Chapter 562: The Vastness of Heaven and Earth

Li Yuan was a frugal man; even with ten thousand opportunities, he never wasted anything casually.

He stayed in Mingquan City for three or four days, using the bone ornaments' enhancement to frantically read and gather intelligence.

First, he concluded that the Origin Divine Dynasty was vast—far larger than he could imagine.

Mingquan City was merely one of countless cities beneath the Mingquan Mountains, and the Mingquan Mountains themselves were just one of many mountain ranges under the Smoke and Xia Sect.

And this sect belonged to a life-star named "Chonghua."

Chonghua was one of the star clusters gathered in the Tian Shi Yuan, as the little female dragon had said…

"The Three Yuan Realms—Tian Shi Yuan, Tai Wei Yuan, Zi Wei Yuan… one of the domains ruled by the Origin Divine Dynasty…"

In a quiet little courtyard, Li Yuan held a book in his hands, turning its pages; his heart stirred with awe and longing, but mostly, he felt lost.

Even counting his past and present lives, he could not comprehend what kind of system such a vast force, spanning realms, might be.

A feudal dynasty spanning star systems?

A divine dynasty ruling over gods?

A league of gods?

"How could something this colossal just collapse like that?"

Li Yuan closed the book; he had gained much these past days, but his doubts had multiplied.

His gains mostly lay in understanding the Three Yuan Realms and the Origin Divine Dynasty; several of the secret texts he "borrowed" from powerful families in the city even mentioned the Youjing and the gods.

"The gods."

Li Yuan rubbed his temples: "The gods reside in the Youjing … there's such secrecy…"

Only gods could permanently dwell in the Youjing; conversely, gods could not permanently dwell in the mortal world—the reason was simple: lifespan.

"Cultivators, even the mightiest Origin Divine Emperor, if unable to live a second life, last no more than ten thousand years… Before their limit arrives, they ignite their divine realms with incense offerings to endure in the Youjing …"

Li Yuan murmured to himself, his understanding of the gods now much clearer:

"To endure in the Youjing, one needs incense offerings; the older the god, the more incense is required… thus, the gods' struggles have never ceased."

Existence must have a reason.

This was not recorded in any book—it was his own conclusion drawn from reading countless texts.

"The gods need incense to endure; mortal powers need the gods as their foundation… the older the sect, the deeper its foundation; the Origin Divine Dynasty's foundation is utterly unfathomable!"

Li Yuan's scalp prickled.

How many ancient relics must lie behind a force that ruled over countless realms?

Recalling the "star clusters" he had glimpsed from afar in the Youjing, Li Yuan drew a deep breath and slowly exhaled, feeling as if a frog from a well had finally seen the vastness of heaven and earth.

"That sect token must never be used lightly."

Li Yuan's thoughts drifted to the sect token he had gained from climbing the mountain—the one that had made the little female dragon tremble—and he made up his mind to gather more intelligence within this secret realm.

The leg to cling to must be the thickest one.

After relaxing his mind, Li Yuan continued reading; the more he read, the more he valued this secret realm.

Over these three days, every book he read—novels, martial arts manuals, travelogues, biographies, historical notes—was detailed and authentic.

It felt as if he had truly traveled through time and space to the past.

"Master~"

At that moment, a voice came from outside the courtyard.

"Come in."

Li Yuan flipped rapidly through the book in his hands, then raised his head only after finishing it.

"These are the spirit puppets you requested."

The speaker was a middle-aged man in a black robe, smiling broadly; as he spoke, he clapped once, and two graceful young women, seemingly sixteen or seventeen, entered through the door.

"These are the finest spirit puppets in Mingquan City, crafted by the Smoke and Xia Sect; though their rank is only eighth-tier, the materials are exceptional, and divine artisans have engraved divine patterns into them—they not only know how to serve, but also possess a coordinated combat technique, capable of holding their own against blood-replacement martial artists."

The man praised them effusively.

"Good."

Li Yuan glanced at them, then tossed over a money pouch he had prepared—filled entirely with yuan coins, borrowed along with the books to fund his purchases.

"Also…"

The man stepped forward, lowering his voice:

"According to my inquiries, a great figure truly resides within the Mingquan Mountains… no one in Mingquan City knows his identity or origin, and no one dares to ask."

"So you don't even know where he lives?"

Li Yuan looked at him.

This secret realm was the most real he had ever encountered.

Not only were the books he read incredibly detailed, but every living being in the city—human or otherwise—behaved exactly like real people.

"I dare not inquire."

The man chuckled bitterly; he did not know he could "refresh" after death—some things, no matter how much money he had, he would never dare do.

"Hmm."

Li Yuan did not press him, waved him off, and turned his attention to his two newly purchased spirit puppets.

"Master~"

The puppet girls smiled sweetly, courteous and well-behaved.

"Not just superficial—they have flesh, skin, muscles, organs…"

Li Yuan controlled the ten bone ornaments, and with focused spiritual sense, the two puppets held no secrets from him—they were laid bare.

Blood circulation, meridian networks, dantian, bones and tendons…

From outside to inside, Li Yuan examined them meticulously; with the bone ornaments' enhancement, he saw the hidden spirit patterns—core to puppetry, simplified divine patterns.

He had seen similar descriptions in the books he read; one glance was enough to recognize them.

The puppets' internal spirit patterns came in four types: storing true qi, incense offerings, maintaining basic sentience, and mimicking human appearance.

"Indeed fine items."

Li Yuan studied them for a long while, memorizing the spirit patterns, then dismissed the two puppets to tidy the room and cook.

Over these three days, Li Yuan did not merely read—he made many experiments targeting this secret realm.

Primarily, to extract benefits from this realm.

Books and lower-to-mid-tier martial arts were one; past intelligence and records of higher realms were two.

Then came spirit puppets and weapon-making methods.

"First, secure the immediate gains…"

Li Yuan sipped tea and continued reading; whether useful or not, he memorized everything—even considering visiting the Smoke and Xia Sect itself.

His current martial arts, the highest being the Long Mo Heart Scripture, only reached the Divine Palace stage—sufficient for now, but preparing early never hurt.

"As for the Five Dragon Immortals…"

Li Yuan shook his head; nearly every book he read overflowed with reverence for the Origin Divine Clan—a clan of a thousand, terrifying the heavens.

"No rush."

Li Yuan had some interest in challenging the Origin Divine Clan, but he was in no hurry.

Ten days in the realm equaled one day in the real world—why rush?

…

Mingquan City was not large.

By day eighteen of the realm, Li Yuan had read every book he could buy or borrow—thirteen high-tier martial arts, and over three hundred lower- and mid-tier ones.

Though the gains from this realm could not be fully mastered, his current realm allowed him to learn them quickly—only his root constitution could not be altered while within the realm.

By day thirty of the realm, Li Yuan had acquired most of the spirit puppet and weapon-making methods, but they were far more complex than martial arts—he merely memorized them Hulun.

Afterward, he left the city and headed toward the Mingquan Mountains.

Though most factions dared not inquire or approach the great figure outside the city, his residence was not entirely unknown.

Li Yuan traveled westward, slaying countless reckless beasts along the way; when the sun tilted westward, he halted.

"Not hard to find."

On a desolate mountain, Li Yuan shaded his eyes.

About three hundred li away, atop a cloud-shrouded peak, stood a palace complex—vast, likely housing five to six hundred buildings.

Much larger than any minor sect near Mingquan City.

"The Origin Divine Clan's grandeur is truly immense."

Li Yuan squinted; even the records said this figure was humble.

Yet, considering the Origin Divine Clan's status, perhaps they truly were humble?

"Who is there!"

Li Yuan had only glanced a few times, pondering how to meet the divine clan member, when a thunderous shout erupted directly in his mind, ignoring all space:

"How dare you spy on a noble one?!"

In the next instant, a mailed figure crossed three hundred li in an instant, stirring violent winds that snapped trees and sent dust and sand swirling.

The sheer force made Li Yuan's eyelids twitch.

In his perception, the armored figure was like a dragon ready to devour flesh, a primordial beast clad in human skin, its aura impossibly vast.

"A supreme expert!"

As the shout exploded, Li Yuan turned and fled without hesitation, ending his journey through the realm.

His eyesight was sharp, his perception extremely keen.

As the armored figure descended from the sky, at least a dozen other Deqixi, no weaker and some even stronger, appeared inside and outside the imperial palace.

Ten thousand lives may be many, but they cannot be wasted like this…

……

Hum~

On the gray stone platform, a faint shimmering light flickered.

"Before challenging the Five Dragon Immortals, I have to fight dozens of guards first?"

Li Yuan snapped out of his daze and decisively abandoned challenging the Five Dragon Immortals now—this difficulty was beyond his scope; even with the Command Scroll's enhancement, he had no chance of winning.

"Even after entering the Dao, I might still not be able to defeat them…"

Regaining his composure, Li Yuan bowed to the silent Divine Burial Coffin before him; a gentle light bathed his body—he could enter it instantly if he agreed.

"Thank you, Elder."

Li Yuan was meticulous in his courtesies, but the bronze coffin gave no response, as silent as a lifeless object.

He did not mind; after bowing once, he turned and left the Command Space, yet kept a fraction of his spiritual sense subtly observing—after this realm journey, his wariness of the bronze coffin had reached its peak.

"Huh!"

In the cave, Li Yuan exhaled deeply.

One month in the realm, three days in the mortal world—he felt as if years had passed: the Tribulation Scroll, the Human Tribulation Platform, Heavenly Tribulation, the Divine Burial Coffin, the Origin Divine Clan…

Letting his thoughts wander freely, it was long before his mind finally calmed.

"This was never meant as a trial for Blood-Exchange martial artists!"

Wrapping the Shen Dragon Belt around his waist, Li Yuan pulled out the Eight Directions Temple Token; after thirty days in the realm, his spirit had reached its peak:

"It's time to enter the Dao."