421: Deducing the secret

In an instant, Xiao Shi felt as if a hundred thousand thunderclaps had simultaneously exploded in his brain!

All this time, in his understanding, Tianwu Continent only had three Demigods!

But now, after checking the rules of Tianwu Continent, he discovered that the current Tianwu Continent possessed five complete Heavenly Dao Rules!

And he had previously ruled out the possibility of these three Demigod Heavenly Kings wielding multiple Heavenly Dao Rules.

This meant… that besides these three Demigod Heavenly Kings, there were also two other Demigods present in the current Tianwu Continent!

“Who are these two Demigods!?”

Xiao Shi’s heart was filled with doubt.

Logically speaking, as the strongest beings in the world, even if these two Demigods were hidden, there would still be traces of them within Tianwu Continent.

However, Xiao Shi currently had no information whatsoever about these two Demigods!

He couldn't even find a suspect!

This made him feel a chilling sense of dread.

Originally, as his cultivation realm improved, Xiao Shi believed he had a sufficient grasp and understanding of the higher echelons of Tianwu Continent.

But now he realized… the waters of Tianwu Continent were far deeper than he had imagined!

There were clearly some important secrets within Tianwu Continent that he didn't know about!

“No wonder even if my Behind-the-Scenes Heavenly Dao gained the recognition of Heaven and Earth, it couldn’t transform into a Heavenly Dao Rule…”

“The Heavenly Dao Rules of Tianwu Continent are currently complete.”

“There’s simply no extra space for a new Heavenly Dao Rule to be born!”

“In other words…”

“The current Tianwu Continent will be unable to produce Demigods!”

Xiao Shi’s brows were tightly furrowed, sensing the difficulty.

The advancement to Demigod was far more challenging than he had imagined!

Even if he had now comprehended the Heavenly Dao Rules and gained the recognition of Heaven and Earth, he still couldn't advance to Demigod given that five Heavenly Dao Rules already existed in the current Tianwu Continent.

This led Xiao Shi into a complete deadlock.

He pinched his brow, sorting out his thoughts.

“First, it’s certain… Demigods don’t just appear out of nowhere; anyone on the path to becoming a Demigod will definitely leave traces!”

Xiao Shi knew very well that even someone like him, who hid himself behind the scenes, couldn't prevent all the martial artists in Tianwu Continent from discovering his existence.

For example, upon reaching the Saint Realm, one would inevitably need to refine an area.

And there were only so many areas in Tianwu Continent.

It was impossible to hide from everyone.

No matter how deeply one hid, upon reaching the Saint Realm, one would certainly appear in the public eye.

This was a very significant trace.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, Demigods were traceable and difficult to completely hide and remain unknown.

But the strange thing was… there were no domains belonging to these two Demigods in the current Tianwu Continent.

Xiao Shi felt there were only two possibilities for this situation.

One was that the domains of these two Demigods were concealed by some high-tier power, thus preventing anyone in the current Tianwu Continent from seeing them.

The other was that the domains of these two Demigods might have already been destroyed, and therefore, their domains no longer existed in Tianwu Continent.

At the same time, Xiao Shi felt that to know the identities of these two Demigods, he might have to trace back to the period before Emperor Wu’s demise.

If he could obtain a list of Demigods in Tianwu Continent during the Great Wu Dynasty’s heyday, he might be able to deduce the identities of these two Demigods from it.

Xiao Shi felt that these two Demigods were very likely beings from the Great Wu Dynasty’s flourishing period.

According to the historical information he was familiar with, after Emperor Wu’s demise, only three Demigod Heavenly Kings remained in Tianwu Continent.

If there were other Demigods, after Emperor Wu’s demise, they would either break away from the Great Wu Dynasty and establish their own power, like the three Demigod Heavenly Kings, or remain loyal to the Great Wu Dynasty.

However, these two Demigods had vanished without a trace.

This was the most unusual aspect.

“I wonder if those three Demigod Heavenly Kings know that two other Demigods exist in Tianwu Continent?”

“Hmm… they must know!”

“After all, as long as they observe the Heavenly Dao Rules of Tianwu Continent, they can see the five complete Heavenly Dao Rules, so it’s impossible to hide it from them.”

“But they don’t seem to be worried that the other two Demigods will pose a threat to them… Why is that?”

Xiao Shi could feel that the three Demigod Heavenly Kings only viewed each other as competitors.

Beyond that, they didn't put anyone else in Tianwu Continent in their eyes.

Xiao Shi mused that he might find an opportunity later to inquire with Heavenly King Yao Xi in his capacity as the Hall Master of Tianji Hall.

Perhaps he could obtain some important clues from Heavenly King Yao Xi.

However, thinking of Tianji Hall, Xiao Shi suddenly remembered that he still had the powerful treasure, the tianji plate.

Among the several functions of the tianji plate, besides Tianji Revelation, Tianji Warning, and Peeking into Tianji, there was also an incredibly powerful function—Tianji Deduction!

However, to perform Tianji Deduction, one must possess the cultivation of the Upper Three Realms of Martial Dao!

And when Xiao Shi had previously assembled the complete tianji plate, he was still only at the Saint Realm, so he had never used the tianji plate’s Tianji Deduction function.

The current situation couldn't help but stir some thoughts in his mind, making him feel that he might be able to use the tianji plate’s Tianji Deduction to try and deduce the identities of those two Demigods!

Thinking of this, Xiao Shi immediately went to Tianji Hall.

He raised his hand, and the tianji plate, located within Tianji Hall, flew into his hand on its own.

Xiao Shi knew that to advance to Demigod, he would inevitably need to know the situation of those two Demigods.

He could sense that the condition of these two Demigods might have some problems.

Immediately, after taking a deep breath, Xiao Shi raised his right hand and pressed his entire palm onto the tianji plate.

Buzz!

The entire tianji plate was instantly covered with complex and profound patterns.

These patterns were like a type of secret lines specifically used for divination, filled with a mysterious aura, like jumbled numbers, instantly spreading all around.

Xiao Shi knew that when these secret patterns combined, he could deduce the things he wanted to know!

He began to infuse his current known information into the spreading patterns.

The tianji plate’s Tianji Deduction required some subtle clues to deduce key information.

The more known information there was, the easier the deduction difficulty would be.

Conversely, if there was very little known information, the deduction difficulty would be extremely high.

Currently, Xiao Shi’s known information was actually very limited.

He only knew that besides the three Demigod Heavenly Kings, Tianwu Continent also had two Demigods of unknown identity.

Beyond that, there was no other information.

However, Tianji Deduction could incorporate one’s own conjectures and reasoning.

The tianji plate would perform deductions based on these conjectures and reasoning.

If the conjecture was true, then the deduction would proceed in the correct direction.

If the conjecture was wrong, it would further increase the deduction difficulty.

After a brief period of thought, Xiao Shi decisively chose to infuse his previous conjectures into the secret patterns emanating from the tianji plate.

He felt that even if his conjectures weren't entirely accurate, they must be close.

In the absence of any other clues or information, he could only rely on his own conjectures.

Immediately, as Xiao Shi infused his conjectures into the secret patterns, these patterns instantly began to arrange and combine in an orderly fashion.

And as they continuously combined, the entire tianji plate also began to shake violently.

An indescribably immense pressure suddenly acted upon Xiao Shi, causing his body to tremble, with veins bulging on his forehead and cheeks.

He knew very well that the tianji plate’s Tianji Deduction was supported by his own cultivation!

The greater the deduction difficulty, the higher the cultivation required!

Of course, the matter being deduced was also crucial.

If Xiao Shi were only deducing a very ordinary, common matter, such as the name of a Saint, then even without any known information, the deduction difficulty wouldn't be very high.

Because the target he was deducing was merely a Saint.

But when deducing a Demigod, the entire deduction difficulty was extremely immense!

After all, this was an existence of a higher level than him.

And if Xiao Shi were to forcibly deduce a mighty being of the Martial Dao Ninth Realm… even if he had more known information, his cultivation would not be enough to support him in deducing such a mighty being!

Just the deduction of a Demigod was already an immensely huge burden for him.

As the deduction continued, Xiao Shi’s body trembled more and more violently.

Cracks began to spread all over his skin, and crimson blood flowed from his eyes.

And this was not the worst of it.

After all, for Xiao Shi, who possessed the Behind-the-Scenes Heavenly Dao, even if his body collapsed and exploded under the deduction, he could still revive through the Behind-the-Scenes Heavenly Dao.

The worst part was… as he continued to deduce, his Dao of Slaughter within him also began to show cracks!

The Dao River within his body swayed and shook.

The Dao Beast Black Dragon within the Dao River let out painful roars, continuously thrashing within the Dao River.

Not only that, but the Exclusive Dao and even the Behind-the-Scenes Heavenly Dao, located within the Dao River of Tianwu Continent, also began to show cracks.

This immediately made Xiao Shi clearly realize that if he were to forcibly deduce regardless of the consequences, once he exceeded his own tolerance limit, not only would his body collapse and shatter, but the three Daos he wielded would also collapse and shatter!

And if the Behind-the-Scenes Heavenly Dao were to shatter as a result, he would no longer be able to maintain his immortality!

At this moment, although these secret patterns were combining rapidly, they still hadn't deduced the identity information of these two Demigods.

Xiao Shi gritted his teeth and held on, but in just a short moment, he had already reached his limit.

If he were to forcefully continue, his Dao of Slaughter would be the first to succumb and collapse and shatter.

“No, I can’t!”

“I can’t continue the deduction any longer!”

Xiao Shi decisively stopped the deduction.

He knew that with his current realm and cultivation, he could only deduce this far.

If he continued to forcibly deduce and caused his Dao to collapse, it would be a loss greater than the gain.

As Xiao Shi stopped the deduction, the numerous secret patterns also stopped combining.

At the same time, the cracks that had spread across Xiao Shi’s Dao gradually began to heal.

This also made Xiao Shi breathe a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, no irreparable damage was left on his Dao.

He intently gazed at the result presented by the combination of secret patterns.

Although he failed to successfully deduce the identities of the two Demigods, he didn't come away with nothing.

After a series of deductions, he deduced a guide.

This guide could directly point to the current location of one of the Demigods!

Xiao Shi’s eyes immediately flashed.

This was a good clue.

As long as he knew the other party’s location, he could go and investigate.

With the immortality granted by the Behind-the-Scenes Heavenly Dao, he didn’t have to worry about being killed if he rashly approached a Demigod.

Currently, no Demigod could kill him.

Immediately, Xiao Shi began to check the location of the Demigod indicated by this guide.

Upon seeing it, “This… how is this possible!!!”

Xiao Shi’s expression changed drastically, and his entire mind experienced a tremendous, world-shaking tremor!

He subconsciously wondered if he had seen it wrong!

He never would have imagined… that the Demigod’s location deduced by the tianji plate was actually within his own domain!!!

“This Demigod… is inside my domain!?”

Xiao Shi was instantly stunned.

His first reaction was that it was impossible!

Although his domain was a never-before-seen special domain created by Emperor Wu, after he refined this domain, he had completely controlled it.

If Emperor Wu had already hidden a Demigod within the domain when he first created this special domain, then after Xiao Shi refined this area, he would inevitably have noticed it!

There was absolutely no way a Demigod could be hidden within this domain without him perceiving it.

“Wait!”

Xiao Shi’s mind suddenly jolted, and he thought of a crucial point.

Although this Demigod was within his domain, this didn’t necessarily mean that this Demigod was related to this domain.

It was also possible… that it was related to Xiao Shi himself!

“I think… I know who he is!!!”

Xiao Shi abruptly lowered his head, looking at his own body.

His gaze seemed to penetrate his body, clearly seeing the… black coffin within him!!!

All this time, Xiao Shi had not known who the being within the black coffin was.

Nor did he know what cultivation or realm the other party possessed.

He only knew that the being in the black coffin was extremely powerful and extraordinary.

And now… he finally knew what cultivation the other party had!

“A Demigod!!!”

“The being in the black coffin within my body is a Demigod!!!”

“Because he is within me, the location deduced by the tianji plate… is within my domain!!!”

“If this location were even more precise, it would probably show up as on my body!!!”

At this moment, Xiao Shi completely understood.

No wonder after Emperor Wu’s demise, there were only three Demigod Heavenly Kings openly in Tianwu Continent!

Although he didn't know the situation of the other Demigod, he presumed it was similar to the being in the black coffin within his body… although possessing Heavenly Dao Rules, he couldn't be active in Tianwu Continent like a normal Demigod!

“So… I had already come into contact with a Demigod long ago!!!”