After emerging from seclusion, Ji Si immediately handed over a list.
Zhao Xing glanced at it casually and couldn't help but smile. "Quite a few groups came to support."
There was no doubt—the Annihilation Star Corridor was a remote and desolate place, not at all suited to host a major conference.
But that depended on who was organizing it. Zhao Xing had quite a name among the Shennong, and with Bowe even sending a clone to support the event, then despite the long journey and harsh environment, large crowds still came to attend.
"A lot of supporters, indeed. Emperor Bishui from the Origin Realm, the Five Venom Emperor, Emperor Yushu from Origin Heaven Palace, Emperor Lushan from Primordial Hill, Lord Jishan, Emperor Hongshan—they've all sent representatives."
"Bowe also sent a clone, bringing along seven Six Realm scholars well-versed in Shennong theory."
"But, there are also quite a few who came to challenge you!" Ji Si changed tone and pointed at the list. "Grand Shennong, your reputation is too grand. The first session of the Annihilation Star Conference is an open-style gathering. It hasn't even started yet, and there are already lots of negative comments."
"Oh? What are they saying about me?" Zhao Xing asked, amused.
"Jiang Tiansu, the Qianmo Envoy of the Ziwu Heavenly Star Hall, said Grand Shennong was just playing to the crowd, that your fame outweighs your ability, and that choosing the Annihilation Star Corridor as the location is nothing more than an attempt to gain personal benefit."
Ziwu Heavenly Star Hall was a top Heavenly Timing School power in the Xuanling Star Domain. The Qianmo Envoy was equivalent to a sect elder. Jiang Tiansu himself was a lord-level expert proficient in both techniques and theory. One of his essays, Ziwu Celestial Cycle Theory, was even stored in the Nine Canon Pavilion of the Scholarly City.
"He's not exactly wrong." Zhao Xing smiled, unconcerned. "Choosing the Annihilation Star Corridor is indeed for my own benefit. But accusing me of playing to the crowd? That's over the top. That old man is underestimating me."
"Elder Zhu Haichao of the Mirage Sea Alliance criticized Grand Shennong's On the Six Qi of the Annihilation Stars: Yin-Yang Volume, saying it contains serious flaws and doesn't align with a certain truth from Theory of Marine Phenomena."
"Mirage Sea Alliance? I've heard of them. A group of sea-based Shennong forming a Heavenly Timing School power. They mainly focus on adapting to changing conditions and raising strange beasts, active in the southern sea islands of the Xuanling Star Domain. They really came all this way to criticize me?"
Zhao Xing laughed as he flipped through the intel. "Theory of Marine Phenomena is a classic on adaptive change. Using an extreme case from that to refute On the Six Qi of the Annihilation Stars... well, I guess Zhu Haichao found his shot."
"Grand Shennong isn't the least bit anxious. I suppose you're fully prepared?" Ji Si asked.
"Before preparing for the conference, I released some initial theories for publicity. They were just preliminary, so it's natural they found some holes." Zhao Xing nodded. "If there were no flaws, no one would've come."
"This is an open-style conference. It means anyone can challenge me in public discussion. That's a golden opportunity. Gaining fame by stepping on me—that alone is motivation to show up."
"Why are you praising them for badmouthing you?" Ji Si asked, confused.
"These people have real substance. Their criticism must be backed by solid evidence. I can turn it all into material to refine my theory. Of course, they're doing well."
"Grand Shennong's scope is truly extraordinary!" Ji Si was full of admiration.
In truth, all of this had been within Zhao Xing's expectations.
Any new theory must go through skepticism. Only through debate and clashes with other schools of thought could it be improved further.
Back when Primordial Hill helped Zhao Xing host a conference, similar things happened. But the pushback had been lighter then, because the Earth Epoch Transformations Theory had already been validated by Primordial Hill.
Now, it was a different story. The Annihilation Star Corridor involved multiple disciplines beyond just the Earthly Advantage School. Naturally, the collisions and doubts would be more intense. That's why there were thirty-four sessions planned.
"What other forces are involved? Keep going," Zhao Xing said as he walked with Ji Si.
"Baili Yang of Moonwatch Valley, Lord Xiye of the Chiru Blazing Fire Sect…" Ji Si continued to report diligently.
People who praised Grand Shennong—maybe he'd forget them.
But those who badmouthed him? Ji Si remembered every last one.
He and his senior sister Jingyue had been assigned to protect Zhao Xing. This was his duty. It had nothing to do with personal sentiment.
"Hmm, not bad, not bad. Baili Yang's rebuttal drew on The Moon Shennong Prophecy and The New Moon Canon. I hadn't even thought of that angle."
"Lord Xiye of the Chiru Blazing Fire Sect? His rebuttal essay was mediocre, but the two Bronze Plow Oxen he raised were pretty good."
"Haha, we've got allies too. The Palace Lord of Four Seasons Palace spoke up for me…"
"Oh, Sanbao Dao Sect is here too. That Star Sequence Theory was written by Fairy Youling?"
"So many people…"
The conference hadn't officially started, but the debates had already begun.
Zhao Xing's three proposed problems of the Annihilation Star Corridor, along with several initial papers, had stirred major reactions among the Shennong.
Four Seasons Palace, Sanbao Dao Sect, Ziwu Heavenly Star Hall, Mirage Sea Alliance, Chiru Blazing Fire Sect, Xuanshuang Millet Valley, Moonwatch Valley… so many Shennong powers joined this "debate."
The environmental issues of the Annihilation Star Corridor were deeply complex, involving the theoretical systems of all three schools. Each school had a valid angle to make its case.
And not only debates—some action-takers had already come to attempt practical challenges against Zhao Xing's proposed three major issues.
At that moment, the main bases in the Annihilation Star Corridor were bustling with activity.
Three days later, Zhao Xing and Ji Si traveled from Jiachen Pass Crystal Island via formation teleportation to Rainbow Moon Star Land.
The teleportation square was packed, with people continuously pouring out of the light gate.
Zhao Xing and Ji Si had disguised themselves. They soon passed through the exclusive passage into the inner hall of the Great Zhou Boundary Operations Division on Rainbow Moon Star Land.
"Greetings, Grand Shennong!"
Left Minister Tong Wensheng, Deputy Shennong Chen Yu, and others were already waiting.
"Minister Tong, no need for formalities." Zhao Xing waved with a smile. "I see Rainbow Moon Star Land packed with so many people, yet you've kept everything in perfect order. That's truly impressive."
"Thanks to you, Grand Shennong, people have been pouring into Rainbow Moon Star Land since a hundred years ago. We had to temporarily deploy several mobile settlements just to meet the demand," Tong Wensheng beamed. He looked much more energized than when they last met over a century ago.
With all this talent concentrated on Rainbow Moon Star Land—and the area being entirely under Great Zhou's control—anyone who wanted to act had to first acquire exploration clearance from Great Zhou, or just join Great Zhou altogether.
Tong Wensheng might only be at the Five Elements Dao Domain Realm, but even ordinary Reincarnation Realm cultivators had to follow his arrangements. That kind of authority was incredibly fulfilling for him.
Where there are people, there's profit. The surge of people on Rainbow Moon Star Land had filled Great Zhou's treasury substantially.
Survival in the Barren Domain wasn't easy, especially not in extreme environments like the Annihilation Star Corridor.
Those who came were mostly wealthy. Nearly all of them chose to stay within Great Zhou's territory—few would rough it out in the wild.
The one hundred and thirty-five years of conference buildup had already earned Great Zhou a fortune.
"Just from providing services to those attending, Great Zhou has netted over one hundred twenty thousand Five Sovereign Coins during these years!"
"The Boundary Operations Division, Frontier Expansion Army, Grand Medical Directorate, Shennong Directorate, and Celestial Craft Division have all recruited many powerful figures... His Majesty has been singing your praises daily—he hasn't stopped smiling."
Seeing Tong Wensheng so enthusiastic, Zhao Xing couldn't help but smile too.
Before full-scale development had even begun, Great Zhou had already profited from the conference's influence.
To someone like Zhao Xing, one hundred twenty thousand Five Sovereign Coins wasn't a huge sum—he had two divine artifacts already, and compared to the crowdfunded capital, it was a mere trickle.
But Tong Wensheng still operated in the world of Red Star Coins, so the conversion made it an astronomical figure to him.
"Big Brother!" Just as Zhao Xing was about to perform a formal greeting in the audience hall, a figure rushed forward and grabbed his arms. It was Ji Che.
"Fifth Brother." Zhao Xing smiled and didn't insist on ceremony.
"Big Brother, you have no idea how much Great Zhou has changed over the past century!" Ji Che was excited as he dragged Zhao Xing toward the throne, babbling nonstop. "...Just the number of Reincarnation Realm guest elders has grown to over one hundred seventy, and even I've broken through to the Reincarnation Realm!"
"Even some lord-level figures now greet me with respect, hahaha!"
Zhao Xing certainly noticed that Ji Che's cultivation had reached the level of a seasoned Reincarnation Realm cultivator.
Great Zhou's fortune system had once been flawed. Without cultivating on his own, Ji Che could at most equal the strongest officials.
But after receiving the Fortune System from the Five Sovereigns Era, Ji Che's cultivation could now rise with the kingdom's power, breaking past the limitations of his officials.
That said, Zhao Xing sensed his power still fluctuated—unstable and not fully consolidated.
"Che, don't get too excited."
"These one hundred seventy guest elders—most of them aren't deeply bound to Great Zhou, are they?"
Ji Che nodded. "Big Brother's insight is as sharp as ever. Many of them indeed aren't bound too deeply to Great Zhou. They're just willing to lend a hand, but they can leave at any time."
"I also know it's all because of you. Don't worry, Big Brother—I'm not confused about that."
Ji Che's strength had come quickly, but it could vanish just as fast.
To Zhao Xing, his current realm was inflated.
Still, seeing that Ji Che wasn't getting carried away and remained clear-headed, Zhao Xing was relieved.
"Whether Great Zhou's prosperity can last depends on the outcome of your first conference," Ji Che said seriously.
"I've heard plenty of negativity. People are arguing in the Dream Awareness Palace of Scholarly City—some of it sounds pretty harsh... Are you confident?"
"Don't worry." Zhao Xing said calmly. "Everything is going according to plan."
"Your Majesty, the conference is about to begin. Grand Shennong has just exited seclusion and still needs to meet several guests..." Ji Si gently reminded.
"Big Brother, get some rest. I'll be waiting in the Zhongji Palace for your good news," Ji Che said.
…
Zhao Xing left the Zhongji Hall and then split into several clones to meet the important guests of the conference.
"Junior Zhao Xing, greets the Grand Elder."
"Greetings to Elder Feng Chen, Elder Maya..."
He first bowed to Bowe, the demigod, then saluted the other seven Six Realm Scholars.
Scholars, being a higher-tier etiquette profession, valued courtesy immensely.
Zhao Xing presented himself as a junior and kept his posture respectfully low.
Especially with Bowe, he was even overly enthusiastic—so much so that Bowe felt a bit overwhelmed.
But to outsiders, it all looked normal. After all, Bowe had saved his life.
No one knew Zhao Xing was deliberately grossing Bowe out. That old bastard had harbored bad intentions while healing him, brainwashing him for three hundred years. If Zhao Xing didn't make him a little uncomfortable now, he wouldn't feel at peace with all the suffering he'd endured.
"Zhao Xing, you're the host of this conference. No need to be so formal," Bowe said. Though a bit annoyed, he didn't know what Zhao Xing was really thinking.
He didn't realize Zhao Xing already knew about the brainwashing, nor did he suspect Zhao Xing had intentionally burned through his Spirit Point quota.
So even though Bowe was slightly disgusted, he didn't blame Zhao Xing—he was still principled, after all.
"Etiquette has purpose." Scholar Feng Chen smiled faintly as he looked at Zhao Xing. "You show us such great courtesy—are you hoping we'll be biased in your favor during the conference?"
"Not at all. I just respect my elders," Zhao Xing replied with a cupped fist.
"No matter what you're thinking, Scholarly City won't take sides with anyone," said another scholar, Zhou Weiqing, whose expression was cold and stern. "During debates, we'll judge victories and losses fairly. We each have our own measure of truth."
"You chose to host an open conference, so you should be mentally prepared for this."
"As it should be," Zhao Xing nodded calmly.
"Chen'an, making the Annihilation Star Conference an open forum this time is a bit risky."
"Many Shennong factions have arrived in groups, quite aggressively. They're not under the Empire and won't show your master or the Primordial Realm any face."
The Bisu Emperor was turning his star mirror, his expression rather grim. "The scale of this has gotten a bit too big. If anything goes wrong, your hard-earned reputation might take a hit."
An open-style conference meant anyone could come and ask questions. Unlike in the past, where debate participants were predetermined and wouldn't deliberately make things difficult, this format left room for unpredictability.
Naturally, such conferences were usually only held when the theories involved were mature and solid—ones with few loopholes. The host wouldn't need intense clashes to refine their Dao.
"What nonsense are you spouting, Old Bi!" The Five Venom Emperor burst in from outside, clearly displeased. "The conference hasn't even started, and you're already talking up others while shooting us down. What are you, a foreign spy?"
"With your brilliant record of leaking the 'Earth Epoch Terrain Theory' to the Lord of Ji Mountain, you really think you can judge anything? Go cool off somewhere!"
"..."
The Bisu Emperor was quickly silenced under the Five Venom Emperor's verbal barrage.
He had no comeback. Last time Zhao Xing completed a new theory, he'd passed it to the Bisu Emperor first, who then inadvertently leaked it to the Lord of Ji Mountain. That black mark had stuck, and the Five Venom Emperor wouldn't let it go. Completely defeated, the Bisu Emperor could only slink away.
The Five Venom Emperor snorted coldly and turned to Zhao Xing. "Disciple, go all out. Don't hold anything back."
"If anyone dares cause trouble during the conference, your master will clobber them afterward!"
Zhao Xing froze, quickly trying to stop him. "Master, absolutely not!"
Lose a debate and follow up with spell-based destruction? That was exactly the kind of thing the Five Venom Emperor would do.
But that would ruin his reputation too.
What kind of precedent would that set?
"Master, your disciple can handle this. No need to trouble yourself."
The Five Venom Emperor said, "You've been in seclusion for over a century—you don't know how chaotic things have gotten out here. Many of the ones coming this time mean you harm. They're sure to give you a hard time."
"That Zhu Haichao, that Jiang Tiansu…"
"If you can't outtalk them, I can help you 'talk.'"
"Many thanks, Master. But no need, really… really no need..."
Zhao Xing had to say quite a bit before finally persuading the Five Venom Emperor to hold back.
…
Twenty-seven days later, the first Annihilation Star Conference officially began.
Zhao Xing didn't host it directly on Rainbow Moon Star Land, but cleared a space in the nearby Broken Star Belt instead.
The venue was quite simple and plain.
Zhao Xing had also revised the format: anyone could ask questions and even interrupt him mid-lecture to initiate the [Asking the Dao] phase.
Moreover, the Dao theories he was discussing were all directly tied to the real problems happening in the Annihilation Star Corridor.
Anyone below the Life and Death Dao Domain Realm couldn't even stand there—it came with a built-in threshold.
Though the event was privately held and neither Primordial Hill nor the Primordial Realm appeared in any official capacity, the Five Venom Emperor, the Lushan Emperor, and the Hongshan Emperor all showed up in person.
Not just that—the Hongshan and Five Venom Emperors openly flexed their strength, acting as enforcers of order for the conference, suppressing any troublemakers.
The Celestial Bureau and the Yan God Military Department also sent experts to the scene.
Secretly, Yang Baihe led the Sparks Unit to patrol the area.
Because of all that, the first half of the conference proceeded very smoothly.
The unique nature of the event also drew in a flood of remote viewers via star mirrors. The live broadcast was pay-per-view—and the profits went straight to Great Zhou, giving them another sizable windfall.
"The collapse of Yin-Yang twin stars in the Annihilation Star Corridor stems from two causes: externally, due to chaotic Six Qi; internally, from ruptured earth veins. Thus, sun and moon stars can no longer maintain their form and essence."
"A Realm Starquake must go through the resistance of the four layers of metal, wood, water, and earth before revealing the fire vein on the surface. Like in the Earth Splitting Technique, the balance of the five elemental earth veins must first be broken before fiery geysers emerge."
"But the Sun Star is different. Its domain is filled with fire veins, with only a thin layer of fire-attribute qi acting as a barrier. Once the earth veins shift, the void layer gets disturbed."
"Once the twin stars fall, the Manifest Layer's void collapses, and space-time either sinks or bulges—chaos inevitably follows."
"The void layer is like a stretched mesh. If one part collapses under the twin stars, then the Dao of Yin and Yang demands that another part will be compressed. That leads to space-time fissures."
"Yin and Yang interact. These fissures tend to appear in zones aligned with sun and moon stars. Tug at one thread, and the whole fabric shifts, sparking a massive chain reaction..."
From the starry Dao platform, Zhao Xing recited his full theory. He completed his entire lecture without anyone interrupting or causing a scene.
But once the first session moved into the Q&A segment, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
Swish~
As soon as Zhao Xing finished speaking, a figure stepped forward atop blue clouds, accompanied by seven swirling waves that alternated and surged. He drew closer to the Starry Dao Platform.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~
Eight star mirrors locked onto the figure, displaying his face.
Zhao Xing's brow arched slightly. The man was none other than Zhu Haichao, an elder of the Shenhai Alliance.
"Zhu Haichao of the Shenhai Alliance—questions the host of the conference." Zhu Haichao stood atop the wavecrest, his gaze sharp and piercing.
It was clear he wasn't here with good intentions.
Normally, during the Q&A phase, someone who wished to show goodwill would refer to the speaker as "Zhao Shennong."
If neutral, he could have said "Daoist friend."
But calling him "conference host" was a deliberately distant term—this wasn't a friendly questioning, but a debate.
It meant he was here to challenge, maybe even attack Zhao Xing's Dao!
Everyone inside and outside the venue perked up immediately.
Zhu Haichao was someone who had a theory accepted into the Nine Canon Pavilion of the Academy. He himself was a peak Lord-level expert, well-traveled and experienced.
Zhao Xing, so young, only at the Life and Death Dao Domain Realm—could he handle it?
"Daoist friend, please speak." Zhao Xing remained calm, gesturing politely for him to proceed.
Zhu Haichao said coldly, "You claim the change in stellar positioning is caused by Six Qi disorder, resulting in Yin-Yang collapse. You even wrongly assert that the qi fate of Yin-Yang twin stars is predetermined. I ask you, conference host: by what method do you determine the changes in Six Qi? And how do you explain the difference between the Spirit Qi Domain and the Barren Domain?"
His tone was unfriendly, and the questions were sharp.
This was because in Zhao Xing's Theory of the Six Qi of the Annihilation Star, although he clearly referenced many heavenly timing phenomena, the examples he used leaned heavily on Earth School and Self School theories.
Yes, the Heavenly Timing School didn't have any superpowers backing them, but that didn't mean Zhao Xing could look down on them.
So Zhu Haichao came ready to strike, going straight for the core issues.
Since Zhao Xing claimed the stellar displacement issue in the Annihilation Star Corridor was due to Six Qi changes, then he better explain what method he used to define those changes—and how those changes described the environmental differences between the Spirit Qi Domain and the Barren Domain.
Zhao Xing's expression was calm. He knew these two questions were critical. If he answered carelessly, Zhu Haichao would immediately seize the flaws and press the attack.
After a brief moment of thought, Zhao Xing gave a measured bow. "Let me answer your second question first."
"The Six Qi of the universe revolve in cycles, following the laws of the Great Four Seasons and Five Elements. When qi is weak, it becomes barren; Yin and Yang fade, the Five Elements cannot manifest. When qi gathers, it becomes spiritual; Yin and Yang harmonize, and the Five Elements arise."
Zhao Xing was setting up a protective framework for his answer, because discussing the issue without anchoring it in the Great Four Seasons and the Dao of the Five Elements would leave him full of loopholes.
"In a Spirit Qi Domain, the twin stars of Yin and Yang produce the Five Elements. Where qi is abundant, the Five Element Realm Stars of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth are born!"
"When the innate Five Element stars are complete, if there is still surplus qi, then the Zhou Tian stars will form."
"The heavens operate with constancy. The Zhou Tian stars revolve around the twin stars of Yin and Yang, setting the Four Seasons and Eight Solar Terms. The earth's qi rises and falls in sync with the heavenly phenomena. The two qi of Yin and Yang must follow the star trajectories in order to achieve endless life."
He was saying that any stable and habitable Spirit Qi Domain had to follow this model—at minimum, it needed five accompanying Realm Stars representing the Five Elements.
If the Yin and Yang qi were strong enough, more Zhou Tian stars would form, but they would never disrupt the star paths of the Five Element stars.
Zhu Haichao's eyes flickered.
Zhao Xing was using the Heavenly Timing School's Yin-Yang Five Elements theory to explain how celestial bodies form and move.
It aligned perfectly with the Heavenly Timing School's concept that Yin-Yang determines the Five Elements.
Any stable and livable Spirit Qi Domain had to follow these principles. Too weak or too strong, and it couldn't be considered stable or livable.
Zhao Xing didn't stop.
"Six thousand Realm Star years make up one Solar Year; six Solar Years make a Cycle; three hundred sixty years form one Grand Movement; three thousand six hundred years a Grand Zhou Tian."
"With a Solar Year defining the Four Seasons and the movement of the Five Element stars, this is known as the 'Great Seasonal Stellar Movement.' The year's heavenly timing follows the Five-Step Seasonal Movement: starting with Wood Star, then Fire Star, Earth Star, Metal Star, and ending with Water Star."
"The Great Four Seasons and the Five Element stars revolve around the mutual generation of Yin and Yang. Each phase runs for seventy-three Realm Star years and five months."
"In endless cycles, Zhou Tian turns. When the Yang Star vein dries up, the Six Qi are left in solitary Yin, which cannot last—collapse inevitably follows. This is the predetermined fate of stellar motion!"
"In the Barren Domain, where qi is weak, it triggers mutations in the Five Element stars. The Water phase ages first, the Five Elements gradually reverse and return to Yin and Yang. This too is a distortion of the original qi count."
As Zhao Xing spoke, a flash of surprise crossed Zhu Haichao's eyes.
Zhao Xing's theory had clearly evolved—there was a significant leap from what he released one hundred thirty-five years ago.
Zhu Haichao's mind worked quickly, calculating in his heart. Soon he reached a conclusion: assuming Zhao Xing's model of Yin-Yang, Five Elements, and Seven Stars, if transplanted, the Water Element star would indeed be the first to collapse and fall toward the Sun Star.
Even if one deliberately altered the order—say, shifting the Water Star's position—it would eventually return to its original orbit, so long as the model of Yin-Yang and Five Elements wasn't violently broken.
The extreme conditions of the Annihilation Star Corridor also fit within this theoretical framework.
"How can someone progress this much?" Zhu Haichao couldn't help but wonder. One hundred thirty-five years ago, Zhao Xing had only released a rough draft of his theory before going into seclusion.
Back then, Zhu Haichao could easily tear down Zhao Xing's flawed arguments. But now… he was starting to feel pressure.
This conference might not go as easily as he'd expected.
Even more surprised than Zhu Haichao was Jiang Tiansu, who was watching from atop a meteor beyond the Dao platform.
Because Zhao Xing's theory had borrowed from his Ziwutian Stellar Cycle Theory!
"The heavens move in constancy. The Zhou Tian stars revolve around the axis of Zi and Wu, setting the Four Seasons and Eight Solar Terms. Earth's qi rises and falls with celestial movements. The two qi of Yin and Yang must follow star paths to ensure endless generation."
That was the original text of the Ziwutian Stellar Cycle Theory.
Zhao Xing had merely swapped two characters: Zi and Wu became Yin and Yang.
But that small change… made all the difference.
Jiang Tiansu also believed that the celestial tracks of the Zhou Tian stars were predetermined, and that a constant set of laws governed the movement of the stars.
His doctrine emphasized that the rules of celestial operation were immutable. When using the Ziwu Zhou Tian theory to explain the phenomenon of the Annihilation Star Corridor, it led to a dead end.
But Zhao Xing's "Grand Seasonal Celestial Star Movement" emphasized the yin-yang twin stars, which offered more flexibility than Jiang Tiansu's theory. Jiang Tiansu quickly realized that under Zhao Xing's framework, the Annihilation Star Corridor anomaly might actually have a solution!
In a Dao discourse, the formats of question and answer included critique, dismantling, and elaboration.
While answering Zhu Haichao's challenge, Zhao Xing not only dismantled his argument but also elaborated on his own interpretation.
At the same time, Zhao Xing affirmed the basic principles of the Zhou Tian Five Element star orbit. On the surface, it looked like he was using his theory to clash with Zhu Haichao's, but in reality, the meaning was entirely different.
If Zhu Haichao wasn't careful and misread the argument, he might end up going in the wrong direction and begin attacking the Ziwu Celestial Time Palace's foundational theory.
Zhao Xing didn't just dismantle his opponent's argument—he also neutralized their team strategy to gang up on him.
It was like hitting three birds with one stone!
"What a cunning Zhao Chen'an!" Jiang Tiansu's eyes lit up with excitement.
Beside him, an elder from the Earth Faction, a senior of the Chiri Calamity Fire Sect, noticed that his old friend hadn't even gone on stage yet, but was already gathering all his soul force to begin deducing possibilities.
Zhao Xing, meanwhile, calmly looked at Zhu Haichao, who was still deep in thought, his confidence unwavering.
What he had just expounded on was the advanced version of the "Three Yin Three Yang Six Qi Zhou Tian Theory" from the Xuanhuang Realm era, now fully integrated into the "Annihilation Star Six Qi Theory – Yin Yang Chapter."
Zhu Haichao and Jiang Tiansu had completely underestimated him. In his past life, he had reached the Half-God Realm and practiced all three major schools. He had participated in more Dao debates than they could count.
Handling these two? Child's play.
Zhu Haichao, however, still felt he had a shot.
He raised his hand and drew several miniature stars from the void.
"Zhu Haichao of the Shenhai League, dares to ask the Dao, fellow Daoist!"
Zhao Xing remained composed. "Please, Daoist, ask."
Instead of speaking right away, Zhu Haichao arranged miniature models of the yin-yang twin stars and the Five Element planetary stars in the air.
Clearly, he had come prepared. These weren't real celestial bodies but Dao soldier constructs—props commonly used by Celestial Time Faction scholars in Dao debates.
"If there's a theory, there must be a method. I ask Daoist not to hold back—demonstrate how to resolve the anomaly of the Annihilation Star Corridor." Zhu Haichao stared fixedly at Zhao Xing.
In the end, solving the Annihilation Star Corridor conundrum required an actual method, not just theory.
Zhu Haichao couldn't confirm whether Zhao Xing's theory held water, but continuing the debate would no longer serve a purpose.
It was just like when facing the Intersecting World Ridge—there were eight known techniques. Now he wanted to know whether Zhao Xing had a practical solution.
Zhao Xing glanced at him and couldn't help but laugh.
With just one question, Zhu Haichao had already been forced to show his cards.
Truthfully, this request was unreasonable, as demonstrating a method was equivalent to shifting the Dao discourse into a Dao combat.
This transition should have been determined by Zhao Xing alone—he had the right to decide when to reveal his techniques.
Secret arts were called "secret" for a reason. They weren't something to be handed out lightly.
"Buzz~"
Just then, a figure appeared above them. It was the scholar Bowe.
He glanced indifferently at the arranged seven stars. "Zhu Haichao, you've overstepped."
"If you have no further questions, withdraw immediately."
Zhu Haichao suddenly came to his senses and quickly cupped his hands in apology to Zhao Xing. "I was out of line. Please forgive me, Daoist."
With that, he turned to leave, his expression dim.
In front of so many people, he had failed to stump Zhao Xing and even crossed a line, which was quite embarrassing.
"Elder Zhu, hold on!" Zhao Xing suddenly called after him. "I am willing to demonstrate for you—but you may not transmit what you witness."
"Elder Bowe, please activate the Dao Comprehension Domain, and bear witness."
Zhu Haichao froze in surprise. Then his eyes lit up with excitement and he turned to look at Bowe eagerly.
Bowe was speechless inside.
Originally, he just came to make a brief appearance, yet somehow Zhao Xing had roped him into labor.
This kid clearly anticipated this whole scene beforehand—no wonder he insisted on inviting the scholars here.
Zhao Xing had him completely wrapped around his finger.
"Enter," Bowe said expressionlessly with a wave of his hand, and the Dao Comprehension Domain appeared.
Zhao Xing and Zhu Haichao stepped into it together.
The audience immediately buzzed with excitement.
How did a simple Dao question turn into an actual Dao battle so quickly? This was too thrilling!
"Damn, I don't even understand half of it, but it sounds really legit!"
"Zhu Haichao just asked one question, and it already escalated to combat? Couldn't he find any flaws?"
"Hiss... Don't tell me Zhao Xing's about to solve another major problem... Quick, invite everyone to watch!"
"..."
In an instant, paid viewership of the Dao Assembly skyrocketed.
Great Zhou's Minor Agriculturist Official, Chen Yu, was grinning ear to ear.
Inside the Dao Comprehension Domain.
Zhao Xing raised his hand and began a live simulation.
The yin-yang twin stars under his spell transformed into one large and one small star.
As he manipulated their orbits, the configuration shifted into a peak-grade solar star and a high-grade lunar star.
With yang overwhelming yin, the Five Element stars began to decay, and spiritual energy dissipated.
Zhu Haichao didn't quite understand the specifics, but he could tell that these techniques clearly involved both the Earth Faction and the Celestial Time Faction.
The separation of the six qi was evidently a Yun Qi technique, while the disruption of the planetary veins was unmistakably an Earth-based method.
"Elder Scholar, please initiate time acceleration," Zhao Xing said toward the sky.
Buzz—
Inside the Enlightenment Realm, the simulation immediately shifted into a time-accelerated state.
Very quickly, Zhu Haichao noticed that the original Yin-Yang Five-Star system had changed drastically.
Due to Zhao Xing's separation of the six qi and the earth veins, now in addition to the Yin-Yang binary stars and the five elemental realm stars, there was a newly added life realm star.
It contained all five elements and had been placed between the metal and fire stars.
Aside from that, a lot of matter had been stripped from the Sun Star and the Moon Star, which then formed three barren realm stars further away.
The Moon Star had also been relocated and shrunk significantly, now situated near the newly formed realm star.
"The original Yin-Yang five-element model has become a great yang, lesser yin, with an extra life realm star and three barren giant stars… what is this?" Zhu Haichao couldn't understand it, but he was thoroughly shocked.
Because by his understanding, once you deviated from the standard Yin-Yang five-element model, the celestial system should completely collapse. Yet that wasn't happening now.
"Elder Scholar Bowe, please continue to accelerate time—simulate one thousand years forward, and let's see whether the 'Annihilation Star Cataclysm' appears," Zhao Xing said calmly without offering an explanation.
Even Bowe became curious and adjusted the simulation parameters with interest.
Time accelerated to a thousand years later before finally stopping.
Zhu Haichao stared intensely at the new Yin-Yang Nine-Star structure.
Normally after stellar relocation in the Annihilation Star Corridor, most systems collapsed within a thousand years.
As a Shennong of the Heavenly Timing School, he had always believed that the Yin-Yang and five-element systems could not remain stable within a barren domain, that it was a law of the universe—a rule that could not be broken!
Unless you used man-made bases at exorbitant cost, and even then, that would fall under the Mechanist domain, not a problem of natural law.
But the expected collapse hadn't happened. And the Enlightenment Realm had been set to simulate actual conditions in the Annihilation Star Corridor, yet the outcome now displayed several anomalies.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, a wave surged from the void, crashing toward the new Yin-Yang Nine-Star system.
A strange phenomenon occurred: the rotating new star system distorted the wave's trajectory.
The vast void tide was redirected by the Yin-Yang Dao and the earth veins of the two outer barren giant stars.
The Yin-Yang Nine-Star structure remained intact, and the life realm star between the metal and fire elemental stars still existed!
Even more astonishing, because the void tides carried six qi, new spiritual material formed and condensed. Rather than being destroyed, the disaster had rejuvenated the entire system with new vitality!
My god… how could this be?!!
Zhu Haichao screamed in his mind.
Zhao Xing turned back and looked at the stunned figure beside him. "Elder Zhu, would you like Elder Scholar Bowe to push time even further?"
Zhu Haichao snapped back to his senses. His eyes went from shock to excitement, and his voice turned hoarse from the emotion. "Zhao—Zhao Shennong, what exactly… how…"
"Tides rise and fall, just as the Yin-Yang breathes in and out," Zhao Xing said calmly. "To hold a land steady, one must channel turbid qi through the method of tidal redirection."
"The turbulence caused by void currents—what difference does it bear from the sea phenomena you often describe?"
"The two giant stars, one named Uranus, the other Neptune. These are the manifestations of tidal redirection techniques."
Zhu Haichao shuddered. That was a direct quote from the Sea Phenomena Canon.
That meant Zhao Xing had deeply studied their Heavenly Timing School's core texts, even drawing upon them as a foundation for his original technique.
If the Sea Phenomena Theory could truly be used this way, then not only was Zhao Xing not belittling the Heavenly Timing School—he was actually uplifting and expanding it!
High on the viewing platform, Bowe stared silently at the slowly rotating Yin-Yang Nine-Star system, deeply shaken.
Zhao Xing had effectively constructed a stable operating Yin-Yang Realm Star System under extreme barren domain conditions.
If it worked in the extreme Annihilation Star Corridor, it could apply to practically any barren domain!
"The Yin-Yang Dao embodies binary stars. The binary stars symbolize the five elements… Did he just unintentionally deconstruct the Dao of Yin-Yang and the Dao of Life, or…" Bowe whispered internally.
If Zhao Xing wasn't a reincarnator from a past life, then his talent was monstrous—someone who could truly ascend to godhood.
And if he was a reincarnator… then Bowe dared not think any further.
A deep fear flashed through his eyes, and any thoughts of scheming against Zhao Xing disappeared entirely.
He dismissed the Enlightenment Realm.
As Zhao Xing and Zhu Haichao reappeared under the gaze of the audience and the projection of the star mirrors—
Zhu Haichao immediately performed a deep ceremonial bow to Zhao Xing. "Zhu Haichao thanks Zhao Shennong for resolving my doubts. If Zhao Shennong ever gives the order, the Shenhail Alliance shall follow your lead!"
At those words, the entire law forum fell into a dead silence.
Jiang Tiansu, Baili Yang, and Lord Xiye, all waiting in the wings to see the result, were dumbfounded.
Weren't they supposed to gang up on Zhao Xing together?
How did Zhu Haichao just… surrender?
No, this wasn't just surrender. Zhu Haichao was a principal figure in the Shenhail Alliance. Saying something like that was basically being directly absorbed into Zhao Xing's camp!
"What in the world did Zhu Haichao experience inside that Enlightenment Realm…" Jiang Tiansu muttered.