212: Chapter 212 This isn't a mark of luck, it's clearly an unlimited, zero-cost access pass!

The dragon-patterned flying boat tore through the Void Realm and burst out from the spatial tunnel.

Standing at the bow, Cao Kun was stunned by the sight before him.

"Holy crap."

That was the first thought that popped into his mind.

The entrance to the Ancient God Ruins was suspended within a vast and boundless Star Domain void.

A massive spatial rift spanned the horizon, like a scar slashed open by the sword of some ancient powerhouse, hanging quietly in the very center of the void.

Greyish Chaos mist surged within the rift.

Ancient and silent Law power constantly spilled out from the gap.

The mere fluctuations of those Laws caused the chaos divine sword within Cao Kun's Purple Mansion to hum.

But what truly shocked him wasn't the rift itself.

It was what lay in the void before the rift—

A dense, black mass of no less than hundreds of thousands of Flying Boats.

On the deck of every Flying Boat stood Cultivators with various different auras.

In the distance, countless more Flying Boats were continuously pouring out from spatial tunnels in all directions, merging into this already overcrowded Star Domain.

"This scale..."

Cao Kun leaned against the railing, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"It's like a country fair."

Liu Rumeng clung tightly to Cao Kun's arm, curiously poking her head out to look around.

Empress Yue Chan, following behind, couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly when she saw Cao Kun and Liu Rumeng acting like country bumpkins entering the city.

What a pair of uncultured hicks.

But she didn't voice her mockery.

Because at this moment, she was merely a plain-looking dark guard in black standing behind Cao Kun.

...

Meanwhile.

On the other side of the void, atop a giant purple-gold multi-storied ship.

The flag of the Lingxiao Divine Kingdom fluttered high.

On the observation deck at the very top of the ship, a middle-aged man wearing a dragon-patterned purple robe sat formally.

His face was majestic, his gaze deep as an abyss, and there was no Spiritual Pressure leaking from his body.

But just by sitting there, the space within a several-mile radius showed signs of solidifying.

The God Emperor Lingxiao.

Integration Stage Peak.

The supreme ruler of the Lingxiao Divine Kingdom.

A middle-aged man wearing a python robe walked quickly onto the observation deck, bowing with cupped fists.

"Your Majesty, he has been found."

"Oh?"

The python-robed man respectfully extended his hand, pointing toward the Great Yan Dynasty's dragon-patterned flying boat in the distance.

"The young man standing at the bow over there."

"The one who slew King Youtang, Yin Xueyue, is this person."

The God Emperor Lingxiao glanced casually in the direction he pointed.

Across a distance of tens of thousands of miles, his gaze still accurately locked onto the young man wearing black and white Daoist robes.

In the next instant.

A strange look flashed in the God Emperor Lingxiao's eyes.

"Oh?"

He set down the jade in his hand and leaned forward slightly.

"Such rich and pure Chaos Qi! It has actually perfectly merged with his Physical Body!"

The python-robed man nodded. "I also find it incredible. Chaos Qi has almost vanished from the world today, yet it is so dense on this person, as if he were born with it."

"No wonder he could break King Youtang's undying Origin."

The corners of the God Emperor Lingxiao's mouth curled up slightly.

That Chaos Qi was far too important to him.

"Has his background been investigated?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty," the python-robed man said, bowing.

"I have confirmed that this person is named Cao Kun, from the Hehuan Sect in Hehuan Province. He is currently recruited by the Empress of Great Yan and should be entering the Divine Ruins as part of the Great Yan faction this time."

"Hehuan Sect?"

The God Emperor Lingxiao seemed to have heard something amusing.

He leaned back into his chair, the expression on his face becoming increasingly playful.

"A Disciple of a carnal sect from a lower province actually turned the Central Province upside down."

"Killing a Taichu Holy Land Elder, crippling the Taichu Holy Land Saint, and slaughtering seven core Prodigies of the Taichu Holy Land."

"And then slaying a vassal king of my Lingxiao Divine Kingdom."

"Quite interesting."

The python-robed man asked tentatively, "Your Majesty, this person has a deep relationship with the Empress of Great Yan. If we rashly..."

"Great Yan?"

The God Emperor Lingxiao gave a soft, mocking laugh.

"That woman Empress Yue Chan can barely protect herself; does she have the strength left to shield others?"

He stood up and stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the dense mass of Flying Boats in the void.

"After entering the Divine Ruins, the Heavenly Dao Laws will suppress everyone below the Void Refining Peak."

"However, we are different..."

The God Emperor Lingxiao turned his head to look at the python-robed man.

"Once inside the Divine Ruins, take the Divine Maiden and find him immediately."

"Drain the Chaos Qi from his body."

"Then, kill him."

The python-robed man lowered his head to receive the order. "I obey Your Majesty's command."

"Oh, right."

The God Emperor Lingxiao suddenly spoke again.

"Tell the Divine Maiden. It's best to extract the Chaos Qi completely; it would be a waste if too much remained."

"Yes."

...

On the dragon-patterned flying boat.

Liu Rumeng clung obediently to Cao Kun's side, occasionally standing on her tiptoes to look into the distance, her mouth never stopping its mutterings.

"Master, look, that Flying Boat over there is full of bald heads. Is that some Buddhist cultivation power?"

"Master, look, that woman over there looks so fierce!"

"Master, look..."

"Can you be quiet for a moment?"

Cao Kun's head was throbbing from her chatter, so he reached out and covered her non-stop yapping little mouth.

Liu Rumeng wasn't annoyed at having her mouth covered; instead, she blinked her large eyes and mumbled something indistinctly against Cao Kun's palm.

Cao Kun felt his palm get wet.

A warm, soft little tongue actually took the opportunity to give his palm a gentle lick.

"Why did you lick my hand?"

He shook his hand in disgust.

Liu Rumeng chuckled mischievously at having succeeded and clung to him again.

Standing behind them, Empress Yue Chan felt a surge of heat rush to her head as she watched this scene.

In broad daylight! In public! How scandalous!

Just then.

From deep within the void, a low rumble suddenly echoed.

Everyone looked up.

The massive rift spanning the horizon began to tremble violently.

The grey Chaos mist surged even more fiercely.

Then—

A golden light shot up from the depths of the rift.

The golden beam pierced straight through the void and exploded above everyone's heads, transforming into a massive golden light screen.

On the light screen, ancient Heavenly Dao Law runes constantly appeared and dissipated in a continuous cycle.

"The heavenly dao golden list!"

In the void, countless Cultivators cried out in surprise simultaneously.

Cao Kun narrowed his eyes, looking up at the golden light screen.

The Gold Ranking was still blank for the moment.

But even as he watched, pillars of multi-colored light began to descend from the Gold Ranking.

The pillars of light traversed the void, accurately falling toward the crowd of Flying Boats below.

The first pillar of light fell.

A young man in white standing on the deck of a certain Flying Boat was enveloped by the light.

A mark emitting a faint golden shimmer appeared out of thin air and merged into his forehead.

On the Gold Ranking, the first name appeared.

Then, the second, the third, the fourth...

More and more pillars of light began to descend.

Some fell on the flagships of major powers, others on inconspicuous small Flying Boats.

There was even one that fell directly on a lone Loose Cultivator sitting cross-legged in the void.

With every pillar of light that fell, another name was added to the Gold Ranking.

The chosen Cultivators would all have the same faint golden mark appear on their foreheads.

That was—the heavenly dao fortune mark.

Only those who obtained the mark were qualified to enter the Ancient God Ruins.

Liu Rumeng