Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

But now, they are both placed in front of me at the same time…

He knew that the path he chose would determine the course of his life. The mysterious and unpredictable nature of the Supreme Tao, and the profound mysteries of the laws of time and space, were undoubtedly extremely attractive, and it also had a deep connection with his mother.

The Buddhist teachings at Dachan Temple are renowned, and it is said that they can calm the mind, cultivate the spirit, and lead to rapid progress.

"I must avenge my mother! No matter what kind of technique it is, as long as it gives me power..."

Hong Yi's gaze gradually hardened.

He took a deep breath and carefully put the two pieces of gold into his pocket. It wasn't time to make a decision yet.

His gaze then fell upon the dozens of thick volumes of the "Martial Arts Classic" and the "Taoist Classic." "The way of cultivation requires first strengthening the body and laying a foundation. The Martial Arts Classic tempers the physical body, while the Taoist Classic cultivates the spirit. The two complement each other. It would be better to start with the Martial Arts Classic, and once the body is strong, then attempt to separate the spirit from the body."

Thinking of this, Hong Yi reached out to pick up the top book, "Martial Arts Classic," and began to read it.

However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the book, something unexpected happened!
The dozens of neatly stacked volumes of the "Martial Arts Classic" and the "Taoist Classic" vanished from his sight as if wiped away by an invisible hand! Only a faint, slightly pungent, and strange fragrance remained.

"Who?!"

Hong Yi was shocked and looked up sharply.

A small, furry white shadow, carrying a thick stack of books in its mouth, darted into the nearby bushes at lightning speed, leaving only a trail of fluffy tail in its wake!
"fox?!"

Hong Yi reacted instantly, feeling both anxious and angry.

Although these two books are not as precious as the two pieces of gold and silk, they contain the basic methods and knowledge of martial arts and soul cultivation. They are important steps for him to embark on the path of cultivation and avenge his mother. How could he lose them?
"Stop! Give me back my book!"

Before Hong Yi could think further, a surge of power, seemingly from nowhere, welled up within him, and he took off chasing after the pursuer.

The fox looked small, but it was incredibly fast, darting nimbly through the snow and forests. Hong Yi tried his best, but could only barely keep up with it and avoid being left behind.

……

High in the sky, Ying Shaoyang, whose figure had been concealed, took in all of this.

He saw Hong Yi's hesitation when faced with two top-tier martial arts techniques, and he also saw his anxiety and determination when the classic texts were stolen by the fox.

"Ha, was it a coincidence, or destiny?"

A faint, indifferent smile appeared on Ying Shaoyang's lips.

"Hong Yi, Hong Yi, will you choose the legacy of the Supreme Dao left by your mother, or embrace Buddhism, or... take a third path? I will not get involved in the calculations and entanglements involved."

He could see very clearly that the advancement of a world, especially a vast world with profound foundations like the Yangshen World, involved countless ancient beings and earth-shattering plans.

Although he possessed formidable strength, he was still a newcomer and his cultivation had not yet reached a level sufficient to overwhelm everything in this realm and disregard all schemes. Rashly getting involved would easily make him a pawn for those old guys hiding behind the scenes, or even bring unnecessary trouble upon himself.

"Even if this world truly advances because of Hong Yi, the enormous benefits will inevitably go to the origin of this world and its 'favorite sons.' For an outsider like me to want a share of the pie is as difficult as ascending to heaven, and I might even be rejected by the world's will."

Ying Shaoyang understood perfectly well.

"Instead of wasting energy fighting for those elusive and likely unattainable advancement bonuses, it is better to collect resources from this world and strengthen one's own foundation. That is the right path."

With that thought, Ying Shaoyang stopped paying attention to the chase between the man and the fox in the forest below.

With a thought, clouds and mist rose beneath his feet, supporting his figure and transforming him into a gentle breeze, as he leisurely chased after the white fox in the direction it had fled.

He wasn't going to help Hong Yi retrieve the books; he was simply heading in that direction to see if there was anything else worth noting in the Western Mountains.

At the same time, another part of Ying Shaoyang's divine sense had already connected with the jade pendant hanging at his waist.

He raised his hand and gently flicked it, and the jade pendant transformed into a streak of light, silently tearing through space and shooting towards the distant east.

A moment later, on the vast sea.

Rumble——!
The once calm sea suddenly churned! A formation shrouded in chaotic starlight appeared out of thin air, growing rapidly with the wind, instantly expanding to cover an area of ​​over a thousand miles in radius! The formation rotated, and one hundred and eight dazzling pillars of light crashed down like pillars stabilizing the sea, plunging into the deep ocean!

The next moment, a breathtaking scene unfolded!

Where the 108 beams of light landed, the seawater was pushed aside by an invisible force, and the hard seabed rose up, transforming into 108 islands of different shapes and emanating different auras! These islands were interconnected, forming an incomparably profound whole, which was the manifestation of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends Grand Array!

The grand formation was complete, but its expansion did not stop. A powerful devouring force emanated from the 108 islands, frantically absorbing the surrounding seawater! The seawater within a thousand-mile radius was decreasing at a visible rate, while the islands were slowly expanding.

Outside the great formation, seawater replenished itself, forming countless enormous whirlpools that stretched for thousands of miles, as if a piece of the sea had been forcibly scooped out!
The balance between heaven and earth was shattered in an instant! Water vapor was frantically extracted, causing sudden changes in the weather in the surrounding seas, with hurricanes howling and thunderclouds gathering; the seabed was exposed, the earth's energy was disordered, causing the soil and rocks on the islands to tumble, and even strange sounds like the roar of dragons and the howl of tigers came from the depths of the earth.

The great formation is like a greedy beast, not only devouring seawater, but also refining and absorbing the various water-attribute essences contained in the sea, the rare minerals buried on the seabed, and even some sea beasts and demons that were unfortunately caught in the whirlpool, as nourishment to replenish the origin of the great formation!
Ying Shaoyang hovered high in the sky, looking down at the sea that had changed drastically because of him, his eyes calm and unwavering. "If we were to directly draw water from the rivers, lakes, and seas of the Great Qin World, it would inevitably damage the local vitality, which is not what I wish for. This Yangshen World is vast and boundless, and this amount of seawater is but a drop in the ocean, so it is just right to borrow it."

He set up the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends Formation here, partly to avoid interfering too much with Hong Yi's growth trajectory and thus attracting the attention of the world's top experts prematurely; and partly because he valued the safety and abundant resources of this vast sea area.

Here, he can do his own thing with relative peace of mind.

As the grand formation stabilized and began to absorb seawater and resources to strengthen itself, Ying Shaoyang's divine sense once again extended. This time, his target was the layer of lightning that existed in the darkness above the nine heavens. "The tribulation of lightning in the Yang God World... it is said that each level is more terrifying than the last. After passing through it, one's soul will undergo a qualitative transformation, and one's strength will increase dramatically."

A burning desire flashed in Ying Shaoyang's eyes.

His cultivation had already reached the critical point, so triggering the tribulation to become an immortal was not difficult for him.

However, he suppressed his desire to undergo tribulation in the Qin world or any other world he had already taken control of.

"The tribulation to become an immortal is no small matter. If one can first 'practice' in a similar world, understand the rules and power of the tribulation, and accumulate experience, then return to the Great Qin world and take the tribulation again after being fully prepared. This way, the risks can be minimized and the benefits to the world and oneself after successfully passing the tribulation can be maximized!"

Ying Shaoyang was meticulous and shrewd; this move was a testament to his deep-seated cunning. Using the Yangshen World as a "testing ground" for tribulations was undoubtedly the choice that best served the interests of the Great Qin World.

However, he quickly frowned slightly. "It's the dead of winter now, and the spring thunder hasn't sounded yet. To trigger the tribulation lightning in this realm, we'll have to wait at least several more months..."

These past few months shouldn't be wasted.

Ying Shaoyang needs to carefully plan how to maximize his benefits during his stay in this world.

"Staying at sea is the best option. It keeps us away from the troublesome places of Yujing City and Xishan, avoiding an early conflict with Meng Shenji, Yang Pan, and others. We can also rely on the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Formation to both attack and defend. Absorbing seawater to strengthen the formation is just a side effect."

Important information about the Yangshen World flashed through his mind.

"The Nine Abyss Divine Realm is said to contain the Dao Fruit of Emptiness, an unparalleled treasure... However, the path to enter is shrouded in mystery and requires navigating spatial illusions and temporal turbulence, making it extremely dangerous. My understanding of the spatial laws of this realm is still shallow; to rashly venture in would be far too risky and not worth the effort."

"The Dragon's Graveyard... contains the tombs of ancient dragons, the corpses of ten thousand dragons containing immense essence, and also the ruins of the Primordial Thunder Pool and the Palace of Ten Thousand Dragons."

Hong Yi's Temple of Saints seems to have been forged using this place as its foundation; it truly is an excellent treasure trove and resource repository.

His gaze then turned to the boundless starry sky. "And the stars in the sky... My Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Array, although it incorporates many top-notch refining materials and is infinitely powerful, ultimately lacks a true star as the core of the array, making it difficult to unleash its full mysteries of evolving the heavens."

The stars in this world revolve, containing unique laws, and... this world seems to have reached its limit. The 'Yi Zi' Hong Yi has already appeared, and the world's plot is about to accelerate. If we can collect some stars now and integrate them into my grand formation, it shouldn't cause a violent backlash from the world's origin. The time is ripe!

Just as Ying Shaoyang was deep in thought, another strange change occurred in the sea below!

At the edge of the ever-expanding Tiangang and Disha Islands, beneath a newly formed island, the seawater suddenly burst open. A gigantic tentacle, tens of meters thick, covered in suckers, deep purple in color, and exuding a dense demonic aura and a fishy smell, like a monster from the abyss, tore through the sea surface and, with terrifying power capable of crushing mountains, slammed down upon the island.
Clearly, the expansion of the formation has encroached on the territory of some powerful beings in the sea, provoking a counterattack!

"Hmph! You beast, you're asking for death!"

Ying Shaoyang was not surprised but pleased, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

He burst into laughter.

"I was just worried about not having enough 'resources' to refine Star Souls, and you've delivered yourself right to my doorstep! Excellent!"

Before he finished speaking, the dark silver star bead reappeared in his palm, with hundreds of thousands of starlight and shadows spinning wildly inside, radiating a desire to devour.

This sea area was indeed a safe "hunting ground" for Ying Shaoyang. On the island, with a thought, countless spiritual roots and herbs, radiating a shimmering light and absorbing spiritual energy, sprouted from the soil and grew rapidly, transforming the barren island into a fairyland.

These spiritual roots and herbs were all part of his stockpile transplanted from the medicine garden of the Great Qin Imperial Palace, numbering in the millions! In this world, they can absorb the energy of heaven and earth more efficiently, feeding back into the great formation. At the same time, they also serve as a disguise—even if a powerful person occasionally sweeps over this place with their divine sense, they will mostly assume that this place is a newly discovered overseas immortal island or a blessed land of spiritual veins, rather than immediately associating it with the base camp of outsiders.

Holding the Starry Bead, Ying Shaoyang fixed his gaze on the enormous tentacle and the deep sea behind it. He knew that beneath this sea, there must be a large number of powerful demons.

These will all become valuable resources for him to refine magical artifacts and strengthen the great formation!

His figure transformed into a streak of light, carrying a chilling killing intent and starlight, rushing straight towards the churning sea...

The cultivation path in the Yangshen World is thriving, and cultivators are as numerous as carp crossing a river.

However, precisely because of this, cultivation resources, especially the massive amounts of life essence and nutrients from heaven and earth required for the Foundation Establishment stage, have long been plundered to the point of near depletion.

Wild spiritual roots and herbs that are old enough have almost disappeared due to years of excavation, which has made it difficult for cultivators at the bottom of this world to get started and the competition is extremely fierce.

Upon arriving in this realm, Ying Shaoyang keenly perceived this. Therefore, after casting the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Array into the sea, transforming it into one hundred and eight islands, the first thing he did was to transplant and distribute the millions of spiritual roots and herbs he had brought from the Great Qin Imperial Palace's herb garden, ranging in age from decades to thousands of years, onto these one hundred and eight islands.

These spiritual roots and herbs, nourished by the incense offerings and abundant spiritual energy in the Great Qin World, were already extraordinary. Now, taking root on this isolated island overseas, they immediately began to spontaneously absorb and release the energy of heaven and earth, transforming it into pure spiritual energy, while simultaneously emitting a strange medicinal fragrance and vibrant life force.

This aura, a blend of millions of yuan worth of a thousand kinds of spiritual herbs, was like a beacon in the darkness for the little demons and sea beasts in the sea who were just beginning to develop their intelligence and relied on their instincts to absorb the essence of heaven and earth to cultivate. It exuded an irresistible and deadly temptation!
Ying Shaoyang was well aware that there were not many truly top-tier experts in this vast sea area. As far as he knew, there seemed to be only one demon immortal known as the "Silver Shark King," whose strength was probably not even among the top of the eight demon immortals.

He had easily dealt with the Fragrant Fox King and the White Ape King before, so naturally he wouldn't take the Silver Shark King seriously. If she knew what was good for her, fine; but if she dared to attack, he wouldn't mind adding another stable starlight of the demon immortal level to this Star Bead.

Ying Shaoyang landed atop the main island, his gaze sweeping over the countless sea beasts and monsters below, which were beginning to stir from all directions due to the fragrance of spiritual herbs.

Most of them were just ordinary sea beasts that were huge and relied on their blood and qi to be savage, as well as some little demons who had just awakened their intelligence and knew the basic methods of breathing.

"This saves me the trouble of searching."

Ying Shaoyang sneered, and the dark silver star-shaped bead in his palm floated up and spun around.

With a slight thought, countless rays of starlight, fine as hair yet incredibly condensed, shot out from the holes on the surface of the bead, as if they possessed life, precisely piercing the brows of the sea beasts and lesser demons charging at the forefront, directly imprinting themselves on the fragile core of their souls! (End of Chapter)