Chapter 523: Master of Cold Food, Past Mysteries Revealed

Facing the questions thrown by Bowei, Zhao Xing narrowed his eyes slightly.

Then, without a word, he began to insert needles into his body.

Bowei was clearly a bit surprised, not knowing what Zhao Xing was doing.

But soon he discovered that Zhao Xing was casting the Hou Hou Bian Method.

"You want to scan me?"

Bowei guessed Zhao Xing's intention.

Zhao Xing didn't speak, and soon turned into a Nine Marsh God descendant.

A humanoid monster with lush hair and a purple-black body, staring at Bowei with a pair of fiery red eyes.

"It's useless." Bowei said, "The difference in our levels is too great; you can't see me clearly."

The facts were indeed as Bowei said. Because the level difference was too great, even with panel observation, Zhao Xing only obtained Bowei's name.

So Zhao Xing didn't say a word and started eating.

Bowei's facial muscles moved slightly, flashing a trace of doubt.

What is he doing?

Why is he eating?

"Boom~~"

The monster revealed a trace of painful expression, because what Zhao Xing ate was a Divine Dharma Pill left by Wei Ling Tianchen.

Zhao Xing didn't use all his strength to fight Ayiso, but now, just to take a look at Bowei, he first needled himself, and then ate the Divine Dharma Pill.

Now Zhao Xing's paper strength had reached a terrifying fourteenth stage!

This time, Zhao Xing looked at Bowei again, and it was finally different.

【Name: Bowei】

【Realm: Divine General Scholar (Sealed, Polluted)】

【Tongshi Divine Art: Third Stage (12/10000)】

Although there were only two more lines of information, Zhao Xing smiled with satisfaction.

"Where Old Qing went, who I am, what that God King's incarnation came to do... I actually didn't want to know that much."

A hoarse voice came from the monster's throat. Zhao Xing shrugged and turned to leave.

It was simply upside down. He had always used information gaps to fool others; how could he be fooled by Bowei?

Now that he had checked Bowei's information and observed Bowei's every move, Zhao Xing indeed felt that there was something wrong with Bowei.

If Bowei were a God King, Zhao Xing would believe it.

But Bowei's Tongshi Divine Art had not been practiced to the top, and he was only at the Divine General level!

Moreover, Bowei's reaction to his actions showed no anticipation at all; he had a very obvious surprise.

This proved that what he knew might also be wrong information.

As long as the halo of the 'first divine-level scholar in history' was removed, Bowei's words were not that important to Zhao Xing.

Moreover, this title of 'first divine-level scholar in history' also had to be questioned with a big question mark.

"I can understand the seal. Bowei is suppressed in the Samsara Graveyard and locked up."

"What does pollution mean? Could it be that Bowei was polluted by information?" Zhao Xing walked on the way back, pondering in his heart.

"Scholars have the Tongshi Method, and also have anti-Tongshi Method means. Could it be that he was polluted by that God King who descended to the contemporary era?"

However, Zhao Xing soon lost interest. If Bowei was

"Emperor Chen'an, no need to be modest." Ayiso said enthusiastically, "Your achievements are obvious to all. I have a favor to ask."

"You are an Earth Divine Official; what can I do to help you?" Zhao Xing asked, pretending to be surprised.

"I have just become an Earth Divine Official, responsible for gathering herbs at the 'Three-Curve River Bend' of the Nine Yin River." Ayiso pretended to be eager to perform meritorious service. "A new official applies new measures; I want to achieve some results, but I haven't established myself yet. Compared to those old-school Earth Divine Officials, my subordinate Divine Guards lack experience."

"If you have something to say, just say it."

"I also have a few Si Nong Divine Guards under my command, and I would like to ask Emperor Chen'an to teach them." Ayiso lowered his voice. "Of course, I won't trouble Emperor Chen'an for nothing. I will pay you 100,000 Soul Crystals. Emperor Chen'an, you don't have to turn this money in."

Zhao Xing naturally understood Ayiso's hint: this was private work, and the 100,000 Soul Crystals were entirely his own.

Honestly, if it weren't for the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror knowing Ayiso's background beforehand, the reason Ayiso gave would have been flawless.

It was very reasonable for him to want to achieve results after just taking office. Zhao Xing had also been quite famous for the past forty years; even Venerable Jin Yu was willing to pay a sum of money to build a good relationship. Ayiso doing this would not arouse any suspicion at all.

Moreover, he was asking Zhao Xing to teach "advanced experience," which was a very reasonable request.

"Lord Ayiso, it's not that I don't want to help..." Zhao Xing pretended to be in a difficult position. "You have also seen that Divine Official Lancuan was originally with Great Divine Official Dongjun, but now he has been transferred to Great Divine Official Luohe."

Zhao Xing lowered his voice: "Who knows what the temperament of the new Great Divine Official is? If you ask, of course I want to go, but this is not according to the rules..."

"I understand, I understand." Ayiso smiled on the surface, but began to sneer in his heart.

Zhao Xing was pushing back and forth, which meant nothing more than two words: pay more.

Greed is good; what I fear is that you are not greedy!

Ayiso thought this, and after some conversation, he raised the price to 300,000 Soul Crystals.

And he would pay half in advance, and the rest when they arrived at the destination.

Zhao Xing stopped pretending and agreed immediately.

Thus, before the banquet ended, Zhao Xing had obtained a windfall.

"Ayiso is really rich. Also, since the Free God Danye sent him to do things, he naturally cannot lack this." Zhao Xing weighed the bone ring in his hand, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Being able to scam a wave of resources before dealing with Ayiso was naturally an unexpected surprise.

By the time he killed Ayiso, he might not necessarily get the other party's things; they would definitely be disposed of by the Heavenly Divine Official, so how could it be his turn?

"There are still a few months until the agreed time. I should prepare for the worst. I can now use the Soul Crystals Ayiso gave me to let three more soul fragments break through, and there is one more Divine Power Baptism I can use..." Zhao Xing pondered.

On the other side, Ayiso was also planning.

"After luring him to the Three-Curve River Bend, he will be outside the territory of the God Yu Prefecture. When I capture him, I will immediately teleport him into the Mist Dao Barrier. Even if Venerable Lancuan comes to save him, he won't be able to find me."

"Greetings, Great Divine Official." Venerable Lancuan cupped his hands.

"Brother Lan, no need to be reserved." Gu Luohe revealed a faint smile.

"Brother Gu, I didn't expect you to come to the Yin Realm too." Venerable Lancuan felt some emotion. "Since we parted last time, you have become even better than before. Even the trials left behind by the God Yu have been completed by you."

"Brother Lan, do you agree with my Dao?" Gu Luohe asked with a smile.

Venerable Lancuan shook his head: "I recognize your strength, but your Dao... is too inconceivable."

"An internal world cannot grow infinitely; sooner or later, there will be a day when it reaches the era of extinction. Decay is irreversible. The coexistence of the Life Great Dao and the Extinction Great Dao is the law of nature."

"Brother Gu, you reversed a boundary seed; this is very powerful, but there will always be a price. If not in the present, then in the future."

"Although I don't know how you did it, reversing an internal world is not the same as reversing a withered seed."

Gu Luohe listened quietly until the other party finished speaking, then said faintly: "Brother Lan, what you say makes sense, which is why I need your help."

"Your Earth Refining Method is also a method of proving the Dao with Heaven and Earth. I would like to ask you to share a copy with me. In addition, I also want a little bit of soil from the Primeval Hill."

Venerable Lancuan shook his head: "The Earth Refining Method was created by me. I can give it to you, but asking me to dig the three major veins is digging the foundation of my sect. How can I agree to you? It is absolutely impossible, not to mention that I can't get in at all."

"Brother Lan, you have a chance to ask me to be your protector. When you break through, I will do it myself, and I will bear all the blame."

"A little bit of soil from the three Earth Veins of the Primeval Hill—the Primeval Vein, the Original Vein, and the Dao-Manifesting Vein—being dug away is not a big loss."

Gu Luohe said sincerely: "Brother Lan, you know my ambitions."

"I am not willing to repeat the footsteps of my predecessors. I want to create my own path. Only then will this life not be in vain, even if it means being smashed to pieces, even if it means being doomed eternally."

Venerable Lancuan remained unmoved, his tone as peaceful as ever: "I will give you the latest Earth Refining Method. But I cannot agree to any more of your requests."

A trace of disappointment flashed in Gu Luohe's eyes, but he was very patient with this descendant of the Earth God 'Yao Jun': "Very well, let's not mention this matter for now. Today, let us only discuss the Dao."

After Zhao Xing reached a secret agreement with Ayiso, the banquet was almost over.

At this time, Venerable Lancuan appeared again, but there was a faint sorrow between his brows, as if he had encountered some troublesome matter.

Zhao Xing had intended to leave, but he still needed Venerable Lancuan to take him back to Moyuan City to receive the Divine Power Baptism of Dongjun.

"Lord Lancuan, why are you troubled? Your subordinate is willing to share your worries." Zhao Xing said.

Divine Official Lancuan glanced at Zhao Xing: "Chen'an, you are now also in the Demigod Realm. Do you know the path to becoming a god?"

Zhao Xing said: "Your subordinate knows a little. One is to cultivate the origin to become a Free God, and the second is to prove the Dao with Heaven and Earth to become a True God of No Tribulation."

Divine Official Lancuan nodded slightly: "Generally speaking, proving the Dao with Heaven and Earth is more difficult. One must have a method to prove the Dao, and also have an object to prove the Dao."

"Suppose someone, for the sake of the common people in the world, wants your method of proving the Dao and also wants your object of proving the Dao. What would you do?"

Zhao Xing was slightly stunned; he seemed to have thought of something.

Previously, the Free God Danye wanted to seize Wei Ling Tianchen's Dao. Now, after Venerable Lancuan met Gu Luohe and said such things, it was hard not to overthink it.

Zhao Xing knew Gu Luohe's concept of proving the Dao with the Eternal Realm, which was no different from reopening the universe.

Reopening the universe—what does that mean?

It means Gu Luohe wants to collect many kinds of Great Dao origins and put them all into his internal world.

In other words, Gu Luohe's proving of the Dao has a very important method, which is to plunder resources, and very high-level resources at that.

Previously, he had guessed that the Earth Refining Method created by Divine Official Lancuan was a method of proving the Dao with Heaven and Earth. So now, could it be that Gu Luohe wants Divine Official Lancuan's method and object of proving the Dao?

Gu Luohe has his eye on Venerable Lancuan's Dao? What does he want to refine with the Earth Refining Method?

If it were someone else, there would naturally be no need to think about such a question. Who would give their Dao to someone else? Such a person would definitely be a mortal enemy, the kind that would never rest until one died.

But if it were a Si Nong from the Primeval Hill, they might really have such a spirit of sacrifice and dedication.

Zhao Xing pondered: "Lord, I don't know what kind of disaster would require such a great sacrifice."

"For me, working hard to become a savior is better than waiting to be saved by others."

Divine Official Lancuan was thoughtful.

Dongjun's Divine Power Baptism allowed Zhao Xing's soul fragments to reach a total of nine.

That is to say, Zhao Xing now possessed a nine-fold Demigod True Spirit amplification.

The bait offered by Ayiso brought this number to thirteen.

When Zhao Xing returned to Moon-Gazing City a year later, he had already become different from before.

【Name: Zhao Xing】

【True Spirit: Nine Tribulations (13-fold amplification)】

【Sun-Moon Dharma Body: Ninth Stage】

"Amplifying on the basis of a demigod—the soul tearing of the Primordial Straw Man Method was originally a side effect, but here it has become a strength amplifier. It's simply too heaven-defying." Zhao Xing couldn't help but sigh.

No wonder this path could not tolerate many people walking it.

"Hum~"

At this time, Ayiso sent a message through the Heaven-Patrolling Order—he was urging Zhao Xing again to set off as soon as possible and rush to the Three-Curve River Bend.

"In such a hurry to set off? Then I will fulfill your wish."

Zhao Xing put away the token and flew toward the Three-Curve River Bend.

The Nine Yin River was blocked by three large mountains, changing its course and forming three winding shoals, which were called the Three-Curve River Bend.

In the first year Zhao Xing arrived here, Ayiso did not rush to make a move, and Zhao Xing was also puzzled about when Ayiso would act.

"Senior Divine Mirror, can you predict when Ayiso will make a move?"

"You should first put on the palm bone of the Free God Xuerui," the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror said.

"Alright." Zhao Xing replaced his right hand bone.

The more known conditions there were, the greater the favorable conditions, and the more accurate the prediction of the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror would be.

When Zhao Xing's luck reached the thirtieth rank, the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror did not spend much effort to obtain an accurate result.

Ayiso's time of action was accurate to the day, and even the method was given an accurate answer.

"Is the difference so great just by bringing the Divine Bone?" Zhao Xing was a little surprised. Assuming he didn't bring the Divine Bone, the predictions given by the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror were diverse, and the time could not be accurate to a certain day.

Luck at the twenty-first rank and luck at the thirtieth rank were simply two different concepts.

"There is a full seven-rank luck difference between you and Ayiso. The Luck Great Dao affects the Causality Great Dao and the Time Great Dao. You stand at the high point of luck, while Ayiso is in the trough."

The artifact spirit of the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror manifested a picture: "People move in heaven and earth, influenced by the Causality and Time Great Daos, cultivating the Five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, and Yin and Yang. Even various Great Daos like Soul and Life interact with heaven and earth."

"This is a chaotic web of destiny, and people are like crawling on this web."

"As long as one is not a god, one cannot jump out of the Great Dao of heaven and earth, so behavior can be predicted."

"What is destiny?"

"When you are cultivating the Dao, you produce a chaotic effect with various Daos in heaven and earth. The behavior produced by your past personality and logic—this is destiny."

"If when things happen, the behavior you produce does not conform to your past personality habits and does not conform to the Dao you cultivated in the past, and there is a large deviation—this is called luck."

"Ayiso wants to kill you; his behavioral logic and his soul are all coming toward this one thing. The behavior itself does not conform to his faith. He originally believed in the Free God Danye, but he had to become a Heaven-Patrolling Divine Guard and believe in the Demon God..."

Zhao Xing listened, confused: "Senior, can you be simpler? What you said is too profound."

The artifact spirit of the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror sneered: "Forget it... let's put it this way: you can understand it as you and Ayiso having a destiny interaction, and you and he have been placed on the same chaotic arena."

"Your luck number far exceeds his. In the Great Dao of Luck, you have already defeated him long ago. My prediction is just telling you the result I see in advance; it doesn't change anything itself."

"Your respective destinies move along with the Time Great Dao."

"And when the difference in your luck is not obvious, this chaotic destiny arena is very large and possesses many possibilities, so my prediction cannot be so accurate."

Seeing Zhao Xing's look of half-understanding, the artifact spirit of the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror couldn't help but mock: "Your comprehension of the Great Dao of Destiny is too poor. Although you are a little better than Wei Ling Tianchen, you are truly the worst mirror owner I have ever brought."

"..."

Zhao Xing couldn't help but be speechless; he was actually despised by the artifact spirit.

"Senior, I am indeed quite poor. Another day I will introduce you to a Destiny Master; his talent is very good." Zhao Xing remembered Ji Si.

With the talent of the Heavenly Venerable Fu, should he be able to enter the eyes of the mirror?

He always felt that the functions of the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror had not been fully opened and that it still hid many secrets. This artifact spirit was also very mysterious; perhaps Ji Si could dig them out.

Zhao Xing farmed while waiting for Ayiso to make a move. He had already put on the Luck Divine Bone of the Free God Xuerui, and with the help of the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror, he even knew when Ayiso would kill him, so he was not panicked at all. With the Eight-Direction Divine Mirror, it was like opening a perspective hack, at least as far as Ayiso was concerned.

Five years after the second banquet ended, Ayiso finally made a move.

He invited Zhao Xing to a place called 'Fuhe Valley' at the Three-Curve River Bend, the reason being that Zhao Xing had done a very good job in the collection work at the Three-Curve River Bend over the past few years, and he intended to settle the remaining balance.

"What a lame excuse." Zhao Xing tunneled to Fuhe Valley and found that the earth veins here had become difficult to tunnel through; clearly, some kind of layout had been made.

Ayiso was also afraid that Zhao Xing's spell talent was too strong. During the Emperor period, he could tunnel two hundred li; if he tunneled away, then all his efforts would be in vain.

"Brother Zhao, you're here. Please, sit down and have a cup of good wine." Ayiso was very enthusiastic, inviting Zhao Xing into the courtyard to drink.

"Over the past few years, thanks to you, the Three-Curve River Bend has been thriving, and the collection progress has been much faster."

"Brother, this is the remaining Soul Crystals. Please, you must accept them."

Zhao Xing was happy when he saw it. This guy really treated him as someone greedy for money, using the balance to reduce his defenses?

However, since Ayiso could give the balance, he would naturally accept it.

"Then I will respectfully obey." Zhao Xing accepted it with a smile.

Ayiso's smile became even brighter: "Come, I will toast you another cup, brother, to express my gratitude."

"Hahaha, thank you, Dao Brother."

Zhao Xing picked up the wine glass and drank it just like that.

Seeing this, Ayiso put down the wine glass, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

Sixty-seven years, finally completed the mission!

The wine was naturally poisoned. After drinking it, Zhao Xing would soon be unconscious, and then he could take Zhao Xing away.

Of course, if Zhao Xing saw the abnormality, he could also use force, but he didn't expect it to go so smoothly.

"Ugh... you, you poisoned it..." Zhao Xing suddenly clutched his neck, a look of horror appearing on his face.

"Boom!"

A powerful aura erupted from his body, and he broke through the door, but then he plunged deeply into the ground, crashing into a large pit.

Ayiso smiled slightly, put down the wine glass leisurely, and then walked out the door slowly: "Only knowing it now? It's too late."

The aura of Zhao Xing in the pit soon disappeared, replaced by a viscous poison that was eroding the land.

Ayiso walked into the pit, intending to fish out Zhao Xing, but he didn't see Zhao Xing's body.

"Swish~"

An arm covered in gray nails, with blue-black muscles and visible meridians, suddenly stretched out from below.

Its speed was too fast. Ayiso only saw a flash of black light, and his whole person was grabbed by this palm.

"You—"

A look of shock appeared in Ayiso's eyes.

"Hou Hou Bian Method? How is this possible? How is he fine?"

Rumble~~~

Zhao Xing's body emerged from underground. At this time, black horns grew on Zhao Xing's head, dense hair extended from his head to his back, his muscles were as hard as rock, his whole body appeared dark black, and there were light purple magic patterns passing across his chest, flowing down in circles.

A total of nine secret patterns represented the nine talents of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, Time, and Space.

On Zhao Xing's back, under the body covered by hair, three bone needles were inserted.

"You, what kind of monster are you?!" Ayiso was shocked, because he tried to break free, but with a sudden force, he failed to shake Zhao Xing's hand.

It was as if what grabbed him was not a flesh palm, but space itself.

Zhao Xing glanced at the panel.

【Name: Zhao Xing (Hou Hou Bian State)】

【Race: Nine Marsh God Descendant】

【True Spirit: Eleventh Stage】

【Nine Marsh Holy Body: Twelfth Stage】

【Talent Secret Method: Ten Thousand Tribulations Golden Marrow (Locked), Long Life Wheel (Locked), Profound Underworld Transformation (Locked), Earth Boundary Divine Walk (Locked), Thunder Strike Body (Locked), Instant Eternity (Locked).】

【Talent Secret Method 1: Space-Breaking Claw (Unlocked), Nine Marsh God Descendant, its right claw can tear space barriers, and the palm has a singularity that can bind heaven and earth.】

【Talent Secret Method 2: Heavenly Ruins Five Viscera (Unlocked), Nine Marsh God Descendant retains the human body structure, but the five viscera form a boundary themselves, which can swallow most non-divine objects and convert them into nutrients.】

【Talent Secret Method 3: Burning World Divine Eye, the eyes can emit flames that melt divine power.】

【Heaven-Changing Divine Needle: External magic tool.】

【Hou Hou Bian duration: three days. If it exceeds three days, unknown sequelae will appear.】

The Nine Marsh God Hou Hou Bian Method had nine levels in total. Zhao Xing had cultivated three levels, and correspondingly, he had unlocked three talent secret methods.

After transforming, his True Spirit temporarily climbed to the eleventh stage, and his physical body reached the twelfth stage!

The Nine Marsh God is a Heavenly God deity. If one cultivates the nine transformations of the Hou Hou Bian Method, it is a true divine body, and one can unlock all talent divine skills.

However, Zhao Xing could only transform for three days. His True Spirit could not control this Hou Hou Bian for too long. If it exceeded three days, it would be very difficult to change back.

Grabbing Ayiso's talent divine skill with one hand and making him unable to break free was precisely the 'Space-Breaking Claw'.

"Gurgle~"

Ayiso did not sit and wait for death. His eyes glowed green, reflecting Zhao Xing's whole body after the Hou Hou Bian.

Ayiso was a thirteenth-stage Medical Venerable and also a Martial Venerable.

At this time, his body also changed. The five medicine bottles hidden in his stomach suddenly shattered, and five kinds of medicinal liquids—gold, blue, purple, cyan, and red—dispersed into his limbs and bones.

Ayiso's whole body was bloody, but he managed to withstand the strangulation of the Space-Breaking Claw.

"I still underestimated you. I didn't expect you to be able to solve the poison I planted."