Chapter 416: Zehuo Ge

[Wuwei Buyi Dao Field]

As soon as Wang Ping returned to the dao field with his twelve yin spirits, he was greeted with a hero's welcome. Everyone's attitude had drastically changed.

Except for the heavily injured Yi Xuangong, who maintained his composure, the other qi-ingesting practitioners no longer dared to meet Wang Ping's gaze as equals. They couldn't help it. Even if Wang Ping didn't mind such looks, the twelve yin spirits behind him would immediately glare back.

It was quite terrifying.

After all, everyone had witnessed Old Man Guangji's fate just moments ago. He had been beaten to a pulp, and now he was standing in the ranks of the yin spirits, his face brimming with Absolute Loyalty!

"Thank you, Daoist friend, for saving our dao field."

Stepping in front of Wang Ping, Yi Xuangong took the lead in bowing, offering a deep and formal salute. Seeing this, the surrounding qi-ingesting practitioners followed suit without a word.

"Thank you, sir, for saving our dao field!"

"You are all too polite. How could I possibly accept such honor?"

Wang Ping smiled brightly and waved his hand with humble modesty, looking like a man of boundless magnanimity. Deep down, however, he was thoroughly enjoying their reverence.

A moment later, Yi Xuangong continued, "Additionally, I have a presumptuous request. Junior Brother Qi is, after all, a pillar of our dao field. The situation was tense earlier, and you had to act expediently, which led to his unexpected calamity. I implore you, Daoist friend, to release your profound methods and allow his true spirit to return."

Saying this, Yi Xuangong pointed at the contingent of yin spirits.

Following his finger, Wang Ping easily spotted the immensely loyal-looking Qi Sifeng. He was quite straightforward about it and nodded immediately. "It's just a small matter."

After all, this wasn't his only yin spirit.

Besides, when it came to qi-ingesting practitioners... even those at the second layer were somewhat beneath Wang Ping's notice now. Keeping him would just waste space, so it was better to do them a favor.

With that thought, Wang Ping immediately withdrew the profound magic binding Qi Sifeng. The yin spirit's form shattered, and his true spirit, previously submerged in a gloomy radiance, suddenly flared bright. Like a man breaking the surface of the water, it flashed and vanished, diving straight into one of the dao field's grand halls in the blink of an eye.

"Oh?"

Wang Ping instantly grasped Yi Xuangong's true intent—a resurrection technique! Once refined into a yin spirit, any previously viable resurrection methods would be rendered ineffective.

But now he had removed his magic.

Regaining its freedom, Qi Sifeng's true spirit was immediately pulled by the resurrection spell, as profound forces circulated within the grand hall. Before long, the hall came crashing down.

Shortly after, a figure stumbled out from the dust and rubble.

It was none other than Qi Sifeng.

"Thank you, vene— *cough*, thank you, Daoist friend." Qi Sifeng's face was etched with discomfort. Subconsciously bypassing Yi Xuangong, he bowed directly to Wang Ping.

Although he had been resurrected and had regained his freedom, the memories from his time as a yin spirit wouldn't simply vanish. The Absolute Loyalty that had flooded his every thought had delivered a massive shock to his consciousness. He had only been a yin spirit for a brief moment, so after resurrecting and readjusting his thoughts, he was barely able to recover.

If he had been one for just a bit longer...

He would likely have been left a drooling mess even if cured. Even if Wang Ping released his bindings and set him free, he still would have considered himself a yin spirit, effectively becoming a completely different person from then on.

Therefore, despite owing Wang Ping his life, Qi Sifeng felt a deep wariness toward him, secretly sighing at just how ruthless the demonic path truly was.

Moreover... when Wang Ping killed Old Man Guangji earlier, Qi Sifeng had a front-row seat. Wang Ping had blown Guangji apart without the slightest hesitation. Such a vicious act—killing a captive first before dealing with the enemy—was hidden beneath a peaceful facade, and it only made Qi Sifeng's attitude toward Wang Ping even more respectful.

"There's no need for such formalities."

Hearing this, Wang Ping gave Qi Sifeng a look before turning to Yi Xuangong and sending a telepathic message: "Senior, do you want me to free Luo Chang and the other two Daoist friends as well?"

'You're not pretending anymore?'

Yi Xuangong cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he shook his head decisively. "They were merely qi nurturing practitioners, essentially acting in the role of guest elders. They aren't worth the cost of a resurrection spell."

Qi Sifeng was at the second layer of Qi Consumption, his junior brother, and the second-in-command of the dao field beneath himself. He possessed status, position, and value, making his resurrection worthwhile.

But for three qi nurturing practitioners? It wasn't worth wasting the resources.

"Daoist friend, you may not know this, but this resurrection method is not without a price," Yi Xuangong whispered, seeing Wang Ping still staring at the collapsed hall.

"This technique is called the Soul Lamp Life-Borrowing Method. It requires a cultivator to extract a portion of their own flesh and blood in advance. Secret seals are applied, talismans are wrapped around it, and it is placed inside a soul lamp to act as fuel. Afterward, fresh flesh and blood must be added at regular intervals, consuming vast amounts of spiritual materials to keep the lamp burning bright."

"This way, once the person dies, their true spirit will be drawn back by the soul lamp."

"Then, within the lamp, they use the previously stored flesh and blood to resurrect, reconstructing their dharma body, restoring their sea of consciousness, and piecing their soul back together—though every aspect will suffer some slight damage."

As he finished speaking, Yi Xuangong sighed.

"After resurrection, not only will one's cultivation level drop and their dharma power wear away, but they will even forget certain insights and knowledge of their dao path, forcing them to spend time cultivating it all over again."

"Furthermore, using this method to retrieve a cultivator's true spirit is not foolproof. There are always bizarre techniques capable of trapping the true spirit before the soul lamp can guide it back."

Like the water qi's yin spirits.

"In short, where in this world is there a resurrection that costs nothing, leaves you completely unscathed, and even brings you straight back to your peak state?"

"Especially for qi-ingesting practitioners like us."

"Even if there is, it must be a resurrection method at the True Person level."

"I see... so that's how it is."

Wang Ping nodded slightly and retracted his gaze, saying calmly, "Right now, the dao field has a thousand things waiting to be rebuilt, and the Tomb Star we just acquired still needs to be refined into the dao field."

"I won't disturb you any longer."

Yi Xuangong understood immediately. "Please, do as you please, Daoist friend."

Soon, repair work quickly got underway across the dao field. Meanwhile, Wang Ping rode a beam of escaping light, returning to the Outer Heaven Battlefield from earlier in the blink of an eye.

Immediately after, Wang Ping formed a hand seal and stimulated the profound ring behind his head.

"Deep in the Yellow Springs' nine lands, let the Netherworld open its ghost gates!"

Gloomy radiance spread outwards.

Like a netherworld-connecting river, it unspooled beneath Wang Ping's feet. One end tethered to the present world, while the other dove deep into the underworld, shining in tandem with the torrent of destiny.

Soon, a figure began to condense.

However, a second later.

Pop!

The figure shattered like a fleeting dream or a fragile bubble amidst the gloomy light, causing Wang Ping to frown. "It failed... As expected, the Brahma Nation really does have some tricks up its sleeve."

When facing the ancient cultivators in the Star Grave Sand Sea, Wang Ping had always refined them in an instant. However, the Qi Refining practitioners of the Immortal Gate and the Ascetic Monks of the Brahma Nation were different. Yongxiu, in particular, may have died in the end, but Wang Ping remained clear-headed; he knew it wasn't because he had simply overpowered him.

It was because the master behind Yongxiu hadn't wanted him to live.

Thinking of this, Wang Ping subconsciously remembered the losing-the-dao omen upon himself, and the image of Yongxiu being controlled by the holy truth heart flashed through his mind.

'That red-robed Buddhist bastard did it on purpose!'

Wang Ping knew that the reason the Master of Secret Traces had killed Yongxiu right in front of him wasn't just to drop the Heaven's Bereavement karmic deed onto his head.

His other purpose was to explicitly show him just how much of a puppet one truly was when serving as the direct subordinate of a True Monarch or a Bodhisattva.

'To kill a man and destroy his spirit too—how terrifying.'

At this thought, Wang Ping's obsession only deepened. The Complete Virtue Talisman circulated, resonating with the qi of heaven and earth, making his face appear even more sinister and ethereal.

"Deep in the Yellow Springs' nine lands, let the Netherworld open its ghost gates!"

This time, Wang Ping didn't just use the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring; he also simultaneously activated the newly mastered 'Netherworld Communication' qi phenomenon.

As boundless radiance coalesced, Yongxiu's figure stepped out from the illusion once more. However, this time Wang Ping deliberately lowered the yin spirit's post-resurrection state, leaving Yongxiu with only thirty percent of his original cultivation to exchange for a stable revival. Finally, a brand new yin spirit slowly rose from the light.

Instantly, the yin spirit opened its eyes.

Yongxiu looked around blankly. His eyes were brimming with spiritual intelligence, but his consciousness seemed to still be stuck in the exact moment Wang Ping had killed him with the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring.

After a moment, he finally reacted.

"Amitabha."

Yongxiu sighed and pressed his palms together. "I never expected that the Bodhisattva wouldn't even be willing to take back my true spirit. Perhaps it was left behind specifically for you, Lord."

With that said, he looked at Wang Ping.

Like the other yin spirits, his face was etched with Absolute Loyalty, but his speech and demeanor remained identical to when he was alive. Aside from a precipitous drop in cultivation, he had no other weaknesses.

"Alas."

A second later, Yongxiu let out a sigh. Resurrected as a yin spirit, his entire aura had become utterly gloomy—one might even call it depressed.

"Congratulations, Lord, on breaking through to Qi Refining, turning the tide against the collapsing waves, and propping up the falling grand edifice. After today, even if placed within the vast Cosmic Deep Space, you can be considered a figure of note, no longer an ordinary low-level cultivator." As he spoke, Yongxiu suddenly shook his head. "But is all of this worth it?"

Wang Ping was speechless.

Clearly, after being abandoned by the Master of Secret Traces, Yongxiu had become incredibly despondent. He was visibly bursting with negative energy, acting entirely bereft of the will to live.

"You might think I'm speaking nonsense, Lord."

"But the truth is, you've only obtained a momentary thrill. Qi Refining is certainly wonderful, but the better a pawn is, the more the exalted lords will work them to the bone."

Yongxiu sighed again. "I'm guessing it won't be long before one of the lords comes looking for you, either directly or indirectly. Either way, they will work you to death. Although restricted by destiny, meaning you will definitely have a way out, that path will undoubtedly be hidden incredibly deep by them."

"All in all."

"While you're still young, Lord, why not go out and indulge in wine and pleasure? You might not get the chance later. The fate of being worked to death by the lords is waiting for you..."

"Alright, alright, that's enough from you."

Wang Ping decisively ordered Yongxiu to shut his mouth. He had refined Yongxiu into a yin spirit to gather intelligence, not to listen to his miserable rambling.

"Just answer my questions... how much do you know about the Master of Secret Traces?"

"Nothing at all."

Yongxiu gave his answer without hesitation. "Reporting to the Lord, I have absolutely no understanding of the Bodhisattva. I only know the Daoist name he held in the Immortal Gate before he began cultivating Brahma methods."

Wang Ping already knew that much.

"True Person Shuofang Hanyou..." Wang Ping stroked the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring in his hand, feeling a bit unwilling to accept this. "Is there really no other intelligence?"

"Hmm... there are some hearsay rumors."

Yongxiu hesitated slightly.

"Speak!"

At Wang Ping's command, the loyal yin spirit didn't dare dawdle, whispering immediately, "I heard that the qi the Bodhisattva refined back then was human-yin water."

Nine Palaces Subtlety-Gauging Mechanism-Discerning Qi!

Among the myriad qi, this one occupied the human position in the Three Talents. It governed strategy and focused heavily on covert, shady matters. Anyone capable of cultivating this qi was undoubtedly someone with a particularly insidious style of doing things.

'Someone like that could never just sit still and wait for death.'

It was easy to imagine that upon confirming that the True Monarchs of Water Qi and Fire Qi had used his life tribulation as a chessboard to lay down a death trap, this Bodhisattva absolutely had other countermeasures prepared.

Thinking of this, Wang Ping raised his hand, looking at the 'Heaven's Bereavement' karmic deed that had fallen upon him. Just like the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring, this thing was used to track his location, ensuring he could always be found. All he could say was that the Taiping Sutra was simply too useless.

'Why can't you reverse time?'

Wang Ping sank into his mind and grumbled at the Taiping Sutra again. 'Father, your resurrections aren't fast enough, nor are they ruthless enough. The intensity is just far too low!'

'Given enough time, I'll eventually create a resurrection method that can turn back time.'

Wang Ping pondered inwardly.

In truth, it wasn't impossible. After all, 'Wandering in Absolute Freedom' allowed one to traverse time; it was just that his cultivation was still too low. His true body could only rewind by three or four seconds.

His divine sense could only turn back time by three or four hours.

This tiny window was still far too short.

Of course, the more important issue was that he had absolutely no idea how to forge Spiritual Treasures, lacking any experience in that field whatsoever. It seemed he'd need to find some time to practice.

For example, catching a yin spirit that knew how to forge them.

A moment later, Wang Ping finally reeled in his wandering thoughts. He recalled Yongxiu into the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring, then rode his escaping light back to the dao field.

Then, he found Yi Xuangong, who was recuperating inside a grand hall.

"Senior," Wang Ping said, getting straight to the point without any nonsense. "I would like to meet with the Daoist Lord again. I wonder if you could help introduce me?"

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Yi Xuangong looked up, then tilted his head slightly as if listening to something. He shook his head. "My apologies, Daoist friend, but now is not the time."

'Huh? The Daoist Lord refuses to see me?'

Wang Ping immediately narrowed his eyes. He had wanted to speak with the Daoist Lord about the hidden third party pulling the strings behind him—namely, the Divine Weapon Courtyard and the situation regarding the metal qi.

He was confident he hadn't guessed the answer wrong.

Yet the Daoist Lord refused to see him. Was it that he didn't want to talk? Or... was he currently being watched by a True Monarch, knowing he couldn't hide it, and thus it was too inconvenient to speak?

Wang Ping already had plenty of experience with this in the Eight Trigrams Furnace. Those high-level Biyang's cultivators truly would squat right beside their pawns while setting up their plots, monitoring them non-stop, twenty-four hours a day. They were utterly shameless. For all he knew, one could be squatting next to that torch-like mountain right at this very moment!

'That makes sense.' Wang Ping shook his head inwardly.

'Although he's a Daoist Lord, in front of a True Monarch, he's just a standard low-level cultivator. Being monitored round the clock by a True Monarch, it's completely normal that he can't keep any secrets.'

What's more, judging by the current situation.

In the grand scheme where the water and fire qi factions were hunting down the Master of Secret Traces, this Supreme Daoist Lord Xuangong was playing a crucial role, just like himself.

'But I'm the bait. What is he?'

'As long as I figure out his true role in this grand plot, I might finally be able to tell whether he is a friend or foe in my life tribulation.'

The Water and Fire Qi True Monarchs, the Master of Secret Traces, Supreme Daoist Lord Xuangong, Daoist Master Hanguang Danyang, and that metal qi True Monarch from the Divine Weapon Courtyard whom Wang Ping speculated was cultivating the Heaven-Lake Tread hexagram—Wang Ping figured these six mighty figures were the chess players in this grand game.

'Four at the True Monarch level, two at the True Person level.'

Split down the middle, it perfectly aligned with the absolute fairness principle of destiny. Wang Ping believed that among these six, three should be allies he could rely on.

'Two True Monarchs and one True Person.'

'So, who are they?'

Wang Ping couldn't quite put his finger on it. He didn't dare vouch for any of the high-level cultivators. Right now, all he could confirm was that the Master of Secret Traces was definitively on the opposing side.

'Could it possibly be the Fire Qi True Monarch?'

Wang Ping speculated inwardly.

This deduction actually made sense. Looking back now, Tianxing's act of coming to talk to him had been witnessed by many people.

And at the time, he already had the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring on him. His own True Monarch had likely been watching him twenty-four hours a day. Even though Tianxing was a Dao-Child of an immortal realm and had the metal qi True Monarch cultivating the Heaven-Lake Tread hexagram covering for him, they might not have actually managed to hide it from his own True Monarch's piercing gaze.

'After all, when it comes to hiding, my True Monarch is the absolute best at it.'

'However... fooling the fire qi True Monarch would be entirely normal.'

In Wang Ping's eyes, perhaps the Divine Weapon Courtyard had never intended to keep it a secret from the water qi side. The one they were truly covering up and blinding was the fire qi True Monarch.

As for the claim that the water and fire factions were of one mind—Wang Ping didn't believe a single word of that nonsense. Especially since the fire qi faction had secretly cooperated with Daoist Master Hanguang Danyang to orchestrate that Earth-Fire Darkening hexagram plot. How could the water qi faction, publicly recognized as a demonic path, lack their own selfish motives?

Wang Ping shook his head. 'Impossible. Absolutely impossible!'

He also had another piece of supporting evidence: the true meaning hidden behind the qi phenomenon of "heaven-yang metal governing all waters" that he had discovered earlier.

'Heaven-yang metal, the 'Clear Autumn White-Gazing Austere Qi'. This qi can govern all waters, which means the metal qi-focused Divine Weapon Courtyard might not have a bad relationship with the water qi side behind closed doors.'

'Thinking about it from this angle, the Divine Weapon Courtyard's involvement in the grand plot, acting as the hidden third party behind Supreme Daoist Lord Xuangong, might have been orchestrated by the water qi faction. So, perhaps just like Daoist Master Hanguang Danyang, the Divine Weapon Courtyard had acted on behalf of the water qi side and offered that Daoist Lord an alternative path?'

'Highly possible!'

Therefore, the Daoist Lord refused to see him and was unwilling to talk about the Divine Weapon Courtyard's involvement right now in order to prevent the fire qi True Monarch from spotting any clues.

Coming to this conclusion, Wang Ping let out a long breath.

'These Biyang's schemers are more manipulative than the last! On the surface, it's 'Water and Fire In Equilibrium', but secretly, one pulls an 'Earth-Fire Darkening' plot while the other has their own arrangements.'

Demonic paths, unorthodox ways—they truly lived up to their reputations.

What felt like a long train of thought took only an instant in reality. In Yi Xuangong's eyes, Wang Ping merely paused for a moment before calmly nodding.

"The Daoist Lord manages ten thousand affairs daily. It's only normal that he finds it inconvenient to see me."

"Since that is the case, I must ask Senior to arrange a quiet room for me. Having just broken through to Qi Refining, I have gained many insights and it's the perfect time to go into seclusion and consolidate them."

"It is only right!"

Yi Xuangong immediately nodded. He turned around, suddenly gestured with his hand, and summoned a stack of jade slips from the depths of the hall, passing them directly to Wang Ping.

"Daoist friend, you cultivate the earth-yin water, the Hidden Dragon Meridian-Circulating Nether-Penetrating Qi, correct? These were left behind by qi-ingesting practitioners in our dao field who previously cultivated this qi. They record the qi phenomena associated with it. They're quite comprehensive overall and should serve as a good reference for you. Think of it as gratitude for saving our dao field."

"Hmm!?"

Wang Ping's eyes flickered, immediately realizing the immense value of the jade slips in his hands. Knowledge of the qi phenomena of the qi of heaven and earth could practically be considered closely guarded secrets!

It was important to note that many Qi Refining practitioners groped their way across the river when cultivating a qi and seeking insights into its phenomena. It was impossible to grasp every qi phenomenon of a given heaven and earth qi. Gaining insight into them was like blind men touching an elephant—you got whatever you managed to stumble upon. There was no way to choose autonomously, and sometimes you had to rely purely on luck.

Take the six Qi Refining practitioners who besieged him earlier, for example.

Qi Refining practitioners like Chu Tianqiu and Tao Shaobo had no backing from a True Person. The inheritances they held were highly limited. Their cultivation during the Tribulation Transcending stage had gone somewhat smoothly.

But once they hit Qi Refining and exhausted the benefits of their inheritance, they quickly found themselves struggling. Their future cultivation could only rely entirely on themselves.

'The Immortal Gate is full of monopolies at every turn.'

Wang Ping couldn't help but sigh. During the Tribulation Transcending stage, they monopolized Divine Powers and cultivation methods. During Qi Refining, they monopolized dao theories. The perfectly good Immortal Gate had been ruined by these vermin.

Imagine two Qi Refining practitioners with equal talent and comprehension cultivating the exact same qi. One holds a rich inheritance, knowing exactly what phenomena their chosen qi possesses, its characteristics, and how to specifically seek insights into it. The other knows nothing at all. How could their efficiency in cultivation ever be compared on the same scale?

With that thought, Wang Ping was reminded of Mingyou.

'That old bastard really is a fucking talent. His master back in the day seemed to be just an ordinary Qi Refining practitioner, yet he still managed to cultivate to such an incredible realm.'

He had real skills!

Without any cheat, facing such immense pressure, Mingyou had forcibly clawed his way up to this level and was even on the verge of breaking through to the True Person realm. He truly possessed some extraordinary capability.

In other words...

'With skills like that, he definitely has plenty of good things in his possession. I haven't contacted him recently; the master-disciple relationship has grown distant!'

Wang Ping reflected on his past mistakes with bitter resolve.

No, he had to find a chance to send a strand of divine sense back and properly nurture their master-disciple bond. While he was at it, he could try to glean some intelligence on the situation with Tianxing and the Divine Weapon Courtyard.

Calming his thoughts, Wang Ping slipped the jade slips into his sleeve before thanking Yi Xuangong.

"Thank you, Senior."

"It is merely a handful of dao theories." Yi Xuangong shook his head, speaking solemnly. "Daoist friend, you turned the tide and saved our dao field from the brink of destruction. These trivial things aren't worth mentioning."

Wang Ping actually felt a bit embarrassed hearing that.

'To be honest, if I hadn't shown up, your dao field probably wouldn't have been in danger of collapsing in the first place. My arrival is what plunged the dao field into deep water and scorching fire...'

[Qianyou Palace]

This was the secluded cultivation spot Yi Xuangong had arranged for him. It was located at the nexus of the ley lines running through the planet that the entire dao field had transformed into, making it exceptionally aligned with the changing phenomena of earth-yin water.

Just in case, Wang Ping dispatched all his yin spirits to patrol the surroundings and act as his Dharma protectors. Only then did he take the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring in his hand. He adjusted his breathing, entered a state of deep meditation, and sent his divine sense drifting down into the depths of the earth. Very quickly, he sensed the earth-yin water—the presence of the Hidden Dragon Meridian-Circulating Nether-Penetrating Qi.

"Phew..."

In a trance, Wang Ping felt as if he had descended into a boundless abyss. Through the darkness, the faint sounds of a ferocious beast breathing and roaring could be heard.

Wrapping around his body were two rings of bright light.

Hiding One's Implements.

Netherworld Communication.

These were the very two qi phenomena that allowed him to anchor himself in this place.

Suddenly, the vast amount of information from the jade slips Yi Xuangong had given him surfaced in his mind. According to the records, the qi of heaven and earth typically possessed nine distinct qi phenomena.

So historically, whether one practiced Qi Refining, Qi Consumption, or Qi Nurturing, a practitioner at the first layer could master at most nine qi phenomena. Most achieved this by relying on infinite lifespans and slowly grinding away. However, each additional mastered phenomenon amplified one's combat strength at the first layer and provided massive benefits to their cultivation.

Of course, this had absolutely nothing to do with the ancient cultivators trapped in the Star Grave Sand Sea.

After all, the qi they cultivated was merely a fragmented husk. What cultivation could they speak of? Whatever realm they held back then, their improvements up to this point had been virtually negligible.

This was because they hadn't been affected by the wood qi's lifespan plundering. Furthermore, no matter how small a mosquito's leg was, it was still meat. No matter how minuscule the improvement, it was still something.

At the very least, they were better off than the Corpse Dissolution Immortals.

If they had been entirely devoid of improvement like Corpse Dissolution Immortals—stuck marching in place for tens or hundreds of thousands of years—Wang Ping fully believed these ancient cultivators would have gone completely insane.

'According to the jade slips' records, aside from Hiding One's Implements and Netherworld Communication, earth-yin water contains Subterranean Spring Veins, Supreme-Yin Weak Water, Nurturing Myriad Things, Qi of Cycles and Beginnings, Moistening Soil to Nurture Metal, Dividing Purity and Turbidity, and Sky River's Destination—a full seven related qi phenomena.'

Wang Ping's eyes lit up brightly.

The seventh scripture scroll, Golden Sea Desiccation, had already been activated, emptying his mind of stray thoughts and making his consciousness unbelievably clear. He entered an absolutely flawless state of epiphany.

'So that's how it is.'

'Both belonging to the water qi, yang water is the source of yin water, while yin water is the ultimate destination of yang water. Sky River's Destination is precisely the symbol of this yin and yang interplay.'

'Yang water rushes to the heavens and charges across the earth, yet it returns to tranquility and gathers power within the yin water until it reaches its peak and erupts anew. The two form a seamless, endless loop.'

'A qi phenomenon based on this cycle is called Sky River's Destination in yin water, and Endless Flowing Cycle in yang water. Whether it's heaven-yin water, earth-yin water, heaven-yang water, or earth-yang water, they invariably possess these two qi phenomena. Only the water qi occupying the human position lacks this particular profundity.'

This was the transformation of water qi between yin and yang.

But if one cast aside yin and yang and focused solely on the transformations spanning the Three Talents of heaven and earth, it would point directly to the two qi phenomena: Nurturing Myriad Things and Moistening Soil to Nurture Metal.

'If nothing unexpected occurs, the heaven-yin water's Cloud Dragon Knocking on Heaven Rain-Distributing Qi should also possess these two qi phenomena. This is the origin of the earth-yin water's heaven-ascending transformation!'

Earth-yin water ascended into the heavens and transformed, thereby manifesting the profundities of heaven-yin water, just as spring water evaporates, rises into the sky, and falls back down as spring rain and clouds. Wang Ping had long known this dao theory and had even used it to counter the suppression of earth-yin soil. However, he hadn't known its fundamental cause.

Now, he understood.

'Two identical qi phenomena have forged a link between heaven-yin water and earth-yin water. This is what birthed the profound connection of earth water ascending into the sky to transform into clouds and rain.'

'This is the transformation of the heaven and earth Three Talents, guided by the qi phenomena!'

For a time, Wang Ping was entirely immersed in his comprehension of the qi of heaven and earth. The sensation of excavating the transformations of the qi phenomena step by step was truly wonderful.

'In addition to this, earth-yin water has an exceedingly unique phenomenon: Qi of Cycles and Beginnings. Because yin water is the final stop in the five-element rotation of heaven and earth qi, this represents the gradual transition from the end back to the beginning. This phenomenon symbolizes 'The End is Also the Beginning'—death is merely the start of a new life.'

In other words.

'If someone were to refine this qi phenomenon during the first layer of Qi Refining, they would undoubtedly become incredibly skilled at resurrection arts! An absolute unkillable roach.'

Moreover, because this dao theory encompassed the entirety of yin water, it meant that heaven-yin water, earth-yin water, and human-yin water all possessed this specific changing qi phenomenon.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

Wang Ping was dazzled by everything he saw. He wished he could just grab hold of the entire earth-yin water, refine it in an instant, and bring all of its qi phenomena completely under his control.

Unfortunately, it couldn't be refined like that.

'Controlling a qi phenomenon is like taming a wild horse. It requires not only a method but also tools. I have the method, but the question is where to find the appropriate tools...'

The Qi Refining lineage inherently provided the most flawless method for mastering qi phenomena. But simply having the method wasn't enough. As the saying goes, a craftsman must first sharpen his tools. Knowing how to wield the right tools was an incredibly vital part of the process—at this thought, the answer naturally surfaced in Wang Ping's mind:

'Divine Powers!'

Cultivators master divine powers at the Tribulation Transcending Second Layer, using these divine powers as a brush dipped into the torrent of destiny to paint their destiny form. Divine powers were the foundation of everything.

Previously, during the Tribulation Transcending stage, Wang Ping hadn't deeply comprehended this.

But now, having become a Qi Refining practitioner and looking down from a higher vantage point, Wang Ping realized that the existence of divine powers carried far more weight and value than he had ever imagined.

A simple example.

'With my current cultivation, if I tried to create a divine power corresponding to earth-yin water from scratch, even if I exhausted every ounce of my effort, its grade would at best be a Minor Divine Ability!'

'And to create a Middle Divine Ability, the baseline would likely be the second layer of Qi Refining, or perhaps even the third layer, requiring a mighty cultivator whose dao path had reached perfection and could already resonate with the hexagrams. As for Major Divine Abilities... unless one is a True Person, they simply lack the capability. Behind every Major Divine Ability stands a True Person!'

Of course, a True Monarch could do the same.

'For example, my 'the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time'. Its profundities point directly to the earth-yin water's Hiding One's Implements qi phenomenon, which is precisely why I mastered this phenomenon upon breaking into Qi Refining.'

It was the same for general Qi Refining practitioners.

The Major Divine Ability they cultivated in normal times pointed to a specific qi phenomenon, and during Qi Refining, they would resonate with it and master it. This was the hidden advantage of Major Divine Abilities.

'It can increase the success rate of Qi Refining.'

'If it were swapped out for a Middle Divine Ability, the resonance with the qi phenomenon would be much weaker, and the success rate of Qi Refining would immediately plummet... No wonder true transmission disciples all cultivate Major Divine Abilities!'

The same logic applied now.

'As a Qi Refiner, the best tool to comprehend and master other qi phenomena is their corresponding Major Divine Abilities. As an added bonus, it can also round out my repertoire of techniques.'

At the Qi Refining level, the vast majority of divine powers could be summoned effortlessly, devoid of any restrictions. Their primary means of combat involved using their mastered qi phenomena to bolster related Major Divine Abilities or the profundities of Spiritual Treasures, bringing forth a level of devastating power far beyond what they wielded during the Tribulation Transcending stage.

The most classic example was Mingyou.

His Heaven-Reversing Sun-Turning Sundial, a Major Divine Ability capable of manipulating time, had left an incredibly deep impression on Wang Ping. Mingyou could even deploy it right under a True Person's nose.

This clearly proved that upon reaching the level of a Qi Refining practitioner, Major Divine Abilities hadn't faded out of relevance; instead, bolstered by qi phenomena, they enjoyed an even higher status.

So the question remained.

'Major Divine Abilities... I don't have any.' Wang Ping was somewhat helpless. The few secret manuals containing divine powers back on Bliss Immortal Peak were completely unable to meet his current needs.

And scanning the entirety of the modern Immortal Gate, where could he find the most comprehensive collection of water qi Major Divine Abilities?

The answer leaped to mind:

'The Deity Transformation Realm...'

Wang Ping couldn't help but palm his forehead. Without a doubt, as the territory of the Water Qi True Monarch, the Deity Transformation Realm inevitably housed a sea of Major Divine Abilities to choose from.

'But does the True Monarch still love me?'

'He won't hinder me, will he?'

Feeling a bit anxious at the thought, Wang Ping nevertheless removed the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring from behind his head. He rubbed it in his hands and muttered softly:

"Lord, I wish to enter the Deity Transformation Realm."

"Can you allow me into your Deity Transformation Realm?"

"Please, I promise I'll come right back out once I'm in."

As Wang Ping spoke, his consciousness gradually grew dim. For some unknown reason, a wave of drowsiness washed over him. It wasn't until a long while later that he abruptly jolted awake.

"...Huh!?"

He raised his eyes. The sight that greeted him was no longer his secluded cultivation cave, but an island situated within a vast ocean, while a sky river hung suspended across the celestial dome above.

'Holy shit!'

'The True Monarch actually let me in!'

Wang Ping instantly surged with excitement. While this didn't prove the True Monarch wouldn't hinder him later, it at least meant that, for this moment, the True Monarch still loved him.

"Thank you, Lord!"

With a thump, Wang Ping dropped to his knees and offered a grand, reverent kowtow toward the sky river above. Only then did he stand up, just as a light, pattering drizzle suddenly began to fall across the world.

Drops of spring rain, a fine mist of drizzle.

Amidst the haze, a streak of light rode the clouds and rain, silently landing in front of Wang Ping. A Daoist stood within the light, though only his silhouette was discernible.

'Hiss...!'

Wang Ping's pupils instantly shrank. Compared to this sudden arrival, Yi Xuangong—an ancient practitioner at the Qi Consumption Third Layer—appeared incredibly frail.

But this was normal. After all, Yi Xuangong's third layer of Qi Consumption was heavily watered down. Not only was the core path he cultivated on the verge of collapse, but his lineage was an obsolete one. How could he possibly compare to a genuine demonic cultivator of the orthodox water qi path? ...Thinking of this, Wang Ping rapidly adjusted his expression to one of solemn respect:

"Greetings, Senior Brother."

At his words, the arrival responded with a soft chuckle. "I am Yunlong. I dare not accept the title of Senior Brother; I am merely a lowly servant within this Deity Transformation Realm."

"The Lord was highly pleased to learn that you, Dao-Child, had successfully achieved Qi Refining Entering the Dao. Thus, he specially commanded me to come congratulate you and offer you a proper welcome."

With that said, he gestured with an open hand.

"Dao-Child, you must currently be lacking suitable Major Divine Abilities. Let me take you to the Dao Transmission Tower first. The divine powers housed within should satisfy your needs."

'Damn, having connections at the top really does make everything easier.'

Wang Ping sighed inwardly, then hurriedly rode his escaping light, trailing Yunlong as they soared across the sea of ten thousand islands. Soon, Yunlong's voice drifted into his ears:

"Speaking of which, I have a presumptuous request I would like to ask you, Dao-Child."

"Please speak, Senior Brother," Wang Ping quickly replied.

"It concerns Kunyun."

At this, Yunlong's tone turned somewhat helpless. "Dao-Child, could you please find some time to release Kunyun from that Heavenly Craft Cave Abode?"

"With him gone from the Deity Transformation Realm, I have to do many things personally again. I had finally managed to hand those duties over to him, but now everything is back to how it used to be. I can't slack off for even a moment... You don't understand, Dao-Child. Someone as hardworking and enduring as Kunyun is as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in the Deity Transformation Realm."

"Of course, no problem at all!"

Wang Ping eagerly agreed. "Rest assured, Senior Brother, am I the petty sort of person? Even though Senior Brother Kunyun is the reason I was hunted across the Cosmos by a Brahma Nation Ascetic Monk..."

"I've already forgiven him."

"It's mainly because he stated himself that he wanted to enter secluded cultivation. I merely helped him achieve his goals. Besides, I'm currently still using his identity, making it rather inconvenient to let him out..."

Hearing this, Senior Brother Yunlong felt even more helpless.

He understood the logic perfectly well. They were the water qi faction, after all. How could it be called being petty? It should be called being 'as attentive to detail as a strand of hair, unable to tolerate a single grain of sand in one's eyes'. That was the accurate description.

Thinking of this, Yunlong couldn't help but say:

"Wasn't your identity exposed a long time ago, Dao-Child?"

"..."

Wang Ping's expression remained unchanged, but his heart stirred slightly. 'As expected, none of my actions in the Star Grave Sand Sea could slip past the water qi's piercing gaze.'

Seeing Wang Ping stay silent, Yunlong continued, "Actually, it's normal. That's just how our water qi faction operates. Even though we constantly set up plots and scheme against other lineages, we can never resist exposing our identities in the end just to flaunt it a little, letting everyone know it was us who did it. That's precisely why we've been branded a demonic path."

"But that's part of cultivation, too."

"At the end of the day, it's just those vulgar people and incompetent lineages being far too jealous of us... Of course, it's not like there aren't cultivators who take a more unconventional approach."

"There was one lord who was quite different."

Yunlong's tone sounded like casual chatter, but Wang Ping instantly raised his guard. He would never treat someone actively introducing a topic as mere idle conversation.

Therefore, he asked at once, "Who?"

"True Person Shuofang Hanyou."

Yunlong said softly, "This lord's style was entirely different from the usual water qi cultivator. Usually, he wouldn't act, but the moment he did, he would pull out the roots to eradicate the weeds."

"And he possessed absolutely no desire to flaunt himself. He only buried himself in hiding. Back when he defected to the Brahma Nation, even the True Monarch was fooled, believing for a time that he had died in that internal strife. It was only later discovered that he had become the Master of Secret Traces... Mm, it certainly fits his modus operandi."

Hearing this, Wang Ping slowly narrowed his eyes.

"Senior Brother... you seem to be very familiar with that lord?"

"Of course I'm familiar with him. I even met that lord in person back in the day." Yunlong smiled faintly. This only fueled Wang Ping's curiosity further, and he couldn't stop himself from asking:

"The Brahma Nation splintered away from the Immortal Gate, an event that predates even the Great Rebellion. The vast majority of its history from that era is untraceable today. May I ask, Senior Brother, just how old are you?"

"Hmm? You don't know, Dao-Child?"

Yunlong finally turned his head. Amidst the hazy radiance, a smile seemed to trace across his face. "I cultivate within the Deity Transformation Realm. I am a yin spirit serving directly under the True Monarch."

"I have followed the True Monarch across countless ages."

Rumble!

As Yunlong's words fell, the entire Deity Transformation Realm seemed to undergo a change. Or rather, the Deity Transformation Realm in Wang Ping's eyes had changed.

The pristine sea of ten thousand islands instantly blurred, replaced by an endlessly vast continent that lacked any of the peaceful tranquility the sea had possessed.

Looking out, ruins and devastation stretched as far as the eye could see. Residues of heaven and earth qi ravaged the sky. Eight Trigram patterns were visible—half of them dotting the sky like stars, while the other half had smashed into the mountain ranges and sunk into the oceans. There were also towering dharma bodies coiled across the land, some human, some beast, piercing into the clouds so high their true faces could not be seen.

It was a battlefield.

Despite being only a fleeting glimpse, Wang Ping saw it with absolute clarity. It was a battlefield so colossal its borders could not even be seen, an expanse without limit or end.

A second later, the scenery returned to normal.

However, the image had already left an incredibly profound impression on Wang Ping's mind, reminding him of the outside world's appraisal of his own True Monarch.

The most ancient True Monarch.

It was rumored that he had attained the Dao even before the advent of destiny. One could easily imagine that he had likely personally experienced all eight great immortal dao revolutions to date.

Eight revolutions, eight Dao conflicts.

How many mighty figures had perished in the midst of it all? The water qi faction hadn't needed to do a thing. They simply stayed beautifully hidden, waiting in the dark to collect the corpses... just how many yin spirits could they have accumulated from that alone?

"Hiss!"

Just thinking about it made Wang Ping suck in a breath of cold air. He felt that his True Monarch's thighs were incredibly thick—so thick he desperately wanted to hug them tight.

'But what I fear most is the True Monarch becoming a hindrance.'

'If that happens...'

"Dao-Child, we have arrived."

Wang Ping snapped back to reality, realizing that an island had suddenly appeared before him. Standing tall upon the island was an oddly shaped three-tiered tower that connected heaven and earth.

One tier pierced straight into the cloudy heavens, one tier rested between sky and earth, and the final tier delved deep underground. They surged with three entirely distinct varieties of heaven and earth qi, colored in stark black and white along the sides, dividing yin and yang. This was precisely the flawless, perfected Six Paths of Water Qi. The convergence of all these auras faintly condensed into a towering visual phenomenon.

Kan Trigram.

"This is the Dao Transmission Tower," Yunlong said softly. "As the current manifest worldly walker of the Deity Transformation Realm, Dao-Child, this place is permanently open to you."

"Manifest worldly?"

Wang Ping ignored the second half of Yunlong's sentence, zeroing in perfectly on the key term. "The water qi hides yet flaunts. If there is a manifest worldly walker, there should also be a hidden worldly walker?"

"...Indeed."

Yunlong paused for a moment before nodding. "However, the two are unconnected. Furthermore, that hidden Dao-Child perished long ago, so there's no point in discussing it."

With that, Yunlong seemed unwilling to speak further on the topic. He gestured openly and said, "The divine powers within the Dao Transmission Tower represent the countless years of accumulation across the entire water qi lineage. Every True Monarch of the water qi branches has left their own divine powers inside."

"To date, the tower houses a total of forty-eight thousand Minor Divine Abilities, one thousand seven hundred and fifty Middle Divine Abilities, and one hundred and eight Major Divine Abilities, six of which are Major Divine Abilities at the True Monarch level... Of course, your 'the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time' is not among them, Dao-Child. The Lord had that custom-made specifically for you."

"Can I choose any divine power I want?"

"Of course not." Yunlong shook his head. "This kind of selection relies on karmic affinity. Only by finding the correct karmic affinity can you obtain a suitable divine power."

"Karmic affinity..."

Hearing this, Wang Ping pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, "Did that True Person Shuofang Hanyou ever come here when he was a Qi Refiner?"

At these words, Yunlong instantly laughed.

"Naturally, he did. When that lord came here back in the day, he bore the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring just like you, Dao-Child, and took away a True Monarch-level Major Divine Ability."

"Of course, after he later cultivated the True Dao and achieved his rank, he created his own divine power and left it within the Dao Transmission Tower. Today, it stands as one of the one hundred and eight Major Divine Abilities."

"I understand."

Wang Ping gave Yunlong a profound look. "It seems he and I share a great karmic affinity."

This time, Yunlong did not reply. He merely bowed slightly and voluntarily withdrew, leaving Wang Ping standing alone before the doors of the Dao Transmission Tower.

'As expected. Being brought into the Deity Transformation Realm this time wasn't simply the True Monarch handing out benefits. He had another scheme in mind. Two Major Divine Abilities: one linked to the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring, and the other linked to the Master of Secret Traces. Does he want me to use this opportunity to catch a glimpse of the opponent's Dao Foundation?'

Wang Ping wasn't entirely certain.

However, he quickly tossed these concerns aside and strode boldly into the Dao Transmission Tower. No matter what, getting his hands on those divine powers would never be a loss.

Thud!

Delving underground, Wang Ping pushed open the Dao Transmission Tower doors that corresponded to earth-yin water. Instantly, an indescribably profound darkness filled his vision.

Soon after, starlight flared brilliantly.

Countless stars appeared. Every single one was a glowing jade slip, surging with a distinct aura—some high, some low, some rising, some falling. Their profundities were in a state of constant flux.

But when Wang Ping reached out to grab them, the stars scattered rapidly as if startled. Their speed was so immense it felt as if they were leaving time itself in the dust. Even giving it his all with his current cultivation, he could only manage to catch a few of the dimmest, most fragmented jade slips.

These were the Minor Divine Abilities.

Although he couldn't catch the slightly brighter Middle Divine Ability jade slips, by using his qi aura to resonate with them, he could coax them into drifting toward him on their own.

Only the Major Divine Abilities remained out of reach.

Of the one hundred and eight Major Divine Ability jade slips, a full eighteen belonged to the earth-yin water. Every single one hung like a bright moon in the sky, drawing Wang Ping's gaze.

But the most eye-catching one was situated right in the dead center of this floor. That single jade slip blazed like a sun at high noon; no other jade slip dared to challenge its radiance.

"A True Monarch-level Major Divine Ability..."

Wang Ping's eyes flickered, and he immediately stepped forward. The Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring behind his head spun slowly, its gloom fading to reveal a blazing white luster.

On the profound ring, a line of small text glowed brilliantly.

[Left by True Person Shuofang Hanyou of the Deity Transformation Realm].

Instantly, Wang Ping sensed two jade slips lock onto his position. One of them was the very sun-like True Monarch-level Major Divine Ability.

The other was among the remaining seventeen divine powers. While slightly inferior in brilliance, its attitude was much better, drifting over to him almost immediately.

Wang Ping was in no rush. Since Yunlong had said it was based on 'karmic affinity,' it meant that as long as the affinity was there, what was meant to be his would definitely be his... Sure enough, it wasn't long before the sun-like True Monarch-level Major Divine Ability was also triggered. Both of them landed gently before him.

Only then did Wang Ping reach out to receive them.

In a flash, oceans of profundity swarmed out from the jade slips. The names of the two Major Divine Abilities successively burned into Wang Ping's mind, transforming into overlapping mysterious visions.

One showed the opening of the Netherworld's ghost gates, the Bridge of Helplessness, and the Hometown-Viewing Terrace. The Three Lives Stone cast no reflection, and the Yellow Springs offered no return. Finally, it piled up to form a palace, with a profound talisman manifesting above its gates:

Netherworld Communication Profound Arbiter!

On the other side, there was a distinction drawn between the pure and turbid aspects of body and mind, the division of the yin and yang qi, the universe cracking open to forge creation, and the sun and moon dictating dawn and dusk. At last, it condensed into a dharma form possessing a single entity with two bodies:

Ascending Purity and Descending Turbidity Aspect!

Major Divine Abilities that would have required boundless energy and the fulfillment of countless conditions to cultivate during the Tribulation Transcending stage were now easily coalescing within Wang Ping's sea of consciousness.

This was the dimensional strike a Qi Refining practitioner possessed when cultivating divine powers. Of course, this was only the first step. Sensing the corresponding qi phenomenon through the Major Divine Ability, and then perfectly fusing the qi phenomenon with the divine power—that step was what truly mattered. Otherwise, even the finest divine power would be reduced to mediocrity.

"Phew..."

With both divine powers mastered, Wang Ping let out a long breath. Turning his gaze, he first closely examined the True Monarch-level Major Divine Ability.

Netherworld Communication Profound Arbiter.

As the name implied, this divine power corresponded to 'Netherworld Communication'. It allowed one to coordinate their subordinate yin spirits to construct a ghost city, executing absolute authority over slaughter and punishment.

If an ordinary cultivator fell into the ghost city created by this divine power, it would instantly reflect their destiny's trajectory and manifest a 'Profound Arbiter's Karmic Retribution Light'. This light struck directly at their very life. If they possessed karmic deeds, it would destroy those deeds; if they didn't, it would sunder their life outright. It was truly an art of brutal, unsparing slaughter!

As for the second, the Ascending Purity and Descending Turbidity Aspect.

Unsurprisingly, this was the Major Divine Ability the Master of Secret Traces had left here back when he was still True Person Shuofang Hanyou. It was intimately tied to his core cultivation philosophies.

Realizing this, Wang Ping grew even more serious.

Yet, much to his surprise, the qi phenomenon corresponding to this divine power was 'Dividing Purity and Turbidity'. It was actually a Major Divine Ability dedicated to cultivating the physical form of the dharma body.

Once the divine power was completed, it could separate the dharma body into a 'Pure Aspect' and a 'Turbid Body'. The Pure Aspect remained manifest, walking the mortal world, while the Turbid Body stayed hidden, anchoring the cultivator's life. The Pure Aspect feared no injury. So long as the Turbid Body survived, even if the Pure Aspect was destroyed, it could be reformed anew. Thus, one could freely enter all manner of perilous grounds.

However, there was a tradeoff.

The Pure Aspect walking the outside world took with it all the profound magic. While the Turbid Body could flee without a trace, it possessed absolutely no combat strength. Even a mortal could strike it down.

Wang Ping carefully read through the details of the divine power before letting out a soft sigh of admiration.

"This Master of Secret Traces really is sufficiently cautious."

Even his self-created Major Divine Ability prioritized preserving his life above all else, completely lacking any offensive or defensive capabilities. It embodied a singular philosophy: I don't have to be strong, but I must be unkillable.

"A lesson worth learning!"

Just as Wang Ping thought his trip to the Dao Transmission Tower was drawing to a close, suddenly, the light of a third jade slip floated toward him on its own initiative.

A third Major Divine Ability!

"This is..."

Wang Ping was somewhat puzzled. He noticed that this divine power jade slip was also responding to the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring, drawn by the karma left behind by the Master of Secret Traces from back in the day.

Immediately after, profound visions surfaced in his sea of consciousness once more. He saw purple lightning and frost-white blades, bells, towers, cauldrons, and mirrors, alongside swords, spears, staffs, and clubs. Dragon light shot toward the ruins of the Bull and Dipper constellations:

Natural Splendor Heavenly Treasure Armory!

Also known as the Natural Splendor Heavenly Treasure Dao-Stored Divine Ability, it corresponded to the 'Moistening Soil to Nurture Metal' qi phenomenon. Its primary function was to sneak into the Divine Weapon Courtyard's Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary...

"Hiss!"

Wang Ping instantly sucked in a breath of cold air. "There's a divine power like this? Was this also left behind by the Master of Secret Traces? He actually left two Major Divine Abilities?"

In an instant, Wang Ping understood everything. The culprit who had used a yin spirit to sneak into the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary, stealing left and right, ultimately forcing the Divine Weapon Courtyard to paste a sign reading 'Water Qi and Brahma Cultivators Shall Not Enter' on the warehouse doors—the very predecessor who chopped down the tree, leaving no shade for the descendants...

Was none other than the Master of Secret Traces!

"'Water Qi and Brahma Cultivators Shall Not Enter'. Mentioning both water qi and Brahma cultivators... isn't that just pointing directly at this Bodhisattva? The Divine Weapon Courtyard was cursing him in a roundabout way."

The more Wang Ping read, the more alarmed he became.

Because the Master of Secret Traces had even synthesized this experience into a divine power. There was an eighty percent chance he had earned a corresponding karmic deed for it. And it was highly likely he hadn't just stolen a few Spiritual Treasures.

'Given the water qi faction's habitual style of 'sustainable overfishing,' why would they settle for a one-and-done deal of stealing a few Spiritual Treasures and running? Moreover, if it had only been a few items, the massive and wealthy Divine Weapon Courtyard probably wouldn't have even cared... So, nine times out of ten, this Master of Secret Traces went straight for the roots!'

'There's a high probability he dug up the very conceptual imagery of the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary!'

The proof lay in this Major Divine Ability, the Natural Splendor Heavenly Treasure Armory. Without the corresponding conceptual imagery, what right would this divine power have to trigger the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary?

'No wonder it was hidden away in the Deity Transformation Realm's Dao Transmission Tower instead of circulating throughout the Immortal Gate.'

"What a ruthless man."

At this moment, Wang Ping felt he had seen another side to the Master of Secret Traces. He was absolutely ruthless—not just toward others, but toward himself as well!

After all, digging out the conceptual imagery of the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary was practically severing the Divine Weapon Courtyard at its roots. And at the time, the Master of Secret Traces had likely only been a True Person. For a True Person to dare pull something like this... how was it any different from taking a shit right on a True Monarch's head? The most impressive part was that he had actually managed to squeeze it out.

'But looking at it from this angle, the Divine Weapon Courtyard probably wants to kill the Master of Secret Traces just as badly. That's why they were able to reach an agreement with the water qi faction on this matter!'

At this thought, Wang Ping seemed to understand something.

'There's something off about this Major Divine Ability!'

Before arriving, Yunlong had only mentioned he would have a karmic affinity with two divine powers. Yet a third had appeared. Could Yunlong have miscalculated?

'Impossible.'

Wang Ping shook his head.

'Yunlong came under the orders of the True Monarch. How could he have misspoken? At the very least, the divine powers the water qi faction wanted me to see were only the Netherworld Communication Profound Arbiter and the Ascending Purity and Descending Turbidity Aspect. As for this Natural Splendor Heavenly Treasure Armory... it's the metal qi. The True Monarch from the Divine Weapon Courtyard is the one who wanted me to see this!'

Of course, this was only a guess.

However, Wang Ping had a way to verify his guess... Thinking of this, he immediately formed a hand seal, activated the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring, and summoned a yin spirit.

The earth-yin metal Qi Refining practitioner, Tao Shaobo.

As soon as this yin spirit appeared, Wang Ping ignited its spiritual intelligence. A bright light then rose from Wang Ping's palm. With a thunderous boom, a towering set of doors opened.

"I humbly request that the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary open its doors!"

The resplendent golden doors slowly parted to the sides, revealing a dazzling array of treasures within. The sheer density of Spiritual Treasure light nearly blinded Wang Ping.

Following that, he rubbed his hands together nervously.

Using the Natural Splendor Heavenly Treasure Armory he had just hastily mastered—without any qi phenomenon to bolster it, essentially forcing the issue—he reached out toward the distant Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary.

Click...

Like the right key sliding into the lock and turning the deadbolt, Wang Ping suddenly felt the doors before him completely drop their resistance!

'I knew it!'

A look of wild joy instantly blossomed on Wang Ping's face. Without the support of a qi phenomenon, the Natural Splendor Heavenly Treasure Armory undoubtedly shouldn't have been able to open the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary. Especially with the Master of Secret Traces serving as a cautionary tale; Wang Ping assumed the Divine Weapon Courtyard would have thoroughly sealed any loopholes the Master of Secret Traces had found long ago.

In other words.

'At this very moment, the only reason I can use this Major Divine Ability to enter the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary is because a metal qi True Monarch of the Divine Weapon Courtyard has tacitly allowed it!'

Simultaneously, this proved his earlier speculation.

For a metal qi True Monarch to contact him while he was inside the Deity Transformation Realm, how could his own True Monarch not know? It was clear the two sides had established contact long ago.

The reason they had waited until now to reach out to him...

Was to guard against the fire qi!

'So... the metal qi, the water qi, and Supreme Daoist Lord Xuangong are highly likely to be on the same side, while the fire qi, Daoist Master Hanguang Danyang, and the Master of Secret Traces are on the other side?' Wang Ping was stunned by his own deduction. Were the factions drawn up just like that?

'That doesn't seem quite right.'

How could the fire qi possibly be allied with the Master of Secret Traces? Given the relationship between the fire qi and the Brahma Nation, it was no exaggeration to say they were locked in a fight to the bitter death.

'Either the fire qi and the Master of Secret Traces have a separate plot going on, or there's still something I'm failing to see. My current faction breakdown has a fatal flaw. Or perhaps... through careful maneuvering, some of the high-level cultivators who are currently my enemies can be flipped into allies.'

Carrying these heavy thoughts, Wang Ping projected his consciousness into the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary.

Soon, on the outskirts of the massive warehouse, he spotted the numerous Spiritual Treasures he had previously confiscated using the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary scattered across the floor.

For instance, Old Man Guangji's Floating Light Star-Adorned Robe and that Dao-Burning Heart-Lighting Lamp.

"I picked these up..."

Wang Ping reached out subconsciously.

Smack!

In an instant, spiritual light exploded outward. The palm of the hand Wang Ping had extended toward the Spiritual Treasures split open, freezing his expression on his face. Moments later, it shifted rapidly to fury.

'What the hell is the meaning of this?'

'I pulled all these Spiritual Treasures in myself! They're fundamentally my spoils of war. Now that they're inside the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary, you won't let me take them out again?'

'You fucking robbers!'

Wang Ping could clearly see it now. The five qi lineages of the Immortal Gate all had their own specialties: the water qi were the demonic path, the fire qi were the unorthodox path, and the metal qi were straight-up robbers! Not a single one acted like a decent human being!

Despite hurling endless curses in his mind, on the surface, Wang Ping maintained a sincere and harmless smile. He cupped his hands toward the depths of the armory and said, "May I ask, Lord, what task do you have for this humble one? So long as it is within my power, I will give it my all. Even if I must walk through fire and boiling water, I will see it done for you, Lord."

The magnificent armory remained entirely silent.

Only a single beam of light suddenly separated from the densely packed array of Spiritual Treasures. It drifted over, only revealing its true form when it landed in front of Wang Ping.

It was a bow and five arrows.

Wang Ping tentatively reached out. This time, he met no resistance, his hand closing firmly around the bow's grip. Information regarding the item instantly flooded his sea of consciousness.

Wuwei Buyi Profound Bow.

Orthodoxy Divine Arrows.

This was a set of ritual implements.

Long ago, Supreme Daoist Lord Xuangong had cultivated beneath the rule of the Great Rebellion, establishing his dao field. This set of bow and arrows was a Spiritual Treasure ritual implement forged specifically for him by the Human Emperor.

The five Orthodoxy Divine Arrows each bore their own dharma name: Cinnabar Origin Fire, Luminous Radiance Metal, Dragon Smoke Wood, Eternal Presence Soil, and Dark Nether Water. Their profundities were designed explicitly to shatter their corresponding five elements of qi. They also represented the Human Emperor's expectations for Supreme Daoist Lord Xuangong, hoping his lineage would flourish and shine brightly.

In addition to that.

To ensure this set of ritual implements could accurately convey his intentions, the Human Emperor had even reached out to a supreme pillar of heaven and earth, plundering a thread of conceptual imagery from it.

Only through this was the Spiritual Treasure ritual implement complete.

This conceptual imagery was incredibly obscure. Having been implemented by the Human Emperor, it was practically undetectable to anyone else. Only those who had previously wielded these ritual implements could comprehend the profound mysteries hidden within.

'This isn't for me,' Wang Ping realized with sudden clarity.

The metal qi True Monarch—highly likely the one cultivating the Heaven-Lake Tread hexagram—was using him to pass a hint to Supreme Daoist Lord Xuangong regarding the metal qi's proposal.

Or, more accurately, it was a joint proposal from both the metal and water qi factions.

Rumble!

In an instant, a great fire seemed to ignite before Wang Ping's eyes. Fire within the lake—water and fire simultaneously extinguishing each other, mutually intolerant. In the end, it condensed into a single beam of light.

It resembled the flash of a blade, capable of cleaving through any obstacle.

It resembled the glint of a sword, perfectly straight and unbending.

This beam of light shone directly into Wang Ping's pupils, ultimately triggering two hexagrams: the Lake Trigram above and the Li Trigram below, slamming together as one.

Clang! Clang!

The sound of clashing metal rang out from the void, as if a Treasure Sword had just been drawn from its sheath. Wherever it passed, the eternal prosperity of all creation ceased to be; a violent and dramatic revolution was imminent.

This was Supreme Daoist Lord Xuangong's third path.

Zehuo Ge.