Chapter 552: ‘The Fifth Guardian’ Infinite True God?

At the summit of the underwater mountain, 'Qigong Peak,' the water bamboo forest swayed in emerald waves due to the seismic activity.

Six massive figures observed Qigong Peak from a radius of 100,000 li around it.

Some released their dharma realms, causing multiple mountain avatars to ripple through the underwater domain.

Others deployed their Dao soldiers, disrupting the fundamental essences of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, preventing the person inside the peak from drawing upon the power of heaven and earth.

Some transformed into beasts, using innate secret techniques to distort space and erect numerous spatial barriers.

The seabed around the peak arched, forming trenches, as if powerful individuals were moving stealthily within them.

A multitude of methods, both inside and out, above and below, surrounded Qigong Peak in seven layers.

Qigong Peak was a spiritual peak deep within the earth, and even with the ongoing seismic changes, its environment remained stable. It shimmered with radiant light, surrounded by clear currents and magnificent, gilded palaces, a stark contrast to the murky waters and scenes of collapsed mountains and ruined cities 100,000 li away.

As a purplish-red aura rippled, Venerable Yusheng emerged from the water bamboo forest at Qigong Peak's summit, stepping on withered leaves. The hem of her moon-white robe swept the ground but remained spotless.

She had just finished a battle, and the ceremonial artifacts adorning her were shattered. Instead of focusing on the powerful enemies surrounding her outside, Venerable Yusheng looked down, searching for something.

Bubbles gurgled up from beneath her feet, forming strings of pearls. Venerable Yusheng casually picked a few to adorn her hair and then broke off a bamboo twig to tie up her loose dark strands.

Her slender fingers held up the jade mirror at her waist. The reflection showed a dignified and elegant person, exuding a divine aura.

"Graceful, truly graceful," remarked Zhao Xing, who had arrived above Qigong Peak, guided by Venerable Chuji's coordinates. He had just witnessed the scene.

"Brother Chuji, you seven have already fought Venerable Yusheng, but without gaining any advantage?"

Venerable Chuji shook his head. "Venerables Leihong, Yuezhen, and Yikun arrived later, so only four of us actually engaged. However, she is indeed very strong. I attacked with full power, cooperating with Taoyou, Quande, and Ningsi. Perhaps our coordination wasn't skilled enough, which is why we couldn't defeat her."

"I see," Zhao Xing nodded. "Coordination wasn't skilled enough?" Chuji was clearly implying that the other three hadn't given their full effort. Such things were common; one couldn't expect these newcomers to immediately risk their lives wholeheartedly.

"Qigong Peak, where Venerable Yusheng resides, has a very large quantity of Earth God Crystals," Chuji added. "I arrived first and sensed fluctuations from at least 5,000 units of Earth God Crystals. We initially thought she was a Minister of Agriculture, but we didn't expect her to also cultivate as a Musician—"

"Oh? That's unusual," Zhao Xing mused, recalling a legend heard near Six-Wing Mountain about a deity named You Tianfu, who practiced both music and agriculture and left behind a work titled "Tianfu's Music and Agriculture."

Zhao Xing focused his gaze, and Venerable Yusheng's information appeared on his panel. Her true name was Liu Qingci, a sixteenth-tier demigod with the Priest profession. Her spell level was remarkably high. Zhao Xing assessed that Liu Qingci's combat power was exceptionally formidable, far beyond what she outwardly appeared.

"So she's a Priest, no wonder," Zhao Xing thought to himself. Priests weren't particularly powerful during the Desolate Realm era, but they were incredibly formidable during the Five Emperors era. Excluding innate professions like Scholars, the Priest was the most powerful divine profession. Even the Scarecrow Technique was once part of the Priest profession.

"Fellow Daoists, now that everyone is here, let's take Qigong Peak in one swift move," Zhao Xing announced. "After we succeed, half of the Earth God Crystals will be shared among you; those who contribute more will receive more. I will also do my best to resolve any karmic burdens for you. But if anyone dares to shirk their duties..." Zhao Xing paused, his gaze sweeping over the three demigods: Taoyou, Quande, and Ningsi. "That would ruin our collective efforts and delay everyone from obtaining their opportunities. I will personally eliminate such a person!"

Zhao Xing used his Mind Field technique to connect with the eight newcomers present, issuing the command to attack again. His final words sent a chill down everyone's spines. Even though engaging in battle would increase their karmic burden, compelled by Zhao Xing's oppressive power, they had no choice but to act.

At that moment, Venerable Yusheng, standing by the bamboo forest, looked up at Zhao Xing, a slight smile on her lips. "So, Envoy Han is also a newcomer. I wonder, Brother, what is your origin that allows you to command them like slaves, making them obey your every order? Since you can resolve their karmic burdens, why don't you capture me yourself?"

As soon as Liu Qingci spoke, Leihong and the others' expressions turned grim. Zhao Xing couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. He had just employed a carrot-and-stick approach with these people, only for Liu Qingci to immediately sow discord. What was even more alarming was that Liu Qingci had apparently heard his mental transmission.

"Mental sounds are still sounds. Can Liu Qingci, who has cultivated the Five Tones and Twelve Scales, really achieve such a feat?"

However, when it came to intimidation, Zhao Xing had never been afraid. He immediately chuckled, "Priest Liu, what remarkable skill. You truly are a genius to cultivate the Eight Spirit Reads of the Gods. Your spell can eavesdrop on mental sounds, but I wonder if you can withstand the combined attack of our eight?"

Liu Qingci's expression subtly changed. She was, of course, using an alias here, yet Zhao Xing could state her surname and discern at a glance that she hadn't dual-cultivated two paths, but rather, her Priest profession had cultivated eight Spirit Reads.

"Just who are you, sir? Do you dare reveal your sect or affiliation?"

Zhao Xing scoffed, waving his hand. "You'll know once you're lying at my feet."

Seeing Zhao Xing's gesture, Chuji immediately roared and charged forward. As he rushed out, his voluminous dharma robe instantly stretched, bursting with surging muscles. His fine black hair transformed into thick manes, and his face became lion-like, though with three eyes. Purple scales grew on his hands and feet, and lightning crackled around his sharp claws. It was the Marquis Transformation Technique: Three-Eyed Thunder Lion!

"What a beast in human clothing," Bovin scoffed. "This fellow is actually leading the charge just to curry favor with you."

Zhao Xing didn't respond to Bovin. He wondered how the Divine Temple had trained him; since Bovin's 'redemption,' he had increasingly resembled a true deity. "You killed your master to achieve enlightenment and stole books and treasures back then; you certainly didn't care for etiquette!"

"Chuji, beware of her divine artifact, the 'Cold Jade.' It can enhance her Palace Emblem Eight Tone Divine Art," Zhao Xing warned, beginning his tactical guidance.

In front of Liu Qingci, a paulownia wood zither case appeared, revealing a purple brocade lining. The zither within was entirely pristine white, adorned with thirteen tourmaline-inlaid markers. The emerald plectrum on her right ring finger flashed with a cold gleam just before Chuji's transformation obscured the last ray of sunlight. As the first musical note emanated, the seawater above Qigong Peak instantly collapsed.

"Roar~" A dragon-headed avatar appeared before Chuji.

"Chuji, she's playing 'Water Dragon's Chant' from the Palace Emblem Eight Tone Divine Art. The first note of the prelude is the 'Heart Play'," Zhao Xing instructed. "They are all illusions. Don't dodge; charge straight through."

As an eighteenth-tier True Spirit, Zhao Xing's True Spirit level surpassed everyone else's, allowing him to react within an infinitely shorter time and provide Chuji with warnings. Among those present, only Chuji could transform, making him the vanguard for a direct impact. Therefore, Zhao Xing focused his reminders on Chuji.

Chuji came from a humble background, with no means of retreat; he was both shrewd and bold. Having decided to impress Zhao Xing, he had no room for hesitation. Even as every inch of his flesh instinctively urged his True Spirit to flee, he gritted his teeth and did not dodge, defying his primal instincts to charge directly into the dragon's head.

"Roar!" Chuji passed through the dragon's head, only realizing belatedly that it was indeed an avatar and had not caused him significant harm. The 'beast in human clothing' immediately felt a surge of confidence!

In contrast, Liu Qingci was fighting against many. She not only had to face the combined spell attacks of Leihong, Yuezhen, Yikun, Hanyou, Quande, and Ningsi simultaneously but also had to reserve a portion of her mental energy to guard against Zhao Xing's moves. When Zhao Xing exposed her technique, Liu Qingci immediately changed her rhythm.

"Clang!" "Roar!" The diving Three-Eyed Thunder Lion was suddenly obstructed. At that moment, the fundamental Dao of Metal seemed to resonate, forming a wall on Chuji's path—infinitely high, infinitely long, and infinitely thick.

This cacophony of clashing metal struck Chuji, leaving him dazed and disoriented, causing him to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood. The blood diffused through the seabed, tinting the sound wall golden-red.

Zhao Xing observed Chuji's condition; there wasn't a significant decline. This was because he had warned Chuji the moment Liu Qingci changed her rhythm.

"This is the Shang Note, 'Golden Blade Song.' Liu Qingci has cultivated it to the tenth tier. Her divine sound leverages the fundamental essence of Metal, transforming high-frequency sound waves into strangling threads that will pierce your flesh," Zhao Xing warned. "Slow down, and use the Three-Eyed Thunder Lion's innate ability, 'Five Yin Thunder Roar,' to weaken its power."

Chaotic sound waves formed an underwater vortex above Qigong Peak. Chuji, with his four paws treading the edge of the vortex, couldn't help but feel somewhat shocked.

"This Venerable Han not only saw through Venerable Yusheng at a glance but also understood me completely," he thought. "What kind of supreme being is Boundless True God, to cultivate such a heaven-defying demigod?"

Chuji alone understood just how effective Zhao Xing's two micro-maneuvers had been. If he hadn't listened to Zhao Xing and made his own decisions, he definitely wouldn't have fought this way. In that scenario, Liu Qingci's two divine sound secret techniques would surely have cut him half to death.

Because he was the only one capable of close combat, he would undoubtedly be a primary target. Most of the newcomers who chose to become deputy envoys for the Mountain Patrol Bureau belonged to spell-casting schools. While a martial artist path to a Minister of Agriculture position wasn't impossible, it was purely inviting hardship. Thus, Chuji, a Minister of Agriculture who practiced the Marquis Transformation Technique, was the sole individual capable of threatening Liu Qingci in close quarters and potentially ending the battle swiftly.

Liu Qingci naturally aimed to eliminate Chuji first. As for the others, she was not particularly afraid of a battle of spells.

After two consecutive counterattacks failed to achieve the desired effect, Liu Qingci's eyes were filled with confusion. She could hear Zhao Xing's mental transmissions to Chuji, which almost synchronously revealed the profound secrets of her ultimate moves. It wasn't that no one could do this, but it would require a scholar whose True Spirit level surpassed hers and who also possessed the Omniscience technique. However, Zhao Xing's micro-management was even more abnormal than a scholar's. It was as if a manual lay open before him, exposing all the strengths, burst points, and flaws of every ultimate move. This was simply too unreasonable!

The sacrificial Spirit Read within her flickered, and her body split into two. One ethereal Liu Qingci continued to play the zither, while the other, clad in black armor and wielding a silver spear, manifested a golden body tens of thousands of feet tall!

"Eight Spirit Reads of the Gods, Martial God's Sacrificial Body."

Zhao Xing, observing the clone Liu Qingci had split, realized her formidable power. The Priest profession, when unrestricted, was similarly versatile to the Scholar profession, though it lacked the Scholar's 'omniscience' and its great power depended on the deity it worshipped. This profession also had its own 'clone technique' called the Sacrificial Body, which was forged by deities to assist their believers.

At this moment, a trace of divine power from the Martial God Spirit Read within Liu Qingci had been activated. Her split Sacrificial Body's golden body level had reached the eighteenth tier, and its True Spirit had ascended to the seventeenth tier. In terms of physical body level, she was now on par with him.

After Chuji's transformation, his Three-Eyed Thunder Lion's physical strength was already formidable, but its defensive power was only slightly superior to the Martial God's Sacrificial Body.

However, immediately afterward, Liu Qingci's aura surged again. Judging by the panel data and the actual sensation of her aura's fluctuations, her Martial God's Sacrificial Body now exhibited certain characteristics of a divine body. "Its comprehensive combat power has reached that of an early-stage divine weapon. She's a tough opponent," Zhao Xing remarked, extending a hand to halt Chuji's advance.

"This woman is going all out," Bovin said with a hint of amusement. "Zhao Xing, did your plan account for this? She'd rather increase her karmic burden than yield. Even if you can defeat her, you won't be able to kill her."

Zhao Xing nodded. Indeed, a genius like Liu Qingci likely had a divine general protecting her, capable of pulling her out at critical moments. Now, only by personally intervening could he suppress her, but this would inevitably increase his karmic burden. Combat itself was never the goal, but a means to an end. With Liu Qingci now fighting desperately, the best outcome for him was still to obtain the Earth God Crystals she possessed.

Liu Qingci's Martial God's Sacrificial Body, with a solemn expression, pointed her long spear diagonally at Zhao Xing but did not immediately attack. "Adventuring together in an evil god's territory, even if we cannot support each other, there's no need to be so aggressively overbearing. I don't know how you see through my hidden cards, but you should know I possess the power to fight to the death. The Grand Dao faces heaven, and each takes their own path. Fellow Daoist, why not leave a thread of possibility?"

Leihong, Yuezhen, Yikun, Hanyou, Quande, Ningsi, and the others halted their attacks, as ordinary assaults were now meaningless; Venerable Yusheng had unleashed divine-level combat power. While they might have methods to briefly reach a divine level, who would use them now? They were merely a makeshift group, only temporarily compliant for the sake of opportunity. It was impossible for them to sacrifice their trump cards for this, as threats alone could not breach a certain bottom line.

"Zhao Xing, don't push things too far," Bovin advised after observing from within the inner world for a moment. "I observe her Martial God's Sacrificial Body and see that her karma is already tied to the deity she serves. Even if she wished to, she couldn't sign an unequal karmic contract with you. You cannot bind her through that method."

"Understood," Zhao Xing responded. He stared at Liu Qingci and took a step forward. Shadows emerged beneath his feet, and the surrounding seawater instantly cleared. A phantom image of the Cangwu Divine Tree appeared behind him.

"Hand over ninety percent of the Earth God Crystals you obtained this time."

Immediately, Zhao Xing took a second step. His left palm partially transformed through the Marquis Transformation, becoming the hand of the Nine Marsh God. A singularity appeared in his palm, and a surge of divine power and fierce might pressed down. Leihong, Chuji, and the others gasped, instinctively afraid, and involuntarily retreated. Liu Qingci's Martial God's Sacrificial Body's pupils also contracted.

Then, Zhao Xing unhurriedly spoke his second condition: "If you wish to continue seeking opportunities in the Asyis Sea, you must hand over half of the Earth God Crystals you obtain each time afterward. Of course, I will also use my authority as a proper envoy to grant you some protection. And you must sign a karmic contract! Venerable Yusheng, this is the thread I'm offering. Whether you take it or not is up to you."

As his voice echoed, everyone fell silent.

Liu Qingci bowed her head, seemingly conversing with her protector.

Zhao Xing only took half of Bovin's advice. As the saying goes, how can one sleep soundly if others snore in their bed? If he retreated now and allowed Liu Qingci to patrol the Asyis Sea's Divine Bureau, Zhao Xing wouldn't be able to rest easy. Therefore, he either had to drive Liu Qingci away or make her sign a karmic contract, even if that contract wasn't overly strict.

"My patience is limited," Zhao Xing declared, taking another step forward when Liu Qingci still didn't respond.

"Wait!" Liu Qingci transmitted mentally. "I can agree to your karmic contract, but before that, I need to know your origin, Fellow Daoist, and which great deity you serve."

Looking at Liu Qingci's resolute gaze, Zhao Xing felt a little puzzled. Was she asking for clarification to seek retribution later?

"It's not as narrow-minded as you think," Bovin said faintly. "Her protector probably doesn't allow her to submit to an evil god from the Desolate Realm faction. So, if you say you are from the Desolate Realm Era, she will absolutely not compromise."

Zhao Xing suddenly understood, truly, having an elder is like having a treasure. If Bovin hadn't reminded him, it would likely have escalated into a violent conflict. Zhao Xing wasn't afraid, but it was always best to subdue an opponent without fighting.

"And you can't lie to her about this, because she will definitely verify it in the karmic contract."

"I don't need to lie to her," Zhao Xing chuckled, then extended a karmic thread to her.

"Boundless is the Divine Venerable; Law is the Universe. I am a disciple of the Boundless True God!" he declared. "As for my spacetime location, don't dwell on it."

This karmic thread contained vague scenes of Zhao Xing's several encounters with the Boundless True God, enough for Liu Qingci to confirm his allegiance. Because Zhao Xing had completed 'evil god tasks' and genuinely made offerings to the Boundless True God, who had in turn provided substantial rewards, this karmic thread was as genuine as could be. As for which spacetime he came from? That became irrelevant.

"Boundless True God, so it's him?" The name of Boundless True God seemed to resonate strongly, as the Martial God Sacrificial Body's expression showed a hint of shock.

Zhao Xing stood proudly, musing that a divine general who had attained Dao through heaven and earth must indeed be highly esteemed. His prolonged devotion had not been in vain.

"Very well, I accept," the Martial God's Sacrificial Body snorted.

The River of Time was endless. At a branching point, a mechanical city hovered above it. Countless tributaries, like threads, subtly extended to the main river channel where the Divine Mechanism City stood—the Boundless True God's lair.

Inside a tower within the Divine Mechanism City, countless clocks ticked on the smooth white floor. At the end of the space, clocks piled up like mountains, forming stairs and a throne. The Boundless True God's true form sat atop the highest stack of clocks, chin propped on his hand, seemingly lost in thought. He was motionless, and the surrounding clock hands were completely still, as if the concept of time ceased to exist there.

However, at one moment, a beam of light suddenly surged from the River of Time below, outside the Divine Mechanism City, gently knocking on this spacetime. Inside the tower, countless clocks advanced a tick, and the Boundless True God looked up, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"It's General Yin Zai, a divine general under the Cangxian Divine King. What is he doing here?"

The Boundless True God pondered for a moment before allowing General Yin Zai to enter. As a True God, he didn't need to conceal himself and thus feared no increase in karma, for he had no divine tribulations. This allowed the Boundless True God to travel through various spacetimes and interact with many divine-level beings without fear of tribulation. He found it very convenient to conduct affairs, and thus, he was highly valued in all divine-level powers.

General Yin Zai was a divine general-level Priest known to the Boundless True God. They maintained a karmic connection, which, in the context of divine concealment, was considered a good relationship. However, as a True God, Boundless had many friends, and Yin Zai was just one of them.

He recalled that their karmic thread originated from a small-scale cooperation between their respective factions several epochs ago. The thread was formed during a celebratory banquet, much like mundane merchants exchanging calling cards at a feast.

"I've only met Yin Zai twice, both times by chance during collaborations between our two factions. This is now our third meeting, but our first private one," the Boundless True God mused, and decided to allow Yin Zai into the spacetime he controlled.

"Whoosh~" A ray of time flew in, appearing inside the tower and manifesting Yin Zai's form. The Boundless True God, if he wished, could erase this meeting at any time, leaving no trace and ensuring the Divine Mechanism City's location remained hidden. Such were the methods of a True God.

"Hahaha, Brother Yin Zai, what brings you to my Divine Mechanism City?" Once General Yin Zai's form stabilized, the Boundless True God began to make the clocks behind his throne turn. "Could it be that the Cangxian Divine King has issued an edict, sending you to discuss cooperation?"

"Not so," General Yin Zai shook his head. "Brother Boundless, I have come on personal business this time."

"Personal business? That's unusual. This is the first time you've sought me out for a personal matter, my friend," the Boundless True God said, laughing. "Hahaha, welcome, welcome."

While outwardly smiling and expressing welcome, the Boundless True God secretly halved General Yin Zai's allowed stay time. As a True God of Time Arrays, he was never willing to waste time.

"Brother Boundless, may I ask if you have a demigod named Han Bing under your command?"

"Han Bing?" The Boundless True God frowned slightly. Had Yin Zai come all this way just to ask about a demigod? "I have countless demigods under my command. Even excluding believers, across different spacetimes and territories, the demigods who answer my call number in the hundreds of millions. If you include believers, they number in the tens of billions. How can I answer you when you ask like that?"

The Boundless True God did not respond to every believer's prayer. More often than not, when believers prayed to deities and offered incense, it was a one-sided act, and they weren't even remembered by the Boundless True God. He simply filtered out the thoughts and absorbed only the True Spirit incense. So, Yin Zai's question was akin to one mortal asking another, "Hey, buddy, do you know which hair fell off your head last night?" Was Yin Zai here to make a joke?

The Boundless True God silently halved the other's remaining time again, while simultaneously labeling General Yin Zai as "boring, childish, and abstract." The deities of the Shadow Temple had once received similar evaluations from the Boundless True God.

Yin Zai seemed to sense the Boundless True God's impatience, so he hastily explained, "Forgive me, Brother Boundless; I wasn't clear. I'm asking if there is a demigod Minister of Agriculture named Han Bing under your command who went to the first solar year of the 341st pre-Desolate Realm epoch to explore opportunities on the Cosmic Ark."

Even within the same epoch, there were many cycles of reincarnation. Although Yin Zai's description was still broad, the scope had narrowed considerably.

The Boundless True God instantly realized something but still asked calmly, "First, tell me what urgent matter brings you here?"

"I have a disciple who also went to the Cosmic Ark in the 341st Desolate Realm epoch and encountered this demigod Minister of Agriculture named Han Bing," Yin Zai explained. "Though a demigod, this individual is highly capable, not only able to compel several demigods to serve him but also, like a cultivator of rites, can immediately expose the profound secrets of my disciple's cultivation method. He claimed to be under your command, Brother, and had a conflict with my disciple. Originally, this was a minor matter, but since it concerns your esteemed reputation, Brother, it is no longer trivial," General Yin Zai flattered. "If he is indeed your person, his exceptional talent surely makes him a favored disciple or subordinate of yours, and I wouldn't want my disciple to spoil our good relations. If he is not, then I will have to find a way to eliminate such a genius."

The Boundless True God listened quietly until Yin Zai finished. By now, he was almost certain that the so-called 'Han Bing' was Zhao Xing. His divine power clones, residing in different spacetimes, immediately began to move.

Moments later, the Boundless True God nodded. "Indeed, he is my person. Brother Yin Zai, it was thoughtful of you to come personally to confirm this."

"Since he is your person, Brother, I am relieved," Yin Zai said, smiling and nodding. "Congratulations, Brother, on gaining another talented disciple."

After a brief conversation, General Yin Zai's avatar hastily departed. The Boundless True God watched Yin Zai leave and couldn't help but chuckle derisively.

"Fearing damage to my reputation? What nonsense. This Yin Zai is being dishonest," he thought. "His disciple was probably forced out of the Cosmic Ark or beaten half to death, finding herself in a dangerous situation, which is why he came to verify."

However, Yin Zai's fear of his reputation was indeed genuine. True Gods were inherently superior to Free Gods, and the disparity between divine generals was even greater. For Boundless to call Yin Zai "Brother," it was already a sign of respect.

"Among the demigod disciples under Yin Zai, only that Liu Qingci shows some promise," he mused. "She has cultivated eight Spirit Reads and integrated them using the Eight Secret Divine Arts. Yet, encountering Zhao Xing, she still couldn't win?"

The Boundless True God was unaware that Zhao Xing had already mastered the Nine Marsh God Marquis Transformation through Bovin's 'Golden Cicada True Form, Second Body' technique. He also didn't know if Zhao Xing had learned the True Self Divine Method. Because Zhao Xing had achieved this in the third Desolate Realm epoch, encrypted by historical records, the Boundless True God could see everything happening in the River of Time. However, that was the main stronghold of the Desolate Realm's evil gods. While the Desolate Realm era had harsh environments and concealed Daos, it also had the advantage of blocking the prying eyes of most evil gods.

"Interesting, hahahaha," the Boundless True God burst into laughter after recovering his thoughts. "To push a Priest from Cangxian City to such an extent, he truly is the genius I recognized." Upon receiving this news, the Boundless True God was not only not offended by Zhao Xing using his name but was extremely pleased. It was like the sense of accomplishment one gets after making an investment and seeing a significant upward trend.

"In the 341st pre-Desolate Realm epoch, many evil gods will try to hinder Zhao Xing's path to godhood. Hmm, more precautions are needed." The Boundless True God was busy for a while longer, and his clones near that spacetime stirred. Finally, upon finishing his tasks, the Boundless True God said with a hint of satisfaction, "My efforts can truly be considered as acting as one of Zhao Xing's protectors."

"Heavenly Princess Yuanjun, Undying Underworld God, Tianshan Beast God, and the God of the Bookless City probably never imagined I would intervene," he murmured. "No, how can this be called intervening? Strictly speaking, I was the one who first preached to Zhao Xing. A sapling destined for Heaven-and-Earth Dao, I can't be blamed for not announcing my presence. Who wouldn't hide a promising talent?"

In the 341st Desolate Realm epoch, the first solar year, within the Cosmic Ark secret realm, on the Yuanzang Sea Divine Ship, and beneath the Asyis Sea, before Qigong Peak, Zhao Xing and Liu Qingci's karmic contract was finalized. Chuji and Leihong both looked at Zhao Xing as if he were a divine being. They were unaware of Zhao Xing's subsequent conversation with Liu Qingci; they only knew that after Zhao Xing spoke those words, the powerful and unyielding Liu Qingci had actually bowed her head! Just then, Zhao Xing's voice interrupted Chuji and Leihong's reverie. "Everyone, come get your share."