Zhao Xing's Juyang Avatar gripped the Xuanling Chronicles · Time Page tightly and discreetly stored it within his body.
On Hurui Star Land, Zhao Xing's real body displayed an expression of extreme astonishment.
"So, the Realm-Crossing Mausoleum Boat capsized because of this thing? Its power disrupted time and space… That means the Xuanling Chronicles' missing pages are located in the reversed river formed by the Bronze Chronicle Law?"
"My Juyang Avatar managed to grab it and triggered its effect."
After absorbing the Time Page, Zhao Xing's soul carefully examined it.
It was a thin, almost dimensionless white page, measuring only half a meter in length and width, covered with fine, interwoven lines.
As Zhao Xing's soul scrutinized the page, the lines magnified, transforming into countless flowing rivers.
These rivers streamed out from the paper and vanished into the void.
"This only allows for time reversal within the realm," Zhao Xing mused. "My real body is still in the outside world where time flows normally. It is still Year 1158 of the Eocene Era."
Back in 1146, his real body and Juyang Avatar had gone their separate ways. Twelve years had now passed.
Though changes had occurred within the Realm-Crossing Tomb, the outside world remained unaffected.
"This only influences a branch of the Dao of Time," Zhao Xing quickly deduced.
"Even though I don't fully understand how to use it, the fact that I possess it means I'm not affected by the time reversal. I still remember everything. But for others, it's as if none of this happened."
Now wasn't the time for a thorough study—this was just his avatar, and the environment wasn't safe for him to openly examine the Time Page. He could only suppress his curiosity for now.
"Everyone, we've arrived at the inner tomb."
"This place is a Realm-Crossing Space."
"The three Divine Ability Realm cultivators from Sparks Unit have already entered this realm…"
Zhao Xing's ears picked up Bai Yang's words once again.
He glanced around, noticing that Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing were still nearby.
However, Yu Tianqing was frowning, seemingly on the verge of awakening a latent ability.
Zhao Xing remained silent but continued conversing with Jing Yan.
Meanwhile, Bai Yang retrieved his Star Disk and began charting a course.
Zhao Xing tested the waters with a transmission: "Jing Yan, I noticed that most of the other members are moving in groups of three to five. But it's just the two of us. Isn't that a disadvantage?"
Jing Yan raised a brow. "Brother, are you just ignoring Yu Tianqing? He's standing right there!"
"Come on, man. He might be quiet, and yeah, he's replaced all his bones, but he's still technically human, you know?"
Zhao Xing chuckled. "Just messing with you."
Seeing that Jing Yan still remembered Yu Tianqing, Zhao Xing deduced, "So, he wasn't erased when we crossed the river or entered the city. The memory alteration must've happened earlier."
He did a quick headcount—thirty people in total. But aside from Lan Hai and Fairy Hongtao, the rest didn't leave much of an impression.
"Time's running out. We have just a few days to find the right location," Zhao Xing thought. "Should I warn Bai Yang this time and try to save him?"
Bai Yang was a historian cultivator, meaning he could actually utilize the Realm-Inscribing Brush, Grand Historian's Crown, and Proclamation Scripture.
If he survived, they wouldn't have to spend years fighting and running for their lives.
After all, if they could just coast through safely, who would willingly fight for their lives?
"Yue Maiden and Chen Xuan are powerful, but they lack Bai Yang's historical expertise. If the Realm-Crossing Mausoleum Boat really capsized because of the Time Page, there's no guarantee they'll use the right method to fix it."
"If Bai Yang lives, Yu Tianqing and I wouldn't have to work so hard. Especially since Yu Tianqing's divine ability is a massive risk—keeping it hidden is our best option."
After a brief internal debate, Zhao Xing decided to drop a subtle hint to Bai Yang. If Bai Yang ignored the warning, then so be it.
"Bai Yang."
Zhao Xing transmitted a message.
"Zhao Xing, what is it?" Bai Yang responded swiftly. His impression of Zhao Xing was decent so far.
The Realm-Crossing Formation had caused minor soul disturbances among all participants, but Zhao Xing, Fairy Hongtao, and Lan Hai had been the fastest to recover.
Among them, only Zhao Xing had actively protected teammates, while the other two had focused purely on themselves.
"Bai Yang…"
"Just call me Captain Bai Yang or Bai Yang. No need for formalities."
"Alright, Captain Bai Yang," Zhao Xing corrected himself before choosing his words carefully. "I noticed… the device you're using—is that a Chrono Officer's Timing Disk?"
"Oh?" Bai Yang raised a brow in surprise. "You can tell?"
On the surface, he was holding a directional navigation disk for star positioning, but in reality, it was a time-tracking artifact.
Bai Yang possessed Time Retrospection, a Divine Ability that allowed him to see past events.
Right now, his perception of reality was completely different from everyone else's.
While Zhao Xing and the others saw a desolate wasteland beneath stormy skies, Bai Yang saw a thriving city bathed in sunlight, bustling with people and floating ships.
By observing past landmarks and pedestrians, he could accurately determine the location of the royal city.
But this Divine Ability wasn't without risk.
Especially in this Realm-Crossing Tomb, there was a real danger of mixing up the past and present.
The Timing Disk served as an anchor, constantly reminding him that he was in the Era of the Wild Territories, Second Epoch, not some other timeline.
"My master, Qing Yuzi, is a Shennong of the Heavenly Timing School. He dabbles in historical studies, and I once visited a historian's residence where I saw a Timing Disk," Zhao Xing said casually.
If anyone questioned him, he always had the perfect excuse: "My teacher taught me!"
"I see… A Heavenly Timing Shennong would naturally be attuned to time-based artifacts," Bai Yang mused. "Though, I'm surprised—you're walking the Path of Self instead of the Path of Timing?"
Bai Yang seemed quite relaxed.
Unlike Yue Maiden, who was cold and ruthless, or Chen Xuan, who was aggressive and impatient, Bai Yang had the wisdom of a historian—a cultivation path rooted in the Dao of Etiquette and Records.
"Captain Bai Yang, does this mean… you're actually a historian?" Zhao Xing asked in mock astonishment.
Bai Yang chuckled. "Sharp observation! I knew you had a quick mind."
Then he added, "I wasn't hiding it on purpose. I was simply preparing for the Realm-Crossing Space."
"Are you planning to take on the role of a warrior within this Realm-Crossing Space?" Zhao Xing suddenly had a realization. Grand Preceptor Ruan Chang was likely a powerful warrior.
When he was executed at the Fire Seal Execution Ground, his aura surged to the heavens. His golden body was enormous, and he even seemed to have cultivated transformation divine abilities—undoubtedly a warrior.
"Your teacher is truly knowledgeable. You figured it out so quickly," Bai Yang praised. "That's right, Sparks Unit has been preparing for this mission for a long time. I specifically learned a few warrior-based divine abilities, even adjusting my behavior and demeanor to better fit the role. That way, when I entered this place, I could seamlessly integrate into my character."
"If you want to claim a character's script in a Realm-Crossing Space, you must be well-prepared beforehand."
"If I am the closest match to the original character and no one else is competing for it, then the character's 'designation' will naturally fall upon me."
"I see," Zhao Xing nodded in apparent realization.
It was now clear that Sparks Unit was very strategic when selecting personnel. Across the three teams, there wasn't a second historian cultivator.
Moreover, Bai Yang was the only one deeply familiar with the history of Moonfall Kingdom, making him the undisputed protagonist of this scenario.
Realizing this, Zhao Xing quietly sealed away his own memories of Ruan Chang, ensuring that the designation wouldn't mistakenly attach to him.
His past experience with the Realm-Inscribing Brush had exposed him to an overwhelming amount of historical data. On top of that, he had privately obtained confidential records from Du Yun.
Now, he knew too much. His warrior identity also made him an ideal fit for the protagonist role in this scenario.
"If I don't seal my memories of Ruan Chang, I might actually become the next historical spirit vessel… and that would be a disaster."
With that issue resolved, Zhao Xing resumed his conversation with Bai Yang.
"Captain, does that mean you will soon become the protagonist of this Realm-Crossing Space?" Zhao Xing asked. "Are we supposed to act as your memory anchors?"
"That's right," Bai Yang confirmed, unconcerned about discussing the matter openly.
So he is actively inviting a historical spirit to possess him, Zhao Xing realized. That explained why Bai Yang entered the palace but left so quickly—and why he hadn't attacked his own teammates.
"Since these historical spirits come from biographies, they must be incredibly powerful. Captain, you also mentioned that this is a Dao Domain Realm tomb. Doesn't that mean there's a risk of encountering a Life and Death Dao Domain Realm spirit?" Zhao Xing pressed.
"That possibility can't be ruled out," Bai Yang admitted. "But I'm confident in handling it."
Confident? You died last time, didn't you? Zhao Xing inwardly cursed but knew that trying to persuade Bai Yang was pointless.
A genius like Bai Yang had spent thousands of years preparing for this moment. It was natural for him to be overconfident.
Any prodigy, after hearing endless praise and achieving great feats, would inevitably become complacent.
Only those who had been beaten down by reality truly learned humility.
Bai Yang's actions today were a colossal mistake.
But Zhao Xing had no way to change his mind.
Instead, he engaged in casual discussions, picking Bai Yang's brain on various topics.
Bai Yang, surprisingly patient, shared a wealth of knowledge with him.
It helped that Zhao Xing actually understood the subject, making Bai Yang more willing to converse.
"Your teacher must have been incredibly learned to know so much," Bai Yang remarked.
"You even know that 'Peach Substitute Technique' combined with 'Inverse Fate Shift' can allow someone to replace the protagonist's fate. That's an extremely obscure method—thought to be long lost."
"My teacher always maintained reverence toward all paths of the universe."
"So he learned a little bit of everything. He lived cautiously, always seeking stability above all else."
"But unfortunately… his final act of arrogance cost him his life," Zhao Xing said solemnly.
"Your teacher has passed away? That's truly unfortunate," Bai Yang sighed, deep in thought.
They fell silent after that.
Soon, Bai Yang located the Historical City.
As they reached the moat, Yu Tianqing suddenly frowned. His body trembled for a brief moment.
The next second—he vanished.
Right in front of Zhao Xing's eyes, Yu Tianqing became completely transparent.
Yet, Jing Yan and Bai Yang didn't notice a thing.
Only Zhao Xing retained his memory of Yu Tianqing, because nothing overruled the priority of the Xuanling Chronicles.
Even with time rewound, his memories remained intact—what was a mere Realm-Crossing Space compared to that?
Yu Tianqing would gradually reappear after fully awakening his divine ability and learning to weaken the historian's influence suppressing him.
Last time, it had taken an entire year, during which Zhao Xing had slaughtered a million Fire Tortoises while Yu Tianqing struggled to overcome the suppression.
By the time Yu Tianqing was finally visible to Bai Yang, Bai Yang was already too preoccupied to care.
"Don't look at the river. Keep your eyes on the crown on my head," Bai Yang instructed.
They had arrived at the Bronze Chronicle Law's inverted historical river.
The following events unfolded exactly the same as before.
Lan Hai sighed. Fairy Hongtao rubbed her stomach. Yu Tianqing looked lost…
But after crossing the river, something changed.
Perhaps it was Qing Yuzi's story that influenced him—Bai Yang made a different choice this time.
After crossing the river but before entering the city, he performed a ritual.
"Chronicles Summoning Technique!"
A thick ancient book appeared in Bai Yang's hands. From within its pages, a small figure leaped out—clad in imperial robes and wearing an ornate crown.
It was none other than Yang Baihe, a recorded emperor.
While everyone else stared at the crown, only Zhao Xing and Yu Tianqing witnessed this moment.
Bai Yang casually explained to Zhao Xing, "This is my avatar technique. It allows a historical spirit to possess it instead of me directly."
"Previously, in a mid-tier world, I conquered an entire empire and unified the continent. After ascending to the throne, I enshrined my name into history."
"And thus, I created this Chronicles Avatar."
"Impressive," Zhao Xing praised sincerely.
This technique was truly incredible—summoning oneself, and at the Divine Ability Realm at that!
However, Bai Yang must have invested an immense amount of effort. After all, a mere small world's history wouldn't have been enough to support such formidable power.
The small world Bai Yang conquered must have been a core secret of his, its location either completely hidden or in an absolutely safe place.
If that world were to be destroyed and its history completely erased, the Chronicles Avatar connected to it would weaken drastically—or even collapse entirely.
"Zhao Xing, carry me for a bit," Bai Yang said.
"Alright." Zhao Xing immediately understood, slightly expanding his body.
He originally thought Bai Yang would simply perch on his hand, but unexpectedly, Bai Yang leaped into his ear.
Seeing Zhao Xing's slightly stunned expression, Bai Yang chuckled and explained, "Members of Sparks Unit have a habit of riding on a Qi Sect martial artist's shoulder, specifically inside their ear."
"It makes communication easier, and it's also convenient for escaping quickly. If I were inside your stomach, getting out wouldn't be as simple, and my view would be terrible."
"That's a good habit." Zhao Xing nodded.
The journey into the city proceeded exactly as before—except this time, Bai Yang's main body remained hidden inside Zhao Xing's ear, while his Chronicles Avatar led the way.
Only Yu Tianqing noticed this strange detail, his gaze filled with confusion, though he didn't speak.
That was because Zhao Xing subtly signaled him with a hand gesture.
Upon entering the city, they left behind their ancient coins and crowns, as per the process. Meanwhile, Bai Yang's Chronicles Avatar entered the imperial palace.
Yu Tianqing, having received Zhao Xing's transmission, obediently stayed with Jing Yan.
Zhao Xing had told him about his divine ability awakening and advised him to stay near Jing Yan to cultivate and refine it.
Zhao Xing had given him one year to master the Truth-Seeking Eyes.
Once Yu Tianqing fully neutralized the divine ability's suppression, Bai Yang would naturally remember him again.
As long as he didn't expose himself too blatantly or interfere too much with the plot, they could come up with any excuse for his reappearance. Sparks Unit wouldn't pry too deeply into each other's secrets or personal abilities.
They waited.
This time, the wait was longer than before.
Zhao Xing remained outside the imperial palace for three full years.
Last time, Bai Yang had lasted barely three months before being instantly defeated.
"Shit—" Bai Yang's main body, sitting inside Zhao Xing's ear, suddenly collapsed as if all his strength had drained away.
"Captain, what happened?" Zhao Xing pretended to be shocked. "Don't scare me like that!"
"That damn bastard turned out to be at the Life and Death Dao Domain Realm! And on top of that, he's a lunatic Grand Preceptor!" Bai Yang cursed, completely losing his previous overconfident attitude.
"My Chronicles Avatar only lasted three years in the Extreme Dao Hall before being completely taken over by Ruan Chang's historical spirit! I even placed five Supreme Yin Dao Weapons on my avatar! Right now, my avatar is even stronger than my real body, and it still couldn't withstand the corruption!"
"What?!" Zhao Xing acted surprised. "Captain, what do we do now?"
Bai Yang took a deep breath, still shaken. "Zhao Xing, it's a damn good thing we talked before. You saved my life."
"At least my main body is safe. That means I still have options… Sealed Spirit Coins, activate!"
Bai Yang cast a technique, and the three ancient coins floating around Zhao Xing suddenly lifted into the air.
Then, Bai Yang dragged Zhao Xing with him, swiftly hiding inside the palace walls.
Zhao Xing was astonished to find that Bai Yang had somehow wedged them into a tiny gap between the pages of history itself.
"Some things really require specialized knowledge… I wouldn't even have known this pocket dimension existed," Zhao Xing thought to himself, marveling at the surroundings.
The gap-space had only three walls—white on the left and right, and transparent in the front, allowing them to observe the imperial palace gates.
Moments later, Zhao Xing saw Bai Yang's Chronicles Avatar reappear outside.
Meanwhile, Bai Yang's main body sat cross-legged, performing some kind of ritual.
This time, Yu Tianqing never appeared, and Ruan Chang's possessed Chronicles Avatar departed exactly as it had before.
"What an absolute bastard," Bai Yang muttered, finally opening his eyes.
"What's wrong, Captain?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Ruan Chang's historical spirit just gave orders to his subordinates. He told them to surrender without resistance." Bai Yang's voice carried a mix of anger and disbelief.
"He willingly accepted execution, but he also wanted all his subordinates to give up fighting. Anyone who refused was personally executed by him on the spot."
"What kind of madman Grand Preceptor does that?"
"That's messed up," Zhao Xing shook his head. "So, what's the plan now?"
"We head to the imperial palace and retrieve the Realm-Inscribing Brush, the Grand Historian's Crown, and the Doctrine Scroll." Bai Yang's expression hardened. "Those three artifacts are the real objective of this mission."
"As long as we secure them, we can leave this place."
Bai Yang then contacted the others. "Yue Nü, tell Chen Xuan to draw away the palace guards and create chaos. I need a distraction."
"No problem." From the other side, Yue Nü nodded, then tapped Chen Xuan's earlobe. "Time to work, big guy."
They waited for another half-month.
Suddenly, a massive army of book-construct soldiers flew out from the imperial palace, heading in one direction.
"Zhao Xing, come with me," Bai Yang ordered.
Zhao Xing hesitated. "Captain, do I really need to go?"
"You're safest by my side," Bai Yang said flatly. "If I leave, you won't be able to stay in this book-space anymore."
"In the palace, all you have to do is block any sneak attacks. If we run into important figures, I'll handle them."
"Alright."
Zhao Xing followed Bai Yang into the imperial palace.
Before entering, Bai Yang cast a divine ability on Zhao Xing—"See Not, Hear Not."
The journey was smooth, until they encountered Jun Yichen.
"Who dares trespass into the imperial palace?!"
Shhhhkkk!
A flaming spear grazed Zhao Xing's shoulder again.
"Damn it, not this again," Zhao Xing cursed inwardly.
But at least this time, he didn't have to fight.
Bai Yang, being far more knowledgeable about Moonfall Kingdom's history, effortlessly handled it.
The moment he appeared, he simply tossed Jun Yichen a letter.
Jun Yichen didn't even ask questions—he immediately led his men to storm the palace and petition for their deaths.
He didn't even say a word.
It was that easy.
"Over there."
Bai Yang pointed the way, and Zhao Xing flew them forward.
The Realm-Inscribing Brush checkpoint turned out to be even simpler than expected.
Bai Yang merely summoned his Historical Book, flipped open a page, and stretched out his hand.
"Come."
The Realm-Inscribing Brush instantly soared into his grasp, as if it had been waiting for him all along.
"Captain, that was way too easy, wasn't it?" Zhao Xing was a little surprised.
"Only after countless trials and meticulous preparation can something appear effortless." Bai Yang smiled. "Sparks Unit helped me gather forty-nine pages of Moonfall Kingdom's historical records. Each page alone could be sold for the price of a Supreme Yin Dao Weapon."
"But in the end, only seven pages were useful. Even with my techniques, it was barely enough."
"Captain, you're being too modest," Zhao Xing remarked.
Not long after, the Grand Historian's Crown and the Doctrine Scroll were also taken.
The moment the Doctrine Scroll was moved, the book-constructs' power significantly weakened.
At the same time, the revolt arc and the purge arc of the storyline had begun.
Shashashasha—
[…The Tyrant and the Demon Consort purged all those who knew the truth. Inside and outside the palace, countless people perished, but Yang Baihe and Zhao Xing managed to escape unscathed. They regrouped with their allies and successfully reunited with Chen Xuan and Yue Nü.]
Bai Yang held the Realm-Inscribing Brush, writing directly into the air.
Zhao Xing glanced at it and found himself at a loss for words.
Now that Bai Yang possessed the three sacred artifacts, he held more power over the plot than the tomb's own master. The storyline now unfolded however he dictated.
They successfully left the city. Bai Yang quickly regrouped with the surviving team members.
Lan Hai and Red Peach Fairy were still alive, but three unlucky teammates perished in the chaos. Their deaths were due to their own fear and greed, as they had wandered out of the ancient coin's protection zone.
Eight days later, Chen Xuan and Yue Nü's team arrived at Bai Yang's side.
Bai Yang waved, signaling for a switch.
Emerging from Zhao Xing's ear, he leaped into Chen Xuan's ear instead.
"Juyang Golden Body? Hmm… just an avatar, but still interesting." Chen Xuan praised, an acknowledgment from one dominant force to another.
Zhao Xing cupped his hands in greeting, then shrank his form and also entered Chen Xuan's ear.
Inside, he saw Bai Yang still writing.
[Many Divine Ability Realm cultivators slaughtered each other before Chen Xuan's very eyes. Among them were powerful figures possessing the Bronze Gate Technique and the City of History Technique…]
As soon as Bai Yang finished writing, Chen Xuan began looting the fallen treasures.
All the loot that dropped happened to be exactly the divine techniques Bai Yang wanted!
"How is this class even fair?" Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel speechless.
With the three sacred historian artifacts in his possession, Bai Yang had essentially switched the challenge to easy mode.
Soon, they arrived at the Southern City Gate.
Bai Yang held the Realm-Inscribing Brush, and the book-construct generals inexplicably vacated their posts.
Then, with a simple stroke of the brush, Bai Yang cut open the city gate, creating an exit.
There was no need to go through feeding items to the tomb beasts like Zhao Xing had in his previous attempt.
"Buzz—"
In the blink of an eye, everyone appeared outside the city walls.
"What exactly did we do?" Jing Yan looked utterly confused.
After reviewing everything, he realized they had essentially done nothing—just sat inside the ancient coin protection zone, watched the story unfold for a few years, and then got picked up by Zhao Xing and Bai Yang.
Then, they strolled right out.
They didn't get any treasures, but they also didn't face any real danger.
"You all might not have contributed much, but at least you got to experience some terror—that counts for something," Zhao Xing joked.
Compared to them, others actually faced real crises.
For instance, Lan Hai almost ran away after witnessing Bai Yang's historical avatar being dragged off in a prison cart. If he had hesitated even a moment longer, he would've died on the spot.
Red Peach Fairy was actually captured again, once more turned into a furnace cauldron. Fortunately, Bai Yang rewrote the story using the Realm-Inscribing Brush, altering her fate and rescuing her.
As for Jing Yan and Yu Tianqing, their experience was far smoother.
With Yu Tianqing's foresight, they encountered almost no real danger. Warnings came early, so they stayed put and avoided trouble.
Since Zhao Xing and Bai Yang prioritized rescuing them first, the two of them only suffered some minor psychological trauma but otherwise had it easy.
"I originally intended to send my main body in and use you all as memory anchors, just in case I got possessed by a historical spirit," Bai Yang explained.
Zhao Xing was puzzled. "Captain, why did you plan to risk your real body in the first place?"
"To refine the Emperor's Dharma Form and further enhance my Chronicles Avatar," Bai Yang admitted. "But later, I changed my mind."
"Although I lost my Chronicles Avatar, I survived, and the mission was still completed. Fortune and misfortune always go hand in hand. Destiny is unpredictable."
"Bai Yang, save the philosophy for later. Let's get out of here first," Yue Nü reminded.
Surprisingly, the usually hot-headed Chen Xuan remained quiet.
He appeared subdued in front of Bai Yang.
It was no mystery why—he had been beaten by Bai Yang before.
During Sparks Unit's training, one particular nightmare exercise involved being thrown into Bai Yang's personal domain for tempering.
Inside that world, Bai Yang could manipulate everything, effectively toying with them at will.
By the time they emerged, their spirits were completely broken.
"Don't rush. Before we summon the Mausoleum Boat, I need to write a safe path first," Bai Yang said with a smile.
"If an outsider tries to summon the Mausoleum Boat, what happens?" Zhao Xing asked.
Bai Yang appreciated Zhao Xing's curiosity, pausing his spellcasting to answer.
"Then they'd have to hope for the best—the boat would drift aimlessly until it eventually found the right path… or it might wander for years before getting anywhere."
The Mausoleum Boat materialized fifteen days later, appearing at the outer reaches of Dark Realm 42.
In that instant, an overwhelming chill swept over everyone.
Because they had reappeared on one of the moons orbiting the Lunar Star.
Due to the tomb's immense age, the Mausoleum Boat collapsed instantly upon entering the outside world.
Many of them were incapable of withstanding such direct exposure to the Lunar Core's radiance.
Fortunately, Chen Xuan, the team's powerhouse, acted immediately.
With a single scoop, he gathered everyone and tucked them inside his ear.
"Captain, should we mark this place?" Chen Xuan asked.
"No need." Bai Yang shook his head. "This dark star's orbit is unstable—soon, we won't even know where it's gone."
"You saw the crescent moon because it's about to fall into the Void River. It won't reappear until the next cycle."
"Once it fully vanishes, a much stronger solar core star will emerge. Even with your third-tier Sun Dao Golden Body, you won't be able to withstand it."
"Let's go."
"Oh, oh!" Chen Xuan had no idea what Bai Yang was talking about, but since Bai Yang said to leave, he didn't hesitate.
He formed his fingers into a sword, cutting through the void and leaped into the chaotic void currents.
However, Chen Xuan traveled in short bursts, only skimming the shallow layers of the void for acceleration before quickly exiting.
After all, this was the central region of the Moonfall Mausoleum, and no one knew whether they might run into terrifying void turbulence. If the flow speed exceeded a certain threshold, even he wouldn't be able to break free, getting permanently trapped inside.
On Hurui Star Continent, Zhao Xing's true body let out a sigh of relief.
"Finally out. Looks like Sparks Unit had everything planned. With Chen Xuan's level of Divine Ability, getting back shouldn't be too difficult."
"At most, it'll take fifty years, and at the fastest, only ten years to leave the Moonfall Mausoleum."
"But Bai Yang might be confused as to why time outside doesn't match the time inside for him."
"Still, there's no way he'd suspect me—let alone connect it to the Xuanling Chronicles fragments."
Time was inherently distorted within the Transmission Realm, which was completely normal. Otherwise, Bai Yang wouldn't have needed a time-tracking dial.
"Even though I didn't obtain the Divine Ability Edicts, my gains this time far exceeded expectations," Zhao Xing thought. "Yu Tianqing awakened his innate Divine Ability, I secured my merits, and most importantly—I obtained a page from the Xuanling Chronicles, capable of rewinding time."
In the thousand-plus years Zhao Xing had been in the cosmic version, no other gain could compare to a single page of the Xuanling Chronicles!
"Even if I sold a hundred Purple Divine Mansions, including everything and everyone inside, it wouldn't come close to this!"
Now that there was no longer any immediate danger, Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel excited.
The Xuanling Chronicles was a creation of the Ancient God of History. While it had many pages, he only possessed one—but this one was an incredibly important Time Page!
"This thing is undoubtedly a divine artifact. The real question is how powerful its effects are and how far back it can rewind."
"In general, the value of a Time Page is determined by its range and duration."
"In my hands, it's only displayed the ability to rewind time within the Transmission Realm, specifically a small world, and only by a few years—but that doesn't mean that's its true limit."
"However, selling it would be difficult."
Zhao Xing analyzed further.
"The Reincarnation Palace strictly forbids the buying and selling of Time Pages, and all the major Ancient Nations must abide by this rule. After all, a Time Page can rewind up to an entire era, which essentially amounts to resurrection."
"Trading it carries enormous risks, but it depends on the buyer. If it's another Reincarnation Realm cultivator, there wouldn't be much of a problem."
"Surrendering it is an option, but the rewards would be far too little. Only an idiot would hand it over."
"If I advance to the Reincarnation Realm and find the right buyer, I could easily trade it for a Reincarnation Dao Weapon—or even an Imperial-tier Artifact."
"If I don't sell it, then it's essentially a second life. In the future, once Ji Si grows stronger, even if I die somewhere, as long as he gets the news, he can bring this artifact over and rewind time, reviving me instantly."
"No matter how desperate I get, I won't sell my own life. I won't use it just to solve the 'Three Divinities Destiny Palace' issue."
"Once a couple more versions pass and the Reincarnation Palace's influence weakens, there'll be plenty of people willing to buy."
Another advantage of having the Time Page was that it made him immune to divination. No Fate Masters could predict his actions, and any attempts to foresee his movements would result in unexpected coincidences and errors due to the divine properties of the artifact.
It was similar to how divine artifacts naturally protected their owners, but in this case, the Time Page confused the past and future, making it a Fate Master's worst nightmare.
"Now that this mission is done, getting Sparks Unit to transport Grand Zhou's people to the Red Star Empire shouldn't be an issue anymore," Zhao Xing thought.
Other people might not have enough merit, but Bai Yang clearly knew that Zhao Xing had both merit and effort to back him up.
With his decision made, Zhao Xing's true body immediately contacted Ji Che.
"Che, set up a special account for Ji Si."
"Ji Si?" Ji Che was confused. "He already has more resources than any other Grand Zhou minister—does he really need more?"
"Yes. I'm allocating five billion Red Star Coins to him, for his personal use only. After this, Ji Si won't leave with the others—he'll stay by my side."
After spending on Fire Tortoises and historical materials, Zhao Xing had about seven billion Red Star Coins left in liquid assets.
Now, in one move, he was handing over five billion to Ji Si—enough to stun Ji Che speechless.
"I didn't mishear, right? You mean five billion Red Star Coins, not five billion Yuanhai Coins?"
"Yes. Fate Masters control the future. Investing in Ji Si is never a bad idea."
Ji Che reluctantly accepted Zhao Xing's logic.
At the end of the day, it was Zhao Xing's own money. However he wanted to spend it was his business.
Meanwhile, when Ji Si received the news, he was completely stunned.
"Five billion Red Star Coins, all for my personal cultivation?"
"Your Majesty, Grand Shennong, what have I done to deserve this…"
Ji Si had been in the trading market for a long time and had seen large sums of money, but they had always belonged to others. Even the most he had personally handled in Yuanhai Coins had never exceeded ten billion.
Now, five billion Red Star Coins—that was equivalent to one trillion, seven hundred and fifty billion Yuanhai Coins.
And this wasn't for him to invest—it was directly for his cultivation alone!
"Think bigger." Zhao Xing chuckled. "In the future, you'll make this money back easily. Who knows, maybe one day we'll all be depending on you to survive."
"For now, let's set a small goal—hire a Path Scholar to help you break through the Third Realm."
"Yes! Thank you, Grand Shennong!"
Ji Si knew that Grand Zhou didn't have that much wealth. The only person who could afford to hire a Path Scholar was Zhao Xing himself.
"The sooner, the better. I'll find someone for you immediately," Zhao Xing said. "Don't be stingy. Spend what you need to."
"Yes—yes!"
Meanwhile, Juyang Avatar was still inside Chen Xuan's ear, on the journey back.
Zhao Xing had to avoid the forces of various nations—both human and demon—and also face the dangers within the Imperial Mausoleum itself. If he wanted to return, it would take decades.
However, Zhao Xing had already asked Bai Yang, and he confirmed that relocating Grand Zhou was no longer an issue.
As for the troubles related to Three Divinities Destiny Palace, Zhao Xing didn't even bring it up. That matter wasn't something that could be resolved in just one mission.
One task at a time. Since Zhao Xing had already owed Du Yun a favor, he wouldn't ask Sparks Unit for more assistance. Otherwise, it might make Du Yun unhappy.
While waiting for his return, Zhao Xing didn't waste time—he focused entirely on agricultural tasks in Hurui Star Continent.
Three years later, he completed his mission on the Eastern Continent.
"I came here in the 1146th year of the Beginning of Renewal Era to complete this mission. The expected timeframe was fifty years, but I finished it in just twenty-six years," Zhao Xing thought.
On Sparks Unit's side, preparations took seven years. Factoring in time reversal, the total duration was nineteen years, meaning the actual time spent inside the tomb wasn't much.
The real time-consuming part was the preparation and the return trip.
"Lord Hu, I have completed the mission on the Eastern Continent," Zhao Xing reported.
"Zhao Xing, you should take a break. Who works as hard as you?" Hu Rui looked at his subordinate with a mix of admiration and disbelief. "The work of a Shennong is tedious. You need to learn how to relax. Find something fun to do. It'll help reduce the risk of getting lost in cultivation madness."
"You're right, my lord," Zhao Xing respectfully replied. "I want to return and exchange some Fire Tortoise materials, and at the same time, explore the surroundings."
"Fine." Hu Rui appreciated hardworking subordinates like Zhao Xing. Diligent, obedient, and competent—where could he find another like him?
He just found it a bit odd that Zhao Xing enjoyed hunting Fire Tortoises for cultivation—but that wasn't a big deal.
"I'll assign you a Void Army escort to ensure your safe return."
"If you want to explore around Southfall 21, you can take them along as well."
Lu Yuehan had already spoken to Hu Rui, so of course, he had to show some favoritism, ensuring the other party knew he had been taken care of.
"Thank you for your support, my lord."
By the 1172nd year of the Beginning of Renewal Era, Zhao Xing returned to the base and processed the Fire Tortoise shells.
However, he didn't rest for long. In the spring of 1174, he returned to Southfall 21 Star Continent Cluster.
The Shennongs of Yunxiao Hall Eighteenth Unit had been given a rare long holiday, but they still had to wait until the designated time before receiving their full mission rewards.
In the meantime, they could relax and explore around Hurui Star Continent. Since there weren't many tasks left, they could enjoy a stress-free twenty years.
Upon returning, Zhao Xing didn't request any escorts from the Void Army and instead explored the continent alone.
The Void Army guards didn't insist on following him either—after all, they weren't getting paid for it.
Besides, the Southfall 21 Star Continent Cluster wasn't particularly valuable, nor was it heavily restricted.
Thus, Zhao Xing smoothly proceeded with his plan to locate the Scholar's Imperial Mausoleum.
Now that he had reached the Small Divine Ability Realm, he could freely traverse the void.
Alone, without a void ship, and with his aura fully concealed, he was practically undetectable.
"Coordinates: Taiyin 21, Cang'er 3, Tiangou 15. Gengjin 7, Yimu 2… This should be it."
Zhao Xing landed on a seemingly ordinary star continent, where the Spirit Qi fluctuation ranged between 5 to 8. A slight smile appeared on his face.
"After eight years and searching over a thousand star continents, I finally confirmed the exact location."
With a flash, Zhao Xing turned into a streak of light, swiftly beginning his search on this unassuming land.
Even after finding the correct star continent, it still took him three years to pinpoint his target.
"Boom!"
From within an icy spiritual pond, Zhao Xing shot into the sky before slamming heavily onto the ground.
His entire body was encased in ice, turning into a lifelike ice sculpture.
But in just a few moments, light burst from within the frozen statue, and a purple sun rose. The ice shattered instantly.
Zhao Xing floated back to the edge of the frozen pond, using his Heavenly Sight of the Soul to scan its depths.
At ten thousand kilometers beneath the surface, there was a semi-transparent blue jellyfish, expanding and contracting rhythmically.
Upon closer inspection, Zhao Xing noticed stars flickering within the jellyfish's body.
Each of those lights—were actually entire star worlds.
"Another one of these mobile living tombs… Handling this alone might be difficult," Zhao Xing thought.
In his past life, when he arrived, this tomb had already been stabilized. The entrance and pocket dimension had all been processed.
"I bought a Boundary-Fixing Divine Needle and a Boundary-Breaking Beast, but I doubt I can stabilize this tomb."
A living tomb—he had encountered one before when working with Lu Yuehan's team. At the time, even with a full team, they couldn't properly contain it. It had a self-destruction mechanism that would activate within seven days.
And that was merely a Small Divine Ability Realm tomb.
Now, this was a Dao Domain Realm scholar's tomb. Entering was relatively safe, but leaving was another matter entirely.
"If I don't stabilize the tomb, I won't even know where I'll end up when I exit. And securing something like this is beyond my capabilities alone."
"Forget it, no need to be reckless. I'll split the profits and bring in Du Yun."
Zhao Xing retrieved the Thousand Li Yellow Sand Mansion Crossing.
Within it, he had left a drop of his own blood. With just a thought, it dissolved with a rushing sound, enveloping him.
A vast golden river appeared beneath him, while the surrounding void layers rippled and shifted in a strangely structured manner—forming a navigable void channel.
"Whoosh~"
The chaotic void currents, usually intangible, suddenly turned golden.
The river surged, and on the other side, a majestic figure appeared—seated on a grand throne.
It was Du Yun.
He leaned against the throne with his left elbow, resting his head on his hand, lazily looking at Zhao Xing.
His right hand tapped rhythmically on the armrest, as if he had been interrupted during a nap.
"There aren't any Dao Domain Realm figures near you. Why did you summon me using Yellow Sand Mansion Crossing?"
He could sense that Zhao Xing's Purple Divine Talisman was still intact, meaning he hadn't encountered any real danger.
"You're just farming. There's no way you stumbled upon treasure, right?"
"Lord Du, you guessed correctly," Zhao Xing smiled. "I really did find something."
"Oh?" Du Yun straightened up. "What level?"
"Of course, it's a Dao Domain Realm tomb. Based on my clues, I suspect it's a Scholar's Inheritance Tomb," Zhao Xing said with certainty.
Du Yun's eyes lit up instantly. He got up from his throne and, in the blink of an eye, crossed thousands of miles, appearing right beside Zhao Xing.
Many professions only gained renown after death, such as stellar historians or scholar preachers, and their tombs were often unique.
"Are you sure this is an Inheritance Tomb?" Du Yun asked.
"Eighty percent certain," Zhao Xing replied.
"You lucky bastard! You actually found an Inheritance Tomb?" Du Yun was genuinely surprised.
Zhao Xing had only been farming in Hurui Star Continent, casually wandering around—and he stumbled upon an Inheritance Tomb?
"Well, it's not entirely luck," Zhao Xing said. "I purchased some historical records for research, and you also provided me with some valuable materials. Honestly, I probably got lucky thanks to you, Lord Du."
This explanation sounded reasonable, and even Du Yun almost believed it.
"I had no idea my fortune was this incredible. Looks like you managed to find some critical clues on your own."
"A Scholar's Inheritance Tomb, huh?" Du Yun clicked his tongue in amazement. "I've lived for so many years and have only seen three of them. Hurry, take me there."
"Yes," Zhao Xing pointed at the frozen pond beside them, "It's right down there."
Du Yun immediately sent a wisp of his spiritual power deep underground to investigate.
A moment later, he turned to Zhao Xing and confirmed: "It's an Inheritance Tomb."
Du Yun was visibly excited.
"Most Scholar's Inheritance Tombs don't bury the scholars themselves, only their lifetime's knowledge."
"This is because their lives usually enter a countdown the moment they engage in battle."
"Scholars are the pioneers who lead human civilization, but due to restrictions of the Great Dao, they have limited opportunities to teach their path before death. They can't possibly pass down everything they know in their lifetime."
"So, many scholars choose to dedicate their remaining years to creating an Inheritance Tomb after breaking free from those restrictions."
"Legend has it that Living Spatial Tombs were actually invented by Scholar Preachers."
"They drift through various human territories in the cosmos, appearing and disappearing without any pattern."
"As long as one performs the proper ritual, they can enter and explore. That's why these Scholar's Inheritance Tombs are often simply called 'Dao Treasuries'—they're actually among the easiest tombs to enter."
Du Yun gave Zhao Xing a sly grin. "Looks like my Yellow Sand Mansion Crossing wasn't wasted on you. So, tell me, how do you want to split the spoils?"
"You already know my situation," Zhao Xing said. "I want to enter as well."
Zhao Xing didn't want to settle for just 10% of the profits—he needed at least five trillion to solve his problems.
"Fine. Besides 10% of the total earnings, you can go in and try your luck as well."
Du Yun readily agreed. Unlike Sparks Unit, he made decisions on the spot—much more straightforward.
"Stay here. I'll be back soon."
Du Yun activated Yellow Sand Mansion Crossing and vanished into the void, returning to his exploration base.
Zhao Xing waited for half a month before Du Yun returned.
This time, Du Yun opened his mouth and spat out ten people.
One of them, a Dao Domain Realm mechanist, immediately started setting up a stellar formation on this nameless star continent.
His robes released a brilliant shower of starry lights, and within them were miniature planets and star continents, all intricately engraved.
A total of 19,000 celestial fragments, arranged on the spot, formed a grand stellar formation.
"Buzz~"
As the formation stabilized, the entire star continent sank into the void river, achieving maximum concealment.
Three more mechanists examined the frozen pond. After two days of calculation, they quickly reported back:
"Lord Du, the spatial stabilization process will take approximately two and a half years."
"Good. Carry on," Du Yun nodded. These experts were his personal retainers, not members of Purple Divine Mansion—they had a deep financial stake in his ventures.
Additionally, there were two Shennongs—one specialized in Heavenly Timing, the other in Earthly Advantage. Although they weren't Dao Domain Realm cultivators, they were Great Divine Ability Realm experts.
The moment they arrived, they began modifying the star continent.
"Lord Du, within five years, we can increase the stability factor to 50. In ten years, it will exceed 70."
"It depends on what level of Spirit Qi Index you prefer."
Du Yun considered it. "Stabilize it at 80. No need to push it higher."
"Understood."
The experts went about constructing, stabilizing, and optimizing the terrain—everyone had a role.
Zhao Xing finally got a glimpse of just how powerful Du Yun's network was. It was no wonder Du Yun claimed 90% of the profits—he had the capability to justify it.
If anyone else had found this Inheritance Tomb, they probably wouldn't even know where to start, let alone secure it this quickly.
Even traveling from Yuanhai Ancient Nation's base to Southfall 21 took a significant amount of time.
"Whoosh~"
A figure leaped out from the frozen pond.
He was dressed in a scholar's robe, had an aged appearance, and his silver hair flowed like moonlight.
Zhao Xing glanced at the secret engravings on his body—this was a Third Realm Great Divine Ability Scholar, one of Du Yun's retainers.
"Lord Du, I've completed the investigation. There are three ways to enter this Inheritance Tomb."
"You can offer either Yiling Ancient Coins, Bozhu Ancient Coins, or the Five Emperor Coins as a ritual sacrifice."
"Each type of ancient coin corresponds to a different realm, and upon entry, one will encounter different trial challenges."
"Yiling Ancient Coins correspond to Primordial Origin Realm and Void Realm."
"Bozhu Ancient Coins correspond to Third Realm cultivators."
"For Dao Domain Realm, the Five Emperor Coins are required."
Du Yun chuckled. "Looks like this scholar chose a priestly ritual as the first trial gate."
Scholar Preachers were masters of multiple disciplines—they could choose to filter entrants through any profession-based method they wished.
"Zhao Xing, do you have a Bozhu Ancient Coin?" Du Yun asked.
"No," Zhao Xing shook his head.
In reality, he had one prepared. But right now, he had to pretend otherwise—if he claimed he had it, it would seem too suspicious.
Besides, Du Yun was filthy rich—why not take advantage of the situation?
A single Bozhu Ancient Coin was worth five billion Yuanhai Coins!
"I'll give you three," Du Yun said without hesitation, motioning to the scholar beside him, Du Wen.
With a casual wave of his hand, Du Wen produced three Bozhu Ancient Coins, which floated before Zhao Xing.
"Many thanks, Lord Du. Many thanks, Mr. Du," Zhao Xing said, accepting the Bozhu Ancient Coins.
Du Wen seemed to be a relative of Du Yun, closer than a typical guest official but not necessarily his descendant, since Zhao Xing's interface showed that Du Wen was even older than Du Yun.
Many of Du Yun's valuable possessions were held by Du Wen, including the Bozhu Ancient Coins he had just handed over.
After giving Zhao Xing the Bozhu Ancient Coins, Du Yun took out an exquisite ancient box, opening it to reveal a single golden coin.
"Five Emperor Coin," Zhao Xing's eyes flickered with just the right amount of admiration.
The Five Emperor Coins were ancient relics, said to have originated from a time when five Saint Emperors unified the Xuanling Star Domain.
These Five Emperors were known as Rui Emperor, Yu Emperor, Luo Emperor, Zu Emperor, and Li Emperor.
The Zu Emperor referred to Xu Zu, and the Five Emperor Coins had been personally crafted by these Saint Emperors.
It was rumored that these coins were never meant as currency. Instead, during the wars of that era, the Five Emperors had imbued these unassuming coins with the divine power of ancient gods, allowing them to deceive their enemies.
Though most of their abilities had weakened over time, one function remained exceptionally strong:
Holding a single Five Emperor Coin increased one's fortune by two tiers. Possessing all five together boosted fortune by ten tiers!
This effect remained constant up to Derivation Three and did not decay.
The Five Emperor Coins were not for sale in Yuanhai Hall. In his past life, Zhao Xing hadn't even encountered them until he reached the Yin-Yang Dao Domain Realm. Back then, a single Rui Emperor Coin had a starting auction price of one trillion Chixing Coins.
And that was just a child coin.
If it were a mother coin, which boosted fortune by three tiers instead of two, its price would be astronomical.
A complete set? That was an unimaginable treasure.
Zhao Xing had never seen a mother coin in his past life. It was said to be lost to time, and the Rui Emperor Child Coin was the most commonly found among them.
"Zhao Xing, I'm heading in first."
"You can enter now or wait for me to return."
"I'll wait a bit longer, Lord Du," Zhao Xing replied.
Du Yun nodded, then clasped the Five Emperor Coin and leaped into the frozen pond.
Zhao Xing focused his gaze. Below the surface, he saw Du Yun holding the Five Emperor Coin, bowing toward the jellyfish-like small world before he was absorbed inside.
"The Moonfall Ancient Kingdom's era… Could Five Emperor Coins have been commonplace back then?" Zhao Xing couldn't help but wonder.
He didn't immediately jump in.
Instead, he closed his eyes and focused, checking on the situation of his Juyang Avatar.
"Jingyan, where are we now? How much longer before we return?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Bai Yang says it'll take another seven or eight years. We're currently crossing the territory of the Wanhe Demon Kingdom," Jingyan replied.
"The route is already prepared, right?" Zhao Xing asked.
"How would I know?" Jingyan scoffed. "I'm just a rank twenty-thousand useless prince."
Zhao Xing: "…"
You sure act self-assured for someone so weak.
"When I return and break through to the Third Realm, my ranking will rise again!" Jingyan clenched his fist. "Once I enter the top ten thousand, I'll return to the empire."
"Old Zhao, Old Yu, you two should come back with me. Once I ascend the throne, I'll make you my Inner Court Grand Stewards."
"Get lost." Zhao Xing smacked him on the head. Inner Court Grand Steward? That title sounded way too much like a eunuch's position.
Jingyan still had the mood to joke around, which meant their situation was still under control.
Zhao Xing relaxed slightly.
His Juyang Avatar continued resting, while his full attention returned to the Scholar's Mausoleum.
He was in no rush.
He waited patiently until two years and seven months later, when the spatial stabilization was nearly complete, before finally diving into the frozen pond.
Holding a Bozhu Ancient Coin, he bowed toward the jellyfish-like small world.
The moment he did, a pulling force emerged, his vision blurred, and he was sucked inside.
Just as he landed—before he could even steady himself—a mysterious, ethereal voice rang out:
"Moonfall illuminates all directions, the Great Dao has its bounds. If you are not of my kind, depart swiftly, do not wander lost~~"
A powerful repelling force erupted.
Before Zhao Xing could react, he was blasted backward and sent flying out.
In the blink of an eye, he found himself back inside the frozen pond.
The three Bozhu Ancient Coins were still in his hand.
Zhao Xing checked his body—he hadn't suffered any injuries.
He pondered for a moment, then immediately checked his interface.
There, under the map function, a new message appeared:
[You have entered 'Shangluo Dao Academy.' Coordinates: Taiyin 21, Cang'er 3, Tiangou 15. Yang Realm 5, Lihuo 43, Yimu 23.]
"Shangluo Dao Academy?" Zhao Xing was stunned. "I entered the place but was immediately expelled? Why?"
He was baffled.
Du Yun had been inside for years and hadn't come out. Clearly, they hadn't entered the same location.
Different entry points led to different trials.
But why was his trial just instantly kicking him out?
"Could it be…?"
Zhao Xing hesitated.
He tried the ritual again.
And again, he was ejected immediately, completely unharmed.
Then, it finally clicked.
"I understand now."
After a brief moment of thought, realization dawned on him.
"I was hit by a classic Scholar Preacher spell—"
"Expulsion Order."