Chapter 465: The Fourteen Lines of the Life Palace, a plan to return to the Profound Yellow World!

The gates of the Memory Palace cannot be pushed open; is it that my own subconscious has strengthened the memory seal? Or is there a mysterious existence manipulating my destiny? Could it be that when Qing Yuzi said he didn't win either, he was hinting at something related to the Profound Yellow World?

Zhao Xing opened his eyes and rubbed his temples: "Old Qing spent a long time in the Profound Yellow World. He told me to go back once I passed through the World-Crossing Tower, the reason being that after the 【Causality War】, I have become like Tang Seng—everyone wants a bite."

"But I can only believe three parts of what he says!"

Zhao Xing certainly wouldn't trust Qing Yuzi completely. Ever since he dug up Old Qing's treasure from the Profound Yellow World, Qing Yuzi's style of conduct could hardly be called upright.

At first, he disguised himself as a Third Realm Origin being of the Purple God Prefecture, then he became a big shot in the Reincarnation Divine Palace, using me to complete a resurrection ritual, stealing the luck and treasures of the Dongyan Ancient Clan to borrow the Dao and become a god. Thinking about it carefully, this guy even stole the Divine Palace's God-Deriving Stele and framed the Dongyan Ancient Clan for it.

It was only on the foundation of the Dongyan Ancient Clan's many treasures, as well as the deaths or reincarnations of tens of thousands of Reincarnation Realm beings, that Qing Yuzi became a god.

Looking back at Qing Yuzi's path to godhood, one could say he was highly skilled and bold, or that he was deep in planning... but it certainly couldn't be called glorious.

"Since the Yuanhai Dharma Assembly incident, Qing Yuzi promised to grant me three wishes."

"My first request was to arrive at the Empire safely."

"My second request was for a World-Opening Stone."

"My third request was for him to save me once, to settle the causality."

"But after arriving at the Empire and entering the Primordial Realm, I never took the initiative to contact Qing Yuzi."

"It wasn't until the Empire developed the Siyue Desolate Domain and I was on my way to become the Sea-Communication Envoy that I was able to meet Qing Yuzi, but even that was him taking the initiative to appear in my dreams, uninvited."

"He first taught me the Reincarnation Law, then turned a blind eye when he knew I would get into trouble after getting involved with Wei Tianchen... Not counting his intervention in the world-crossing spacetime, looking only at his actual actions, it was the Empire's Guluo River and the people from the Primordial Hill who saved me. He only said that I definitely wouldn't die."

"Since he saw more than Wei Tianchen, Bowei, and even the Heavenly Master's Mansion... doesn't that mean he was letting Wei Tianchen leave with the Seven-Star Cabinet containing the Desolate God Poison?"

Zhao Xing didn't believe that Qing Yuzi didn't have the ability to stop Wei Tianchen beforehand, but he did just that, watching as Wei Tianchen took the Seven-Star Cabinet and watching as I was poisoned with the True Spirit Heavenly Poison.

Therefore, Zhao Xing felt three parts fear, three parts admiration, three parts helplessness, and only one part trust toward Qing Yuzi.

His level of trust in the Empire was far greater than in Qing Yuzi.

It was only out of helplessness that he got tangled up with Qing Yuzi.

"Of the three major factions in the Reincarnation Divine Palace, Qing Yuzi belongs to the one that actively enters the world to interfere. What exactly is he plotting?"

"However, no matter what he is plotting, I don't have to fear him anymore." Zhao Xing smiled.

In the world-crossing spacetime, within the divine pattern region inside the Void Ancestor's molted bone.

Zhao Xing had three choices when facing the Void Ancestor's divine patterns at that time.

One, his true self takes a risk to learn, carrying the secret technique back with his own soul. Given that he could learn Fan Qianrou's Heart-Sealing Law and protect it with Azure Flower magic power, Zhao Xing felt the success rate was actually very high.

Two, do nothing and return directly; he was only in the Life-Death Dao Domain Realm, so he couldn't bring anything out, and it wouldn't matter; the Primordial Realm couldn't blame him either.

Three, use Qing Yuzi's divine statue to carry it.

On the surface, he had no other choice, but in reality, he had already decided to use the third method.

There were many reasons, the most important being a lack of trust and not wanting to be led by the nose.

"No matter what your schemes or intentions are, Qing Yuzi, treating my life as worthless and letting Wei Tianchen run away—the previous time could be let go because I was too weak and felt resentment inside but didn't dare to show it."

"But now you're doing it a second time, really treating me like a marionette..."

Zhao Xing wasn't afraid of Qing Yuzi being unhappy.

First, he prayed on the surface before acting, pretending he had no choice, which was actually a probe.

Second, even if Qing Yuzi discovered his resentment, there was still a scapegoat.

Bowei had brainwashed him for three hundred years, and his clone heard it clearly; he could take advantage of the situation to amplify this resentment. If there were any problems, such as being questioned by Qing Yuzi... he could find reasons.

If he really did that, Bowei must have been very happy when he saw that scene!

"Although bringing back information from the world-crossing doesn't require a quota exchange, once Qing Yuzi's divine statue carries the information, the statue itself becomes an expensive physical treasure."

"After the carrying is successful, Qing Yuzi, who is in the same spacetime, will inevitably be affected. This is a realization based on the inference that I would be rejected by the World-Crossing Tower's laws."

Whether it's Wei Tianchen, Bowei, or Qing Yuzi, they are all playing games with him... If he didn't resist at all and just followed the guidance of the Causality War, would he still be Master Zhao?

Therefore, he used this method to carry out a silent, subtle resistance.

Zhao Xing didn't know how effective it was, but he knew he had to do it.

"Handing the divine statue over to the Red Star Emperor is an insurance policy for this resistance."

He knew that as he became stronger, he would sooner or later face a major test, sooner or later face a choice: Are you a person of the Reincarnation Divine Palace represented by Qing Yuzi, or are you a person of my Red Star Empire?

Continuing to be unclear with Qing Yuzi is fine during the honeymoon period of cooperation, but what if the relationship sours?

If Qing Yuzi wants you, Zhao Xing, to do something for him, will you do it or not?

Zhao Xing knew deeply that if he didn't solve this problem, he could never truly be accepted by the Empire.

"Between the interests of the Empire and Qing Yuzi's side, I chose the Empire without hesitation. I believe that after the Emperor understands the world-crossing incident, he will definitely be able to see it. This is a cutting of ties, and also a pledge of allegiance."

Zhao Xing trusted the Red Star Empire more, trusted the Red Star Emperor and Guluo River more, because these two existed in his previous life's knowledge and he had some understanding of them, whereas Qing Yuzi was a character he had never come into contact with. Emotionally speaking, making this choice wasn't actually difficult.

And regardless of whether Qing Yuzi can see it or feel it, the Red Star Emperor rewarding him with the Hunyuan Dao Tower meant he had truly accepted him as a member of the Empire. In terms of strength, the Emperor is definitely stronger than Qing Yuzi.

Furthermore, compared to Qing Yuzi, whose intentions are unknown.

The philosophies of both the Red Star Emperor and Guluo River are more to Zhao Xing's taste.

The Emperor's Starry Dharma Robe is a map of the Profound Spirit Star Domain; he wants to unify the entire spiritual energy territory and end the war. Guluo River's philosophy is to build an Eternal Realm and avoid calamities.

These two are more to Zhao Xing's taste.

"Old Qing, after this time, we can finally be considered truly settled in terms of causality," Zhao Xing thought silently. "You no longer owe me, and I don't owe you anything."

"The divine statue has been handed over, and my causal defense will be completely handed over to the Empire's Heavenly Master's Mansion to build. Don't come looking for me again, unless one day I also reach the God Realm; perhaps then we can sit and discuss the Dao, laughing about the past."

After Zhao Xing came out of the World-Crossing Tower, he was brought back to the Primordial Realm by Guluo River and returned to live in Coral City.

The first person to visit him was Ji Si.

"Grand Agricultural Minister, has your illness recovered?" Ji Si asked.

"Hmm, the True Spirit Heavenly Poison has been cleared." Zhao Xing glanced at Ji Si: "Does the Heavenly Master's Mansion already know?"

"Guessed it." Ji Si nodded.

"Guessed?"

"Of course it's a guess. Does the Grand Agricultural Minister think that a Destiny Master's prophecy is 100% certain?" Ji Si said: "Destiny Masters don't have such great ability."

"Any Destiny Master, even in the God Realm, cannot completely determine the direction of the future; they can only see the most likely direction."

"In the theory of Destiny Masters, the universe, space, and the Great Dao of Causality are everywhere, and they interact with other Great Daos. Coupled with personal free will and changes in upper luck, even environmental influences can cause 'variable hexagrams'."

"So even theoretically, any divination and prediction method of a Destiny Master is at most infinitely close to certainty, not completely certain."

"The Heavenly Master's Mansion sent me here to verify; we also weren't sure if the Grand Agricultural Minister's illness was completely cured."

Hearing Ji Si say this, Zhao Xing nodded slightly.

He was indeed a bit fearful of Destiny Masters; he believed that human effort is the decisive factor, that his fate is in his own hands, and he had an instinctive resistance to the profession of Destiny Master.

The Empire's Heavenly Master's Mansion also participated in his Causality War. Although they were on his side, there was still a feeling of being seen through.

With Ji Si saying this, he felt much more relaxed.

"Grand Agricultural Minister, don't worry," Ji Si whispered: "I watched your Causality War from beginning to end; you don't need to overthink it."

"Oh?" Zhao Xing was a bit surprised. Is this kind of game something Ji Si can watch?

"I came this time, firstly to visit the Grand Agricultural Minister, and secondly, my master has an order for me to verify whether the True Spirit Heavenly Poison has disappeared, and then convey a few words."

Zhao Xing sat upright: "Please speak, Lord Ji."

Ji Si began:

"My master says: Zhao Xing, the Causality War has ended. The Heavenly Master's Mansion has already carried out directional causal protection for you. After this protection, even I, as the caster, cannot pry into your privacy. This was personally permitted by the Emperor."

(Missing text in source, implied continuation)

"Thank you, Heavenly Master." Zhao Xing bowed and saluted.

Sure enough, handing it over was the right choice. The Emperor had truly accepted him as an anomaly who survived the Yuanhai Dharma Assembly incident.

Then he whispered: "Ji Si, what does this directional causal protection mean?"

Ji Si also switched states and whispered: "Grand Agricultural Minister, things like causal protection are like flood control."

"Leaving it to take its own course won't work; it's easily exploited or attacked, just like Wei Tianchen plotting against you."

"Blocking it all off also doesn't work. Cultivation emphasizes both diligent study and practice, as well as Feng Shui and luck. If you block it all off, even though it's impossible for others to attack you, you become a black hole of luck, and any fortuitous encounters will have nothing to do with you."

"The situation of being completely locked is called a 'Luck Living Dead' in our Destiny Master theory. Theoretically, this is also impossible to achieve completely, just as it's impossible for us to completely and accurately predict the direction of people and things."

Luck Living Dead.

Zhao Xing suddenly thought of a group of people.

They have no connection with the outside world at all, living dull days day after day, acting according to plan, as if they have lost human emotions, because life is the same every day, and there is simply no possibility of any waves.

"Do you think the Reincarnation Divine Palace is like this?"

Ji Si pondered: "Yes, and no. This brings us to what I just said, directional causal protection."

"Blocking is not as good as dredging. Causal defense is divided into many types. Generally speaking,"

"Destiny Masters manipulate others' causal lines through magic, which is related to a person's life pattern and specific causal lines in the Life Palace."

"Generally, it is based on the 【Fourteen Lines of the Life Palace】 to perform magic operations."

"More complex ones also involve the distinction of the Twelve Earthly Branches' causal lines."

"Magic can be effective in the short term, snatching others' opportunities, or it can be a long-term layout, a means to hunt others' destiny."

"Generally speaking, the longer the time, the more the magic involving the Fourteen Lines of the Life Palace is aimed at controlling a person's life."

"The so-called directional protection is to ensure that your Fourteen Lines of the Life Palace, Grand Agricultural Minister, cannot be controlled by others."

"But it doesn't affect your luck and opportunities in certain secret realms, and might even be slightly helpful."

Zhao Xing had also learned to tell fortunes before and understood quickly.

"In other words, others can at most use causal destiny magic to plot against my wealth, but they can't harm my life?"

"That's right." Ji Si nodded.

"That makes things much easier." Zhao Xing laughed: "As long as the Fourteen Lines of the Life Palace are not affected, everything else is not worth discussing, and it's easy to defend against by wearing a few treasures."

"Ji Si, continue."

Ji Si switched back to a serious expression: "Zhao Xing, what needs to be specifically explained is that the 【Causality War】 was initiated by Wei Tianchen. The incident happened suddenly, and the Heavenly Master's Mansion was fighting a temporary battle and couldn't make things perfect."

"You being captured by Wei Tianchen was truly because our Heavenly Master's Mansion couldn't react in time, because your causal defense level was initially only arranged by Jing Yue, equal to all Coral-level members."

"Afterward, the Heavenly Master's Mansion laid a causal trap on you, luring the Demon Emperor into the game, which was also to help you complete the closed loop of the World-Crossing Tower's spacetime laws, done in passing."

After a pause, Ji Si said in a deep tone: "Suppose one day the Empire needs you to make a sacrifice, it will definitely be told to you in advance. Do you understand?"

Zhao Xing's expression was solemn: "Yes, this subordinate understands."

The Heavenly Master's Mansion was explaining the origin of the Causality War to him.

To prevent him from having any grudges in his heart.

The last sentence was also very straightforward: if you need to sacrifice, you will definitely be informed.

Even if it's going to die, it's a willing death, and there won't be any shady dealings.

In fact, Zhao Xing had long known that the Red Star Empire had this point.

Any Destiny Master who participates in the war acts as a military advisor in the army. Since it is a war, a common tactic is the bait tactic.

Meng Wu's teacher, Yan Shen, who is in charge of the Imperial Military Department, has strict regulations for Destiny Masters: when encountering such tasks, the executor of the task must enjoy the right to know.

What? You say this will leak heavenly secrets? That means your Heavenly Master's Mansion is incompetent, not a problem for our Military Department to consider.

Are there any who violate this order?

There are.

There are always some Destiny Masters who covet merit or are coerced, but the Military Department also investigates very strictly.

Meng Wu's Erliangpo Prison has locked up many people and killed many people, including those with power and influence.

At least in the core high level of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, this order is well executed.

"Hmm." Ji Si nodded, then her body shook, ending this magical state.

Zhao Xing knew that the Heavenly Master of the Empire had ended the method of 'spirit-writing possession'.

"Grand Agricultural Minister, my task is complete." Ji Si breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Xing suddenly remembered one thing: "Ji Si, you once said you wanted to go to the Five Emperors Era with me. Now that the Causality War is over, you should be able to say it, right?"

"I originally intended to go to the Five Emperors Era to remove the Grand Agricultural Minister's True Spirit Heavenly Poison," Ji Si said: "This was a backup plan prepared by the teacher for the Grand Agricultural Minister, probably because he didn't fully trust Bowei."

"Oh? Why is that?" Zhao Xing was interested. "Bowei is hailed as the greatest scholar of the 2nd Era of the Desolate Domain, and his reputation is very high."

Ji Si shook her head: "In the teacher's eyes, a person is purely a person, and no title will affect his judgment. This is also what he taught me: the first principle of a Destiny Master is that you cannot carry personal emotions after entering the game."

"The teacher said Bowei has hidden intentions, not knowing whether they are good or bad, so he considered this point."

Zhao Xing couldn't help but laugh.

In this Causality War, Bowei rubbed Wei Tianchen on the ground and borrowed his hexagram to get on the car. The Heavenly Master's Mansion saw more than Bowei and considered things more comprehensively.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Thinking about it, Wei Tianchen was the weakest cicada. Anyone could kick him twice.

"It's still good to have power." Zhao Xing couldn't help but sigh.

Wei Tianchen fought alone, while the other three parties—the Heavenly Master's Mansion had the Empire as its backing, Bowei had the foundation of the Academy, and Old Qing didn't even need to be mentioned, a high-level member of the Reincarnation Divine Palace.

Even though Wei Tianchen had many divine objects, he couldn't compare to the foundation of these super powers. It's laughable that he said he won the Causality War.

"Speaking of which, I don't know how the Great Zhou is developing."

Zhao Xing spent three hundred years recuperating and still held many positions, so the Great Zhou was still eating the dividends of his First-Class Sea-Communication Envoy and developing on the Ancient Star Road.

"Developing rapidly." Speaking of this, Ji Si smiled. "Grand Agricultural Minister, I won't go into details. Wait until you go back and see for yourself, leaving some surprises."

Zhao Xing nodded. Listening to her meaning, the development of the Great Zhou couldn't be finished in a few words.

Go back—this word touched Zhao Xing's nerves again.

Ji Si also seemed to think of something and cast an inquiring look.

Zhao Xing thought for a while and shook his head.

On the issue of the Profound Yellow World, regardless of whether Qing Yuzi's intentions were good or bad, Zhao Xing always had his own considerations.

Go back, he definitely had to go back.

However, he didn't intend to act blindly.

"Since the Chenluo Desolate Domain was not a desolate domain before, then a long time ago, the location of the Chenluo Desolate Domain was a spiritual energy territory, and it is very likely that some big figures appeared there."

"Guluo River previously showed me the historical map of the Ancient River Realm. The Red Star Empire has a long history and inherited part of the territory and orthodoxy of the last era of the Five Emperors. Presumably, there are historical materials there."

Times have changed. Zhao Xing didn't have to be so cautious when talking to Ji Si. Of course, they didn't directly mention the Profound Yellow World, just chatted about the Chenluo Desolate Domain.

"The World-Crossing Tower was originally a good choice, but now Bowei seems to not like me very much," Zhao Xing said helplessly: "In the short term, I have no chance to go to the World-Crossing Tower."

Otherwise, going to the historical Profound Yellow World region to see would be the most direct way.

Of course, the premise is that there is a world-crossing related to the Profound Yellow World plot in the World-Crossing Tower.

Ji Si said: "Grand Agricultural Minister, I heard that the World-Crossing Tower has some problems. Bowei suddenly slowed down the distribution of the second batch of quotas and increased the fees, which has dealt a blow to his reputation."

"Forget about him. If he doesn't let me go, I won't go for now." Zhao Xing estimated that it had something to do with him.

The Black Sky Moon Tree and the Spirit-Devouring Grass couldn't have grown to the Emperor level for no reason.

The exchange principle is the conservation of spiritual energy between the two worlds. Since his two seedlings have become stronger and the divine statue has been repaired, someone must bear the cost.

It's possible that Bowei delayed the opening of the second batch of quotas and increased the fees because he deducted a lot of world spirit points.

"After collecting the data, it will be the right time," Zhao Xing said. "My True Self school's path to breaking through the Reincarnation Realm is not far off. I plan to open up the inner world first."

"Grand Agricultural Minister, really?" Ji Si's face was happy.

Achieving the Reincarnation Realm in the True Self school and opening up the inner world is a major transformation!

Didn't expect the Grand Agricultural Minister to have reached this step.

"Of course it's true."

The Profound Yellow World has undergone drastic changes; this was learned from Wang Tianzhi's mouth.

Even Old Wang is already in the Life-Death Dao Domain Realm. If he runs back rashly, he might just be sending himself to be slaughtered.

Opening up the inner world, first of all, means stronger strength.

Secondly, acting in the Desolate Domain, storing things and bringing people is a troublesome matter. After opening up the inner world, it will be much more convenient.

"Has the Grand Agricultural Minister planned how to act? Is it alone, or..."

"Of course, everyone together."

Zhao Xing wants to go back, so he must take Ji Che, Ji Si, and the others back together.

Assuming that according to Wang's words, the Profound Yellow World has undergone drastic changes.

Then some of the original artifacts must have become stronger as well!

Treasures like the Human Emperor Sword and the Book of Destiny, these Profound Yellow treasures, can only be used by Ji Che, the Human Emperor.

Therefore, in Zhao Xing's plan, he needs to become stronger, open up the inner world, and the strength of the Great Zhou must also be raised to a higher level.

At present, except for Ji Si, among the others in the Great Zhou, none are Reincarnation Realm combat power, although there are several weaker Reincarnation Realm guest ministers.

"Must find an opportunity for the Great Zhou," Zhao Xing said. "You don't participate. This is a matter for me, the Grand Agricultural Minister, to worry about. You focus on cultivating according to the Heavenly Master's instructions."

Ji Si was very excited, but since Zhao Xing said so, he could only nod. In the four realms of the Destiny Master, he still had two realms of cultivation that he hadn't completed.

However, he still asked one more question: "Where does the Grand Agricultural Minister plan to start?"

"For now, I only have some clues, but it must be in the Siyue Desolate Domain," Zhao Xing said. "Let me report to the Hongshan Emperor first."

"Okay, if the Grand Agricultural Minister has an order, you must notify me!" Ji Si wanted to contribute his strength. After all, he had always been a beneficiary and was even accepted as a disciple by the Heavenly Master.

"Definitely." Zhao Xing smiled and sent Ji Si away.

Then he took out the Star Realm to contact the Hongshan Emperor.

"Zhao Xing, are you already better?"

"Thanks to the Emperor's blessing, I'm almost better," Zhao Xing nodded: "I, this Sea-Communication Envoy, haven't been to my post for three hundred years, and I feel very guilty."

"No matter, you can rest more and wait until you are fully recovered," the Hongshan Emperor said: "At present, there is nothing major on the Ancient Sea-Communication Road, just some rough work."

At the moment, the Hongshan Emperor really didn't have anything for Zhao Xing to do.

Zhao Xing, however, was a bit unhappy. I still owe debts and have to prepare to break through to the Reincarnation Realm. If I don't work, how can I make money?

Must work!

"Emperor, I really want to do something, even if it's moving mountains and shifting stars."

The Hongshan Emperor laughed: "If I let you do the work of moving mountains and shifting stars, let alone Lord Lushan not agreeing, the other disciples of the Primordial Hill would also say that I, Old Hongshan, am not using people properly."

"As the dignified Holy Son of the Primordial Hill, who writes books on the Dao Tree and is like a founding ancestor, how can you be arranged to do the work of a martial artist?"

"..."

Zhao Xing was a bit melancholy.

Why is there no opportunity to do something?

If I don't do things, how can I make money? If I don't make money, where will the resources for upgrading come from?

He has two major troop types to raise, and opening up the inner world is not just about having one World-Opening God Stone.

Speaking of which, he is now considered very rich, with the Hunyuan Dao Tower, two major Emperor-level troop types, and the World-Opening God Stone.

But these are all big treasures he uses himself and cannot be sold. The resources needed to break through to the Reincarnation Realm still have to be earned by himself. The Primordial Realm can provide cultivation resources for the genius stage, but it won't provide cultivation resources for free forever.

Zhao Xing is now in the Life-Death Dao Domain Realm and can already be considered a strong person. He has to find a way to make money himself.

Seeing Zhao Xing's distressed face, the Hongshan Emperor stopped joking and provided a piece of news: "If you want to save up merit, there really is no place to make a fortune on the seven top ancient roads."

"However, the development of the Yanyan Ancient Road is very unsmooth. A while ago, several imperial families responsible for that side planned to give up the development rights of this ancient road and wanted to find a successor to take over this interest. Someone asked me here."

"Yanyan Ancient Road?" Zhao Xing's eyes lit up.