221: Old Soil

Within the Spirit Ruins, the planet projection glowed, and after a period of time, the light dissipated, and the planet projection was noticeably more refined, showing some changes.

In the Great Wilderness, due to the existence of the Divine Cauldron Restriction, Qin Jin could not cultivate the Nine Secrets of Star Seeking. He used Lei Yu Star as a base, and after cultivating this method, if the sea of stars was an ocean, Lei Yu Star would be the lighthouse within it. Standing beneath the lighthouse, he would naturally receive the greatest possible boost, but if he traveled far away, the light the lighthouse could provide would be close to nothing.

Perhaps this was the difference between a planet and a star.

But now... this boosting power was continuously increasing.

He stepped on the head of the Fantasy True Dragon, and at this moment, with a single stride, the Action Word Secret activated, his figure flickered, and when he reappeared, he was already in the distance.

At his original spot.

The Fantasy True Dragon's eyes suddenly widened a bit, watching this scene.

"My mastery of the Nine Secrets of Star Seeking has not improved."

"Then, the root cause of all this must be Lei Yu Star."

Qin Jin's thoughts were clear. He had a deep understanding of Gaia Planet and murmured to himself, "The promotion of Gaia Planet is also a gradual process, not something that happens overnight, and the time I've been traveling isn't that long either."

"So..."

"Could the only possible variable be the Heavenly Azure Method?"

Qin Jin pondered, "Perhaps, Venerable Observer has gained some enlightenment regarding the Heavenly Azure Method, which caused all this. Or perhaps... the changes in the Nine Secrets of Star Seeking are not due to the planet strengthening, but because under the influence of the Star God's enlightenment of the Heavenly Azure Method, Lei Yu Star underwent some changes, becoming more compatible with the Nine Secrets of Star Seeking."

"The stars outside the Divine Cauldron Restriction, the essence of this true scripture, may not be affected by distance."

His thoughts raced, and he slowly exhaled.

This change was very sudden, but the improvement of his hometown and Venerable Observer was something he was happy to see.

"When Venerable Observer's clone returns, the truth outside the restriction will be known."

After muttering to himself, Qin Jin focused his mind.

Beside him.

The Fantasy True Dragon's body moved, coming to Qin Jin's side.

Qin Jin looked at it, his eyes slightly lowered, and he whispered, "When I leave, you will have to live alone on this Tianhuang Star."

"How far you can go then will depend on your own fortune."

The Fantasy True Dragon blinked its dragon eyes and nodded vigorously.

Having obtained that [reverse scale], coupled with its continuous growth during this period, it gradually lost its initial naive appearance and became somewhat more intelligent.

The dragon hunted outside.

Qin Jin returned to the courtyard and continued his Dharma practice.

Confirming one's path, while seemingly easy, is extremely complex, and it is even a lifelong endeavor for many cultivators and evolutionaries, making it exceptionally important.

In the entire area, only one person and one dragon interacted, yet it did not feel lonely.

The path of seeking the Dao has always been long and arduous... Great Wilderness.

Southwestern border, Green Wood Temple.

On the peak, beneath the black and white divine tree, there was no ancestor playing chess, only a young figure standing beneath the divine tree, hands behind his back, gazing at the sky.

Green Wood Temple Master, Su Changqing.

The sky was normal, but reflected in his eyes, it underwent a wondrous change, as if he saw through the sky curtain to the Divine Cauldron Restriction above.

"There are still many old traces."

"But on the day of true return, it will ultimately be a transition from old to new, no longer the old world."

A murmur sounded.

Behind him, as the divine tree swayed, one of its branches moved particularly violently, extending outwards. On the branch, there was a [cage] made of layers of intertwined shoots and leaves. At this moment, the branch extended to the ground, like unlocking something, and the leaves scattered, revealing the life within.

Tu Yang Tribal Priest, Qi Shan.

This Sacrificial Spirit, whose true form was a unicorn sheep, had shrunk significantly for unknown reasons, now only about half the size of a human arm, appearing somewhat small. His eyes were tightly closed, and he was in a deep slumber.

Su Changqing turned his head and looked at him.

As he flicked his sleeve, the white light from the black and white divine tree was mobilized and poured into Qi Shan's body. After a few twitches, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Where is this?"

Confusion flashed in his eyes, followed immediately by vigilance. He sensed the changes in his body and struggled to get up.

As he got up, the branch extending from the divine tree behind him retracted.

Qi Shan's gaze held vigilance and solemnity as he looked at Su Changqing: "Who are you, Venerable Sir?"

"I am the Sect Master here."

Su Changqing's tone was calm. He looked at Qi Shan, a flicker of interest in his eyes: "A very interesting young friend sent you here, hoping I could extend your life."

"Given your meritorious service in protecting humanity, and as I happen to be interested in Sacrificial Spirits like you, you may remain here."

"Do not leave the sect."

"Your end is near, and you are severely wounded. Within the sect, your life can be extended. If you leave the sect, you will completely wither away."

As he spoke.

Qi Shan's expression fluctuated.

"Was it the Sacrificial Spirit who sent me here?"

A thought flashed through his mind. While listening, he also observed his surroundings, seeing the extraordinarily divine tree behind him, and then looking at the divine light falling from the sky in the distance, his thoughts immediately became clear: "This place is one of the mutated areas in the Great Wilderness?"

"Then this Sect Master?"

His gaze towards Su Changqing grew increasingly solemn. After his own cognition and speculation confirmed each other, a bold idea suddenly emerged in his mind.

"Venerable Sir..."

"Are you an ancient sage of the human race?"

"Ancient sage?"

Su Changqing's eyes flickered slightly, his tone calm: "These two words indeed carry great significance."

"From your words, have you met an ancient sage of our human race?"

"I have not met one, only heard of them."

Qi Shan was fully awake. Although he was unclear about the exact identity of this 'Sect Master' before him, he was acutely aware of his own condition; he was originally the last flicker of light nearing extinction, but now it had been extended, the candle flame unextinguished.

Since he woke up, he felt no weakness at all, which showed the capabilities of this place and the person before him.

"Where did you hear of them?"

Su Changqing inquired.

Qi Shan hesitated for a moment, then, considering the current situation, finally said, "From an ancient covenant passed down orally through generations to this day."

Under Su Changqing's gaze, he slowly explained the situation.

The ancient covenant was passed down among the more benevolent Sacrificial Spirits and was not a great secret. There was no need to hide it from an extraordinary individual of the human race.

After a while.

Qi Shan fell silent.

After he mentioned the 'ancient sage' who established the Sacrificial Spirit system, Su Changqing's gaze shifted, looking towards the border, towards that chasm.

Now.

As Qi Shan's last words fell, he looked at the abyss, deep in thought, and whispered, "So it was you."

At this moment.

A flash of light swept through his eyes. On the black and white divine tree behind him, a slender leaf actively broke off and flew towards the outside. Under Qi Shan's gaze, the slender leaf entered the border, hovered above the abyss, and in the next instant, it trembled slightly.

A single stone stirred a thousand ripples.

As the slender leaf trembled, like a shattered mirror, chains intertwined and connected in the sky slowly emerged. And below the abyss, which was originally bottomless and empty, at this moment, turbulent currents appeared, forming a peculiar array, like a great river, spanning across, intercepting inside and out.

Vaguely, it seemed to be supplementing the Divine Cauldron Restriction above.

Qi Shan watched this scene in horror.

Such methods, such changes, were things he had never encountered in his life.

The change suddenly arose.

Su Changqing looked at the zenith of the sky and spoke at this moment, his clear voice carrying out: "Since you've come, why not show yourself?"

A moment later.

As if a projection, a figure appeared in the void.

Horse-bodied Human-faced God.

Su Changqing looked at it, his brows slightly raised: "Are you guarding this mountain and river?"

The Horse-bodied Human-faced God's expression was calm: "I merely fulfill an old friend's request and cultivate here."

"Whatever plans you humans have, they are unrelated to me."

Upon hearing this.

Su Changqing smiled indifferently.

He did not press further, only said, "My current body is incomplete and cannot leave this old land."

"This fellow Daoist."

"Why not come to the sect for a visit?"

"The old friend you speak of is the inheritor of my lineage. A thousand autumns and ten thousand years have passed in a flash. I wish to know what the situation is like beyond this mountain and river."

... Tianhuang Star.

There was no day or night here, but time was constantly changing.

In the courtyard, Qin Jin stood with his eyes closed.

Behind him, Divine Intent manifested, his face unchanged, but both his attire and temperament had undergone significant changes.

This was the influence of the Immortal Dynasty's true scripture on his Divine Intent, cultivated through his research during this period.

On Tianhuang Star, apart from the continuous consolidation of his grotto-heaven within the Spirit Ruins, Qin Jin did not engage in long periods of 'cultivation', dedicating all his energy to 'Dharma practice'.

His Dharma practice was not limited to establishing his future path, but also involved integrating and categorizing his various methods to create more possibilities.

In a world without rules, infinite possibilities can be born.

Divine Intent hovered behind him, his temperament steady, and every movement carried a distinct quality.

At a certain moment, Qin Jin suddenly opened his eyes.

As he opened his eyes, the Divine Intent behind him moved forward and merged with his body. Qin Jin's aura surged in an instant, white light emanated from his body, and his domain activated.

It is worth mentioning that... above the actively displayed domain, vaguely, the shadow of a grotto-heaven could be seen!

"Finally, I have achieved something."

Within his physique, primordial power and spiritual energy continuously converged, complementing each other.

The cultivator's method and the martial path had further combined within Qin Jin.

This was the ultimate result of continuous, unrestricted evolution.

"The path ahead is temporarily set."

"Next, it will be a matter of following the steps, cultivating and advancing, and continuously supplementing along the way."

"Coincidentally, this Tianhuang Star is also more suitable for other aspects of cultivation."

A thought flashed, and Qin Jin did not stop, continuing with other cultivation.

Nine Secrets of Star Seeking.

The Nine Secrets were all different and extremely difficult to master. Moreover, he had only cultivated this method because of Lei Yu Star, but as the distance increased, the star's blessing power continuously decreased, and the environment was limited. Therefore, after mastering the Action Word Secret, Qin Jin temporarily put this true scripture aside.

Cultivation, after all, required both giving and taking.

But now... with Lei Yu Star undergoing an unknown change, ever since that day's anomaly, Qin Jin had been able to perceive the continuous changes in Lei Yu Star through the planet projection every day. This method could also be put back on the agenda to increase his accumulation.

In the courtyard, Qin Jin cultivated diligently.

The light of fantasy flickered, occasionally transforming into what he needed to aid his cultivation.

The second secret Qin Jin chose was the Weapon Word Secret.

He inherited the martial saint map, cultivated the Weapon Forging Manual, and perhaps, with the Weapon Word Secret, a wondrous reaction would occur... Time passed.

More than a month passed in an instant.

This morning, Qin Jin practiced his martial arts. Within the courtyard, a sharp aura overflowed in all directions, instantly shattering the surrounding fantasy light.

His aura retracted. With a certain perception, Qin Jin's gaze fell on the sky above.

Above the courtyard, which was originally a so-called safe zone, at this moment, the light of fantasy actively condensed within the courtyard, finally forming the shape of a letter, floating downwards.

Qin Jin raised his hand to receive it.

His gaze fell upon it. Within the letter, there was a countdown written in Federal script.

Window Period: 00:29:59

"The window period is about to arrive."

Qin Jin murmured to himself.

According to the plan on the martial saint map, he had a window period of cultivation time on Tianhuang Star, and now it was coming to an end.

"My initial plans have all been completed. The next time I come to Tianhuang Star, it will probably be for matters related to pursuing a higher realm."

A thought flashed through his mind, and Qin Jin's spirit moved out.

In the next instant.

Outside the courtyard, a massive dragon body moved inside, coiling in the low sky, looking at Qin Jin.

"I'm leaving."

Qin Jin said calmly.

Upon hearing this, the Fantasy True Dragon's eyes showed reluctance.

Its birth was due to Qin Jin, and it was naturally close to him. During this period, they had spent every day together, and after obtaining that reverse scale, it became increasingly intelligent and increasingly 'real'.

"I already told you about the relevant matters."

Qin Jin's tone was calm: "This area belongs to me. After I leave, you can continue to stay here. If you wish to go to other places, you can do so as you please, but... that will be your own choice, and you will have to face different outcomes."

"I have already told you about the forbidden zones on this Tianhuang Star. If you wish to grow smoothly, do not go to those places."

The dragon head lightly nodded.

Under Qin Jin's gaze, the Fantasy True Dragon lowered its head, seemingly inviting him to get on.

"No need."

Qin Jin shook his head: "In the future, I will come to Tianhuang Star again."

"I hope that by then, you will already be able to stand on your own in this land of fantasy."

Responding to him was a resounding dragon roar.

Time flowed by.

As the countdown completely ended, the letter in Qin Jin's palm trembled, rose from his hand, and dispersed, forming a portal.

Under the Fantasy True Dragon's gaze, he entered the portal.

His arrival was instantaneous, but his departure was completely different. The moment he entered the portal, Qin Jin seemed to enter a passage, with an external force guiding him, and a constant upward sensation.

The passage seemed to connect heaven and earth.

On all sides of the passage, various bizarre and colorful scenes appeared. Qin Jin saw boundless, majestic stars swaying in brilliant light, as if stretching. There were also colossal mammoths, reaching to the sky, galloping amidst various colored lights, situated in a vast land. And there was a man standing alone, with his eyes closed in contemplation, but his gaze turned towards him, as if looking at the center of the entire world, unable to look away.

As Qin Jin swept his gaze over these bizarre and colorful scenes.

He saw the man in the scene suddenly open his eyes, as if looking at him through the passage's imagery!