Chapter 530: Time Particles, True Realm Mountain, Meishan Discussion

Wilderness Region, Third Era, 73rd Star Year.Black Sky Wasteland, Nameless Realm Mountain.

"Your subordinate respectfully invokes the Boundless True God!"

The familiar temple, the familiar Clock Throne.

In the Third Era of the Wilderness Region, this was the first time Zhao Xing had met the Boundless True God.

"Zhao Xing, how are your preparations for the Mountain Chief competition coming along?"

"Reporting to True God, I'm not yet confident I can kill Kuang Chuan in the discourse."

This wasn't an exaggeration; Kuang Chuan's strength was indeed far superior to his. It was also unlikely he could use techniques from other factions or consume elixirs at the Primordial Mound. Killing Kuang Chuan would indeed be quite difficult.

"The Mountain Chief competition at Primordial Mound started too early, and your subordinate didn't have ample time to prepare."

The Boundless True God mused, "I can grant you some time."

Grant me some time.

Zhao Xing was somewhat puzzled.

The Boundless True God pinched his thumb and forefinger together, and a grain-sized speck of light appeared between them.

"This is a Time Particle," the Boundless True God explained. "Its spatial range is five realm units."

"Its temporal duration is one era."

"You can perform a time acceleration within your inner world. Do not use it externally, or its effect will be greatly diminished."

Zhao Xing's heart leaped as he looked at the Time Particle. In the Mysterious Spirit Treasure Pavilion, a Time Particle with a duration of one era and a range of five realm units was worth at least 200 million contribution points! This was because only God-Kings or spacetime array masters of Divine General rank, like the Boundless True God, had the means to create Time Particles.

Is Venerable Kuang Chuan really worth that much?

The Boundless True God continued his analysis:"Among the techniques of Primordial Mound, the mountain techniques are paramount in power."

"However, cultivating a mountain within one's body takes too long."

"Fortunately, you are an Agronomist of the Self-Nature Faction, possessing the necessary conditions to use it, which will save you some effort."

Zhao Xing took the Time Particle. It was indeed like a grain of rice, though with some flowing絮状物 inside.

"Remember, the Time Particle can only be used for your inner world. If used externally, with your demigod strength, you won't be able to suppress its power, and it will harm you instead."

The Boundless True God reiterated the warning.

"Yes, your subordinate understands." Zhao Xing nodded, carefully storing it away.

"If you succeed in this matter, you may return to me for a reward." The Boundless True God did not mention the consequences of failure.

But Zhao Xing knew well that typically, if even one step of an Evil God's mission failed, the mission chain would break, and he would suffer the Evil God's curse, which would reduce his luck and lifespan upon activation.

After the summoning ended, Zhao Xing left the Black Sky Wasteland. On his journey, he began to carefully examine Venerable Kuang Chuan's past. After all, this person was too valuable. To defeat an opponent, one must first understand them.

"Venerable Kuang Chuan once published the *Book of the Nether-Ancient Universe*."

"While most of this book consisted of theories and conjectures, it also contained two highly regarded Dharma treatises that were included in the Nine Sutra Pavilion."

Theory and Dharma treatise were two different things. The Nine Sutra Pavilion and the writing of Daoist scriptures in the Academy had very high requirements. They demanded not only theoretical exposition but also corresponding concrete spell techniques.

"In the eleventh era before the Wilderness Region, Venerable Kuang Chuan proposed a theory that the universe was not limited to the three great leyline eras."

"He believed that before the Primordial Era, Ancient Era, and Dao Manifestation Era, there should have been an even earlier Nether-Ancient Era, a stage where the Supreme Land was gestating."

"However, in the tenth era before the Wilderness Region, he changed his mind, proposing that the Nether-Ancient Era occurred shortly after the Supreme Land's birth, situated between the Primordial Era and the Ancient Era."

"At this time, after an era of on-site investigation and the discovery of strong evidence from ancient texts of the Five Emperors Era, Venerable Kuang Chuan theorized the existence of an invisible mountain in the Black Sky Wasteland, naming it the Nether-Ancient Mountain."

"He also believed that this great mountain blocked the light of the Polar Star, thus creating the Black Sky Wasteland."

"During his on-site investigations, he also proposed the 'Five Seas, One Mountain Theory'."

"He divided the Self-Nature Faction's 'Primeval Ocean Theory' into five great seas, believing that the evolution of the primeval ocean occurred in five major periods: the Sea of Peril, Sea of Tranquility, Sea of Clarity, Sea of Fertility, and Sea of Storms."

"With conjectures gaining evidence, they began to transform into theories."

"However, there were very few believers at this time, as his theory was too absurd. Splitting the Primeval Ocean Theory offended the Agronomists of the Self-Nature Faction."

"Even within Primordial Mound, it was considered too preposterous. If there was a Nether-Ancient Era, then why did Primordial Mound have three realms instead of four?"

"This situation did not improve until just before his disappearance."

Zhao Xing continued to review Venerable Kuang Chuan's past deeds. "Before Venerable Kuang Chuan resolutely journeyed to the Black Sky Wasteland in search of the Nether-Ancient Mountain, he authored two Dharma treatises."

"Namely, the *Treatise on the Nether-Ancient Mountain* and the *Dharma of Profound Nether Transformation*."

His Daoist scripture finally had spell support.

"The *Treatise on the Nether-Ancient Mountain* included a Nether-Ancient Mountain Contemplation Method."

"Besides Kuang Chuan himself, four other demigods from Primordial Mound, who had cultivated *Supreme Land Giant Divine Peak*, managed to contemplate that Nether-Ancient Mountain."

"Their mountain techniques significantly increased in power, and even their mental fortitude grew much stronger."

"Although only five people, including Venerable Kuang Chuan himself, successfully cultivated the Nether-Ancient Mountain Dharma, the situation changed once the theory gained practical spell support."

"Venerable Kuang Chuan was for the first time considered a candidate for the Mountain Chief position."

"However, at that time, he had no interest in vying for the Mountain Chief position. After leaving behind a Dharma treatise, he ventured alone into the Black Sky Wasteland and disappeared for ten eras."

"And this second Dharma treatise was the *Dharma of Profound Nether Transformation*."

"The *Dharma of Profound Nether Transformation* is a reincarnation technique."

"Venerable Kuang Chuan believed that the Supreme Land during the Nether-Ancient Era once experienced a period or region of 'Extreme Yin'."

"Without Yang, Yin cannot be born; without Yin, Yang cannot transform. This nether-earth was the place where all life returned after death."

"It interacted with the Polar Star's radiance, allowing life to undergo a complete cycle of reincarnation."

"He believed that during the 'Auspicious Emperor' period of the Five Emperors Era, a part of the 'Nether-Earth' was inadvertently utilized."

"It was refined to form the 'Netherworld', which served as the foundation for ruling 'souls'."

"However, during the Auspicious Emperor's period, only a portion of the Supreme Land's nether-earth was refined, and the 'Dao' was incomplete, leading to the collapse and fragmentation of the Netherworld."

"Venerable Kuang Chuan even believed that the ancient Reincarnation Temple had some connection with the Nether-God Directorate that managed the Netherworld during the Auspicious Emperor's period."

"Could his Profound Nether Transformation Dharma not only allow him to reincarnate but theoretically also resurrect others?"

Zhao Xing finished reading Venerable Kuang Chuan's life story and couldn't help but be stunned. As someone from the Xuanhuang Realm, he deeply understood the immense value of Venerable Kuang Chuan's two Dharma treatises.

"The Great Zhou's Divine Dynasty System of Fortune also controls a Netherworld. Is this what he meant by the Supreme Land's nether-earth?"

"The Profound Nether Transformation Dharma, wouldn't this be undermining the foundation of the Reincarnation Temple?"

Aside from irregular altar resurrection methods, resurrection rights in the Mysterious Spirit Starfield were essentially controlled by the Reincarnation Temple. Even if the 'resurrection of others' was still theoretical, Venerable Kuang Chuan's Dharma treatise was clearly digging at the Reincarnation Temple's roots.

Zhao Xing's clone, stationed at Primordial Mound, immediately went to the Taiqiu Library to search for these two secret techniques. He only found the Nether-Ancient Mountain Dharma, but the Profound Nether Transformation Dharma was nowhere to be found. Zhao Xing immediately sought out Venerable Meishan to inquire about the reason.

"You mean that secret technique? It was sealed," Venerable Meishan said calmly.

"Sealed? Why?" Zhao Xing was puzzled.

"Because its theory and actual spell effects had significant discrepancies, and also, it was somewhat taboo," Venerable Meishan replied calmly.

"Senior Brother, may I know the details?" Zhao Xing asked.

"After Kuang Chuan created it, he intended to test it on himself."

"According to the theory of the Profound Nether Transformation Dharma, before attempting it, he first needed to find a so-called 'nether-earth'."

"But where in this world is there such a nether-earth?"

"Even the *Treatise on the Nether-Ancient Mountain*, at that time, only five people including him had cultivated it and contemplated the Nether-Ancient Mountain."

"No one knew the location of that invisible mountain either."

"Without nether-earth, he could only refine it himself," Venerable Meishan recalled. "With the support of Divine General Mengchuan, their lineage conducted the first attempt in the Black Sky Wasteland."

Zhao Xing nodded. The Primordial Mound's *Supreme Land* cultivation method began with guiding leyline energies into the body and condensing them into a mountain. Refining leyline soil to transform it to a higher level was a type of Earth Forging Method.

"Zhao Xing, how do you think one could artificially refine nether-earth?" Venerable Meishan asked.

"I don't know," Zhao Xing shook his head. "Nether-earth is extremely Yin, but isolated Yin cannot grow, and isolated Yang cannot be born. Even among the Thousand Earth Wonders, there is no mention of a situation completely devoid of any Yang energy."

"Indeed," Venerable Meishan nodded. "Leyline energy will always reveal a trace of Yang-attribute properties. Extreme Yin only appears in theories of the universe's initial formation."

"At that time, Divine General Mengchuan and Venerable Kuang Chuan conducted experiments in the Black Sky Wasteland. The Three Realms and Twelve Mountains all approved, and at that time, almost everyone believed that Kuang Chuan would be the next Mountain Chief."

"Even I, at that time, thought the Mountain Chief position would certainly go to Kuang Chuan," Venerable Meishan recalled.

"Kuang Chuan at that time received support from the Gods of the Primordial Realm, Ancient Realm, and Dao Manifestation Realm. They even provided him with a small section from the three great leylines for his experiments."

"At that time, Primordial Mound established a secret base in the Black Sky Wasteland. Vast resources and manpower were entirely placed under Kuang Chuan's direction."

"Initially, he did achieve some results." Venerable Meishan pointed to the ring-land outside. "The Star Reversal Array and the Starry Ring Land were perfected to some extent due to Kuang Chuan's nether-earth refining experiments."

"But gradually, the situation changed."

Venerable Meishan said, "Kuang Chuan consumed more and more resources, but significant valuable gains were minimal."

"Especially the most crucial 'nether-earth'—its refinement remained indefinitely far off."

"Opposition from high-ranking officials gradually increased, arguing against further cutting off sections of the three great leyline branches for Kuang Chuan."

"By the last solar year of the ninth era before the Wilderness Region, Kuang Chuan, seeing no hope, himself went mad."

Zhao Xing: "Went mad? How so?"

Venerable Meishan thought for a moment, then pointed a finger. The ground beneath them immediately cracked, and Zhao Xing sensed a stone slab flying up from deep underground. A large amount of flowing Qi surrounded and sealed the slab, making it unclear to see.

"Open!"

Venerable Meishan softly commanded. The flowing Qi dispersed, revealing some text and images. Zhao Xing knew this was a unique information storage method of Primordial Mound. Looking at the stone slab, it appeared to be a very high-level sealing method, essentially a classified archive.

"See for yourself."

Zhao Xing lowered his head and examined it carefully, then his expression changed. In the later stages of the experiment, Venerable Kuang Chuan, frustrated by the lack of results, had gone astray and began experimenting on people. He believed that high-level Yin spirits could catalyze true Extreme Yin earth, or nether-earth. Thus, Venerable Kuang Chuan began to entice his followers to sacrifice themselves for the experiments. Due to Venerable Kuang Chuan's immense power at the time—he was almost the sole candidate for Mountain Chief—this was not discovered until many Primordial Mound disciples had already died.

In the early eighth era before the Wilderness Region, Venerable Kuang Chuan's experiment was halted, and everything was sealed away. Because Venerable Kuang Chuan had been deemed to have gone mad, and Divine General Mengchuan took primary responsibility for his disciple, requesting the Reincarnation Temple to resurrect some people, Primordial Mound's final punishment for Venerable Kuang Chuan was exile to the Black Sky Wasteland. Of course, the official statement to the outside was that Venerable Kuang Chuan was not interested in the Mountain Chief position and, in pursuit of the Great Dao and the exploration of the legendary invisible mountain, voluntarily relinquished his position. Thus, Venerable Meishan became the new Mountain Chief of Primordial Mound.

"So that's how it is." Zhao Xing understood immediately after reading. "Since then, the Profound Nether Transformation Dharma no longer aimed to refine nether-earth. In this way, this technique became a type within the 'Life Netherworld Dharma'. Its name also changed, becoming 'Profound Earth Reincarnation Dharma'."

"Precisely," Venerable Meishan nodded. "Even after being weakened, the Profound Earth Reincarnation Dharma can still be considered a superior reincarnation technique."

"Looking back on those events after many years, it truly cannot all be blamed on Kuang Chuan."

"At that time, the Three Realms and Twelve Mountains, both humans and gods, placed great hopes on him. His pressure was immense."

Zhao Xing nodded. After all, Venerable Kuang Chuan was a person of merit, someone who had made great contributions. Exiling him to the Black Sky Wasteland without public trial could be considered preserving Primordial Mound's dignity.

"At the time, his exile had no set duration, but staying in a place like the Black Sky Wasteland for ten eras can certainly be considered a sufficient punishment."

"Now that he has returned, bringing back the essence of the Nether-Ancient Mountain leyline, his contribution is undoubtedly immense."

"More than half of the gods in the Three Realms believe that Venerable Kuang Chuan is qualified to contend for the Mountain Chief position again."

"There are even a few gods who brought up the 'nether-earth refinement' matter again, but it was met with opposition."

Through Venerable Meishan's words, Zhao Xing roughly understood what kind of competitor he was facing. From every aspect—reputation, strength, Dharma treatises, theories, and supporters—Venerable Kuang Chuan was no weaker than him.

"Damn it, this deal was a loss," Zhao Xing grumbled inwardly. The Boundless True God only offered one Time Particle for him to eliminate Venerable Kuang Chuan. No matter how he thought about it, the price seemed too low. Even if Venerable Kuang Chuan had joined the Evil God faction, in the current situation, there needed to be evidence, didn't there? Moreover, this was a period of frequent spacetime shockwaves. Venerable Kuang Chuan had already passed the tests of three rounds of gods. Even if Zhao Xing could kill him, claiming he was from the Evil God faction would be hard to make others believe.

"Indeed, benefits are not given for free."

"I have only one chance to complete this mission."

Zhao Xing keenly realized that to complete this mission, the only way was to launch a Dharma Path Struggle during the Mountain Chief competition and publicly kill Kuang Chuan. Trying to kill Venerable Kuang Chuan before or after would come at a great cost and be extremely difficult.

Meishan, 30th underground level, Nanshan Manor.

After his main body returned, Zhao Xing resumed his secluded cultivation. Within his inner world, the Time Particle floated above the boundless continent.

"Time Particle, effective range five realm units, one era."

"Once used, it can accelerate the refinement of a great mountain."

Zhao Xing looked at the several mountain peaks floating in his inner world. He cultivated the *Layered Realm Mountain* technique, so naturally, his materials were also from Layered Realm Mountains. He had nine horn peaks prepared as the foundation for his mountain refinement.

"Nine horn peaks, and tens of thousands of 'earth treasures' to assist."

"Once refined, they will be transferred into the Qiankun Primordial Chaos Sacred Body, becoming my fated mountain peak."

Fated mountain peaks were naturally allowed in competitions; otherwise, those specializing in mountain techniques would be unable to participate. While other magical artifacts and elixirs were forbidden, fated mountain peaks could be utilized.

"Go."

Zhao Xing first arranged the nine horn peaks in a circle, piling them on an empty area of the boundless continent within a five-realm-unit range. Next, he arranged a large number of auxiliary materials according to an array formation. Finally, he released the Time Particle.

"Rumble~"

As the power of the Time Particle was released, Zhao Xing felt the time flow in the specific area below accelerate.

"The spacetime changes are so violent; no wonder it has to be done within the inner world. If not for the inner world's suppression, I would be unable to control the Time Particle's power."

Zhao Xing looked at the violently twisting spacetime below, secretly astonished. "This is equivalent to a spacetime tribulation of Tier 15 or higher, perhaps even more severe."

"If my True Spirit dared to enter the area below right now, even with Earth-Comprehension Dharma, it would be torn into shreds."

"Humans cannot withstand it; only realm mountain horn peaks can endure."

The characteristic of the Layered Realm Mountain was to constantly absorb primeval energy, growing and expanding. Time primeval energy greatly affected true spirits of life, but had little impact on mountains.

A moment later, the churning, chaotic earth below looked like a boiling pot of粥. However, soon, a new mountain range appeared on the boundless continent, emanating a faint precious light.

"The Earth Forging Method taught by Venerable Lan is already quite different from the Earth Forging Method I learned in the White Bone Divine Domain."

"The Realm Mountain Earth Forging Method's first layer is still the Earth Forging Furnace, but it refines the mountain's foundation."

"The second layer, Mountain Peak Formation, begins to refine the mountain into a peak shape."

Zhao Xing watched the nine horn peaks below, like towering pillars, continuously shrinking and cracking, then constantly re-condensing. Normally, this Earth Forging Method only required three horn peaks. However, Zhao Xing used nine because he possessed a Sacred Body that combined heavenly timing, earthly advantage, and self-nature. When the fated mountain peak was eventually transferred into his Sacred Body, it also needed to be drivable by all three types of magical power.

"The third layer, Mountain Range Formation. The nine horn peaks form a mountain range, rooted in the Elephant Manifestation, Dao Manifestation, and Ancient Dao layers. At this point, it cannot be easily destroyed."

The nine horn peaks below continuously grew stronger and gradually became clearer.

"The fourth layer, Mountain Range Leyline Formation. The nine horn peaks correspond to the cultivation path of my Supreme Land Mustard Seed Mountain technique. The mountain range's meridians are consistent with my Sacred Body's Dharma Meridians."

Zhao Xing soon experienced a wondrous sensation: he and the nine mountain peaks formed a resonance. As time flowed extremely fast below, after about half a year, he felt the nine horn peaks expand and contract with his breathing.

"Only one last step remains: transferring the mountain peaks into the Sacred Body to fuse, then the fated realm mountain can be formed."

"Collect!"

Although the Time Particle was still active, further refining would have little effect. The nine mountain peaks suddenly flew up, leaving the Time Particle's area of influence.

"Swish~"

Zhao Xing's consciousness materialized, holding the nine peaks. After collecting them, he gently pushed the remaining portion of the Time Particle towards his original seed.

"When I put the Time Particle in, the original seed wanted to swallow it."

"Now that refinement is complete, there's about 300,000 years of power left. I'll let you eat it."

Seeing the original seed devour the remaining Time Particle, the faint green hue on its surface became more pronounced. Only then did Zhao Xing leave his inner world. The nine horn peaks merged with his Sacred Body, settling above the Great Sun Boundless Sea.

"After the fated realm mountain is refined, if I encounter better 'earth treasures' in the future, I can integrate them to stack its power," Zhao Xing exhaled.

At this moment, his temperament had noticeably changed, becoming more profound and stable. "Agronomists of the mountain technique lineage, once they unleash their fated mountain, reside within it. As long as the fated mountain remains unbroken, they are invincible."

"The mountain technique branch is vast, with endless means of attack such as mountain valley labyrinths to trap enemies, changes in mountain ridges, and cultivating rock life forms."

Zhao Xing spent only one year refining his fated realm mountain. There were still three years until the Meishan Discourse began, so he continued to broaden his understanding of mountain techniques.

Three years later, Nanshan Manor.

"Junior Brother~"

"Junior Brother~"

Vibrations came from underground, constantly calling Zhao Xing. The vibrations grew from weak to strong, finally rousing Zhao Xing from his deep seclusion.

"Senior Brother." Zhao Xing opened his eyes to find Venerable Meishan's mountain puppet calling him.

"The Meishan Discourse is about to begin. The Mountain Masters of the seventy-two peaks are all in place. You should come up now."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother." Zhao Xing thought, then tunneled upwards, flying out of the 30th underground level in a single breath.

At this time, both inside and outside Meishan's gate, and in all directorates, things were quite lively. Whether it was the Mountain Chief or Mountain Masters, it involved significant changes in many people's positions. If the Master of a certain peak became the Lord of Meishan, then the status of those under them would naturally rise. If one could advance further and become the Mountain Chief revered by the Twelve Mountains, the benefits would be even greater.

"So many people have arrived! Over thirty rulers from human ancient kingdoms are here, along with tens of thousands of ancient kingdom observer delegations."

"The Ten Great Demon Nations have also sent Venerables to observe. Venerable Bermond and Venerable Qingyao from the Demon God Palace are here."

"Venerable Yuanding from the Reincarnation Temple, he's Old Qing's junior brother—Wanying, Sheng Yi, Fuping, and two from Gaoyu have arrived, all from the Primordial Source Heavenly Palace—and also Venerable Tianguan."

The Twelve Mountains Dharma Assembly at Primordial Mound was undoubtedly the first grand event of the Third Era of the Wilderness Region. The guest list included many familiar and unfamiliar powerhouses. Although the Era Worm Crisis, Sky-Dimensional Behemoths, and Spacetime Shocks had caused great chaos and turbulence in the Mysterious Spirit Starfield, the more chaotic the period, the more crucial such Dharma Assemblies became.

"From the Empire, there's Teacher Five Poisons, Ji Si, Meng Wu, Bi Sui... hmm? Old Zuo is here too, so it seems he's fine."

"Wait, why isn't Old Liu here?"

Zhao Xing didn't see Liu Tianning on the invited guest list.

"Qiu Zishan, who is in charge of the Empire's guest invitations? Why wasn't Liu Tianning invited?"

Zhao Xing immediately asked for clarification. Qiu Zishan was the head of the Earth-Comprehension Directorate who had followed him on the Tongming Ancient Path back then.

"Uncle-Master, who is this Liu Tianning?" Qiu Zishan asked carefully.

Liu Tianning had no reputation whatsoever and held no official position in the Empire.

"He is my teacher. Send someone to fetch him at once," Zhao Xing said. Old Liu was too low-key; he was already a demigod, yet he had no fame in the Empire.

"Yes, I'll go right away."

The internal competition of Meishan was presided over by Divine General Lanchuan, with Divine Generals Lu Song, Gong Yi, and Yu Ling jointly witnessing. Divine General Lanchuan determined the trials for the Meishan Discourse, but fairness was paramount, with no bias towards any peak. Zhao Xing's previous position as Divine Palace Emissary also qualified him to participate in the Meishan Discourse.

A total of 183 individuals had competitive qualifications, including the masters of the seventy-two peaks, and the directors of various palaces and Dao directorates.

In the Third Era of the Wilderness Region, 81st Star Year, July, the Twelve Mountains simultaneously commenced their Dharma Assemblies. The Meishan Dharma Assembly was divided into three stages.

The first stage was the Qingling Discourse. There was no ranking or distinction of superiority in this stage. All 183 participants could freely give discourses, expounding their theoretical doctrines, sharing insights on spell cultivation, or showcasing their respective peaks' research achievements. After all, there was only one Mountain Lord, and the Peak Masters, Palace Lords, Directorate Directors, Academy Deans, and Divine Emissaries would all try their best to showcase the unique characteristics of their positions to the world, to attract investment for their subordinates. 183 participants meant 183 Dharma Realms and Daoist sites. Invited guests could enter any participant's Dharma Realm to observe and listen to their discourse. There were even commercial trading segments. For instance, Venerable Meishan himself had secured high-value business contracts for Meishan's Earth-Storage Directorate and Earth-Dao Directorate during this stage.

The second stage was the Divine Realm Trial. Divine General Lanchuan would open a divine realm and set up multiple trials, covering various major categories of Earth-Advantage Faction techniques, such as Mountain Dharma, Netherworld Palace Dharma, Profound Earth Dharma, Earth-Rending Dharma, Earth-Comprehension Dharma, Earth-Forging Dharma, and so on. Ultimately, Divine Generals Lanchuan, Lu Song, Gong Yi, and Yu Ling would evaluate the participants' performances and confirm the rankings. The first place would become the Mountain Lord of Meishan.

The third stage was the Mountain Lord Challenge. After the Divine Realm Trial, although the first-place participant became the Mountain Lord, the Divine Realm Trial usually did not involve direct combat between competitors. Therefore, in the third stage, the first-place Mountain Lord would stand at the peak of Meishan and accept challenges from other Peak Masters. In most cases, this was merely an entertainment segment. After the first stage's discourse and the second stage's Divine Realm Trial, the Peak Masters already knew the Mountain Lord's strength. Issuing a challenge was just an opportunity for deeper understanding; after all, the new Mountain Lord also needed to know the capabilities of each peak. However, there were extreme cases where discontented individuals could initiate a Dharma Path Struggle against the Mountain Lord. If they could win, they would become the new Mountain Lord. Only after passing all three stages and remaining undefeated at Meishan would one be considered the true Mountain Lord. The subsequent competition among the Twelve Mountain Lords for the overall Mountain Chief position followed a similar procedure.

Before the first stage began, the entire Green Ridge had been cleared, with only Venerable Meishan waiting at its summit. Once it began, all 183 demigods of Meishan flew towards the Green Ridge area. They all respectfully bowed to Venerable Meishan.

After returning their greetings, Venerable Meishan spoke loudly: "Fellow Daoists, you may choose a spot on Green Ridge for your discourse. You must display the glory of Meishan, but also not harm harmony."

"Yes!"

The 183 demigods bowed once more, then dispersed. However, while it was said not to harm harmony, Green Ridge was only so large, and prime discourse locations were few. Who ascended and who yielded still depended on ability. Without employing offensive spells, a demigod's Dharma Realm became the sole means of claiming territory.

Zhao Xing saw that almost all of the seventy-two Peak Masters flew towards the high-ridge area. As for the Divine Palace Emissaries, various Palace Lords, Daoist Priests, and Academy Deans, ninety percent remained in the middle and lower ridge areas to set up their discourse.

"The Peak Masters of the seventy-two peaks are still stronger," Zhao Xing observed others as he flew upward. He cultivated the Supreme Land Mustard Seed Mountain. In the Reincarnation Stage, he had a Mustard Seed Dharma Domain; after becoming a demigod, his Mustard Seed Dharma Domain transformed into a Supreme Land Dharma Realm. With the fourth layer of the Supreme Land, combined with his Qiankun Primordial Chaos Sacred Body, his internal sacred meridians were a minor attainment. The flow of magical power through his meridians and acupoints was like powerful leylines in operation.

There were seventy or eighty people flying higher than Zhao Xing, already having expanded their Dharma Realms, acting like impassable chasms blocking the high-ridge area. But Zhao Xing, without even expanding his Dharma Realm, moved as if through uninhabited land, continuously surpassing other Peak Masters.

"Hmm? Is that Divine Palace Emissary Zhao Xing? How does he possess such strength?"

"I recall he only became a demigod about a thousand years ago, didn't he?"

"Less than a thousand years."

"At this high-ridge area, multiple Peak Masters' Dharma Realms are intertwined. It's difficult to even take off without expanding one's Dharma Realm, yet he seems unaffected?"

"What a Zhao Xing! He's made such great progress!"

Zhao Xing's upward movement quickly drew the attention of other Peak Masters. In the Wilderness Region's Second Era, everyone's impression of Zhao Xing was merely that of a 'Sacred Son of the Earth-Advantage Faction'—though possessing astonishing talent, he was far from having grown into a powerhouse. It was more of a senior's condescending view of a junior. Even when Zhao Xing came to Meishan to cultivate, first following Venerable Meishan, then entering the Ancient Realm for enlightenment, the time was simply too short. His soul-clone's cultivation was relatively secretive; before coming to Primordial Mound, Zhao Xing's main body didn't even know the extent of his cultivation, let alone these Peak Masters?

Now, Zhao Xing caught up, traversing through layers of Dharma Realms, immediately drawing curious glances from numerous Peak Masters. Their gazes were almost entirely filled with admiration, surprise, and confusion. Of course, some Peak Masters, feeling a competitive urge, wanted to test Zhao Xing's true capability and intentionally amplified their Dharma Realms' power to see how far he could go. Facing these gazes, Zhao Xing smiled, nodded slightly, and continued his unwavering ascent.

In the end, only Venerable Gong Feng, Venerable Min Feng, and Venerable Tian Feng remained directly above him. Their Dharma Realms each possessed unique characteristics. One was like a majestic mountain spanning the cosmic starry sky, another resembled an active volcano on the verge of eruption, and yet another formed an eight-sided palace floating in the center.

"Pinyou, Taitan, Chuchuan, these three demigods are all Tier 15 Venerables," Venerable Meishan observed closely from below. "They are also the strongest three within Meishan. They won't let Junior Brother ascend easily."

After integrating his soul-clone, Venerable Meishan himself could not discern Zhao Xing's full power. But he knew Pinyou, Taitan, and Chuchuan very well. Without a doubt, these three were Zhao Xing's strongest competitors within Meishan!

Zhao Xing expanded his Dharma Realm, and five Extreme Spirit Pearls emerged beneath his feet, supporting him as he advanced. Venerable Pinyou's Dharma Realm, like a majestic mountain, was immediately pushed upward. Taitan's active volcano Dharma Realm and Chuchuan's netherworld palace Dharma Realm also involuntarily yielded to the sides. Such an unusual phenomenon startled the three Venerables. But they immediately exerted their power in unison, closing in again, competing with Zhao Xing.

A moment later, Zhao Xing broke through their blockade, ascended to the peak of Green Ridge, and landed beside Venerable Meishan.

"Pinyou, why did you yield? You weren't intentional, were you?" Venerable Taitan asked.

"Yes, Pinyou, why did you stop?" Chuchuan also looked at his friend. Since Pinyou was directly above, they were merely applying pressure from the sides.

"This is the Qingling Discourse, not the Divine Realm Trial. Why quibble over every little thing?" Pinyou said calmly. In truth, he simply couldn't hold on; if he continued to exert force, his Nether Mountain Dharma Realm might have been pierced by Zhao Xing.

"And why did you two release your hold?" Pinyou retorted.

"Same as you," Chuchuan and Taitan retorted stubbornly. Continuing the confrontation, Taitan felt his volcano Dharma Realm would erupt, and Chuchuan felt his netherworld palace Dharma Realm would be torn apart.

"The Dharma Realms of me, Taitan, and Chuchuan had formed a triangular standoff. No one could intervene and escape unscathed, let alone break through."

"Did Zhao Xing exploit a loophole, or did he indeed contend with all three of us simultaneously?" Venerable Pinyou mused, looking upwards.

Zhao Xing also glanced back at the three, smiling and cupping his hands. "Thank you three for yielding."

The three did not reply, simply assuming Zhao Xing had exploited a loophole to ascend. Zhao Xing was unconcerned. When he ascended just now, he used his Five Extreme Spirit Pearls Dharma Realm to simultaneously affect all three, with the Water Spirit Pearl inducing Taitan's active volcano Dharma Realm and the Fire Spirit Pearl targeting Chuchuan's netherworld palace Dharma Realm. Observing their reactions, he had a rough idea of their true capabilities. This was a case of the strong knowing the weak, but the weak not knowing the strong.

"Throughout Meishan, the only demigod who can defeat me is probably Senior Brother Meishan standing right here," Zhao Xing thought to himself. As the previous Mountain Chief, Venerable Meishan's strength was that of an 'eighteenth-tier' demigod! Even if he was not as strong as Gu Luohe in the demigod stage, he was certainly in Borui's tier back then.

"Junior Brother, it's been a few years, and you've made another breakthrough," Venerable Meishan asked with a smile.

"Thanks to Senior Brother's blessing, I've had a minor breakthrough," Zhao Xing humbly replied.

Venerable Meishan was in high spirits. Normally, after everyone had chosen their discourse locations, he would have left, but this time, he showed no intention of doing so. "Junior Brother, may I be your first debater?"

Zhao Xing was flattered: "Of course, Senior Brother, it would be my honor."

"Good," Venerable Meishan smiled slightly and began allowing guests from all directions to enter and observe the ceremony.

When guests from all directions entered and saw the arrangement of Green Ridge, they couldn't help but be surprised.

"The Dharma Realm at the peak of Green Ridge, is it occupied by Zhao Xing?"

"How long has Agronomist Zhao been a demigod? How did he get up there?"

"Does Primordial Mound favor Zhao Xing so much?"

"Is there some special meaning to this?"

"The meaning is significant! Guests see him as soon as they enter, doesn't that say it all?"

"Although this stage isn't a competition, reaching the summit isn't that simple."

"Tsk, tsk, I wonder what happened."

"Hmph, it must be Wei Zizhan bribing my disciple!" The speaker was Five Poisons, and Wei Zizhan was Venerable Meishan's true name in this life. Even Five Poisons at this moment did not believe that Zhao Xing could reach the peak of Green Ridge and establish his Dharma Realm for discourse purely by his own strength. Seeing that Venerable Meishan had not yet left, he suspected some foul play.

Seeing that most of the guests had arrived, Venerable Meishan raised a discourse platform at the peak of Green Ridge, stopping it half a step below Zhao Xing's position. A resonant voice spread in all directions, and Venerable Meishan bowed to Zhao Xing, proclaiming: "Wei Zizhan seeks the Dao from Agronomist Zhao."

As his voice rang out, it immediately drew the attention of all the guests.