter 1106: A Little Numb!**

"Damn it! Damn it all!!"

"Who told me this was a Planet?!"

"I’ve never seen such a freakish Planet in my life!!"

Chong Yizi moved as fast as a beam of light. In an instant, he retreated hundreds of feet from Wang Baole. He didn't stop for a moment, nor did he care about his reputation. Even though he had arrived with such arrogance and treated Wang Baole with utter contempt during his approach, he didn't care now.

He had no choice. This clone was a part of his true self; if the clone were destroyed, his original body would suffer the consequences. The trembling in his soul and the scalp-numbing sense of crisis made Chong Yizi wish his speed was even faster.

He was losing his mind, feeling like the unluckiest person in the entire universe. It was as if he had taken a liking to a young girl, rushed into her room, and excitedly locked the door so she couldn't escape his clutches—only for the girl to transform into a terrifying, burly brute the moment he lunged...

"Something must have gone wrong. How can this be..." Chong Yizi wailed inwardly, filled with regret. He felt that if his true body were here, killing Wang Baole would be effortless. But right now, his clone only possessed thirty percent of his true body's combat power. How was he supposed to slay a Planet realm the likes of which had never been heard of before?

This drove him mad, and he cursed the entity who had informed him that Wang Baole was a mere Planet. In his desperation, his speed increased even further, and he reached the distance in a flash.

The surrounding Solar realm protectors were not surprised by this sudden reversal. In fact, from the moment Chong Yizi appeared, they had basically foreseen this scene.

As for Chen Han, his eyes were filled with pride as he let out a cold snort.

"This kid must be out of his mind to fight Dad. He doesn't know that Dad will always be Dad!"

When these words reached Xie Haiyang’s ears, he felt extremely uncomfortable. His discomfort didn't stem from Wang Baole, but from his disdain for Chen Han. In his view, Chen Han was utterly shameless, never missing an opportunity to suck up. He had completely abandoned the dignity of a cultivator. As someone who possessed a righteous spirit and stood tall and proud before the world, Xie Haiyang disdained associating with such people.

Thus, after a snort, a respectful and fanatical smile appeared on Xie Haiyang’s face. He bowed deeply toward Wang Baole and shouted with fervor.

"Congratulations to Martial Uncle on the completion of your divine art! From now on, you shall command the Weiyang Galaxy, matchless under heaven! The greatest luck of my life, Xie Haiyang, was meeting you, Martial Uncle. I beg Martial Uncle’s permission to allow Haiyang to follow by your side for the rest of my life and listen to your teachings!!"

Hearing Xie Haiyang’s passionate voice, Chen Han immediately grew wary. He narrowed his eyes and shot a cold glare at Xie Haiyang, thinking this man was truly loathsome. As a fellow man, to flatter his Dad so aggressively, his motives were definitely not pure. Chen Han snorted, about to continue his sycophancy toward Wang Baole.

But at that moment, a loud *boom* echoed from the edge of everyone’s vision, where Chong Yizi was trying to flee. It sounded as if he had slammed head-first into an invisible wall.

The sound rippled through the starry sky. As the ripples spread, Chong Yizi stood there, looking like he wanted to cry but had no tears. His head was spinning and his gaze was dazed as he stared blankly at the void before him. To the naked eye, there was nothing there, but upon careful inspection with divine sense, one could see... a purple light screen surrounding the area.

It sealed the surroundings and shielded karma, making this place an independent space.

This seal had originally been set up to prevent Wang Baole from escaping and to hide the location from Ancestor Flame. Now, it had become a barrier blocking Chong Yizi.

Clearly, removing this seal required time... Even the purple figure who had set it up likely hadn't expected such a reversal, so for the time being, the seal remained.

This... made Chong Yizi even more frantic. As he stalled, Wang Baole, who was displaying the full power of his Dao Stars, looked toward the distant, halted figure of Chong Yizi with interest. A calm voice rang out.

"You locked the door yourself, but you don't have the key to open it?"

Chong Yizi’s body trembled. He turned around to look at the massive Planet. He couldn't see Wang Baole’s figure clearly within it, only a blurred outline. After several breaths of silence, a sharp light suddenly flashed in his eyes.

His entire aura underwent a reversal from his previous fleeing state. He became like a sharp sword about to be unsheathed. Rumbles echoed from his body, and his battle intent erupted in an instant, surging in all directions and causing the surrounding Solar protectors to change expression.

Evidently, the current Chong Yizi was completely different from before. He wasn't fleeing in a panic, nor was he arrogantly disdainful. He was composed, exuding the presence of a true powerhouse.

He stood there with his back to the sealing barrier, gazing at the Planet where Wang Baole resided, and spoke calmly.

"This matter was indeed my oversight. Wang Baole, I wish to leave, and our paths shall no longer cross. Do you agree?"

The shift in aura combined with the low tone of his voice immediately gave off the feeling that he was someone who should not be provoked further. The surrounding Solar protectors felt a sense of trepidation and looked toward Wang Baole’s Planet.

Wang Baole said nothing. He simply raised his right hand and pressed down toward Chong Yizi’s location. With this press, his Planet trembled slightly, emitting a globe of light that transformed into a massive, illusory palm. The nine Quasi-Dao Stars surrounding the Planet also glowed, their light spreading rapidly and merging into the illusory palm, causing five fingers to manifest!

Finally, the palm seemed capable of overturning the heavens. Carrying the power of rules and laws, it roared toward Chong Yizi!

Chong Yizi’s eyebrows shot up. His body shifted to the side instantly, and his aura changed again. It wasn't the previous composure, but an air of wild arrogance toward heaven and earth. His eyes narrowed, emitting a terrifying light and a hint of sharpness.

"Interesting. It seems I truly shouldn't have sent a clone with only ten percent of my power. An opponent like you is worthy of my true body’s arrival. Are you... certain you want to fight me to the death?!" As Chong Yizi spoke, he gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist. At that moment, his battle intent reached the heavens!

The moment the illusory palm reached him, Chong Yizi abruptly drew his sword and let out a low roar, slashing at the incoming palm!

With this slash, his Solar realm manifested and merged into the sword. With an incomparably sharp momentum, it collided with the palm in the blink of an eye!

However... there was no boom. The moment that staggering sword qi touched the palm, it was like a piece of ice being pressed into water. It vanished instantly, absorbed into the palm...

"That's it?" Wang Baole looked at Chong Yizi with a hint of disappointment.

This scene caused Chong Yizi’s aura to shift once more. He squeezed out a smile that looked worse than crying and spoke awkwardly.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I think there must be a misun—"

Before he could finish the word "misunderstanding," Wang Baole shook his head. The illusory palm roared forward, giving Chong Yizi’s clone no chance at all. He didn't even care about the man's resistance or struggles. In an instant, the palm enveloped him, grasping Chong Yizi within its center.

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Baole clenched his raised right hand. The illusory giant hand did the same. With a boom... before a scream could even escape, Chong Yizi’s body exploded.

As Wang Baole reopened his hand, everything within the illusory giant hand had been reduced to ashes.

"Too weak." Wang Baole shook his head slightly. Everyone around him was filled with internal horror. When they looked at Wang Baole, their expressions were full of shock. None of them noticed that while Wang Baole looked composed and disappointed, he gently flicked his right hand after withdrawing it.

It was a little numb, and a little painful.

But Wang Baole would never show even a hint of it. Since returning from the Star of Fate, he had discovered that he quite enjoyed this posture of a supreme, high-level expert. His only regret was that there were too few onlookers. However, the proper posture had to be integrated into daily life. Thus, Wang Baole maintained his calm and composed demeanor, retracted his Planet, and returned to the battleship. He spoke in a voice that seemed as eternal and unchanging as the stars.

"Let’s move out."

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END OF Chapter 1106
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START OF Chapter 1107
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**Chapter 1107: The Original Body Arrives!**

Almost at the same moment Wang Baole’s Planet manifested into a giant hand, obliterating Chong Yizi’s clone despite its shifting momentum, the original body of Chong Yizi—floating like a vast sun within the mountain gates of the Jiuzhou Dao, the first sect of the Left Dao Holy Region—suddenly snapped his eyes open!

As his eyes opened, a monstrous sea of fire erupted within his pupils. This fire instantly spread, blanketing the surrounding void and immediately engulfing a massive area in flames.

The void was scorched, and the starry sky twisted. As Chong Yizi sat there, his left arm instantly withered, and his face turned pale. Although he did not cough up blood, his aura weakened considerably.

In his open eyes, a look of shock appeared, followed by a sinister expression that clouded his features as his brow slowly furrowed.

“The clone has fallen?” Chong Yizi’s expression was unsightly. He did not know the specific details of what had happened, as that seal could interfere with karma and shield against the senses of Star Domain experts. Being inside it, he was affected just the same.

Therefore, the memories fed back by the clone stopped at the moment he saw Wang Baole’s battleship fly out and the figures of those seven or eight Solar realm protectors. Everything after that was a complete blank.

“Could there be a powerful expert hidden within Wang Baole’s battleship? Or is one of those protectors extraordinary... or perhaps, Tianfa Shangren intervened?” Chong Yizi couldn’t figure it out, but he felt the last possibility was the least likely. The most probable scenario was that one of the protectors was quite formidable.

As for the idea that Wang Baole had personally slain his clone, that thought simply did not exist in Chong Yizi’s mind. Ideas regarding impossible events naturally did not surface in his train of thought.

“Flame Patriarch truly dotes on this disciple...” Chong Yizi cold-snorted. He narrowed his eyes and looked down at his withered left arm, a sudden flash of killing intent appearing in his gaze.

“To dare destroy my clone—how can this matter simply end like this? Although Flame Patriarch is strong, it isn't as if I don't have a master of my own!” With that thought, Chong Yizi narrowed his eyes and slowly stood up. As he rose, the surrounding starry sky boomed, as if a massive pressure was radiating from his body, making the surrounding space unbearable and causing cracks to appear.

One could even see a vast number of law threads manifesting from the invisible, twisting around him like a backdrop, making Chong Yizi’s momentum terrifying.

In reality, this was indeed the case. As a late-stage Solar realm cultivator and an Earth-grade Solar, his combat strength was extremely powerful. Even a Great Perfection Solar of the Mystic-realm was no match for him, let alone the fact that he had been in seclusion for many years to charge toward the Great Perfection. Although he hadn't reached it yet, he was only a sliver away.

Once he reached Great Perfection, he would face a trial akin to a fish leaping through the Dragon Gate. If he succeeded... then the Jiuzhou Dao would have one more Star Domain powerhouse!

Furthermore, this concerned the struggle for the sect’s succession. It was a competition between him and the first Dao Seed, Fei Lingzi. Whoever became a Star Domain expert first would inherit the leadership of the Jiuzhou Dao.

“At such a critical moment, my clone was destroyed...” Cold light flickered in Chong Yizi’s eyes, and he felt quite irritable. If he hadn't owed a favor, he wouldn't have acted at this time. But now that his clone was destroyed, if he didn't resolve it, his Dao heart would be imperfect, which would affect his cultivation breakthrough.

“Fine then. I’ll take back a Dao Star and see if it can provide me with extra help.” With this thought, the standing Chong Yizi, who caused the starry sky to tremble, flickered and instantly left the Jiuzhou Dao’s home star system. When he reappeared, he was already in the vast starry sky. He raised his right hand to perform a divination, then looked up and took a great stride. With every step, he crossed a galaxy, whistling toward the location where his clone had died!

***

Meanwhile, in a region of the starry sky very far from Chong Yizi, Wang Baole’s battleship was also moving at an incredible speed, heading toward a clear target: the entrance to the Starfall Land.

Although there was a vast distance from their current location to the entrance of the Starfall Land, it was still much shorter than the distance between them and Chong Yizi. Therefore, even though the latter was faster, the battleship drew closer and closer to the Starfall entrance.

Finally, half a month later, as the battleship sped along, Wang Baole caught a faint glimpse of the distance... that empty, white star system.

Looking from afar, this white star system looked exactly as it did in Wang Baole’s memory. That was... the Paper Galaxy, or rather, the Paper Starry Sky.

At the edge of this region, the battleship came to a halt. Amidst the curiosity of Xie Haiyang and Chen Han, Wang Baole stepped out of the ship and gazed at the Paper Galaxy before him. After pondering for a long while, to show his respect, he did not ride the battleship. Instead, he had the ship and everyone inside stay outside while he personally walked forward, stepping into the Paper Galaxy.

Almost the instant he stepped inside, ripples of fluctuations spread from beneath his feet, causing this Paper Starry Sky to seemingly stir, rising and falling like a sea of paper.

Wang Baole’s expression remained calm as he continued forward. Several days later, he reached the center of this Paper Galaxy—the place where the Starfall Boat had once stopped. Standing there and looking at the surrounding void, Wang Baole cupped his fists and bowed toward the space ahead.

“An old friend has come to visit. I wonder if Senior Starfall Emperor will permit my entry.”

Although he had maintained the air of a high-level expert throughout the journey, and his soul and mindset had gained the perspective of looking down upon the entire Stone Tablet World due to his insights into his past lives, Wang Baole knew very well when showing such a mindset was beneficial and when it would be detrimental.

For instance, right now, he needed to put away that posture. Otherwise, it would likely be counterproductive.

After bowing, Wang Baole did not rush but waited silently. After about ten breaths of time passed, an ancient voice echoed throughout the entire Paper Starry Sky.

“Enter!”

As the word was spoken, the entire Paper Starry Sky erupted with even more intense fluctuations. As the ripples spread, this Paper Starry Sky instantly acted like a sheet of paper, beginning to fold, and fold, and fold again.

After infinite folds, the area of the Paper Starry Sky became smaller and smaller, but its height became higher and higher. This defied certain logic, but it was the reality. To Xie Haiyang, Chen Han, and the others outside the Paper Starry Sky, this scene shook their hearts while making them feel that Wang Baole was even more mysterious.

Because they knew that the Starfall Land did not pay attention to the outside world except for fixed invitations. Even if a Star Domain expert arrived, if they weren't allowed in, the expert could only leave in frustration.

But Wang Baole... had arrived and entered smoothly. This made Xie Haiyang’s resolve toward Wang Baole even firmer, and it made Chen Han even more proud of his status as a filial son.

Amidst this firmness and pride, the two men’s gazes subconsciously met.

“Hmph!”

“Hmph hmph!”

They both quickly looked away...

Also witnessing the infinite folding of the Paper Starry Sky where Wang Baole was located was... the original body of Chong Yizi, who had stepped out of the void in the distance. He stood there, clearly conspicuous, yet Xie Haiyang and the others did not notice him at all.

Gazing at the continuously folding Paper Starry Sky until its height became staggering and it transformed into a streak of white light that vanished from the starry sky, Chong Yizi’s eyes narrowed solemnly.

This was because he had already seen Xie Haiyang’s battleship. Inside, he did not see a single cultivator capable of threatening his clone. This caused many suspicions to surface in his heart.

“Did the person who killed my clone leave?”

“Or, does the opponent come from the Starfall Land?”

“Interesting...” Murmuring, Chong Yizi swept his gaze over Xie Haiyang and Chen Han’s battleship, then retracted his gaze. He didn't bother with them, nor did he have any desire to capture them or search their souls. He was too confident; he disdained knowing the answer beforehand.

He liked this kind of unknown, because it made a boring life more colorful. Thus, with a faint smile, Chong Yizi simply sat cross-legged in the starry sky.

He believed that Wang Baole, having entered the Starfall Land, would eventually come out. All the answers would be revealed once the boy emerged and was slain by him.

“I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

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START OF Chapter 1108
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**Chapter 1108: Granted!**

In the starry sky, as the Paper Galaxy continued to fold upon itself, it eventually vanished completely from everyone’s sight. Within another void, the world before Wang Baole’s eyes underwent a sudden, dramatic transformation.

It was still that vast sea of paper, but it was no longer black; it was white. The sky, the sun, and even the birds and seagulls were all familiar paper existences.

At that moment, a sense of goodwill from the will of the entire world emanated from the heavens, the earth, and all things. It permeated the air around Wang Baole, seemingly filled with joy and welcome.

Waves rose across the surrounding paper sea, appearing as if they were bowing to him. This sensation made Wang Baole feel comfortable and intimately connected, inside and out.

“Welcome back to the Land of Starfall.” Wang Baole turned his head. He was no longer standing in the void; he was on a boat. The paper figure rowing at the front was the same familiar one from before. Now, the paper figure turned its head and looked at Wang Baole.

“Senior, I hope you have been well since we last met.” Wang Baole took a deep breath and clasped his hands in a formal bow.

The paper figure grinned and returned the gesture. Then, it pulled on the oars, cutting through the waves. A breeze blew against Wang Baole’s face, tossing his hair. Instead of passing by, the wind lingered around him with a gentle intent, as if it were dancing.

Wang Baole smiled. Having returned to the Land of Starfall, he felt the goodwill of this world and a sense of unrestrained freedom and safety. He simply sat down on the boat’s deck, pulled out a bottle of Ice Spirit Water with his right hand, and gazed at the world around him. Amidst this comfort, he began to sip the water as if it were wine.

“When an honored guest visits, how can we let him drink alone?” Before Wang Baole could take more than a few sips, a voice echoed around him. As the waves churned once more, a paper figure rose from the sea. Step by step, he walked onto the boat and stopped beside Wang Baole, extending his right hand.

Though most paper figures looked similar, Wang Baole was long past the point of being unable to distinguish them. At a glance, he recognized that this paper figure was the First Emperor of the Starfall Empire, the one who had previously stayed inside his storage bag.

Back when Wang Baole obtained the Dao Star and left the Starfall Empire, this First Emperor had chosen to remain behind in the depths of the paper sea to guard the newly sealed mirror-like vortex.

Looking at the First Emperor’s outstretched hand, Wang Baole stood up with a smile and bowed. He then took out another bottle of Ice Spirit Water and handed it over. As for whether the other party could actually drink it, Wang Baole wasn’t worried. To a powerful being like this, a body was like a suit of clothes—important, yet also not.

Indeed, after taking the Ice Spirit Water, the First Emperor threw his head back and took a large gulp. He was about to voice some profound sentiment as he usually did after drinking wine, but his expression suddenly turned strange. He lowered his head to look closely at the Ice Spirit Water in his hand, then looked back at Wang Baole.

“What on earth is this? Why is it so sweet?”

“Does it taste good? It’s my favorite drink. In the entire universe, it’s only produced in the Federation. It’s called Ice Spirit Water.” Wang Baole blinked and looked at the paper figure.

The paper figure remained silent for a few breaths, silently savoring the Ice Spirit Water in his mouth. After a long while, he curled his lip, set it aside, and looked at Wang Baole.

“You’ve come early.”

“Senior doesn’t seem surprised by my arrival?” Wang Baole smiled upon hearing this.

“When you left that day, I had a premonition that you would eventually return here to explore the vortex beneath the paper sea.”

Wang Baole did not speak immediately. Instead, he looked down at the sea of paper. The vortex existing at the bottom of this sea was indeed one of the goals of his visit.

He wanted to verify if that vortex was the same one he had seen in his first life, the one where the three-foot black wood had appeared. However, he didn’t plan to go there just yet. Everything would have to wait until he broke through and reached the Stellar Realm.

After a moment of deliberation, Wang Baole clasped his hands toward the First Emperor.

“Junior has come this time to ask for the permission of the Great Emperor and the Starfall Empire to allow me to summon special stars here… to ascend to the Stellar Realm!” Wang Baole’s expression was solemn as he looked at the First Emperor.

“A small matter. How many do you need?” the First Emperor’s tone was relaxed. On one hand, Wang Baole was a benefactor to the Starfall Empire; on the other, his background was staggering. He naturally wouldn’t refuse such a request. After all, there were over ten thousand special stars in their Starfall Empire. Giving some away was no big deal.

“This… I probably need about ten thousand?” Wang Baole said in a low voice, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“…” The First Emperor fell silent. He picked up the Ice Spirit Water he had set aside, took a large gulp, and couldn't help but speak.

“Are you sure you’re just ascending to the Stellar Realm?”

“I plan to use ten thousand special stars as embellishments. While forming a starry sky, they will accentuate and elevate my Dao Star, allowing it to break through and evolve from a Planetary star into a Stellar one!” Wang Baole also knew that his request essentially meant draining about ninety percent of the Starfall Empire’s foundation. Thus, after speaking, he added another sentence.

“If there is anything you need me to do, please say so. Also… if you cannot give that many, a bit less… is also fine…”

“I could personally decide if it were under a thousand. But ten thousand… I am no longer the one in charge of the current Starfall Empire. So, while I want to give them to you, I can’t make the decision. The Emperor is here; ask him yourself.” The First Emperor coughed and looked into the distance as if passing the buck.

Wang Baole naturally sensed the problem and felt a bit of a headache. While he was pondering how to get them to agree, he also looked up. Soon, they saw over a hundred paper figures whistling through the air from the distance between heaven and earth.

The leading paper figure at the front was the contemporary Emperor of the Starfall Empire. The fluctuations of his Star域 (Domain) were incredibly powerful. With one step, he landed directly on the boat and gave Wang Baole a slight smile.

Wang Baole returned the greeting with a smile. After a moment of hesitation, he repeated the same request. Upon hearing it, the Emperor of the Starfall Empire also hesitated. He and the First Emperor looked at each other and remained silent for a long while. It was clearly a difficult request to fulfill, and he was just about to politely decline.

But right at that moment… the originally white daytime sky suddenly roared. Distorted ripples echoed across the heavens, as if a white curtain was being pulled back to reveal a black firmament!

Furthermore, upon that firmament, the light of stars began to manifest rapidly. Stars of various levels appeared together until their numbers exceeded a million, spreading across the entire sky. Vaguely, the will of the entire Land of Starfall seemed to transform into a voice that echoed in the minds of Wang Baole and the two Paper Emperors.

“Granted!”

The echo of this will caused the two Paper Emperors to look at each other once more. The current Emperor’s expression was somewhat awkward.

“Baole, do not blame me for my previous hesitation. It truly was…”

“Hesitation? What hesitation? I already said there was no problem with this. Wang Baole is a benefactor of our Starfall Empire. Let alone ten thousand, even if he wanted a hundred thousand, we would be willing. One must show gratitude!” The First Emperor’s skin was clearly as thick as his age. Now that he felt the will of the entire world had agreed, he immediately spoke with hindsight-driven solemnity, even scolding his descendant in the process.

“The Ancestor’s lecture is correct.” The contemporary Emperor of the Starfall Empire gave a wry smile and bowed to the First Emperor as a junior. The First Emperor coughed and waved his hand grandly.

“Baole, this starry sky is yours. I ask for nothing else, only that if one day you possess the true strength and opportunity to enter that vortex, you take me with you!” His words were quite magnanimous. Wang Baole blinked, suppressed his urge to smile, and quickly bowed in thanks. Simultaneously, he nodded seriously, agreeing to the request. He then took a deep breath and, without waiting any longer, leaped into the air, heading straight for the stars!

In the eyes of the surrounding paper figures, the current Wang Baole was like a shooting star. As he flew higher into the starry sky, his Dao Star appeared outside his body.

The Dao Star expanded rapidly, reaching a terrifying size in an instant. The nine ancient stars around it also manifested, appearing to cheer and yearn as they accompanied Wang Baole into the starry sky.

In the starry sky, countless starlights automatically dimmed at this moment, as if they dared not compete for brilliance, as if they were paying respects, yet also as if they were suppressing their own excitement. It was as if they possessed a certain level of sentience and could feel… that this opportunity was a chance for stellar transformation for them as well!

Once Wang Baole’s figure had completely merged into the starry sky, his voice suddenly echoed out.

“I ask all of you to bear witness. Today, I, Wang Baole, shall ascend to the Stellar Realm here!”

As soon as he spoke, all million stars in the sky seemed to grow excited, radiating brilliant light!

***

*Author's Note:* I was halfway through writing when I did a livestream for a few minutes. Did any of you catch it? Hahahaha, I'm a bit shy.

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Chapter 1109: Return of Ten Thousand Stars

“Sigh, if only girls were like these stars. If they all got this excited at a single word from me, that would be great.” Wang Baole stood in the starry sky, gazing at the excitement and radiance of the million stars in all directions. For some reason, this strange thought surfaced in his mind.

However, to maintain the persona of a transcendent master he had gained after gaining insights into his past lives, he could only keep these lamentations in his heart. On the surface, he remained as calm as water and perfectly composed, vividly displaying the ethereal aura he had attained from his past life realizations.

But he forgot... little missy had a penchant for spying on his thoughts. Almost the instant Wang Baole’s sigh appeared, he heard a cold snort.

“So this is why you dream of becoming the Federation President?”

Wang Baole’s body shook, nearly losing his masterly poise. His thoughts shifted instantly, and he let out a light sigh, speaking affectionately in his mind.

“The frenzy of a million girls is fine, but they only serve to accentuate my Dao Star. Little missy, you... you are the eternal Dao Star in my heart. You are the only thing in my heart and in my eyes!”

“Bah!” Little missy responded with a huff. However, from her voice, Wang Baole could still sense a change in her mood. He coughed and his expression turned solemn. Sitting cross-legged, he immersed himself fully in the circulation of his cultivation, a strange light appearing in his eyes.

Little missy also knew that this was a critical moment for Wang Baole. After her huff, she stopped speaking and watched him silently. Under her gaze, Wang Baole’s cultivation circulated faster and faster.

Initially, it took four breaths for a full cycle of cultivation to travel through his body. This accelerated until it reached one cycle per breath. As the speed increased, Wang Baole’s body became like a massive furnace, radiating high temperatures that were absorbed by the Dao Star outside his body. This caused the Dao Star’s light to grow even more dazzling, and even the nine ancient stars surrounding it absorbed a portion, their light shining brighter as well.

“Still not enough...” A sharp glint appeared in Wang Baole’s eyes, along with a deep sense of anticipation. Before coming to the Flame Galactic System, he had some knowledge of the Stellar Realm, but it wasn’t comprehensive. Having practiced under the Flame Ancestor and consulted a vast number of ancient records, his understanding of the Stellar Realm had significantly increased.

He knew clearly that stars were divided into five grades: Heavenly, Earthly, Mysterious, Yellow, and Ordinary. Reaching the Mysterious grade was already rare, usually requiring a certain degree of fortune. For instance, among his Dao protectors, one was at the Mysterious grade, a person with an unusual status even among the stars of the Flame Galactic System.

When Chongsizi had attacked earlier, that person had seemed to retreat in defeat just like the others, but in reality, his injuries were the lightest. This was the power of a Mysterious-grade star. As for the Earthly grade... it could only be described with the word 'rare.' Chongsizi, for example, was at the Earthly grade!

But Chongsizi was, after all, the second Dao Child of the first sect in the Left Dao Holy Domain. This showed how scarce the Earthly grade was. Looking at the entire Flame Galactic System, perhaps there had been Earthly-grade stars in the past, but now...

“There are none left,” Wang Baole murmured, withdrawing his thoughts from the Flame Galactic System. His mind conjured the knowledge regarding Heavenly-grade stars.

Heavenly-grade stars were as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns in the entire Weiyang Dao Domain. This seemed to involve certain secrets, as from ancient times to the present, Heavenly-grade stars had only ever appeared within the royal family of the Weiyang Clan!

Whether it was Heavenly or Ordinary, the method for ascending to the Stellar Realm was similar: one had to find a star of sufficient level, integrate it into the body, and merge with it. This would allow one to break through, forming an internal galaxy within the body.

Thus, the Stellar Realm also had another name: the Galaxy Realm!

As for the original Planet, it would become the first planet in the internal galaxy formed after the breakthrough.

At this stage, while there was a gap between the Heavenly and Ordinary grades, it wasn't as vast as a chasm. Their difference in strength was mainly reflected in subsequent cultivation and capacity. It was like a container; if the Ordinary grade was a cup, then the Earthly grade was a massive water vat, and the Heavenly grade was a pond!

The higher the grade, the more stars one could accommodate during subsequent cultivation. To some extent, the cultivation of a Stellar Realm cultivator, aside from their own techniques, involved swallowing and merging stars one by one to complete their transformation.

Once the limit was reached, the internal galaxy would transform into a Star Domain amidst its infinite majesty. That would be the moment a Stellar cultivator broke through their cultivation level.

“But what I want... isn't these five grades. I want to be above these five grades... something even rarer than phoenix feathers or unicorn horns. The legendary... Dao-grade Stellar Realm!” Wang Baole’s eyes shone with intense light. Dao-grade—this was a realm that could only be barely achieved if one possessed a Dao Star and encountered a massive opportunity!

That was allowing the Dao Star to ascend into an Eternal Dao!

Only the first-generation ancestor of the Weiyang Clan had ever achieved this. After him, no one else had been able to do it. After all, Dao Stars were too rare, and the opportunity to become an Eternal Dao was even rarer. Therefore, no method of ascension had been passed down; everything had to be figured out on one's own.

On his way here, Wang Baole had already figured out some methods. For example, his current continuous acceleration of his cultivation was the path he had deemed most likely to succeed after filtering through numerous analyses.

By rapidly circulating his cultivation, he would make himself radiate high temperatures like a fireball, pushing the fluctuations of his Planet to the limit, thereby sensing... the opportunity for breakthrough.

Without the slightest hesitation, the cultivation in Wang Baole’s body accelerated again like a madman. It gradually went from one cycle per breath to three cycles, five cycles, until it reached ten cycles per breath, where he felt he had hit his limit.

Under the frantic circulation of his cultivation, his Dao Star became incomparably hot. It was as if the firmament of the Starfall Land was being incinerated, turning a fiery red. The paper people on the Paper Sea all watched with changing expressions.

As their expressions shifted, Wang Baole grew somewhat anxious. He had already reached his limit of ten cycles per breath. He couldn't sustain this state for long, yet... he still hadn't felt the slightest fluctuation of a breakthrough.

“My instinct tells me that as long as I burn my Dao Star and consume the power of the Dao Star, I can leap forward and ascend. But I don't want to burn or consume it!” A sharp light flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. Suddenly, the shadow of a zombie appeared outside his body, followed by the phantom of a resentful soldier. His other past lives manifested simultaneously, with the little white deer among them. They all dispersed and merged into his Dao Star. At that moment, the Dao Star shuddered violently. As if fueled by extra power, light and heat erupted boundlessly.

The entire sky of the Starfall Land brightened instantly. The dark night turned into a vast expanse of white. Amidst this cataclysmic eruption, Wang Baole—who had merged with the Dao Star, becoming inseparable from it—finally felt a faint, indistinct membrane!

This membrane was like a certain restriction that prevented the Dao Star from ascending. It was as if a boundary existed in this universe, and only by leaping like a fish over a dragon gate could the Dao Star jump up, cross, and shatter this boundary to successfully ascend!

His instinct had previously told him that burning the Dao Star would achieve the same result because burning provided more propulsion for the leap, and consuming its mass would make the Dao Star lighter, making it easier to jump!

But he was unwilling!

Wang Baole suddenly looked up, his voice solemn and majestic, echoing across the firmament in all directions.

“Among the myriad stars in the sky... who is willing to accompany me, to walk the path of the starry river, and see the true starry sky!”

As soon as he spoke, the million stars that were already excitedly emitting light went into a frenzy. Their radiance erupted with unprecedented intensity, making the starlight in the sky countless and breathtakingly vast.

Among them, ten thousand stars shone the brightest. Those were... the special stars. Amidst their intense flickering, Wang Baole raised his right hand, his eyes filled with determination as he spoke softly.

“Return to your positions!”

Almost the instant his words echoed, the million stars roared, rushing toward Wang Baole at high speed. However, the ten thousand special stars were the fastest. In the blink of an eye, they surpassed the other stars and surrounded Wang Baole. As they orbited him, they seemed to form a force field, repelling the non-special stars while simultaneously putting forth all their strength to emit starlight, pouring it into Wang Baole’s Dao Star!

The moment the light of these ten thousand special stars merged in, the aura of Wang Baole’s Dao Star exploded. Its size expanded once again, and its aura reached a level that caused most of the paper people’s expressions to change drastically.

Wang Baole felt as if he had been suddenly bolstered. Breathing heavily, his hands formed a seal. He stood up directly from his cross-legged position and let out a low roar.

“Seal the Stars, Arise!”

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START OF Chapter 1110
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**Chapter 1110: Like a God!**

Almost at the exact moment Wang Baole’s words rang out...

In that instant when the tens of thousands of special stars returned to their positions, merging all their starlight into the Dao Star!

The moment Wang Baole stood up and spread his arms, a massive star chart suddenly manifested behind him!

The star chart was in the shape of an ox. It was small at first, but it expanded instantly, swelling until its size shook the souls of all who witnessed it. Amidst a series of thunderous roars, the star chart’s range covered more than half the starry sky. Every other star, aside from the ten thousand special stars that had merged into it, was forced to retreat, clearing the area. When the onlookers looked up, they felt as if the star chart had replaced the firmament itself.

Only Wang Baole’s Dao Star remained at the core of the star chart, like a massive furnace burning with roaring flames!

The chart encompassed the tens of thousands of special stars, drawing them into their designated positions within the star chart according to specific laws. In the blink of an eye, the ox radiated a brilliance that spanned ten thousand leagues. It was as if it had transcended the mortal world and become a Divine Ox. However, its form was not yet perfectly clear; it remained somewhat blurry.

One could see that the Divine Ox’s eyes were closed, as if it were in a deep slumber. Yet even so, its body emitted an aura that caused the entire Fallen Star Land to tremble!

It was an aura of majesty, of divine valor, and an overbearing dominance that suggested the heavens and earth would shatter the moment its eyes opened!

"This is..." The eyes of the first-generation Great Emperor of the Fallen Star Land shrank violently. Beside him, the current Emperor’s expression also shifted upon seeing the Divine Ox star chart.

"Such overbearing momentum... Is this a Star Domain Projection?!" The two looked at each other, seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

But their shock was far from over. A new change appeared. As a look of intense anticipation filled Wang Baole’s eyes, the Star-Sealing Art within his body suddenly surged. It swept from the first level to the third, then the fourth, and after a brief pause, it broke through with a bang, reaching the fifth level!

With every level he broke through, the Divine Ox's light intensified by thirty percent!

During this process, the massive Divine Ox star chart rapidly transformed from blurry to clear. Once Wang Baole’s Star-Sealing Art reached its limit, the tens of thousands of special stars directly replaced the meteorites that originally existed within the Divine Ox star chart. They took the place of every common star and overrode every celestial star, causing the Divine Ox star chart to emit a blinding, staggering radiance at that moment.

This light caused the starry sky to lose its color and all things to grow dim. All eyes felt as if they were being frozen in eternity. This brilliance even masked the furnace-like light of the Dao Star!

The entire Fallen Star Land was completely enveloped in its light!

Wang Baole’s body shook. Pushing the Divine Ox of the Star-Sealing Art, formed by the strength of ten thousand special stars, was no easy feat for him alone—especially now that he had taken the opportunity to successfully break the Star-Sealing Art through to the fifth level.

However, after sensing the power, Wang Baole still felt that this alone was not enough to lift his increasingly heavy Dao Star. If he wanted to advance... he needed to go one step further!

"According to my deductions, there is a sixth level to the Star-Sealing Art!!" A strange light flickered in Wang Baole’s eyes. He took a deep breath in the starry sky and immediately activated the Dao Star manifested at the core of the star chart. In an instant, the Dao Star rotated with a roar, diffusing the power of laws from within. Its surrounding satellites erupted as well, gathering rules.

The operation of all these forces finally caused the Dao Star’s light to shine brilliantly once more. Its brightness surpassed the Divine Ox star chart, as if a new light source had been injected into the chart, causing the star chart’s own light to be elevated and empowered.

This indirectly forced the Star-Sealing Art to rotate once more!

From its already blindingly staggering state, it climbed again. Leveraging the power of the ten thousand special stars and the strength of his own Dao Star, everything converged into an impact that caused the Divine Ox star chart’s light to reach an ultimate brilliance before finally exploding!

It broke through the limit, reaching the unprecedented... sixth level!

The roaring sounds were like heavenly thunder, exploding continuously as if they could shatter the galaxy itself. They echoed endlessly between heaven and earth, within the minds of all living beings in the Fallen Star Land, becoming the only sound that remained.

Almost at the exact moment the Star-Sealing Art reached the sixth level, the Divine Ox shuddered violently. Its eyes suddenly snapped open amidst the impact, revealing two beams of ultimate light formed by the convergence of countless starlight rays.

This light reflected in the eyes of the living beings in the Fallen Star Land, causing all the paper people’s bodies to tremble. As they shook, the Divine Ox that had opened its eyes let out a world-shaking roar toward the heavens!

*Moo!!*

It was as if... it had come to life!

At the same time, outside the Fallen Star Land, within the Divine Eye Galaxy of the Left Elder Holy Domain, the physical body of the Divine Ox slumbering in the starry sky outside the main planet also shuddered the moment the Divine Ox in the Fallen Star Land roared. It snapped its eyes open and looked toward the distant reaches of the starry sky, a strange light appearing in its eyes. Beside it, Flame Patriarch’s body instantly manifested, looking toward the distance as well.

"I didn't expect my disciple to begin his advancement so soon!" An ancient voice echoed, though it was unclear whether it came from Flame Patriarch or the Divine Ox. As it reverberated in all directions, Wang Baole’s senior brothers on the Flame Main Planet also raised their heads one after another. They gazed into the starry sky, their eyes seemingly able to pierce through the void to see the majestic vortex converging outside the Fallen Star Land.

That vortex was drawn in by Wang Baole’s advancement. It condensed from the void and silently surrounded the starry sky, causing the hearts of Xie Haiyang and the others to tremble. Although they didn't know why this was happening, they could guess that it was related to Wang Baole.

"It's just an advancement to the Stellar realm, there's no need for it to be this grand..." Xie Haiyang took a breath, muttering in a daze.

"Shut your mouth! How could a mere mortal like you comprehend my Daddy’s divine might? Humph, mortal, you have no idea about my Daddy’s origins. It would scare you to death if I told you. My Daddy... is the Daddy of all living beings!" Although Chen Han was also shocked, he immediately snapped back when he heard Xie Haiyang’s words. He spoke with pride, while his Dao Protectors behind him lowered their heads. They felt as if their Young Master had become a different person after returning from the Destiny Star; his words always made them feel ashamed...

"Your Daddy isn't here, what's the use of being such a hardworking suck-up!" Xie Haiyang glared at Chen Han in dissatisfaction.

"Mortal!" Chen Han crossed his arms over his chest and huffed, seemingly disdaining to explain further.

And Chong Yizi, who was waiting nearby and remained unknown to the group, was also shocked. He quickly turned his head to look at the vortex slowly spreading around him, then looked at the entrance to the Fallen Star Land where Wang Baole had disappeared. His expression filled with suspicion and a faint sense of impending doom.

"This is the aura of a Tribulation... What is going on?!"

While the outside world was shaken, the same was true within the Fallen Star Land. Heaven and earth changed, the clouds rolled back, and amidst the booming from all directions, the first-generation Great Emperor of the Fallen Star Land felt his breath hitch.

"Breaking through to the Planet realm can actually draw in Tribulation Qi... Quick, activate the arrays!"

Following his command, the Fallen Star Emperor and all the officials immediately released their cultivation bases with pounding hearts. The empire’s grand arrays also surged into operation, causing layers of white light barriers to rise over the entire Fallen Star Land, covering the sky.

As for Wang Baole, his aura had reached its peak. All preparations were complete. After several breaths of silence, Wang Baole suddenly looked up, a low voice escaping his lips.

"Carry my Dao Star... shatter the void, and ascend to become the Stellar Dao Star!!"

As soon as he spoke, Wang Baole violently waved both hands. Immediately, his Dao Star and nine satellites rose from within the Divine Ox, eventually floating above the Divine Ox’s head!

The Divine Ox also looked up, a sharp light in its eyes. It let out another world-shaking roar toward the heavens. In this roar, its overbearing intent was incredibly violent. With a shake of its body, it carried the Dao Star on its head and bore Wang Baole on its back, charging toward the starry sky, toward that invisible boundary, like a fish leaping through the dragon gate!

Looking from afar, this scene was etched into the eyes of everyone in the Fallen Star Land; they would never forget it for the rest of their lives!

In that vision... the Divine Ox was majestic and magnificent, its dominance boundless. Carrying a terrifying Dao Star that looked as if it were about to become a crimson sun, it sped wildly, charging toward the end of the sky!

And on its back, dressed in white with his long hair flying in the wind, Wang Baole stood with a composed expression and calm eyes. With his hands behind his back, he looked... like a god!

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It was the height of summer in the Chiyun Rainforest, located in the eastern part of the Federation. Mists swirled like a layer of thin gauze draped over the land. Towering ancient trees intertwined, their lush canopies occasionally disturbed by birds taking flight and screeching as they soared into the horizon.

In the sky, the sun—which once seemed eternal—no longer looked as it did in people’s memories. Many years ago, it had been pierced through by an indescribably massive ancient bronze sword, leaving a small portion of the blade’s tip protruding from the other side!

This ancient sword seemed to have endured eons. Having come from the depths of the starry sky, it exuded an air of endless antiquity and a powerful pressure. This pressure formed a halo that shrouded the heavens, seemingly suppressing the earth and forcing all living beings to bow in worship!

From a distance, the scene of the Sword-Sun and the rainforest looked like a painting—until the silence was broken by a distant humming sound. A large, red hot-air balloon shuttle was slowly flying over the rainforest.

The shuttle’s cabin was massive, large enough to hold several hundred people. Groups of young boys and girls could be seen on the deck, their laughter and chatter ringing out from time to time.

They were students from Phoenix City who had been accepted into one of the Federation’s four great Dao Academies: the Ethereal Academy. They were currently aboard this academy-owned shuttle, traveling ten thousand miles to begin their studies.

Perhaps because of their anticipation, the journey was not tedious for these youths. There was even a subtle, hazy attraction growing between the boys and girls, adding a touch of flavor to the long trip.

Because of the vast distance, the shuttle was equipped with a cafeteria, Spirit Cultivation rooms, an infirmary, and other facilities.

At that moment, the cafeteria was quite crowded. At one table sat a little fatty with a protruding belly.

He appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a loose blue robe. His round face could be considered handsome in a delicate way. He was currently patting his stomach with a rhythmic *smack-smack* sound while staring at seven or eight empty plates with a look of deep regret.

"If I eat like this, I’m going to gain another three pounds. Why couldn't I control myself? I want to be the President of the Federation; I can't die young!" The little fatty had a bitter look on his face, his heart full of remorse as he let out a loud burp.

This little fatty was named Wang Baole. He was also a student who had been accepted into the Ethereal Academy this year. His lifelong dream was to become an official; he viewed becoming the President of the Federation as his ultimate pursuit. This grand ambition was inseparable from his childhood experiences.

In his memories, when he was young, his father would often pat his head and sigh with deep emotion.

"Baole, it’s better to be an official. You must remember: while money can solve everything, people will still bully you. If you don't want to be bullied, the only way is to become an official and stand above others."

At first, Wang Baole didn't understand. But then, in primary school, he was scolded by the class monitor for not handing in his homework on time. Even after he gave the monitor two candies as a bribe, the monitor still recorded his name and snitched to the teacher. This event left an indelible mark on his young soul.

From that moment on, he wanted to be the class monitor—not to bully others, but so he wouldn't be bullied himself.

As he grew up, however, he discovered that there were many people who could bully a class monitor. Thus, he felt that becoming the highest-ranking official—the President of the Federation—was the only way to ensure no one would ever dare bully him again. The reason he had tried so hard to enter the Ethereal Academy was that all high-ranking officials in the Federation were graduates of the four great Dao Academies.

Unfortunately, his luck wasn't great. His family's bloodline was quite bizarre. He still remembered a night a year ago when his skin-and-bones father took him to the ancestral hall and showed him the family tree.

That was the first time Wang Baole saw the genealogy. He clearly saw that for generations, every ancestor who weighed more than two hundred pounds died young, never making it past thirty-five.

That night, Wang Baole had a dream... He dreamed that before he could even become the Federation President, he had already reunited with his fat grandfathers in the afterlife.

In the year that followed, the matter of weight loss rose to a level of supreme importance for him. However, even after the Federation entered the Spirit Inception Era—as the Qi became dense and Ancient Martial Arts underwent a revival—and even though weight loss methods became diverse and numerous, Wang Baole had tried almost all of them, yet his weight remained "stable with a slight upward trend."

As these memories surfaced, Wang Baole gritted his teeth and resolved to start his diet tomorrow.

With that decision made, he immediately felt the pressure lift. Picking his teeth and humming a little tune, he looked out the window at the distant blue sky, his mind beginning to wander.

"I wonder if Physician Lu likes the gift I gave him. That was an antique I swiped from home; that old guy should like it, right?" Wang Baole comforted himself, thinking that as long as he latched onto Physician Lu, he would have a little backer in the academy.

"Teachers have limited power, though I should send them some gifts later too. But Physician Lu is old; he must have a wide network of connections. This move of mine should be the right one." Thinking of this, Wang Baole felt extremely pleased, feeling as though he had taken another step toward the position of Federation President.

He was very confident in his ability to become the President. This confidence came mainly from his lifelong study of the autobiographies of high-ranking officials. He had even summarized several "officialdom trump cards."

Now, feeling physically and mentally refreshed, Wang Baole looked at the blue sky and found it particularly beautiful.

But soon, his eyes widened. He noticed a mass of black clouds gathering in the distance, spreading as if to cover the sky. Lightning flickered within, casting bolts of electricity as it slowly approached. This sight also caught the attention of many other students, drawing cries of alarm.

"It’s a lightning-magnetic storm!"

Wang Baole was also startled. Ever since the Federation entered the Spirit Inception Era, the appearance of Qi had led to the emergence of many terrifying atmospheric phenomena. Former flying machines were no longer safe, which led to the creation of hot-air balloon shuttles powered by Spirit Stones.

Amidst the constant cries of alarm, the rumble of thunder suddenly arrived with an earth-shattering roar. One could see the black lightning-magnetic clouds expanding rapidly. The lightning within had already spread out like a massive black net, flickering across the horizon with a shocking brilliance that made one’s heart race. The moving shuttle began to slow down.

Just as everyone was feeling unsettled, the cafeteria doors were pushed open. A gust of wind seemed to howl as an old man in a white robe walked in. The old man was covered in wrinkles, but he possessed an immortal air and a righteous countenance. His eyes sparkled with sharp light, and an aura of integrity radiated in all directions. As soon as he arrived, his majestic voice echoed through the cafeteria.

"Everyone, report to the Spirit Cultivation rooms immediately! Put on your Magnetic Spirit Suits! We will enter the lightning-magnetic zone in half a pillar of incense’s time!"

As soon as he spoke, the students grew respectful and stood up quickly.

Wang Baole’s eyes lit up. This old man was precisely Physician Lu, the one he had given a gift to. Seeing the man's powerful, tiger-like stride, Wang Baole felt even more certain that his previous investment was correct. He thought to himself that this old fellow was definitely no ordinary person, and that he himself was a master of strategy.

Just as he was feeling smug, the old physician’s gaze swept across the room and landed on Wang Baole. He huffed and walked over, pulling half a black mask from his robe and tossing it onto Wang Baole.

"At such a young age, don't focus your mind on these messy things. You haven't even entered the academy yet and you've already learned how to give bribes? I am a man of great experience; keep this mask for yourself." The old physician’s expression was solemn, projecting an image of incorruptible integrity as he scolded Wang Baole as if disappointed by his lack of character.

Wang Baole caught the mask, his heart sinking. He could see that the old physician was angry. He felt anxious and wanted to explain, but he suddenly remembered one of the trump cards he had learned from his autobiographies: when in front of a superior, shamelessly admit your mistake immediately. This often turned a major problem into a minor one.

Taking a deep breath, he quickly put on a look of remorse and admitted his fault.

"Teacher is right, I was wrong!"

The old physician was somewhat surprised. The scolding he had prepared was cut short by the other party’s prompt admission of guilt.

Seeing the old physician’s expression, Wang Baole breathed a sigh of relief and felt a bit of pride. He thought to himself that those autobiographies were truly useful.

The old physician huffed again, looked up at all the students in the cafeteria, and pointed at them.

"And the rest of you! You are all the future students of our Ethereal Academy! Look at how you've been acting these past few days! You must always remember: as warriors of our generation, we must first establish our character, then our words, and finally our deeds!"

The old physician spoke with great passion. His words echoed through the cafeteria, causing everyone who heard them to lower their heads in shame. Wang Baole’s eyes, however, brightened. He felt that the time to show off had come.

He quickly pulled a small notebook from his robe and began recording. He looked up at the old physician from time to time with an expression of deep listening, nodding seriously as if trying to memorize every single word. This move was another trump card he had summarized from the autobiographies.

When the other students saw this, they looked at Wang Baole as if he were some sort of god.

The old physician was also momentary stunned upon seeing this. A sense of unprecedented weirdness bubbled up in his heart. In all his years of receiving and sending off students, this was the first time he had encountered such an oddball. He couldn't help but look at him a few more times, but his expression gradually turned into a cold sneer.

"Little fellow, my flattery isn't that easy to earn. You should thank this lightning-magnetic storm. Otherwise, I could lecture you for three days and nights straight—let’s see if you could write all that in your little notebook then!"

As soon as the old physician spoke, his aura shifted. The aura of a powerful expert radiated from him like a crushing pressure that enveloped the entire cafeteria. The students were all stunned, feeling that in this battle of wits, the old physician was still a notch above.

Wang Baole blinked. He felt the recording jade slip in his pocket and weighed his options for a long time. Looking at the approaching storm, he gave up the idea of taking it out. He felt that it wasn't shameful to back down in front of a superior.

Seeing everyone’s expressions, the old physician felt smug internally and gave a few more impassioned remarks.

"Remember, focus your mind on cultivation. In the future, do not be greedy, do not be unfaithful, and definitely don't spend all your time thinking about finding female companions. Know that 'lust is a blade over the head.' You've all been acting way too lovey-dovey these past few days. It's disgraceful!"

Just as he said this, a sweet, delicate voice suddenly floated out from the old physician’s transmission bracelet.

"Physician Grandpa, where are you? I don't know how to tie this Magnetic Spirit Suit. Come and help me, quickly."

The voice was coquettish. Upon hearing it, the old physician’s body involuntarily shuddered. He let out a forced cough, glared sternly at the crowd, and then hurriedly turned to leave, speaking excitedly into his transmission bracelet at the same time.

"Oh, I’m coming, I’m coming! Don't worry, little darling, I’ll be there to help you right away."

The reversal happened so fast and the contrast was so great that everyone was dumbstruck. Even Wang Baole was stunned for a good while before he sucked in a breath of cold air. As the crowd inevitably erupted into an uproar, Wang Baole gritted his teeth and cursed a few times.

"Shameless! That old pervert! Everything he said before was bullshit! There are only so many female students to go around, not even enough for us, and he’s so old yet he’s still competing with us for resources? Just because he’s an official!" The more Wang Baole thought about it, the more indignant he became. Amidst the discussions with his classmates, his dream of becoming an official became even more determined.

As the alarms intensified, the students ended their discussions and went to the Spirit Cultivation rooms with indignation in their hearts.

The Spirit Cultivation rooms were located in the core area of the shuttle. As the name suggested, they were places for students to cultivate, but they were also the most heavily protected areas when the shuttle passed through special zones.

Inside the Spirit Cultivation room, as everyone gathered, the teachers on the shuttle arranged for everyone to sit in several rows and put on the special-purpose Magnetic Spirit Suits provided by the Ethereal Academy.

Just after putting on his suit, Wang Baole was still immersed in his resentment toward Physician Lu. He casually looked around, but his already gloomy mood soured further when he met a certain gaze in the distance. He unconsciously frowned, showing a look of disgust.

In the direction he was looking sat a girl with long, slender legs. She was quite attractive, but at that moment, she was also scowling with a look of loathing. Clearly, in their eyes, they were familiar with each other and mutually detested one another.

"What bad luck!" both of them muttered internally, quickly averting their gazes as if even looking at the other for a second was painful.

"I can't believe I run into this flat-chested Du Min everywhere. So annoying!" Wang Baole grumbled. He and this girl named Du Min had been in the same class since childhood. She was always arrogant, and using her status as class monitor, she had constantly made life difficult for him. Those two candies back then had been given to her...

"What’s so great about being a measly class monitor? Once I get to the academy, with my officialdom trump cards, I’ll be able to land an official position myself!" Wang Baole snorted.

Soon, after everyone was dressed and the teachers had checked them one by one, the teachers gave a list of precautions. They sternly warned everyone that entering the lightning-magnetic zone was dangerous and that there was a possibility of a life-and-death crisis.

After seeing everyone’s expressions change, the teachers left solemnly. The doors to the Spirit Cultivation room were sealed, and the lights gradually dimmed.

Inside the room, although there was still some low-level chatter, as time passed, the sense of tension grew stronger. Gradually, no one spoke, and the room fell into complete silence.

In this silence where one could almost hear their own heartbeat, even the indignant Wang Baole couldn't help but grow nervous. Half a pillar of incense later, the entire shuttle shuddered violently as it entered the lightning-magnetic zone!

From the outside, the massive black lightning-magnetic cloud looked like a giant mouth, swallowing the relatively tiny hot-air balloon shuttle whole.

This weather phenomenon seemed to contain the power of destruction, capable of sweeping away everything. Perhaps only the shocking Sword-Sun in the heavens could ignore it all, looking down upon the mortal world as if thirty-seven years were not enough, and it intended to watch for much longer.

This year was the 37th year of the Spirit Inception Era.

In the year 3029 AD, Earth's technology had advanced rapidly. National borders had vanished, achieving a unified Earth and entering the era of the Federation. It was precisely at this time that a great sword flew from the stars and pierced the sun, shocking the world.

The hilt of the great sword, perhaps because it was already damaged, shattered into numerous fragments during the violent impact. These fragments scattered across space, with some falling to various parts of the Earth.

With the arrival of the bronze sword and the falling fragments, a new kind of energy suddenly appeared on Earth, seemingly permeating the world in an endless supply. It was later named... Qi!

Qi was like air: dense in some places and thin in others. Because the Federation and various factions obtained those fragments, they found techniques related to cultivation, artifact refining, pill concocting, and Spirit Stone refinement upon them. The characters on the fragments were filled with ancient meaning, leading to a trend of people studying ancient texts.

The appearance of Qi quickly phased out original energy sources and changed people's lives. It not only formed the Spirit Net but also changed the course of Earth's civilization, causing the entire planet to open the door to a cultivation civilization.

From then on, Ancient Martial Arts rose, the world underwent a great transformation, and the era of universal cultivation began.

History called it the Spirit Inception Era.

Right now, within the black lightning-magnetic clouds, the slowly moving red shuttle was surrounded by countless bolts of lightning that struck continuously. Fortunately, a soft light screen expanded to protect the vessel, keeping it perfectly stable.

As for the Spirit Cultivation room in the core area, all the students, including Wang Baole, had unknowingly fallen into a deep sleep, as if a strange power was guiding them into a dream.

Only in the main cabin at the bow of the ship were there seven or eight teachers. Some were drinking tea, some were smiling, and they were chatting casually with each other—a complete contrast to the way they had frightened the students earlier.

The leader was an old man with a wrinkled face, holding a tobacco pipe and taking puffs. If Wang Baole were here, he would surely recognize him at a glance. This old man was the "shameless" Physician Lu from before.

"Chancellor, everything is ready. Can we begin the sector trial for this year's Ethereal Academy intake?" As a middle-aged teacher spoke, the old physician puffing on his pipe smiled slightly.

"Begin!"

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END OF 0103_串休一天.txt
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START OF Chapter 1111
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**Chapter 1111: The Eternal Dao!**

This divine figure stood tall and straight. Not a trace of his former chubbiness remained; all that could be seen was a silhouette as stalwart as a mountain or a pine tree, standing firm between heaven and earth!

His robes fluttered as he stood atop the Star Ox, the Dao Star positioned above his head. In the eyes of the onlookers, he transformed into a streak of light across the firmament that seemed eternal. Aided by the power of the divine ox, he carried the Dao Star... and charged straight toward the heavens!

He climbed higher and higher!

At this moment, the firmament underwent a transformation. The clouds churned in reverse, and the rumbling from all directions turned into bolts of heavenly thunder, exploding continuously throughout the Starfall Land!

As the earth-shattering booms rang out, the divine ox roared. The Dao Star it carried turned a rapid, vivid crimson visible to the naked eye, as if a massive furnace burned within it, emitting boundless flames. The temperature of the Dao Star seemed to reach a localized extreme, and to all who looked upon it, it was as if they were seeing... a sun!

In this instant, everyone within the Starfall Land held their breath. In this heartbeat, the hearts of every cultivator witnessing this scene thundered!

Amidst this mental upheaval, the divine ox grew faster and faster. The light of the Dao Star grew increasingly brilliant, and the flames within grew even stronger, until finally... at the very edge of the firmament, the charging divine ox suddenly jolted to a halt!

It was as if an invisible membrane stood before it, blocking the Dao Star’s advancement, preventing the divine ox from leaping further. As he came to a stop, the gaze of Wang Baole, who stood upon the divine ox’s back, grew sharp.

He felt the membrane. He could almost see it, and he could certainly sense the various forms of repulsion radiating from within that invisible barrier. It was like a seal, like a suppression.

“The Heavens do not wish for the Dao to become Eternal; thus, restrictions exist...” Wang Baole murmured softly. This was exactly the same as his previous enlightenment.

“But... all my preparations were accumulated precisely to break this restriction!” Wang Baole’s eyes shone with a brilliant light as he raised both hands and swung them violently!

Immediately, a vast power surged within the divine ox’s body as if gathering momentum. Its pressure weighed down in all directions, causing the divine ox’s two front hooves to bend slightly in the sky, as if the void beneath its feet were solid ground. It was making its final preparations!

“The most critical moment has arrived!”

“Legend says that for a Dao Star to become Eternal, it is like a fish leaping over the dragon gate; it must break through the limits of the starry sky!”

The First Generation Ancestor and the current Emperor of the Starfall Land looked at each other with solemn expressions. Although their cultivation bases were high, a scene of a Dao Star becoming Eternal was something even they had only heard of in legends. Witnessing it with their own eyes was a first in their lives!

At the exact moment they looked on, Wang Baole’s raised hands suddenly dropped, and a low shout escaped his lips!

“Rise!”

As his words fell, the divine ox beneath him shuddered. It let out an even more vast and heaven-shaking roar. Amidst this roar, its majestic body lunged forward with savage force, crashing directly into the invisible membrane of the firmament!

A silent boom exploded frantically within the minds of all living beings in the Starfall Land. The sound of crackling and shattering came from the membrane. In the next instant, it collapsed completely, creating ripples that echoed endlessly across the heavens. In the center of those ripples, the massive silhouette of the divine ox, carrying the Dao Star, had already leaped upward!

But this was not the end. As it charged upward, and as the light and heat of the Dao Star grew even more intense, another membrane abruptly appeared!

Or rather... what existed here was not a single layer, but a staggering number of them!

With the collapse of the first layer and the spreading of the ripples, the membranes that were originally invisible finally manifested, appearing before the eyes of the crowd and before Wang Baole!

“It’s not just one layer...” Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed. With the aid of the divine ox’s might, his divine sense suddenly erupted, spreading toward the location of the membranes. As it spread, he gradually sensed with clarity that the number of membranes restricting the Dao Star’s advancement likely reached a million!

A million barriers, blocking all living beings, suppressing the starry sky. They were like a million laws coalescing into a massive seal to lock away everything!

But... Wang Baole soon had a flash of inspiration. From the feedback and state of the Dao Star, he gained a certain understanding. For the Dao Star to advance... in reality, it only needed to break through the first membrane to be considered successful. It wasn't strictly necessary to shatter all million barriers.

Now, with a single thought, he could have the Dao Star—carried by the divine ox formed from his divine supernatural power—instantly advance into the Eternal Dao!

However, while such an Eternal Dao would count as a transcendence, it would ultimately... not be the absolute limit!

According to Wang Baole’s enlightenment, for every layer the Dao Star smashed through before its advancement, its power and potential would increase by a fraction once it became an Eternal Dao!

“Then let us see where my limit lies!” A look of persistence appeared in Wang Baole’s eyes, along with a surging battle intent. Now that his thoughts were clear, he didn't hesitate further. He took a deep breath, and his cultivation base surged as if to explode, rumbling as it merged into the divine ox. The ox’s entire body shone with brilliant light as it roared in a frenzy, carrying the Dao Star... and charging once more!

The sounds of booming echoed frantically, and the sounds of membranes collapsing spread in all directions. From a distance, the divine ox had transformed into a streak of light. Carrying the Dao Star, it rampaged forward, crushing layer after layer like dead wood!

Three layers, ten layers, thirty layers, fifty layers, a hundred layers...

Three hundred layers, nine hundred layers, one thousand five hundred layers!

It didn't stop. Three thousand layers, five thousand layers...

Amidst the booming and shattering, the divine ox carried the Dao Star through the collapse of the 5,974th membrane before its speed finally began to slow. After gathering its momentum for a moment, it charged again with another roar, this time shattering through to the 9,397th layer!

By this point, it seemed the limit was approaching. The divine ox’s silhouette grew dim as it unleashed its final strength, carrying the Dao Star through a few hundred more layers. Only after surpassing ten thousand layers did it lose all its power and dissipate!

“Ten thousand layers? How could that be enough!” Wang Baole threw his head back and roared. He raised his left hand, directly supporting the Dao Star, which was now so massive it was no different from a star—in fact, it was enough to make other stars pale in comparison. He pinched a spell gesture with his right hand and suddenly pointed!

Immediately, the illusory shadow of his zombie past life manifested as his finger fell. It turned into a beam of light that boomed toward the membranes ahead. Its speed was so fast and its destructive power so great that the hearts of all who saw it shook violently. That light alone, in an instant... shattered ten thousand layers!

The light dissipated, and Wang Baole’s figure, still supporting the Dao Star, stepped past the twenty-thousand-layer mark. It wasn't over. As the Fiend Blade and the Starfire God Race appeared from within his body, and as the figure formed from his staggering hatred stepped out, the booming of the shattering membranes was deafening!

Thirty thousand layers, forty thousand layers, fifty thousand layers...

In the next instant, following the collapse of the next thirty thousand layers, the figure of the little white deer crashed forward with a brilliance so dazzling it was blinding. This single collision smashed through another thirty thousand layers!

This brought Wang Baole’s figure, still holding the Dao Star aloft, to the 80,000th layer. His Dao Star... as the layers of membranes collapsed, grew increasingly massive. It no longer looked like a star, but rather a singular celestial body formed from the convergence of a multitude of stars!

“There is still... one final strike!” Wang Baole’s body trembled, and a hint of madness appeared in his eyes. As he raised his right hand, the afterimage of the Black Wooden Plank manifested instantly. With the life of the Black Wooden Plank flashing through his mind, he struck down!

As he did, the firmament hummed with an unprecedented intensity. The remaining nine hundred thousand plus membranes before him trembled in unison. It was as if an indescribable power erupted at this moment, causing the layers of membranes to shatter like paper!

One hundred thousand layers, two hundred thousand, four hundred thousand, six hundred thousand...

“Keep going for me!!” Wang Baole’s eyes were bloodshot as his body lunged forward, causing the power radiating from the Black Wooden Plank to act like a blade capable of severing anything. In an instant... it shattered through seven hundred thousand layers, eight hundred thousand, until it reached nine hundred and ninety thousand, finally approaching the limit!

Even so, the residual force of this explosion, at its absolute peak, blasted through the final ten thousand layers, causing the invisible seal formed by a million laws to... shatter completely!

With the shattering, a wave of enlightenment instantly surfaced in Wang Baole’s mind. It was as if, at this moment, a myriad of laws could not shield his eyes, and a myriad of Daos could not cloud his heart!

And his Dao Star, in this very instant... saw its light and heat erupt to the extreme, until there was no light left at all!

It became... a black hole capable of swallowing stars!

His cultivation base, at this moment, surged violently, breaking through the Planet realm and stepping into the Star realm!

An extremely special, unprecedented... Star realm!!

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END OF Chapter 1111
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START OF Chapter 1112
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Chapter 1112: Got Any Wine?

A Planet—it was a level of power where one had essentially set half a foot into the realm of immortality. Although there were many in the Planet realm within the Weiyang Dao Domain, this was only because the base population was so massive. Furthermore, the vast majority were only of the Mortal or Earth grades. Even so, a Planet realm cultivator was a terrifying existence capable of supporting an entire solar system on their own.

That was to say nothing of high-grade Planets.

Chong Yizi, for instance, was an Earth-grade Planet. His status was that of the second Dao Child of the Nine Provinces Dao, the number one sect of the Left Dao Sacred Domain. From this, one could see just how powerful and rare a high-grade Planet truly was!

As for the Heaven-grade… that was a method of advancement controlled solely by the Weiyang Royal Clan. A Heaven-grade Planet, even if their cultivation was only at the mid-stage, could slay someone like Chong Yizi… perhaps not effortlessly, but without much exertion.

This was one of the fundamental reasons the Weiyang Royal Clan remained formidable generation after generation.

But as for Wang Baole, his Planet could no longer be judged by conventional standards. In terms of grade, he had surpassed the Heaven-grade and reached the legendary Dao-grade. In terms of magnitude… he had shattered a million barriers, forcibly promoting his Dao Star to the level of a black hole!

Thus, it was difficult to judge his current combat strength. Even Wang Baole himself lacked a clear benchmark. He only knew that against a Planet realm cultivator like Chong Yizi’s clone, he could poke several of them to death with a single finger!

"Though I wouldn't say I'm invincible under the heavens, those capable of slaying me are now very few." Wang Baole looked up, his heart filled with emotion. A sense of pride rose within his chest.

While Wang Baole was lost in thought in the sky and the paper people of the Starfall Land below were shaken to their cores, the vortex of tribulation aura outside the exit—brought about by Wang Baole’s breakthrough—suddenly accelerated its rotation. Bolts of lightning instantly manifested amidst the rapid spinning of the vortex!

The moment they were born, these lightning bolts flew out. As if possessing perfect guidance, they found the entrance to the Starfall Land and streaked inside. At a glance, the lightning was uncountable, surging out from the vortex and into the Starfall Land in a continuous stream!

This scene caused Chong Yizi, who was watching from the outside, to tremble with shock and uncertainty.

The inhabitants of the Starfall Land reacted even more strongly. They watched as the lightning bolts charged down from the sky, each one carrying an aura of total destruction. Upon appearing, they slammed directly into the Starfall Land's protective formation.

The thunderous roar reached its peak from the very start. The sky lost its color, and the formation twisted. As if heaven and earth were about to collapse, Wang Baole looked up at the lightning.

"Wang Baole, this is a Heavenly Tribulation! Prepare yourself quickly! The formations of our Starfall Empire cannot hold for long!" the First Generation Patriarch roared. He and the contemporary Emperor quickly performed incantations to reinforce the formation.

They could not assist him directly. Doing so would violate the rules and involve the entire Starfall Empire in the tribulation. All they could do was use the formation to buy Wang Baole some time.

"There is no need to block it. I am no longer the man I once was," Wang Baole spoke calmly. The air of a peerless master once again enveloped him. He placed his hands behind his back, his expression tranquil, radiating the imposing pressure of a powerhouse.

This sight caused the First Generation Patriarch and the contemporary Emperor to exchange strange looks. Simultaneously, they withdrew their divine powers and opened a small gap in the formation. In a flash, the thundering lightning outside the formation seemed to possess a will of its own, surging through the gap and descending instantly!

The lightning's target had nothing to do with the Starfall Land. Now that they had descended, they roared toward Wang Baole with incredible speed. In the first wave alone, there were tens of thousands of bolts!

A faint smile played on Wang Baole's lips. The moment the lightning reached him, he raised his right hand and pointed forward. Suddenly, his Dao-grade Planet materialized behind him. It emitted neither light nor heat; it appeared only as a massive black hole.

Amidst the booming, every bolt of lightning that neared him instantly collapsed and distorted. They veered away from his body and were drawn into the black hole, where they were devoured whole.

"Just this?" Wang Baole looked up and spoke flatly.

In the next instant, another several tens of thousands of lightning bolts thundered through the gap. However, they all collapsed and twisted upon nearing Wang Baole, absorbed by the black hole behind him. Seeing this, Wang Baole let out a light sigh. With a look of boredom, he turned to the First Generation Patriarch.

"Got any wine?"

The First Generation Patriarch’s face twitched. He felt that this version of Wang Baole was very different from before. He had become… quite fond of posturing. It gave the Patriarch a sudden, inexplicable urge to punch him. It took a long moment to suppress the impulse before he spoke coolly.

"These are merely the initial bolts of the tribulation. They get stronger as it progresses."

"Is that so?" Wang Baole chuckled. It was as if the tribulation lightning beyond the sky felt insulted. Over a hundred thousand bolts descended simultaneously, their color changing and their momentum becoming even more majestic. As they fell, they exploded violently around Wang Baole, only to be shattered and absorbed by his black hole.

Wang Baole shook his head. He quietly shook his slightly blackened fingers inside his sleeve, resisting the urge to wince. He slowly spoke.

"Still boring."

But the moment those words left his mouth, a world-shaking explosion erupted. Hundreds of thousands of lightning bolts thundered down from beyond the sky. It wasn't just an increase in numbers; the lightning now took the form of various weapons. Their momentum was terrifying as they whistled through the gap toward Wang Baole.

Wang Baole’s eyes widened slightly, and his scalp couldn't help but tingle. Before he could react, the lightning weapons exploded all at once around him.

As the thunderous roar echoed through the world, a massive amount of shattered lightning was sucked away by the black hole. After about seven or eight breaths of time, when all the lightning weapons had dissipated, Wang Baole was revealed standing in the sky. His hair was sticking up, and his clothes were in tatters.

However, his composed expression and his usual smile made his bedraggled appearance seem like nothing. Especially after noticing that the sky was starting to calm down, even though his internal organs were stinging with pain, Wang Baole felt that the persona of a peerless master had to be maintained now more than ever. Thus, with his smile unchanged, he looked up at the entrance in the gap and spoke once more in a flat tone.

"These tribulation bolts were decent. My skin’s a bit itchy from the blast. Any more?"

The First Generation Patriarch couldn't be bothered to speak. The contemporary Emperor beside him also had a strange expression. The two of them naturally saw through Wang Baole’s front, but the other paper people could not. Their hearts were shaken as they looked at Wang Baole with disbelief. But before their outcries could erupt, a dull thud of thunder suddenly rang out from the heavens, shaking the entire world!

As the thunder echoed, in the space outside the Starfall Land—a place Wang Baole could not see—the surrounding vortex of calamity seemed to be enraged. It shrank rapidly, eventually transforming into a colossal finger made of lightning.

During this process, even though they weren't the targets, Xie Haiyang and the others could not withstand the pressure. Shaking, they fled into the distance. Even Chong Yizi retreated rapidly, his scalp tingling. Looking back with lingering fear, he saw that shocking lightning finger. A small portion of it was already thrusting into the entrance of the Starfall Land!

"What on earth is happening in there? A Heavenly Tribulation has appeared, and it's even taking physical form..." Chong Yizi’s heart hammered against his ribs. Seeing the massive lightning finger completely disappear into the entrance of the Starfall Land, he felt an urge to go see, but thinking of the fluctuations coming from that finger, Chong Yizi decisively abandoned that dangerous thought.

Meanwhile, inside the Starfall Land, Wang Baole had just struck his masterly pose. At the peak of his posturing, he looked up and saw… a massive lightning finger reaching in from the outside. This finger… occupied nearly half the sky. Just one glance made his body tremble violently. A powerful sense of life-and-death crisis instantly exploded in his mind.

"Your sister… this is a bit much, isn't it?" Wang Baole’s eyes went completely wide.

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START OF Chapter 1113
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Chapter 1113: Great Nourishment!

Wang Baole’s expression flickered. As he looked at the massive lightning finger that occupied more than half of the sky, his heart hammered with dread, and a powerful sense of life-and-death crisis gripped him.

He was well aware that his true form was a piece of three-foot-long black wood that seemed immortal. According to the visions he had seen during his past-life enlightenments, a mere lightning finger could never hope to shake his true body in the slightest.

However… the fact that it couldn't shake the black wood didn't mean it couldn't shake the consciousness born from it!

These were two entirely different concepts. The life-and-death crisis he felt now told him clearly that the lightning finger appearing before his eyes possessed the power to completely erase him!

Once he was erased, perhaps the black wood would birth a new consciousness after many years—perhaps even one that was also "him"—but in a way, it would no longer be the current him.

This sent a wave of panic through Wang Baole. He wondered if he had been too arrogant just now. Otherwise, why would such an unprecedented lightning tribulation appear just because he was ascending to the Stellar Realm?

"Could it be related to the side effects of the wish-granting bottle..." Wang Baole thought of the wish he had made on the Starfall Planet. The side effects had never manifested until now, leading him to make this involuntary guess.

But his primary suspicion was the fact that his Dao Star was ascending to the Stellar Realm. Within the entire Weiyang Dao Domain, such an event was the stuff of legends. Wang Baole even judged that although the founding ancestor of the Weiyang Clan had also ascended from a Dao Star to the Stellar Realm, that ancestor might not have broken through a million layers of membranes like he had!

After all… breaking through seventy or eighty thousand layers was already the limit of the accumulated power of Wang Baole's current life and his previous ten lives. To some extent, that was already the absolute peak for all living beings.

Even if someone possessed greater fortune than him, they definitely could not exceed a hundred thousand layers. The reason Wang Baole could achieve this was because the status of the black wood was terrifying beyond description.

Therefore… in all probability, Wang Baole believed he was perhaps the only person in the entire Stone Tablet World who had ever broken through the suppression of the world itself during a Dao Star’s ascension.

"It’s as if a force was generated inside the stone tablet, causing a crack to appear… And the wish-granting bottle must have added fuel to the fire… That’s why this lightning tribulation reached such a magnitude!" Wang Baole’s breathing was rapid. As his thoughts raced, he could no longer maintain his poised, expert demeanor.

"Little missy, save me!!"

As he retreated frantically, Wang Baole let out a loud cry.

"First Generation Great Emperor, please buy me some time!!" As he spoke, Wang Baole also began to frantically chant the Dao Scripture in his heart.

At that moment, the surrounding paper people also underwent drastic changes in expression upon seeing that terrifying finger. The Starfall Emperor and the First Generation Great Emperor both looked extremely solemn.

Given Wang Baole’s kindness toward the Starfall Land and the relationship between them, it was impossible for them to stand by and watch him die. Moreover, even if they were to weigh the consequences, the will of the Starfall Land, which was clearly gathering between heaven and earth, had already made the choice for them.

Even the array in the sky began to creak and groan as it attempted to close and block the finger!

However, both the First Generation Great Emperor and the Starfall Emperor knew very well that once they intervened, the entire Starfall Land would likely be entangled in a massive karmic bond with Wang Baole. This would cause the target of the lightning tribulation to expand to every living thing in their world.

Unless it was a last resort, the two of them were unwilling to do this. But standing by and doing nothing was equally unrealistic. This left them anxious, but almost instantly, the First Generation Great Emperor’s eyes brightened, and he shouted immediately.

"Baole, go to the Paper Sea! Go to the sealed vortex!"

As the First Generation Great Emperor’s voice echoed, Wang Baole was in the middle of a high-speed retreat. At the same time he heard the words, a thunderous roar erupted from the sky as the closing array clashed with the finger. The array… could not close. The finger descended with a boom, as if representing the heavens themselves, pressing down toward Wang Baole to suppress him.

At this critical moment, Wang Baole didn't have time to think too much. He continued chanting the Dao Scripture and abruptly changed direction, hurtling toward the Paper Sea below. His speed was so great that his figure vanished into the Paper Sea almost instantly.

Simultaneously, the moment Wang Baole entered the Paper Sea, the massive finger falling from the sky did not slow down. Instead, its range rapidly contracted, eventually shrinking to a hundred feet in size. The traces of lightning were no longer visible; it looked like a genuine finger as it suddenly plunged into the Paper Sea!

The moment it landed, arcs of lightning exploded outward from the point of contact, spreading through the entire Paper Sea. Amidst the deafening roar, it seemed as if the entire Paper Sea was about to be set ablaze by the electricity.

From a distance, the Paper Sea churned and the sky changed color. All the paper people were once again struck with terror, not daring to get too close. Meanwhile, Wang Baole, who was speeding through the Paper Sea, also felt the power of the lightning coming from the surface behind him. His body shuddered as he pushed his cultivation to the limit to move even faster.

However… although he was fast, the lightning finger pursuing him was even faster. As the chase continued, the distance between it and Wang Baole rapidly closed.

It went from a hundred feet down to fifty, then thirty. Wang Baole was terrified to the extreme. He had chanted the Dao Scripture in his heart many times, but Wang Yiyi’s father had not appeared.

This made Wang Baole even more anxious. Fortunately, during his flight, he finally saw the mirror-like seal at the bottom of the Paper Sea. He saw the female corpse resting upon it, and the entrance to the vortex beneath the seal!

"The First Generation Great Emperor told me to come here; there must be a reason!" Wang Baole’s eyes were filled with urgency. He gritted his teeth as the finger behind him closed to within ten feet. The lightning fluctuations it emitted made him feel as if his body were being torn apart. Wang Baole roared inwardly, accelerating once more. He crossed the distance to the seal and appeared directly above its mirror-like surface.

The moment he stood there, he spun around to face the massive lightning finger that had now replaced everything else in his vision—a finger-shadow screaming toward him.

In an instant… the finger reached the seal. Without any pause, it went straight for Wang Baole!

But just as the finger was about to touch him, a sudden, massive suction force erupted from the vortex beneath the seal. This suction was so powerful that even through the seal, it could influence the outside world.

The incoming lightning finger shuddered violently and began to twist visibly. Vast amounts of lightning were uncontrollably pulled out of the finger, rapidly merging into the seal and entering the vortex beneath!

The scene looked as if the lightning finger were made of dust being scattered by the wind!

Wang Baole’s eyes widened. Seeing the previously invincible finger being rapidly and uncontrollably sucked away, his heart began to pound.

"Fortune favors the bold!!" His eyes instantly turned bloodshot. Wang Baole’s hands formed an incantation gesture and waved forward. Immediately, his Stellar Black Hole manifested behind him, also emitting a powerful suction.

A thunderous boom erupted. Some of the lightning being absorbed by the seal was diverted by Wang Baole’s suction and was violently devoured by him!

This tribulation lightning contained countless laws and the aura of heaven and earth. After absorbing just a sliver, Wang Baole’s body shook violently. He accelerated his devouring. Just like that, under the combined absorption of Wang Baole and the seal, the lightning tribulation finger held on for about ten breaths. As it continuously blurred and shrank, it eventually turned to ash and vanished completely!

However, compared to the total amount absorbed by the seal, Wang Baole had absorbed less than ten percent at most. But even that small amount allowed him to quickly bypass the initial stabilization period of the Stellar Realm, firmly establishing his foundation in the new realm!

"This is great nourishment!" Wang Baole was ecstatic. Seeing the crisis resolved, he was about to leave. But at that moment… something unexpected happened!

A frigid, sinister aura suddenly coalesced from beneath the seal, within the vortex. It felt as though a pair of cold, indifferent eyes were staring at Wang Baole through the vortex and the seal!

Wang Baole’s body trembled.

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START OF Chapter 1114
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Chapter 1114: The Lord of Weiyang!

As his body trembled, Wang Baole’s soul felt as if it were being frozen in an instant. This was caused by the eyes formed by the gathering aura within the sealing vortex. They contained not only cold indifference but also a towering, murderous aura!

This murderous aura was so potent that even though Wang Baole had experienced the insights of his past lives, his mind still shook. This was because whether it was Luo, Gu, or even Wang Yiyi’s father, when it came to the intensity of their murderous aura... they actually paled in comparison to the entity within this vortex!!

Precisely because this murderous aura was so terrifying, even a mere gaze, separated by the vortex and the seal, could affect Wang Baole. It made his body tremble, and he dared not continue forward. Instead, he slowly turned around and looked down at the seal below.

As he watched, bursts of purple mist drifted out from the vortex beneath the seal. Although the mist did not penetrate the seal, as it diffused beneath it, those eyes became clearer. Faintly, Wang Baole seemed to hear the sound of footsteps slowly emerging from within the vortex under the seal.

“Senior...” Wang Baole felt nervous. He recited the Dao Scripture several more times, but Wang Yiyi’s father still did not appear. In his anxiety, he stared at those purple eyes and listened to the footsteps echoing within the mist. Suddenly, he spoke.

“Senior Xu, my surname is Wang!”

The moment Wang Baole spoke, the footsteps stopped. After a long silence, a low, cold voice drifted out from the vortex through the seal.

“You know me?”

“Previously, I was here with my father-in-law and met Senior Xu,” Wang Baole said with a solemn expression. He spoke these words without the slightest hesitation or even a hint of a blush, as if he truly believed it himself. At this moment, he had completely immersed himself in the identity of the son-in-law. After finishing, he clasped his hands and bowed.

The footsteps did not resume, but within that vortex, a look of strangeness appeared in the gathered eyes.

“Are all cultivators of the Weiyang Dao Domain as shameless as you? Even if the place you reside in is merely a sub-boundary of the Weiyang Dao Domain.” As the words echoed, the gaze was withdrawn. Footsteps rang out again, but they were not approaching; they were moving away. However, upon hearing these words, Wang Baole’s eyes shrank violently, and his mind roared. He immediately spoke out.

“Senior just said that the place where this junior resides is only a sub-boundary of the Weiyang Dao Domain? What does ‘sub-boundary’ mean? Is the Weiyang Dao Domain not the true Weiyang?”

“Little fellow, there is no need to fish for words from me. Some things I already knew you were aware of the moment I saw you, but it matters not if I tell you.

“The Weiyang Dao Domain, aside from the Main Domain, possesses countless sub-boundaries. Like seeds, they have been scattered across various levels of universes. The one you are in is just one of them.”

When these words reached Wang Baole’s ears and merged with the memories of his past lives, they turned into a clap of heavenly thunder. As it roared in his mind, Wang Baole’s chest heaved, and he spoke rapidly.

“I beg Senior to tell me, how does one go to the true Weiyang Dao Domain?”

The footsteps grew more distant. Wang Baole waited anxiously for a long time until the mist within the vortex completely dissipated. Finally, a voice that seemed to come from a vast distance echoed in his mind.

“When the Emperor’s clone in your Weiyang sub-boundary awakens.”

“Who is the Emperor?” Wang Baole’s mind shook violently once again as he spoke out.

After a long while, he faintly seemed to hear an answer, but he wasn't sure if it was his own hallucination.

“The Lord of Weiyang!” Wang Baole murmured. These were the last four words he heard. Through these four words, countless thoughts surged in Wang Baole's mind.

“Weiyang has numerous sub-boundaries. Then, can it be said that the first world born at the start of the second ring was actually just a sub-boundary of the Weiyang Dao Domain...

“And this Senior Xu mentioned various levels of universes. If I judge it this way, are the universes where the first and second rings are located merely one of many universes...

“If that's the case, then just how strong is Weiyang?? The Emperor is the Lord of Weiyang, so how strong is he... Also, regarding the Emperor’s clone he mentioned, could it be that the numerous sub-boundaries of Weiyang are related to his cultivation, requiring him to scatter countless clones so they can grow sequentially?

“Furthermore... if what Senior Xu said is true, then who would the Emperor’s clone be within this Stone Tablet World?” Wang Baole had too many thoughts, and his mind was a bit of a mess. The information he had gained this time was simply too massive!

After pondering these thoughts again in his heart, Wang Baole found it difficult to judge how much of it was true. However, his intuition told him that eighty or ninety percent of what the other party said was the truth.

In silence, Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He felt that the world he was in was filled with infinite mysteries—the blood-colored centipede, Wang Yiyi and her father, the remains of Gu, Luo’s seal, and his own true body... the Black Wooden Board from the other vortex.

By now, he could confirm one thing: the vortex the Black Wooden Board came from was different from the vortex here!

“And the date sixty-eight years from now,” Wang Baole whispered to himself. After a long time, when he looked up, he buried all his doubts deep in his heart. A profound sense of urgency spread with increasing intensity within him.

“Even if I have reached the level of a Dao Star, it is still not enough... I must become stronger, faster!” At this thought, a sharp light flickered in Wang Baole’s eyes. He took a step forward, and with a boom, he transformed into a streak of light, crossing the underwater depths and leaping up from the surface of the Paper Sea!

As he flew out of the Paper Sea, Wang Baole, standing in mid-air, immediately saw the attentive gazes of the First Emperor, the Starfall Emperor, and the surrounding paper people.

“Thank you, Senior! Thank you, Your Majesty!” Wang Baole took a deep breath, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply toward the First Emperor and the Starfall Emperor. He did not say many words of gratitude, for all his gratitude was already etched into his soul.

Wang Baole knew very well that if he hadn't made his breakthrough in the Starfall Land this time, it would likely not have been so smooth, and there would have been a great danger of his Dao being extinguished. Therefore, this favor was immense.

Seeing that Wang Baole was unharmed, the First Emperor and the Starfall Emperor also sighed in relief. After coming forward to exchange some pleasantries, Wang Baole bid them farewell. Under their gaze, he no longer needed a boat for escort. Instead, he suddenly rose into the sky. At the edge of the sky, by the boundary of the Starfall Array, Wang Baole turned back and bowed once more to the crowd below.

“If there is ever a need in the future, I, Wang, will definitely go all out!” With that, Wang Baole turned toward the end of the sky and took a step out. His figure instantly transformed into a black hole and... vanished!

“I think I can see that in the outside world, before long, another legend will appear!” The Starfall Emperor gazed at the place where Wang Baole had disappeared, his eyes filled with expectation as he murmured softly.

“That no longer has anything to do with us. Wang Baole obtained his Dao Star here and advanced to the Stellar Realm here. The kindness from Starfall is sufficient. If he rises completely in the future, our good karma will bear fruit. If he doesn't, expectations are useless.” The First Emperor shook his head and withdrew his gaze from the sky.

At the same time, with his cultivation unfolding, the black hole-like Wang Baole seemed to merge into the void after his figure vanished. The next instant he appeared, he was already in the starry sky outside the Starfall Land.

In the starry sky, what first appeared was an infinitely folded piece of paper. As it continuously unfolded, the starry sky was instantly covered by white paper. At the center of this white paper, Xie Haiyang, Chen Han, and the others instantly saw... the figure of Wang Baole appearing there!

Clad in white robes, with long black hair, his eyes were like stars, his shadow like a bright moon, and his body like a scorching sun!

Almost at the instant he appeared, the minds of all the cultivators who saw him roared. A sense of awe uncontrollably surfaced in their eyes. Meanwhile, Chen Han’s flattery rapidly echoed amidst the shock of the crowd.

“Congratulations, Dad! Felicitations, Dad, on your promotion to the Stellar Realm!”

“Congratulations, Martial Uncle! Martial Uncle has ascended to the Stellar Realm in one leap. Such talent is rare in this world. From now on, the sea is wide and the sky is high; there is no place Martial Uncle cannot go!”

Listening to the words of Chen Han and Xie Haiyang, who followed immediately after, a faint, sage-like smile unconsciously appeared on Wang Baole’s face. He swept his gaze around before landing it on a distance... a spot of starry sky that looked empty to outsiders. He spoke slowly.

“I’ve kept you waiting.”

Almost the moment Wang Baole’s words rang out, a curtain seemed to be suddenly lifted where his gaze fell, revealing... a tall figure with an extremely solemn expression and eyes filled with wariness!

It was none other than Chong Yizi!

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START OF Chapter 1115
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Across a short distance in the starry sky, their gazes met in an instant!

"Wang Baole?" Chong Yizi spoke in a low voice, his expression flickering with uncertainty. The information he had received stated that Wang Baole was only at the Planet realm. Even if he had broken through, he should only be at the early Stellar realm.

Even if Wang Baole were at the Earth-rank like himself, Chong Yizi wouldn't have cared as long as he wasn't at the late Stellar realm. Yet, the person appearing before him now... gave him a heart-pounding sensation. He seemed far more formidable than any enemy Chong Yizi had ever encountered in his life.

In particular, the slight tremor in his soul when their eyes met was a sensation he had only felt before the First Dao Child, and even then, it hadn't been this intense.

It was for these reasons that waves of incredulity and disbelief flooded Chong Yizi’s mind, making it difficult for him to immediately determine if the person before him truly was Wang Baole.

"Chong Yizi?" Wang Baole spoke slowly. The reason he recognized the man at a glance was that he sensed the same aura as the avatar he had previously slain.

Though that aura seemed faint, it was glaringly obvious to Wang Baole’s perception.

At that moment, Xie Haiyang and the others also realized someone had been lurking nearby. Their expressions shifted instantly as they turned to look. Upon seeing Chong Yizi’s tall figure, their eyes narrowed!

When some among them heard or recognized this as Chong Yizi’s true body, their hearts began to race. In the Left Channel Sacred Domain, the name Chong Yizi was illustrious!

After all, he was the Second Dao Child of Kyushu Dao. As the number one sect in the Left Channel Sacred Domain, Kyushu Dao possessed over ten Star Domain experts, enough to suppress every other sect in the domain!

There were even rumors that the Grand Patriarch of their sect had already broken through the Star Domain realm and stepped into the... Universe realm, a level comparable to the Nine Divine Emperors of the Weiyang Clan!

Being the head of the Left Channel Sacred Domain, such a sect was famous throughout the entire Weiyang Dao Domain. Thus, as the Second Dao Child of this generation, his reputation was not only a deterrent within the Left Channel Sacred Domain but was also known to the families and royal clans of the Side Branch Sacred Domain and the Weiyang Central Domain.

To describe him as a chosen would be an understatement. Furthermore, Chong Yizi was the type of chosen who had already matured. Having fought countless battles, large and small, he was no greenhouse flower; he had carved out his position as a Dao Child through sheer combat achievements.

However, Chong Yizi usually traveled using avatars or projections, so few had seen his true body. Seeing that Wang Baole did not deny his identity, Chong Yizi’s heart sank.

Even if he was unwilling to believe it, he had to admit that the person before him was indeed Wang Baole. At the same time, a surge of anger and realization rose within him. He was angry because the one who had sent him to kill Wang Baole had clearly provided incomplete intelligence.

This had put him in a passive position and caused him to needlessly offend such a powerful individual. His realization was that the death of his avatar... was clearly not at the hands of some outsider, but the Wang Baole standing before him.

Precisely because his avatar had fallen, now that he had arrived here, he could not retreat. This battle... must happen. To flee without fighting would impact his Dao heart.

"Zi Yue, you deserve to die!" Chong Yizi roared inwardly, but on the surface, he merely looked somber without revealing his thoughts. After Wang Baole called out his name, he even cupped his fists and bowed toward him.

"Fellow Daoist Baole, this matter is a misunderstanding. I wonder if you know someone named Zi Yue..." His words were slow and seemed sincere. As his voice echoed, it carried a hint of the power of natural laws, causing anyone who heard it to naturally focus on listening.

But the moment the name Zi Yue left his lips, and while he still gave the impression that he had more to say, a cold glint of killing intent suddenly flashed in Chong Yizi’s eyes. He snapped his head up, his body erupting with a boom as he lunged forward.

His speed was earth-shattering. In an instant, he crossed the distance to Wang Baole, appearing at his side. As light flared from his raised right hand, it transformed into a massive white greatsword, which he swung violently toward Wang Baole!

Everything happened too fast. One breath ago, Chong Yizi was speaking sincerely from a distance; the next, his killing intent erupted. Had it been anyone else, they might have been caught off guard or found themselves unable to evade even if they noticed the attack. Even if the strike wasn't fatal, being wounded would have been unavoidable.

However, Chong Yizi had underestimated Wang Baole. Though he had fought many life-and-death battles, he could not compare to Wang Baole, who had gained insights from all his previous lives. To a certain extent, Wang Baole’s experience had reached the absolute limit.

The moment Chong Yizi approached, Wang Baole’s right hand was already raised. As Stellar power manifested within him, countless mists instantly materialized, rapidly converging in front of him into a single finger.

Upon closer inspection, this finger bore a resemblance to the Lightning Tribulation Finger. This was exactly what Wang Baole had created by referencing the lightning tribulation, adjusting it, and imbuing it with the power of his Stellar realm—the even stronger Cloud Mist Finger.

As it appeared, the heavens and earth changed color. Amidst the surging winds and clouds, the finger met the fist of Chong Yizi, who had intended to seize the initiative with his sudden scheme.

A thunderous explosion instantly erupted as Wang Baole’s finger collided with Chong Yizi’s fist, echoing in all directions. A violent shockwave expanded outward like a tidal wave. Chong Yizi’s body shook violently, and he stumbled backward. Wang Baole’s face flushed slightly, and a spirited light gleamed in his eyes as he looked at Chong Yizi.

"Not weak!"

Wang Baole’s eyes shone. He had been worried about how to gauge his own combat strength, and this Chong Yizi possessed an extraordinary cultivation realm, immense power, and impressive combat instincts. It could be said that he had almost no major flaws. As such, this man was clearly the perfect testing tool.

Interest surged within Wang Baole. His body blurred as he gave chase. But just as he was about to close in on the retreating Chong Yizi, Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed. He felt that there was something off about Chong Yizi’s retreat. Thus, while his speed appeared unchanged, he suddenly snapped backward in an instant. Because the reversal was so rapid, he left an afterimage where he had been.

The moment he retreated, Chong Yizi—who had appeared to be stumbling from the counter-shock—suddenly looked up and let out a low roar toward the sky. Along with the roar, the phantom of a massive black lizard manifested behind him. This phantom was hundreds of feet large. Following Chong Yizi’s roar, it opened its maw and lunged with incredible speed, swallowing the afterimage Wang Baole had left behind!

A boom echoed as intense ripples swept through the surrounding starry sky. The space swallowed by the lizard seemed to go missing, resulting in a collapse.

"As expected, it was a trap!" The light in Wang Baole’s eyes grew even stronger. If he were weak, he would prefer brainless opponents; though the battle would be boring, his chances of winning would increase. Conversely, he enjoyed opponents like Chong Yizi who possessed varied and deceptive combat methods!

Had Wang Baole not been suspicious and avoided it, he likely would have been devoured by that lizard. While it wouldn't have killed him, this move—which the opponent had clearly prepared for a long time—still possessed enough power to shake him. Once swallowed, he would have been injured to some degree, affecting his masterly bearing.

Having avoided the trap, Wang Baole remained calm. He instantly raised his right hand and waved it, causing the Cloud Mist Finger to appear once more, charging straight for Chong Yizi!

Chong Yizi’s expression turned extremely grim. This move was indeed something he had prepared for a long time. It was designed to damage the soul while also containing a bizarre, undetectable poison!

Even Wang Baole hadn't noticed this, as the poison was hidden so well that it was difficult to discover even after being infected. However, when combined with Chong Yizi’s subsequent divine abilities and techniques, the poison would progress in layers, erupting at a critical moment.

This was one of the few methods Chong Yizi possessed to scheme against those stronger than himself. It was difficult to use repeatedly, but in his many battles, it had unexpectedly turned the tide, leaving many opponents who relied on their superior cultivation to die in regret. Yet, Wang Baole had perceived it in advance and avoided it. This made him realize immediately that this Wang Baole... would be very difficult to handle!

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START OF Chapter 1116
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Chapter 1116: Total Suppression!

In the midst of his retreat, a sharp light flickered in Chong Yizi’s eyes. He threw his hands up and waved them violently. Immediately, his Planet erupted into manifestation behind him!

Chong Yizi’s cultivation was at the late-stage Planet realm, and his Planet was a rare Earth-grade. This meant his Planet’s capacity had reached a staggering level.

If he belonged to some minor sect or small faction, he wouldn't have been able to support the massive resources and consumption required even if he possessed an Earth-grade Planet. But as the Daoist Child of the Nine States Dao, Chong Yizi lacked no resources. He had already filled his Earth-grade capacity to the absolute limit of the late-stage Planet realm. The sheer scale of the Planet he revealed shook the souls of all who saw it!

If an ordinary Planet were compared to a lake, then Chong Yizi’s Planet was currently like a sea—though it couldn't be called a vast ocean, it far surpassed any lake!

At the same time, Chong Yizi’s divine supernatural powers did not end with the manifestation of his Planet. Almost the instant his Planet appeared, his body shot backward, merging directly into the staggering celestial body behind him.

As he merged, a heaven-shaking roar echoed from within the Planet. Its shape shifted abruptly; while it rapidly shrank, its power seemed to continuously condense. Within a blink of an eye, a head, limbs, and a torso appeared. Standing before Wang Baole and the gathered crowd was a ten-thousand-foot-tall giant!

The giant bore Chong Yizi’s face. His entire body radiated ten thousand beams of brilliant light. Light and heat surged outward frantically, distorting the starry sky. In the midst of the permeating high temperatures, his presence felt like that of a god. The Cloud Mist Finger seemed like a mere water droplet before him, evaporating instantly before it could even get close!

Xie Haiyang and the others were only able to barely escape to a great distance under the protection of their guardians. Their hearts hammered against their ribs, filled with overwhelming horror.

Only Wang Baole remained where he was. Watching his Cloud Mist Finger dissipate before Chong Yizi, his eyes gleamed with even greater interest. At the moment his battle intent surged, the giant that Chong Yizi had become let out a roar toward the heavens. He took a violent step toward Wang Baole and raised his right hand, throwing a punch toward Wang Baole’s position like a falling meteor!

The starry sky shattered as booming sounds echoed in all directions. An indescribable destructive force erupted continuously at this moment, permeating the surrounding void. Meanwhile, Wang Baole laughed toward the sky. The Emperor Armor instantly manifested around his body. The moment it formed, it was flooded by his Planet realm cultivation, causing it to possess the power of a Planet in the blink of an eye.

Simultaneously, his physical strength erupted in unison with rhythmic tremors. Although his physical size didn't change much, the power contained within had reached a terrifying degree. The instant the giant’s foot stepped down, Wang Baole leaped into the air. After dodging the stomp, his speed exploded to its limit as he charged straight for the giant’s incoming fist... and threw a counter-punch!

All of this takes time to describe but happened in the spark of a flint. In the next heartbeat, Wang Baole’s fist and the right fist of the giant Chong Yizi—one small, one massive—collided in the starry sky!

Visually, Wang Baole looked more like a puny ant trying to stop a carriage. Yet, at the moment of contact, accompanied by a deafening boom and intense ripples that rolled out like furious waves, the one who was forced back... was not Wang Baole. It was Chong Yizi in his ten-thousand-foot giant form!

Chong Yizi’s entire body shook violently, and his eyes filled with disbelief. He knew Wang Baole was strong, which was why he had initially prepared to wound his soul instead of competing in cultivation. When that failed, he revealed his Planet, but he still tried to avoid a direct contest of cultivation. Instead, he had buffed his own physical body, pushing its defense and strength to a certain limit in an attempt to suppress Wang Baole.

According to his plan, Wang Baole would surely use cultivation-based divine supernatural powers. This way, the battle would proceed in the manner he desired: his own defenses could withstand the opponent's techniques for a time, while his own strength was enough to wound Wang Baole with a single hit.

But he never imagined that Wang Baole would also reveal only physical strength, and that its degree... was actually more formidable than his own. As the booming echoed, Chong Yizi’s body was knocked backward. His heart was already filled with immense regret for choosing to hunt down Wang Baole.

However, the arrow was already on the string and had to be fired. He understood that even if he wanted to stop the fight, Wang Baole wouldn't agree. A savage expression flashed across his face. While retreating, he performed hand incantations and struck his own body nine times in succession. Each strike produced a boom, and each strike caused him to cough up blood.

"Secret Art: Ninth Dao, Third Method!"

As his words rang out and he struck himself during his retreat, the nine mouthfuls of blood Chong Yizi spat out began to writhe rapidly. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into one version of himself after another!

Nine selves! Nine clones!

Furthermore, the combat power of each of these nine clones was exactly the same as his original body. This was one of the nine great secret methods of the Nine States Dao. It allowed one to overdraw their strength for a short period to manifest nine clones of equal combat power out of thin air!

The moment they appeared, the starry sky trembled and the fluctuations became violent. With a murderous roar from Chong Yizi’s main body, he and the nine clones charged forward simultaneously, heading straight for Wang Baole!

"Die!!"

"Interesting!" Wang Baole’s eyes brightened. Far from avoiding them, his battle intent became even more intense. He raised his hands and waved them suddenly. Immediately, star after star appeared behind him!

In an instant, ten thousand special stars manifested behind him, forming a star map. At the center of this star map, a black hole could be seen, and surrounding that black hole were nine stars that shone as brilliantly as Planets!

"Nine Daos!" Wang Baole waved his right hand. Immediately, the ten thousand stars on the star map behind him dimmed. Only those nine Planet-like entities exploded with light. They detached from the star map and converged around Wang Baole, forming nine humanoid silhouettes of light!

These nine stars were Wang Baole’s Ancient Stars. After he ascended to the Planet realm, they had also been promoted to Planets under the nourishment of the Dao Star. Now that they appeared, they not only radiated brilliant light, but the power of laws also gathered frantically. The nine figures they formed were none other than Rule Bodies!

The moment they appeared, they seemed to possess their own sentience. They first bowed toward Wang Baole, then shot out abruptly, charging straight for Chong Yizi’s nine clones. In an instant, they were locked in combat!

Amidst the thunderous explosions and the surging of heaven-shaking ripples, Chong Yizi’s main body charged forward. This time, he was no longer empty-handed. He pressed his hands together before pulling them apart violently. A golden long spear suddenly appeared. Once he gripped it, his aura erupted with even greater power.

The moment he rushed toward Wang Baole, Wang Baole raised his right hand and grasped at the air. What appeared in his hand was no longer the divine weapon of years past, but a long saber that looked illusory but was rapidly solidifying!

This saber was... the Grudge Weapon from Wang Baole’s past life, a weapon filled with soaring resentment that had slaughtered countless living beings. The moment Wang Baole gripped it, the Grudge Weapon seemed to come alive, and an eye appeared upon it!

A red eye. Looking closely, one could find similarities between that eye and Wang Baole’s. At this moment, both were filled with battle intent and a stubborn obsession to witness their own combat power. With a long cry from Wang Baole, just as Chong Yizi charged with his golden spear, Wang Baole leaped into the air. He raised the Grudge Weapon toward Chong Yizi and slashed down violently!

The blade slashed the starry sky; the resentment shocked the firmament!

One could see the blade of the Grudge Weapon literally tearing through the starry sky in front of Wang Baole, opening a massive rift as if slicing through fabric. It swept through everything, heading straight for Chong Yizi!

At the same time, infinite resentment erupted in the starry sky, sounding like the wailing of all living beings. Chong Yizi’s main body bore the brunt of it. His entire body shook violently, and his expression shifted drastically. A crisis of life and death erupted within his mind like a storm, more frenzied than ever before!

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END OF Chapter 1116
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START OF Chapter 1117
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**Chapter 1117: I’ll Suppress You with Ten Percent of My Battle Power!**

"This is..." Chong Yizi’s expression shifted drastically. A powerful sense of crisis exploded in his mind, and even the clones formed by his secret techniques were affected, beginning to tremble.

The only thought currently surfacing in Chong Yizi’s mind was to avoid the brunt of the attack. Despite his internal indignation—given that he was at the late Stellar Stage—his instincts at this moment overrode his logic due to the heart-pounding sensation and spiritual perception he felt. His body immediately retreated at high speed.

Even as he retreated, he used his full strength to hurl the golden spear in his right hand toward Wang Baole. The golden spear transformed into a bolt of golden lightning, streaking directly toward Wang Baole in an attempt to stall him for a moment.

But even though his reactions were lightning-fast and he hadn't hesitated for a second, it was still... too late!

Or rather, the moment Wang Baole’s Wraith Weapon appeared and executed that slash, it carried an air of destiny. The slash was already complete in its essence; thus, it was unavoidable and inescapable!

Consequently, as soon as the golden spear-turned-lightning appeared before Wang Baole, it shattered on its own with a boom. In the blink of an eye, it fell apart into countless golden fragments that scattered in all directions.

"This seat has only just ascended to the early Stellar Stage and has only displayed thirty percent of my battle power... but Chong Yizi, if this is all you have, I will be very disappointed." Wang Baole felt invigorated. Aside from a few trump cards he hadn't used yet, he had actually erupted with his full strength in this battle.

However, the posture of a supreme expert was already etched into his instincts. Thus, his words drifted out airily, and his expression carried a hint of undeniable disappointment.

In reality, his internal organs were churning, and his Stellar power was erupting continuously. Destroying the golden spear hadn't been as effortless as it appeared; it wasn't that some indestructible barrier existed in front of him, but rather... Wang Baole’s Wraith Weapon had torn through the golden spear in that instant with a speed and momentum imperceptible to the naked eye.

Combining the grievances of his past lives, the sharpness of the Wraith Weapon itself, and the augmentation of the Dao Stellar Star and the Star Chart, he was able to appear as if he were invincible!

In the next instant, the Wraith Weapon appeared before the retreating Chong Yizi. It gave him no chance to resist. As Chong Yizi’s expression completely transformed, the blade suddenly... descended directly upon his massive body like a mountain-splitting blow!

In that moment, the starry sky collapsed, and thunderous roars echoed from all sides. In the eyes of the surrounding onlookers, Chong Yizi’s massive body was sliced cleanly in half. One half instantly disintegrated into fly ash, while the other half withered in a flash. However, it did not vanish into the starry sky but instead re-condensed into a single figure.

The moment this figure appeared, he coughed up three mouthfuls of blood consecutively and retreated violently. At the same time, Wang Baole’s nine clones erupted simultaneously. These nine Quasi-Dao Stars unleashed their respective laws and resonances to their near-limits.

From a distance, one could see the shocking crimson of blood, the sounding of orange music, the explosion of yellow flames, the endless growth of green plants, the cyan clouds shaking the stars, the blue wind howling like a hurricane, and the towering purple devouring!

There was also black mist full of deathly Qi and the brilliance of endless light!

The eruption of the nine Quasi-Dao Star clones caused Chong Yizi’s clones to shudder and retreat, shattering one after another amidst sprays of blood. However, Chong Yizi’s cultivation was profound after all. Even though his divine abilities were shattered, his essence was clearly not so easily harmed. As his clones shattered, his essence retreated and merged into his retreating true body—the one that had been reconstituted from the halved giant.

Following the merger, the somewhat unstable aura of his retreating body quickly steadied itself, but his momentum had still taken a hit. He only came to a halt with a terrified expression once he had retreated beyond the range of the Wraith Weapon. He stared fixedly at Wang Baole, roaring in his heart.

*Is this a freaking early Stellar Stage? And thirty percent? Your sister... who are you trying to ghost!!*

Despite his internal screaming, Chong Yizi’s expression returned to normal in an instant. A smile even touched the corners of his mouth, as if his previous disarray and the splitting of his body and clones were merely a test. He spoke calmly.

"Interesting. Wang Baole, since you managed to survive this seat’s warm-up phase, you are worthy of me using twenty percent of my battle power to show you what true strength is!"

"What twenty percent? Warm-up? You’ve already coughed up several mouthfuls of blood. How hypocritical!" Wang Baole sneered internally, but on the surface, he remained as composed as possible and smiled faintly.

"This seat won't bully you. Next, I will take back twenty percent of my power and suppress you with only ten percent!" As he spoke, the cultivation within Wang Baole’s body surged violently, and his full twelve-tenths of battle power became completely active.

*You shameless scoundrel! Even your Star Chart appeared, yet you still have the audacity to say you only used thirty percent? Is Wang Baole’s skin made of a Stellar Star!!* Chong Yizi felt utter contempt in his heart. He thought to himself that anyone could brag, so he fully erupted his cultivation and spoke in a steady voice.

"Ten percent? Fine. I’ll use five percent to meet your divine ability!"

As their conversation reached the ears of Xie Haiyang, Chen Han, and the others, even though they were all shaken by the previous clash, their expressions became quite peculiar.

Even Chen Han, whose flattery had become instinctive, hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to speak. As for Xie Haiyang, he blinked repeatedly, hiding the helplessness in his eyes. He felt truly exhausted in spirit.

The other Stellar Stage cultivators also fell silent, though their inner thoughts were quite rich...

*Are these two... not fighting with techniques, but competing to see whose face is thicker?*

While everyone’s inner thoughts were colorful, Chong Yizi’s words were followed by the full operation of his cultivation. The Stellar Star behind him reappeared, looking even more majestic than before. Countless illusory talismans could even be seen within it; these talismans were all the power of arrays!

Every single talisman possessed extraordinary power, enough to instantly pulverize a Planet Stage cultivator upon contact. He knew that Wang Baole possessed many laws and had sensed the terrifying strength of those laws. Therefore, he chose not to compete in laws he was familiar with but instead intended to suppress his opponent with infinite array power.

With a sudden wave of his hands, countless array talismans erupted from the Stellar Star behind him. In an instant, they filled the endless starry sky, resembling a sea of arrays that surged to surround and kill Wang Baole and his clones!

"A minor art: Array Kill!" As the vast sea of arrays permeated the starry sky and roared toward Wang Baole, Chong Yizi did not forget to speak, as if this trump card—the result of his full eruption—was merely one of his countless minor techniques.

"Do you even have a sense of shame?" Wang Baole frowned. While feeling contemptuous in his heart, his eyes narrowed, and he spoke calmly.

"Arrays?" Wang Baole shook his head and performed a hand seal. As his cultivation circulated, he swept his hands outward. With a boom, the Star Chart behind him shone with ten thousand zhang of light, but all this light served only as a foil for the Dao Stellar Star at the center of the chart!

The brighter they shone, the more prominent the Dao Stellar Star—which was as pitch-black as a black hole—became. Finally, amidst Wang Baole’s wave and the eruption of his cultivation, the law contained within the Dao Stellar Star exploded outward!

"One of this seat’s three thousand minor arts, Paperization, is enough to suppress you!"

Xie Haiyang, Chen Han, and the Stellar Stage protectors felt their facial muscles twitch again. The feeling of being weary of heart grew even stronger... But while their hearts were weary, Wang Baole’s Paper Law had already erupted.

The first to be affected were all the starlights outside the Dao Star, which instantly transformed into strips of paper. Then, under the reinforcement of his full power, they expanded violently and collided directly with Chong Yizi’s infinite array sea.

Thunderous booms echoed through the eight directions of the starry sky. To the naked eye, the countless array talismans in the surroundings seemed to be infected in an instant, turning into paper talismans one by one!

Looking out, the starry sky at this moment resembled a sea of paper!

And in the center of that paper sea stood Wang Baole’s calm figure. Enduring the tremors of his body, he raised his right hand and pointed a finger at Chong Yizi, who also appeared calm but whose heart was churning like the nine heavens.

"Suppress!"

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END OF Chapter 1117
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START OF Chapter 1118
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**Chapter 1118: Stellar Battle-Axe!**

The moment the word left his lips, the sea of paper formed by the array runes instantly erupted into heaven-shaking waves. Countless paper talismans collided violently, sending out peals of thunderous booms!

To the naked eye, those paper talismans crumbled one after another amidst the collisions, turning into paper confetti. This process was incredibly taxing for Wang Baole. After all, this was Chong Yizi’s trump card; although he was only an Earth Grade Stellar, whereas Wang Baole’s Dao Star was two levels higher, the gap was significant.

However... Chong Yizi’s Late Stellar stage cultivation allowed him to continuously narrow that gap. While he couldn’t surpass Wang Baole, the sheer vastness of his power meant that Wang Baole had to exert a tremendous amount of effort to pry it apart!

Consequently, Wang Baole’s cultivation was operating at full capacity. Within the star map behind him, the Dao Star grew even darker. He truly wanted to know exactly what level he occupied among his peers in the Never-Ending Star Domain now that his Dao Star had entered the Stellar realm!

"Suppress!" Wang Baole manipulated the countless paper talismans into colliding. Amidst the swirling confetti, his hands formed incantation gestures and he waved them again, a low roar escaping his throat.

As if his words were law, the entire sea of paper roared. Countless scraps of paper converged in an instant, forming thousands upon thousands of paper swords that whistled toward the now-pale Chong Yizi!

From a distance, the scene was earth-shattering. Countless paper swords occupied the entire starry sky, whistling with a monstrous power that seemed ready to overwhelm Chong Yizi.

But at that moment, a fierce light erupted in Chong Yizi’s eyes. As his hands formed incantations, the star behind him suddenly flared, pulsating like a giant heart. With every beat, the incoming paper swords were struck by a shockwave. The first wave to approach crumbled instantly, reverting from their paper state!

They returned to their original form as array runes, but because they had crumbled while paperized, they had lost all their power!

Wang Baole’s pupils constricted rapidly. Enduring the backlash surging within his body, a sharp light intensified in his eyes. He raised his right hand and pressed down once more. The light from the star map behind him flared again, and the second wave, the third wave, and an infinite number of paper swords charged at Chong Yizi with even greater speed and momentum.

Even though Chong Yizi’s star pulsed more violently, shattering wave after wave of paper swords, there were simply too many. Furthermore, the power of the Dao Star infused within them was incredibly fierce. Many paper swords managed to exploit the gaps between the star’s pulses, finally breaking through and closing in!

"Wang Baole!!" Chong Yizi’s eyes turned blood-red. He could no longer maintain his previous posturing or arrogance. Wang Baole’s prowess had made him feel a powerful threat time and again, especially this Paper Law, which was exceptionally difficult to deal with.

In this moment of crisis, Chong Yizi let out a fierce roar. As he retreated, he raised his right hand, his eyes flashing with madness. He reached out with his right hand toward the star behind him and made a grasping motion!

"Nine Dao, Stellar Transformation!" As he shrieked, the star behind him twisted under his grasp. Its shape changed rapidly before one’s eyes, as if Chong Yizi’s right hand had become a true black hole, directly absorbing his own star!

This takes a while to describe, but it happened in an instant. Along with Chong Yizi’s roar, the star twisted and converged onto his right hand. In the blink of an eye... it transformed into a crimson battle-axe!

The aura and presence of this battle-axe far surpassed the golden spear he had brandished earlier. The moment Chong Yizi gripped it, it felt as though he held a literal star in his hand. With madness in his eyes, he faced the incoming infinite paper swords and violently... swung the axe!

This one strike concentrated his entire star, his full cultivation, and his entire combat strength. It was as if everything had been compressed into a single point. As the strike descended, it was earth-shattering, causing the starry sky to fracture and the eight directions to roar. It was as if a giant wave was splitting the heavens, or a demon god was seeking to tear everything apart!

In terms of sheer momentum, it was not inferior to the power of the Resentful Weapon Wang Baole had displayed earlier. The moment it fell, all the paper swords in front of it shook violently and shattered in unison, being wiped out like dry weeds.

It wasn't just what was in front of him; even the paper swords surrounding him on all sides seemed unable to withstand it. As the battle-axe fell, they collapsed layer by layer, causing the starry sky to tremble and twist even more violently. Once all the paper swords had crumbled, Wang Baole turned pale. He stared fixedly at Chong Yizi, particularly at the battle-axe in his hand!

Condensing one's own star into a battle-axe was clearly an ultimate technique for Chong Yizi. His body was trembling, but the battle had reached a point where he could no longer retreat. He had to fight, and he had to kill Wang Baole, or at the very least... severely wound him.

Otherwise, a Late Stellar stage cultivator losing to an Early Stellar stage—even if one was Earth Grade and the other was Dao Grade—was something he, as a Dao Child of the Jiuzhou Dao, simply could not accept. It would leave a mental knot that would affect his future breakthroughs!

Therefore, after the first swing shattered the paper swords of the starry sky, the bloodshot veins in Chong Yizi’s eyes multiplied. Driven by even greater madness, he leapt up and swung the battle-axe again, striking a second time at Wang Baole!

The speed was so great that it gave Wang Baole no chance to counterattack. As the second strike fell with a roar, the starry sky was torn asunder. The Quasi-Dao Star avatars surrounding Wang Baole all trembled; unable to endure for long, they could not maintain their forms and reverted back into Quasi-Dao Stars, retreating and merging back into Wang Baole’s main body.

His main body bore the brunt of the battle-axe's power. Amidst the boom, blood leaked from the corner of his mouth as he was pushed back thousands of feet. When he finally stopped, his internal organs felt as if they were being torn apart, and the star map behind him was swaying. Yet, far from looking defeated, his expression showed a flash of excitement!

"Chong Yizi, now this is more like it. You're finally worth me using forty percent of my battle power!"

"Wang Baole, shut your mouth! What are you still posturing for at a time like this? Anyone can brag! Watch me slay you with a single, casual swing of my axe without even using my cultivation!" Chong Yizi truly couldn't take it anymore and blurted this out. Because his entire aura was erupting at that moment, the outburst was like a balloon leaking a bit of air. The raised axe paused slightly, and its light dimmed just a fraction.

Seeing this, a light flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. Seizing the opportunity, he circulated his cultivation and a massive figure materialized in front of him. This figure possessed heaven-toppling divine power and held a flame in its hand. It was none other than... his past life shadow, the Xinhuo God Race.

The moment it appeared, the tall figure of the Xinhuo God Race rushed out, heading straight for Chong Yizi. Meanwhile, Chong Yizi endured the backlash in his body, his forehead drenched in sweat, as he stimulated his remaining strength to swing the third axe strike at Wang Baole!

In an instant, this third strike collided with Wang Baole’s Xinhuo God Race. Amidst the roar, the battle-axe shook, and the shadow of the Xinhuo God Race was directly torn apart. As it exploded, a towering surge of resentment erupted from within—this was another of Wang Baole’s past life shadows. Without any pause, it slammed into the battle-axe.

The axe shook again, and Chong Yizi coughed up blood. Under his frantic eruption of power, Wang Baole’s second past life shadow was also torn apart. But what Chong Yizi didn't expect was that within this second shadow, there was yet another past life shadow!

It was... the Little White Deer!

The moment it appeared, the Little White Deer lowered its head and charged straight into Chong Yizi’s battle-axe!

It slammed into the axe instantly!

Everything happened too fast. Wang Baole’s past life shadows appeared one after another, leaving Chong Yizi shocked to his core. The charge of the Little White Deer even gave him a sense of being unable to resist. At that moment, his battle-axe finally reached its limit. With a roar that echoed through the eight directions, the battle-axe and the Little White Deer... both shattered into pieces!

Chong Yizi let out a miserable scream, spraying blood as his cultivation aura plummeted. His body was like a kite with a broken string, swept up by the shockwaves and thrown into the distance. However, despite being gravely injured, his controlled scream turned into wild laughter.

"Wang Baole, I know the trump card of your Flame Lineage is a curse at the cost of your vitality. But my Jiuzhou Dao... is equally skilled in curses! Today, let’s see if you dare to bet your life. I’ll trade my wounds for yours! Nine Dao... Same Life Curse!!"

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START OF Chapter 1119
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Chapter 1119: Curse Against Curse!

Almost at the exact moment Chong Yizi spoke, an earth-shaking aura erupted from his body. Amidst this explosion, Chong Yizi stood in the starry sky, his eyes gleaming with an eerie, ghostly light.

At this moment, his hair was disheveled, his injuries were severe, his aura was weak, and his face was deathly pale. Even the Constant Star behind him had become blurred, and the state of his internal body was even worse.

His internal organs were continuously rupturing, his bones were shivering throughout his entire body, and his flesh was tearing apart every second.

Anyone else would have likely succumbed to such injuries long ago, but Chong Yizi forced himself to endure. As he spoke, a smile even tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Why do you think I fought you with such desperation from the very start, disregarding my own injuries?" As Chong Yizi spoke, he took a step toward Wang Baole. As his foot landed, purple aura instantly billowed out from every wound on his body, forming rune after rune that emitted the same eerie light as his eyes.

Seeing this, Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed slightly. He immediately felt a stinging pain in several places on his own body. He didn't even need to compare carefully; a mere glance revealed that the areas where the stinging pain originated matched the locations of Chong Yizi’s wounds exactly!

"Why do you think I continued to unleash techniques at the cost of even greater injuries even after my divine abilities were shattered?" Chong Yizi laughed and took another step. This time, it wasn't just the wounds on the outside of his body emitting purple Qi; even more purple Qi billowed out from his seven orifices and his pores. This Qi... came from his internal organs, his bones, and his flesh!

The purple Qi spreading from both inside and out now permeated Chong Yizi's surroundings, causing the starry sky in all four directions to instantly churn with a heaven-shaking purple haze.

Simultaneously, Wang Baole sensed the stinging pain outside his body intensify. His internal organs, bones, and flesh also rapidly began to emit a sense of piercing pain.

"Did you think you truly had victory in your grasp?"

"Did you think you could truly suppress me?" Chong Yizi laughed loudly as he took a third step. As his foot landed, the swaying, dim, and blurred Constant Star behind him suddenly changed color in an instant. Most of it turned purple, and the transformation was rapidly spreading toward the remaining areas!

All of this brought a sense of intense crisis to Wang Baole, causing a strange light to flicker in his narrowed eyes. He felt his Star Map begin to tremble as well. Fine cracks were appearing out of thin air, spreading rapidly!

"Chong Yizi... how deep is your scheming!" Wang Baole’s expression was solemn. Since he had followed his senior brother Chenqingzi away from Earth, he had experienced all sorts of things, and his battles, both large and small, were countless.

However, only a limited few had left a truly deep impression on him. Now, there was one more.

It was this Chong Yizi before him.

This man had planted a scheme from the very first exchange. A single moment of carelessness would lead one right into his calculations. Furthermore, this person's personality was volatile; he seemed to possess the arrogance of the powerful, yet when he lowered his posture, there was no sense of awkwardness at all.

This kind of scheming, combined with powerful combat strength, already made Chong Yizi extraordinary. What Wang Baole valued even more was that after his first scheme failed, this man had already prepared a second one.

This second scheme was this so-called... Same-Life Curse!

To put it simply, this curse was like a mirror. Once activated, it could reflect one's own state onto the enemy. In other words... the heavier one's own injuries, the heavier the enemy's injuries would become once the curse was unleashed!

Therefore, to use it, one had to be in a truly wretched state. Only then could it succeed. On the surface, it seemed like a method to perish together, but in reality, this curse contained other mechanisms that allowed for a short-term recovery of injuries after the curse ended, thereby turning defeat into victory!

"So, while the previous battle actually happened, it might have been Chong Yizi's deliberate choice. If he could win normally, that would be best. If not... then he would unleash this curse at the critical moment? Acting like this, is he wary of my Dao of the Constant? Or is he wary of my rules and laws..."

As Wang Baole narrowed his eyes in contemplation, booming sounds echoed from his body. Wounds appeared out of nowhere, and as blood sprayed, his internal organs began to rupture. The Star Map behind him also grew dim and blurred. Everything was an exact reflection of Chong Yizi’s current state.

"Interesting. You know my Flame lineage excels in curses, and you know our curses come at the cost of vitality, yet you still dare to compete with me in curse techniques?"

"It seems you are very confident that Wang’s vitality... is not enough to curse you?" Wang Baole ignored the injuries inside and outside his body and didn't care about the dimming of his Star Map. In this battle up to now, he actually had too many trump cards he hadn't used yet.

While it wasn't just twenty or thirty percent of his power as he’d claimed earlier, it certainly wasn't his all.

The Divine Ox projection, the Dao Scripture, and Wang Baole’s natal scabbard—he hadn't used any of them.

After all, having just ascended to the Constant Star realm, Wang Baole needed a battle to gauge his own combat strength. He also needed a good whetstone to sharpen his blade even further.

In Wang Baole’s eyes, Chong Yizi was the most suitable whetstone!

He even faintly felt that his master, the Flame Patriarch, likely wasn't unaware of this battle. Instead, he had allowed it to happen deliberately, wanting the opponent to serve as a whetstone for him!

"Fine then... I haven't used curse techniques for a long time. I almost don't look like a disciple of the Flame lineage anymore." Wang Baole suddenly smiled. The curse of the Flame lineage was called the Flame Spirit Curse!

The foundation of this curse was vitality—limitless vitality. At the same time, and more importantly, there was... resentment—heaven-towering, endless resentment!

Amidst that smile, Wang Baole raised his left hand. Black threads instantly surfaced around it, permeating his entire palm in a breath’s time. They looked like an accumulation of wrinkled veins, turning his left hand completely pitch-black!

Within that blackness, infinite resentment churned maniacally, spreading into the starry sky in all directions. It distorted the space around him, causing the expressions of Xie Haiyang and the others in the distance to change drastically. In their eyes, they could no longer see Wang Baole; all they could see was a left hand formed by a convergence of heartless, endless resentment!

This wasn't just the power of the Resentment Soldier; it held the madness of the Kindling Divine Clan, the obsession of the Zombie and the Hate-World, and the determination to shatter the void!

It was the resentment formed by the collection of all his past lives. Although not all of it was condensed in this life, even a portion was enough. The appearance of this left hand of resentment caused Chong Yizi’s expression to change!

Before he could react, Wang Baole’s vitality also erupted with a roar!

The thing Wang Baole lacked least was vitality, because Wood represented life, and Wang Baole’s true form was a three-foot black wooden plank!

As his thoughts shifted, an illusory black wooden plank appeared within the dim Star Map behind him. With its appearance, a roar resounded as infinite life-force erupted within Wang Baole’s body.

He raised his right hand during this eruption, causing all the vitality to instantly fuse into it, becoming its source. Now, as he raised both hands, his left was resentment and his right was life. The moment his ten fingers touched in front of him, he abruptly looked up, calmly staring at Chong Yizi, whose face was rapidly paling, and spoke indifferently.

"Flame Spirit Curse!"

The moment he spoke, the starry sky roared. Wang Baole’s resentment and vitality thinned slightly in an instant. As for Chong Yizi, he was now horrified to the extreme, letting out an incredulous shriek.

"This resentment, this vitality... Impossible!!" He roared as his body lunged backward, but it was too late. All the purple Qi around his body instantly boiled, breaking free from Chong Yizi’s control. It spun violently, transforming into three black daggers permeated with numerous skulls. They let out silent roars as they lunged toward Chong Yizi, stabbing into his body!

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END OF Chapter 1119
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START OF Chapter 1120
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Chapter 1120: The Shadow of a God Emperor!

The three daggers were composed entirely of black gas. Surrounding their seemingly physical blades were countless skulls, large and small, all of them letting out piercing howls.

This howling was inaudible to outsiders; only Chong Yizi could hear it. Naturally, the impact it had on his mind was immense. Even as a late-stage Star realm cultivator, the shock of the howling caused him to bleed from his seven orifices. His retreating body staggered, and he found himself completely unable to dodge!

In an instant, the first dagger moved with indescribable speed, stabbing directly into Chong Yizi's chest. Upon impact, the dagger transformed back into black gas, swiftly tunneling into his body.

The moment the black gas entered him, Chong Yizi let out a blood-curdling scream. In that single breath of time, his entire body's flesh seemed to be corroded, withering instantly. If it were just withering, it might have been bearable, but after withering, the flesh actually… melted!!

It turned into droplets of black blood that continuously dripped from him as he retreated. As the blood scattered into the starry sky, what appeared in Wang Baole's vision was no longer the previous Chong Yizi, but… a skeleton!

Watching this from a distance, Xie Haiyang and Chen Han felt their scalps go numb. Their breathing quickened, and waves of shock crashed through their minds. Wang Baole’s curse was simply too cruel and ruthless, and its power was equally terrifying.

One had to remember that Chong Yizi was a late-stage Star realm cultivator and the Second Dao Child of the Nine Provinces Dao. Not only was his cultivation at an extremely high level, but his physical body was as well. That was why, despite being heavily injured in his previous clash with Wang Baole, he had only suffered numerous surface wounds.

But now… this was no longer a matter of injury. His flesh and blood were completely gone. By comparison, everyone could truly feel just how horrifying Wang Baole’s curse was!

It was a domineering power that ignored physical strength, using one's own resentment and life force to forcibly erase the opponent!

Clearly, Wang Baole’s Flame Spirit Curse was not over. Although Chong Yizi’s screams had stopped with the loss of his flesh, the second dagger approached rapidly. It gave him no chance to resist or dodge before stabbing inward!

Upon impact, this dagger also transformed into black gas, instantly spreading through all of Chong Yizi’s bones. In the blink of an eye, the skeletal frame turned pitch black and then… melted again!

The pain brought about by the melting of his bones caused Chong Yizi’s divine soul to fluctuate violently. If one were to spread their divine sense to perceive his soul, they would hear an indescribable, wretched shriek.

This entire process took some time to describe, but in reality, it happened in an instant. In the next moment… Chong Yizi’s body completely dissipated. All that remained in the starry sky was his divine soul.

His physical body destroyed, his divine soul was left with nowhere to reside, looking utterly miserable. Yet the curse… was still ongoing. The third dagger, carrying infinite black gas amidst the howling of countless skulls, stabbed directly toward Chong Yizi’s divine soul!

Fortunately, Chong Yizi was also an extraordinary individual. In the moment this life-and-death crisis erupted, his divine soul did not hesitate to split itself. With a bang, it divided into more than ten portions. While evading the third dagger, these fragments rapidly retreated and merged into his exposed, flickering, and dimmed Star.

With the merger, the Star flashed with light, seemingly about to vanish from its spot. However, the third dagger of the Flame Spirit Curse continued its pursuit. With a whistle, at the very moment the Star was about to teleport away, the dagger stabbed into it.

This strike broke the Star’s teleportation. The Star was unable to stop the dagger from merging into it. To the naked eye, the entire Star rapidly turned black, as if forming countless daggers that rushed straight for Chong Yizi’s divine soul hidden within.

A life-and-death crisis erupted. Chong Yizi’s divine soul trembled, his eyes filled with despair and madness. He had never expected Wang Baole to be this strong.

Not only were his rules powerful, his laws powerful, his physical body powerful, and his divine abilities powerful, but even his curse… was this terrifying. At this moment, he finally understood why, among the Nine Great Secret Arts of his sect, the art of cursing was ranked extremely high yet remained obscure throughout the Never-Ending Dao Domain.

It was because above the curses of their Nine Provinces Dao, there existed an even more powerful lineage of cursing—the Flame Spirit Lineage!

Perhaps it was because the Flame Spirit Ancestor had not acted for a long time, or perhaps because those of the Flame Spirit Lineage rarely left the Flame Spirit Star System. Thus, while Chong Yizi knew of the Flame Spirit Lineage’s curses, he hadn't paid them much mind. But now… at a tragic cost, he had experienced the true meaning of a curse!

“I don’t want to die!”

“I cannot die!” Chong Yizi’s divine soul was nearly manic. Inside his Star, seeing the countless black daggers about to submerge him, he could sense that this curse… could exterminate everything he was. Once stabbed, even if he could be resurrected by the sect in the future, it would be useless.

Because the curse… existed for all eternity, through every lifetime. It didn't lock onto his person, but his life mark. Unless… he could neutralize the curse here, there was no other way!

“Wang Baole!!” In this moment between life and death, Chong Yizi’s divine soul roared. As his madness reached its peak, he seemed to make a decision. His divine soul suddenly contracted, transforming into the shape of a scroll.

This was the first time Wang Baole had seen such a thing, but he instantly recalled information he had read in the ancient texts of the Flame Spirit Star System.

“Divine Soul Art?” Wang Baole’s eyes narrowed. He remembered that within the Never-Ending Dao Domain, there existed a secret art that could only be unleashed in a divine soul state. Any Divine Soul Art was filled with eerie power.

What was appearing on Chong Yizi now was a Divine Soul Art.

Under Wang Baole’s watchful gaze, the scroll formed by Chong Yizi’s divine soul flashed with light, seemingly becoming a real scroll as it suddenly unfurled!

As it opened, the image within the scroll was revealed.

The image depicted a map of the galaxy. While countless stars shone, a person stood there. This person wore a gray robe and seemed to be admiring the starry sky, so they appeared to be facing away from the outside world.

Though the figure’s back was turned, the moment the scroll unfurled and the image was revealed, an indescribable force of suppression erupted from within the scroll!

It suppressed all dust on both sides; it suppressed all laws in the four directions; it suppressed the endless rules of the eight wildernesses; it suppressed all living things; it suppressed the starry sky!

“Wang Baole, even if it costs me half of my divine soul being shattered, I will suppress you!” Within the scroll, Chong Yizi’s manic divine sense echoed out.

Xie Haiyang and the others all spat out blood, their bodies pressed directly onto the deck of the battleship by the force of suppression. Chen Han was the same, as were the other Star realm cultivators.

Even the battleship twisted, losing all its spiritual energy as it began to fall. This was only because they were far away and only caught the aftershocks. Wang Baole, being at the forefront, felt his entire body rumble. His body seemed on the verge of collapsing and exploding under this suppression, yet he was not completely suppressed by this power.

Because within his Star Map, there were nine Quasi-Dao Stars and one Eternal Dao Star!

The status of a Dao Star—how could it yield!

In the next instant, even though the nine Quasi-Dao Stars dimmed, the Eternal Dao Star erupted with black light like a standing black hole. Though Wang Baole’s body trembled, he slowly raised his head and stared at the unfurled scroll!

“The shadow of a God Emperor?”

This level of suppression, this terror, already surpassed any Star Domain expert Wang Baole had ever seen. Only… a Universe Realm existence above the Star Domain could possess such might!

Just as Wang Baole looked over, the figure in the scroll with its back to the world began to slowly turn its head, as if intending to look back at Wang Baole.

As the head turned, the force of suppression increased again. Amidst a thunderous roar, the surrounding starry sky began to collapse on a massive scale!

“Interesting. Usually, I’m the one using similar methods to pressure others. This is the first time I’ve seen someone try to pressure me. Well then, let’s see which is stronger: your God Emperor, or my father-in-law!” Wang Baole’s body trembled, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. As he spoke, he began to silently recite in his heart… the Dao Sutra!

“My will is firm…

Sealing the path of heaven, all living beings must endure immeasurable tribulations…

One obsession to leave the abyss…

By my decree, the path of cultivation begins!!”

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END OF Chapter 1120
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START OF Chapter 1121
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**Chapter 1121: Do You Dare to Turn Around!**

At the exact moment Wang Baole began silently reciting the Dao Scripture in his heart, the figure within the painting of the scroll that Chong Yizi had transformed into had already turned halfway. Looking at it now, a small portion of a profile was visible.

It was a middle-aged man with a high bridge to his nose and long eyebrows. From a distance, Xie Haiyang and the others only caught a glimpse, yet every one of them coughed up blood again, their minds trembling on the verge of collapse.

The middle-aged man within the scroll possessed a gaze from the corner of his eye that seemed to carry world-shaking power, causing the starry sky outside the scroll to roar incessantly in that instant.

Simultaneously, an even stronger suppressive force erupted with incomparable violence. Although this force was invisible to the naked eye, it seemed to manifest as formless ripples. As it spread, the already collapsing starry sky completely disintegrated!

The starry sky was like a shattered mirror, turning into countless shards that swept backward. Amidst the deafening roar, the battleship where Xie Haiyang and the others were located disintegrated in an instant. Fortunately, they had been continuously retreating during the clash between Wang Baole and Chong Yizi. Thus, as the battleship was destroyed, even though they coughed up more blood, they remained barely stable. Using their respective trump cards and the momentum of the shockwave, they flew backward at high speed.

They did not stop until they had retreated to an immense distance, their faces filled with shock and terror.

As for Wang Baole... because he was too close to the scroll, he naturally bore the brunt of the impact. As the formless ripples of suppressive force arrived, Wang Baole’s entire body shook violently. Although the Dao Star behind him flickered with black light in an attempt to resist, and although his physical body could endure it due to the Black Wood, his divine soul ultimately found it difficult to withstand suppression from a Universe-grade entity.

Even if... this was merely a projection of a Universe-grade being, to Wang Baole, it was still as vast as the heavens!

Furthermore, the power of the Dao Scripture could not manifest instantly; there was a slight delay. Even if this delay was brief, it was still a severe ordeal for Wang Baole.

One could even say that the divine supernatural power Chong Yizi had unleashed had already surpassed the Stellar realm. Even a Star Domain expert would likely be affected. However, it was also conceivable that unleashing such a method must have required Chong Yizi to pay an indescribable price!

After all, it would not be an exaggeration to say this technique could suppress and kill any Stellar realm cultivator.

However... that did not include Wang Baole. At this moment, though Wang Baole’s body trembled, though his star map seemed ready to shatter, and though his divine soul felt like it was caught in a raging sea that could collapse at any second, a staggering battle intent erupted in his eyes.

Even if the final move unleashed by Chong Yizi exceeded Wang Baole’s expectations, he had too many trump cards. Besides the Dao Scripture, he also had... the True Law he had learned from the past-life realizations on the Planet of Fate!

"Waning Moon!" As the figure within the scroll turned halfway and the suppressive force erupted titanically, Wang Baole let out a hoarse roar.

He raised both hands to pinch a formula and pointed abruptly toward the scroll!

With this finger, the collapsing starry sky in all directions suddenly shook. A strange power, seemingly gathering the infinite regulations of the universe, drew forth... the Law of Time!

Time descended!

Reverse flow... twenty breaths!!

If it were a true Universe-grade entity, even if Wang Baole had mastered the Time Law of Waning Moon, he would likely find it difficult to affect them in the slightest. A single look or breath from the opponent would be enough to collapse his technique and annihilate his body and soul.

But since this was merely a projection... even if he still couldn't manage the full twenty breaths of reversal, he could still manage three to five breaths.

Thus, the moment the Waning Moon technique was unleashed, the shards of the collapsing starry sky instantly surged backward as if trying to heal. In the distance, the blood Xie Haiyang and the others had coughed out flowed back into their mouths, and their bodies moved uncontrollably.

These things were minor. What was truly startling was the suppressive shockwave that had been crashing into Wang Baole and threatening to shatter his soul. At this moment, it surged backward in front of him, rapidly returning toward the half-turned figure within the scroll.

However... Wang Baole’s Waning Moon could only do so much. It could affect the surrounding starry sky, the people in all directions, and even the regulations, laws, and suppressive force, but... it could not affect the figure within the scroll’s painting!

After all, he was a Stellar realm cultivator, while the figure in the painting was a Universe-grade projection. Even so, if any great expert were present to witness this scene, their hearts would surely roar with shock and they would lose their composure.

Because... this was something that had almost never happened in the history of the Never-Ending Dao Domain. A Stellar realm cultivator had actually managed to shake a Universe-grade projection. Even if it was only by a hair's breadth, it was a miracle!

This did not represent Wang Baole’s sheer power, but it did represent... the level of the technique Wang Baole had unleashed. In terms of essence, it surpassed... Universe-grade divine supernatural powers!

If one were to think deeply about this matter, it would surely be terrifying!

Amidst the booming sounds, the figure within the scroll was not affected, but a soft sound of surprise escaped its lips. It turned rapidly, seemingly about to truly look at Wang Baole.

But... it was ultimately a bit too late. Although Wang Baole’s Waning Moon had reversed time, it did not affect the entire universe, only this patch of the starry sky. Therefore... time continued to flow normally outside this region. Thus... at the moment the figure in the scroll was about to fully turn around... the power of the Dao Scripture, after its delay, erupted!

An aura that did not belong to this starry sky, nor to this universe, suddenly descended from beyond the distant stars... It was as if a sleeping heavenly god had, at this moment... opened its eyes from beyond the starry sky to look at the Never-Ending Dao Domain, at the exit of the Planet of Fate, at this battlefield, and at... the scroll transformed by Chong Yizi, until it saw the figure within the scroll that was attempting to turn around!

The starry sky roared, and all directions trembled. The entire battlefield seemed to freeze in this instant. Xie Haiyang and the others lost consciousness. Even the figure within the scroll suddenly stiffened!

It actually did not dare to continue turning!

It seemed to be shocked, locked down, and gripped by a powerful sense of life-and-death crisis. This figure had a trembling intuition that if it continued to turn, the moment it finished turning would be the moment of its death!

This scene caused excitement to rise within Wang Baole’s tension. A strange light flickered in his eyes as he stared at the figure within the scroll that seemed caught in a dilemma.

Very quickly, Wang Baole saw the figure within the scroll remain silent for a few breaths before it actually took the body it had already turned halfway and slowly, very slowly... turned it back!!

"You can even do that?" Wang Baole blinked. He watched as the figure in the scroll returned to being a view of someone’s back. Without pausing, the figure walked toward the distance in the painting until it reached the edge of the frame and finally... disappeared!

"He ran away?"

Wang Baole was stunned. He then immediately noticed that the scroll, now devoid of any image, seemed to suffer a backlash. It exploded with a boom, shattering into pieces. A shrill scream from a divine soul echoed from the collapse.

Next, Wang Baole saw... Chong Yizi’s divine soul!

This divine soul was now ninety percent smaller than before, weakened to the extreme. After appearing, it couldn't even remain conscious. It fell into a coma amidst its screams and was snatched up by Wang Baole’s reaching right hand.

After tossing the soul into his storage bag, Wang Baole’s chest heaved. Detecting that the aura from the Dao Scripture was also rapidly dissipating, he sensed that this battle had attracted many other auras in the vicinity, seemingly observing the area. His eyes blinked a few times, and he suddenly turned toward the distant starry sky, bowing deeply with clasped hands.

"Thank you, Father-in-law!"

His voice echoed in all directions, entering the ears of Xie Haiyang and the others, who were slowly regaining their senses. Their expressions changed one after another after their initial daze.

Before their internal shock could turn into words, Wang Baole had already straightened his clothes, secretly swallowed some healing medicine, and assumed his habitual posture of a supreme expert. He turned and walked toward them, reaching Xie Haiyang, Chen Han, and the Stellar realm protectors in three steps. He lowered his head, glanced at them, and spoke calmly.

"The matter regarding my father-in-law must not be spread to outsiders. Let’s go, back to the Flame Galaxy." Having said that, Wang Baole placed his hands behind his back and walked forward.

Xie Haiyang and Chen Han looked at each other, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes. They quickly followed. As for the protectors around them, their gazes toward Wang Baole were filled with absolute awe as they hurried to keep up.

As they followed, Chen Han suddenly turned to look at the still-shocked Xie Haiyang and sent a rapid voice transmission.

"Tell me... how should I address my father’s father-in-law?"

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END OF Chapter 1121
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START OF Chapter 1122
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Chapter 1122: Lie Yue is About to Fall!

"..." Xie Haiyang was somewhat dazed, unable to react for a moment. Chen Han was also lost in thought, considering how he should address Wang Baole. As everyone moved further away, several powerful auras suddenly descended upon the starry sky surrounding the battlefield.

If the battle between Wang Baole and Chong Yizi had been resolved quickly, it might not have attracted much attention. However, their struggle had lasted quite a while, and the divine abilities displayed at the end were simply too shocking. Naturally, this drew the attention of some powerful figures!

Even though Chong Yizi’s actions were somewhat obscured by the karmic interference of Zi Yue, it couldn't affect everything. As those auras descended, they rapidly swept over every trace remaining on the battlefield.

There was no communication between them, only mutual shock and a sense of dread as they looked in the direction Wang Baole had departed!

What they dreaded was Wang Baole’s strange time-reversal ability, and even more so... that will from the depths of the starry sky that seemed as if it did not belong to the Weiyang Dao Domain!

That was a terrifying existence that could make a projection of the Universe Realm fall silent and not dare to even turn around. And such an existence... they had all heard Wang Baole’s words. It was his father-in-law...

Thus, after a period of silence, the descending auras dispersed one after another. However, news regarding the battle between Wang Baole and Chong Yizi spread with lightning speed.

The speed of the transmission was incredibly fast because the battle had been earth-shaking. Within seven or eight days, while Wang Baole and his group were still on their way back to the Flame Galaxy, almost all the great sects and top-tier families within the Left Elder Holy Domain had learned of the matter.

In an instant, cries of shock rang out from different regions within the Left Elder Holy Domain!

"Chong Yizi, the Second Dao Child of Nine State Dao, was defeated and captured alive by Wang Baole?!"

"Wang Baole has been promoted to the Planet realm?!"

"I heard that a Universe Realm projection and power from an outer domain appeared in this battle!"

Wang Baole’s reputation had already been closely monitored by many forces in the Left Elder Holy Domain due to his acquisition of the Dao Star and the events on the Star of Fate. Now, with this new development, his name became legendary throughout the entire Left Elder Holy Domain.

Meanwhile, as Wang Baole and his group were still traveling back to the Flame Galaxy, while the battle with Chong Yizi continued to ferment and his fame grew—even reaching the ears of the Weiyang Holy Domain and the Side Door Holy Domain—another event struck the Left Elder Holy Domain like a clap of thunder!

The Flame Patriarch, sitting atop his Divine Bull, descended directly upon the mountain gate of the Left Elder Holy Domain’s number one sect, the Nine State Dao!

As soon as he arrived, the first words he spoke were...

"Nine State Dao, you dared to strike at my disciple? You... you have gone too far!!" After his words rang out, his cultivation erupted fully. With a tyrannical posture and an overbearing manner, he directly attacked several of the Nine State Dao’s ancestors. With his strength alone, he actually suppressed four of their Star Domain ancestors!

All four ancestors were Star Domain powerhouses, but in the hands of the Flame Patriarch, all four were injured. Even working together, they were no match for him. With a single palm strike, the Flame Patriarch shattered the mountain gate plaque of the Nine State Dao!

This matter caused a sensation in all directions until finally, the sole Universe Realm primogenitor of the Nine State Dao, who had been in secluded meditation for many years, appeared. With the descent of a single finger, he forced the Flame Patriarch back.

However, even as he was forced back, the Flame Patriarch stood above the Nine State Dao’s mountain gate, wreathed in monstrous flames. The power of his curses erupted in an instant. Far from being afraid, he let out a somewhat crazed roar.

"Old Ghost Jiu Dao, try touching me with one more finger and see what happens!!"

"Others fear you, but I don't! Touch me again and see if I don't curse you! I've been holding this curse in for thousands of years, do you want a taste?!"

Faced with the Flame Patriarch’s arrogance, the primogenitor of the Nine State Dao fell silent. Although he was cursing internally, he felt quite helpless... Anyone facing a madman who truly possessed the power to perish along with them would find it a headache.

The Flame Patriarch’s curses were famous throughout the Weiyang Dao Domain. If he were truly pushed to the limit and unleashed his curse... it was feared that for the Nine State Dao, it would be an unprecedented catastrophe.

In the end... the primogenitor of the Nine State Dao was wary enough not to harm the Flame Patriarch, only forcing him back. After all, the Flame Patriarch’s outburst was justified by reason. It was Chong Yizi who had first attempted to kill his disciple. Although Chong Yizi had been captured by Wang Baole, it was only natural for a master to come and demand an explanation.

This matter shook the Left Elder Holy Domain, and as countless people learned of it, they also felt the legendary protective nature of the Flame Patriarch. Most of their designs on his disciple, Wang Baole, had to be abandoned. After all, if they touched Wang Baole, they had to be prepared to face the vengeance of a crazed Flame Patriarch who could take a Universe Realm expert down with him.

At the same time, the Nine State Dao could only endure in silence, forced to give up on reclaiming the soul of their Second Dao Child. Thus, the final disputes regarding the battle between Wang Baole and Chong Yizi were suppressed.

The Flame Patriarch knew when to quit and did not continue to harass them, leaving immediately after establishing his dominance. However... perhaps this year was destined to be a turbulent one for the entire Left Elder Holy Domain. Shortly after Wang Baole suppressed Chong Yizi and the Flame Patriarch caused a ruckus at the Nine State Dao, a third event occurred.

The impact of this event exceeded the battle between Wang Baole and Chong Yizi, and it exceeded the Flame Patriarch’s rampage at the Nine State Dao. It didn’t just affect the Left Elder Holy Domain; it even reached the supreme rulers of this universe... the Weiyang Clan!

The news was... Chen Qingzi was about to return from his state of reverse-sealing!

Several years ago, Divine Emperor Lie Yue of the Weiyang Clan had plotted against Chen Qingzi. Using the Eight Tripod Cauldrons as the formation core, he gathered the power of ten million galaxies to create a grand array, suppressing Chen Qingzi within it in an attempt to kill him.

The matter involved a personal grudge between the two, but it was also supported by some members of the Weiyang royal family. However, even though Divine Emperor Lie Yue had prepared for a long time, he never expected that Chen Qingzi would erupt despite the extreme disadvantage. Chen Qingzi had gathered the Dark Sect’s Heavenly Dao to manifest, and after breaking free from the array, he didn't leave. Instead, he reversed the formation, trapping Divine Emperor Lie Yue and his massive army of divine generals and soldiers inside.

A slaughter ensued. From that day on, many of Divine Emperor Lie Yue’s subordinates began to disappear from the memories of all living beings. This was a sign of being extinguished by the Dark Sect. It was for this reason that the Weiyang Clan and the various sects, amidst their horror, paid the utmost attention to this divine war occurring in the region between the Left Elder Holy Domain and the Weiyang Holy Domain.

The Weiyang Clan and the great sects had estimated that this battle would take some time to conclude. Furthermore, Divine Emperor Lie Yue was a Universe Realm expert. Even at a disadvantage, there might be other variables. Therefore, they thought they had enough time to prepare, judge, and weigh their options.

But after the Flame Patriarch’s rampage at the Nine State Dao, a change occurred!

Within the Weiyang Clan, Divine Emperor Lie Yue’s life lamp began to dim, showing signs of flickering out. Furthermore, in the memories of countless people, their impressions of Divine Emperor Lie Yue began to vanish!

Although they hadn't disappeared completely, all of this was enough to prove that Divine Emperor Lie Yue... was in a state where he was about to fall. Consequently, even if the Weiyang Clan was not fully prepared, and even if the several great royal families had disagreements and lacked a unified consensus, they had to quickly formulate a plan.

At the same time... all the top sects and families within the Weiyang Dao Domain fixed their gazes upon the battlefield between Chen Qingzi and Lie Yue. Not only that, but these families and sects also dispatched their respective chosen talents to the edge of the battlefield.

This was because... once a Divine Emperor fell, given their vast cultivation during life, their death would surely cause an explosion of unimaginable Dao intent, rules, and terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations.

For cultivators, these were all opportunities and strokes of fortune. The better one's latent talent, the greater the harvest!

Aside from Divine Emperor Lie Yue, the divine generals under his command were also great sources of nourishment. Although the Weiyang Clan was unwilling to allow this, they couldn't withstand the greed of all the great sects and families.

Compared to this, the battle between Wang Baole and Chong Yizi was utterly insignificant. No one discussed it anymore. All focus had already fallen on... the divine battlefield of Chen Qingzi and Divine Emperor Lie Yue!

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END OF Chapter 1122
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START OF Chapter 1124
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**Chapter 1124: Fiercely Protective!**

"Great life and death... great opportunity..." Wang Baole did not answer immediately. Instead, he stood up and murmured softly, instinctively clasping his hands behind his back. He raised his head, his expression calm and composed, exuding the aura of a grandmaster as he spoke tonelessly.

"In the matters of this world, one must pay for what one seeks. Life and death coexist with opportunity; this is as it should be."

The Flame Patriarch blinked and scanned Wang Baole. He felt something was a bit off about Wang Baole at this moment; in front of his own master, he actually had the gall to put his hands behind his back and act like some legendary expert.

The Flame Patriarch snorted inwardly and sat up straight. The raging flames behind him shifted slightly, and while they continued to shroud the entire Flame Galaxy, his personal aura underwent a transformation. It was as if an ancient behemoth had awakened, instantly suppressing Wang Baole’s "grandmaster" posture.

"Speak properly."

Under this suppression, Wang Baole snapped out of it. His forehead broke into a cold sweat. It was obvious that he had grown too accustomed to acting like a grandmaster recently. He quickly reined it in, a flattering smile appearing on his face as he whispered.

"Master, actually... I think this is a signal sent to me by my Senior Brother, Chen Qingzi."

"A signal?" The Flame Patriarch narrowed his eyes. He was instinctively about to lean forward, but quickly remembered Wang Baole’s posture from a moment ago. He controlled himself, remaining bolt upright, and allowed his aura to surge once more. He began to glow with a light that made him look majestic and divine.

Wang Baole couldn't help but rub his eyes, finding the light a bit piercing. He lowered his voice and continued.

"Yes, a signal. I’m not entirely certain, but I think if my Senior Brother Chen Qingzi truly intended to slay the Split Moon Divine Emperor, he wouldn't give the outside world a chance to sense it. Furthermore, since people in the vicinity gain opportunities upon the fall of a Divine Emperor, I’ve been wondering... could this be a hint from my Senior Brother, telling me to go there?"

"Even if it isn't a hint, it shouldn't be very dangerous for me to go. With Master backing me, not many would dare provoke me, and my Senior Brother is one of our own... So, I feel that this is basically a land of providence prepared specifically for me." Wang Baole laid out the analysis he had performed on his way back.

Of course, he also possessed Dark Fire and Dark Artifacts. As the Dark Child, he would not be weakened within the Heavenly Dao of the Dark Sect; on the contrary, he would be like a fish in water. Even if the Dark Sect appeared, he would likely be safe.

Wang Baole didn't say these things out loud, but the Flame Patriarch could guess them. After a moment of thought, the Patriarch mused that there was indeed a high probability that this was the case.

*Using this method to tell my precious disciple to go and collect providence?*

*That fellow Chen Qingzi is too devious. He’s trying to poach my disciple! I just got my precious disciple the providence of Planet Fate, and now Chen Qingzi pulls this. No... I have to think of a way. I can't let the Dark Sect steal my disciple!* The Flame Patriarch’s thoughts took a sharp turn. He narrowed his eyes, scanned Wang Baole, and spoke coolly.

"Baole, this is merely your speculation. If it is as you say, then all is well, but if it is not, the danger is extreme."

"I suspect the Weiyang Clan will set up sacrificial rites at the place where Chen Qingzi and Split Moon are fighting. They might help Split Moon in secret, or try to seal the area, or use some other method. Regardless, they will definitely have a plan."

"As for the fact that they seem unwilling but unable to stop the chosen talents of the various sects and clans from heading there, I suspect that is also part of the plan. If all those people die at your Senior Brother’s hands, then he... becomes the enemy of all sects!"

"Going there at this time is not very appropriate!" The Flame Patriarch spoke slowly, and his words did indeed make sense. However, after thinking it over, Wang Baole remained firm in his intent. Just as he was about to speak, the Flame Patriarch clearly sensed his thoughts, coughed, and continued.

"Of course, I know that for us cultivators, the higher the cultivation, the slower the progress. But Baole, if you want to speed up your cultivation, going to the place where a Divine Emperor falls isn't the only way. There are other solutions. For example, raising the civilization level of your Federation can provide feedback that increases your cultivation."

"Your advancement from the early stage of the Planet realm to the mid-stage was because the level of the Solar System Federation rose, wasn't it?" The Flame Patriarch spoke with a smile. Seeing Wang Baole lost in thought, he blinked and spoke again.

"The Flame Galaxy has already been refined by me, so it cannot be transferred to the Solar System. However, the Weiyang Dao Domain is vast. With your cultivation, there are many ways for you to acquire more stars for the Solar System, allowing the civilization of your home to advance."

Wang Baole’s mind whirred. This was indeed a method. He immediately asked, "Master, is the civilization advancement of my home Solar System infinite? Or are there certain limitations?"

"One could say it is infinite, and one could also say it is limited. Merging foreign stars takes time... and evolving into a larger galaxy after the merger also takes time, until it eventually becomes a Star Domain. Your cultivation would break through accordingly," the Flame Patriarch said slowly after a slight hesitation.

"Master, is there a way to accelerate it?" Wang Baole frowned and looked at his Master.

The Flame Patriarch fell silent. After a long while, he sighed.

"Go find your Senior Brother Chen Qingzi then. There are ways to accelerate a galaxy's merger with stars and its evolution into a Star Domain, but it requires the blessing of the Heavenly Dao. The Weiyang Heavenly Dao will not give you its blessing. Looking at it now, only the Dark Sect’s Heavenly Dao can do it." The Flame Patriarch felt somewhat helpless, feeling as if he had been outdone by Chen Qingzi.

This feeling made him very uncomfortable. He blinked, then raised his right hand and grasped at the air. Suddenly, a ball of light materialized from the void and flew toward Wang Baole.

Inside the ball of light was a leaf!

The leaf was green with black veins. It didn't look particularly extraordinary, but when it floated before Wang Baole, just one glance caused his heart to shake violently. A sense of crisis, so intense it bordered on the extreme, transmitted from his soul. It felt as if his soul would instantly crumble if this leaf were to erupt.

This feeling caused Wang Baole’s expression to change. Looking closer, he could vaguely see countless black wisps of Qi on the leaf, and heard countless roars and bouts of madness. All of this made him realize immediately what this leaf was.

That was... a curse!

It was the Flame Spirit Curse, originating from the same source as his own but at a level far, far higher. Clearly, this was a part of the Flame Patriarch’s own cultivation—or rather, a part of the curse he had bottled up for thousands of years, intended to take a Divine Emperor down with him.

"Master..." Wang Baole’s breathing turned ragged as he looked at the Flame Patriarch.

"Since you insist on going to that place of turmoil, aside from escorting you there and waiting for you, the only thing I can do is give you another item for self-defense."

"This leaf contains my curse. It can curse to death any expert in the Star Domain realm. Originally, I could have given you hundreds or thousands of leaves, but I feared you would become arrogant and cause a disaster, so I will only give you one. Remember... learn from your Master; this item is more useful when held in reserve than when unleashed!" the Flame Patriarch said calmly, his expression normal, as if he really could pull out hundreds or thousands at will.

Wang Baole’s heart trembled. He felt that his Master’s cultivation was truly heaven-shaking. He reached out to take it and bowed deeply to the Flame Patriarch.

"Thank you, Master!"

"Go and rest. In three days, I will take you there!" The Flame Patriarch waved his hand, and a gentle force swept out, carrying Wang Baole out of the hall. After Wang Baole left, the Flame Patriarch quickly panted a few times. He looked inward at his soul with a pained expression. Inside his soul, a black plant that originally had ten leaves now only had nine.

"One leaf, one thousand-year curse. As a master, I’ve truly paid a heavy price for my disciple." Murmuring, the Flame Patriarch sighed, but his expression soon turned suspicious.

"Something’s not right." He suddenly felt that all of this seemed a bit too coincidental. As soon as his disciple advanced, Chen Qingzi decided to slay Split Moon, and the Heavenly Dao's blessing was the only way to accelerate the advancement of a galaxy.

"It can't be. Even if Chen Qingzi can slay a Divine Emperor, he can't possibly calculate this far ahead... and he’s currently in the middle of a battle with Split Moon." The Flame Patriarch scratched his head, feeling that there was something fishy about this.

"Could that fellow have some ill intent toward my disciple?" After a long while, the Flame Patriarch suddenly looked up. In that instant, an overwhelming light erupted from his eyes, and the entire Flame Galaxy shook violently.

"I hope I'm just overthinking it... Otherwise, I don't care about your Dark Sect. If anyone dares touch my disciple, I don't care if it's Chen Qingzi; I'll unleash the curses I've been bottling up for tens of thousands of years and curse you to death!"

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END OF Chapter 1124
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