These people had the world’s fortune on their side. Until they fulfilled their own celestial destiny, they were very difficult to kill and grew at an astonishing rate.

According to Xuanqing, with the exception of the first civilization, the remaining three all had Celestial Fate People appear within them.

The Celestial Fate Person who appeared in the second Noki Civilization had a monstrous intellect. They led their civilization to rise rapidly from the Stone Age, crossing through the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Steam Age, the Electrical Age, and finally arriving at the Information Age.

Their technological development was so swift that it seemed to change by the day.

In the third, the Dynasty civilization, the Celestial Fate Person was the one who created the first Qi Blood Pile Skill. This person was born of destiny and blazed the trail for the Secret Martial System.

All beginnings are difficult. It was precisely because of what this person did that the later Miwu Civilization came to be.

As for the fourth Miwu Civilization, the era was still that of a dynasty.

It was primarily led by the Da Xia Dynasty, with the rest being smaller vassal states.

However, due to a stroke of luck,

a small nation called the Sand Gold Country accidentally unearthed some ruins from the second Noki Civilization.

This led to the gradual manufacturing of some crude firearms and cannons.

Ordinary people were completely unable to stop attacks from these firearms and cannons.

If hit, one would be half-dead, if not killed outright.

Because of these weapons, the Sand Gold Country was no longer content with the status quo.

It began to continuously occupy and conquer other small surrounding nations.

Under the power of the firearms and cannons, the meticulously trained soldiers of enemy nations were slaughtered in a one-sided massacre.

In a short period, the Sand Gold Country’s power grew rapidly, spreading unceasingly.

Until it finally ran into the Da Xia Dynasty.

The lands of the Da Xia Dynasty were the very source of the development of Secret Martial Arts.

There, the practice of Martial Arts flourished.

They had even perfected the part regarding the Essence Element Divine Treasure.

This gave birth to one powerful Martial Arts Family after another.

A Martial Arts Family who had opened the Essence Element Divine Treasure possessed an inhuman physique, capable of easily tossing an elephant with one hand, crushing iron into mud, and taking a general’s head from amidst an army of thousands.

The so-called crude cannons and firearms crumbled almost instantly when faced with a Martial Arts Family.

From the start of the war to its end, it took less than a day.

An army of several hundred thousand was slaughtered by a third.

At this, the Sand Gold Country was scared out of its wits and surrendered on the spot.

But this was not the end.

After surrendering, the Sand Gold Country’s treacherous heart did not die. On the surface, they paid yearly tribute to the Da Xia Dynasty, bowing and scraping.

But in secret, they continued to develop the ruins of the second Noki Civilization.

「More than ten years later.」

The Sand Gold Country actually succeeded in replicating even more powerful weapons, such as tanks, airplanes, and even some cannons with far greater destructive power.

During the sudden uprising, those Martial Arts Families, faced with such strange new weapons, had never seen anything like them.

It was a completely different dimension of warfare. For a time, the casualties were devastating.

However, the Da Xia Dynasty’s foundations were deep, after all.

The Sand Gold Country was wary for a time and did not press its advantage too hard.

They feared that their opponent would resort to mutually assured destruction.

Thus, they fell into a stalemate for a while.

But anyone with eyes could see that as time went on, only destruction awaited the Da Xia Dynasty.

Compared to the airplanes and cannons that could be produced in months or years, these Martial Arts Families, despite their inhuman physiques and invincibility in close combat, each required decades or even centuries to achieve a breakthrough, and their numbers were extremely small.

As the Sand Gold Country’s technology continued to advance,

only death awaited the Da Xia Dynasty.

Fortunately, heaven never bars one’s path.

An opportunity appeared.

It was a prince of the Da Xia Dynasty, named Ji Wuxing.

His fate was a difficult one; he was the most unfavored of the princes.

He had been scorned since childhood.

But what no one expected was...

...that everything would change in the third year of the stalemate between the Sand Gold Country and the Da Xia Dynasty.

When Ji Wuxing turned eighteen, his bones fully developed, and after he began to practice Secret Martial Arts, a huge change occurred.

His aptitude and comprehension for practicing Secret Martial Arts were unparalleled in history.

He took a mere three years to break through to the Essence Element Divine Treasure, then continued to advance triumphantly, taking less than five years...

...to open the Qi Vein Divine Treasure. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

After advancing to Qi Dao Grandmaster...

...he killed his father, the emperor, who had long since lost his spirit and would only cede territory and sue for peace in the face of the Sand Gold Country’s demands.

Then he took action directly against the Sand Gold Country.

Airplanes, cannons, rockets—they were as nothing before him.

In less than half a day, he slaughtered over a hundred thousand enemy soldiers.

Finally, he fought his way straight into the capital of the Sand Gold Country.

Amidst the old king’s terrified, despairing gaze—as if he were looking at a devil—Ji Wuxing casually twisted his head off.

And with that, the Sand Gold Country was utterly destroyed.

And this was only the beginning.

At the age of fifty, Ji Wuxing opened the Celestial Heart Divine Treasure and advanced to the Refining God realm.

From then on, he led the Miwu Civilization to its peak.

He was even granted the title of Saint Emperor.

Unfortunately, if he had only had more time...

...he might have been able to step into the Void Realm and reverse his civilization’s fate of destruction.

"How do you know all this, Lord Xuanqing?"

Hu Qi asked.

’This information... for the earlier civilizations, you could say it was gleaned from ruins. But the information about the fourth Miwu Civilization is far too detailed.’

"Because I have lived for over ten thousand years!"

Xuanqing said faintly.

Upon hearing this, Hu Qi’s heart trembled.

’Over ten thousand years? How is that possible?’

’One must know that the Refining God Limit is only infinitely close to ten thousand years.’

Before Hu Qi could ask further, Xuanqing continued.

"Correct. Just as you thought, when I came to this world, it was during the Miwu Civilization. The reason I have survived until now is because the Inheritance Secret Martial Arts I cultivate, the *Yin Yang Taiyin Chapter*, is very special. Combined with the Life Map I cultivate...

...it allows me to absorb the Power of Faith from all living beings in the world and transform my Divine Soul, allowing it to leave my physical body and survive in another form of life. As long as there are still those in this world who believe in me, I will not die."

"However, this is not a good thing! I figured out most of this cultivation method on my own, and it has enormous drawbacks.

While I am nourished by the Power of Faith of all living beings, I am also bound to them.

Do you know why my face is blurry? Because all living beings are inherently formless."

Xuanqing’s tone was calm.

Hu Qi was silent.

’This is a bit too much information to take in.’

’But it does explain how he could have lived for so long.’

’In a way, this life form is equivalent to being immortal. As long as there are people in the world who believe in him, Xuanqing cannot be completely killed.’

’But the drawback is also extremely obvious. In his current state, I’m afraid he is no longer the Xuanqing he once was. Influenced by the faith of all living beings, his own personality has probably long since begun to shift toward the form of the god in his believers’ hearts.’

’This is probably also why he decided to help me after discovering that I was an anomaly.’

’Influenced by the faith of the masses, Xuanqing naturally wouldn’t want to see the Human Race wiped out.’

’Therefore, as long as my actions are beneficial to the Human Race of this world, he will help me.’

At this thought,

an idea stirred in Hu Qi’s mind.

He immediately stated that he also wanted to obtain the Inheritance Secret Martial Arts from the other Upper-tier Schools.

He wanted to ask Xuanqing for help.

Just as Hu Qi expected,

Xuanqing did not refuse his request and agreed on the spot.

After that, their conversation ended.

Hu Qi also rose to take his leave.

From beginning to end,

their conversation never touched upon Shi Xiao and Li Xianyu.

It was as if Xuanqing couldn’t care less whether those two Refining God Venerables lived or died.

Watching Hu Qi’s departing figure,

Xuanqing stood where he was.

"I have already seen it... the predetermined Destiny Trajectory of all living beings seems to have shifted..."

As he spoke, a series of faces—men and women, old and young—flashed across his once-blurry features, a reflection of all walks of life.

...

「Early the next morning.」

Inside the vast meeting hall,

four figures were gathered.

A withered and gaunt old monk.

A man with a robust and powerful build.

A young woman with an alluring figure.

A figure shrouded in a gray robe.

They were none other than Lei Bao, Sect Leader of Thunder Gate; Thick Spider, Sect Leader of Earth God Hall; Wang Jing, Sect Leader of Golden Buddha Temple; and Meng Ke, Sect Leader of Mengyu Pavilion.

Among them, Lei Bao and Wang Jing’s faces were slightly pale, and their auras were unstable.

Evidently, they had been injured when besieged by those Food Masters in the Earth Core and had not yet fully recovered.

Fortunately, for the physique of a Refining God Venerable, it did not affect their movement.

As for why they had gathered here,

it was because they had received a message from Xuanqing, saying he wished to discuss important news regarding the location of the Spirit Realm Sea Eye.

That was why they had all assembled.

"Still no news from Shi Xiao and Li Xianyu. I’m afraid they’re already dead in the Earth Core. What a shame!"

At that moment,

Lei Bao suddenly spoke up.

He shook his head, and although he said this,

his rough face showed not a hint of sadness, but rather a trace of gloating.

"Lei Bao, I know you had a grudge against Shi Xiao and Li Xianyu, but the fall of two Refining God Venerables is not a good thing for us. It means we will face even greater pressure from now on."

The one who spoke was Meng Ke.

Her vermilion lips parted slightly, her voice low and magnetic.

From her slightly furrowed brow, it was clear that she was very displeased with Lei Bao’s callous remarks.

As for the other two, it was unknown what they were thinking, as they did not join the conversation.

"Of course I know that, but those two idiots got themselves killed by Food Masters. It’s not like *I* did it.

Even when *I* was besieged by two Food Masters, didn’t I still manage to fight my way out?"

At this, he let out a cold sneer.

"Besides, the fact that our tracks were exposed is probably related to those two.

I’m afraid they sold us out to save their own skins, hoping the enemy would spare their lives.

You must understand, only the few of us knew the locations of every Earth Core Passage!

If someone hadn’t revealed it to those Food Masters, what, are you telling me those things can predict the future?"

When he finished speaking,

Meng Ke couldn’t help but fall silent.

’What Lei Bao said was crude, but not without reason. And even if Shi Xiao and Li Xianyu didn’t reveal anything...’

’...and the discovery of our locations was just a coincidence, if those two hadn’t had their own tracks discovered...’

’...the Food Masters would never have noticed us entering the Earth Core. So, no matter what, it was related to them in some way.’

Just then,

a side door was pushed open from the outside.

Everyone present was a Refining God Venerable, and since the newcomer did not conceal their footsteps, all eyes turned toward the door.

Two figures walked in, one after the other.

The one in the lead had a blurry face and wore a Daoist Robe. The other was a handsome young man carrying a long saber on his back.

They naturally recognized Xuanqing, so for a moment, all their gazes fell upon the young man.