Swallowing the Stars, Hu Yanbo's Pre-Godhood

Chapter 266 The Two Qi of Heaven and Earth, Fixed Changes Have Their Methods

Above the ancient kingdom of Yanfeng, in the sky above Yuandu.

The void tore open, and eight figures appeared out of thin air.

With Emperor Fu at the head, Emperor Ming stood beside him, and six other emperors stood in specific positions, their auras closely connected through an invisible and mysterious array.

The eight emperors represent almost all the top-tier combat power that the ancient kingdom can currently mobilize, except for those irreplaceable in guarding certain areas.

They didn't even disperse; instead, they formed the "Hun Yuan Space Eight Phases Formation" with the utmost caution before being teleported here.

Under the formation, the eight people were as one, their auras were unified, and they were good at both offense and defense. Every move they made could easily reach the upper limit allowed by the rules of the Origin Continent.

This is the highest level of preparedness for dealing with an unknown and formidable enemy.

Difu's face was solemn, his gaze sharp as lightning as he swept down towards Yuandu.

The city remained intact, the formations continued to operate, and the comings and goings of life continued as usual. Even within the Imperial Palace, there were no obvious signs of damage.

Everything was eerily calm.

"Just as we sensed, there are no signs of a battle breaking out." Di Ming's cold voice rang out in the array connection. His eyes were deep and dark, and his God Emperor-level will had already swept through the entire Yuandu, inside and out, from the real world to the spiritual realm, like an invisible tide.

"Could it be that we've entered some kind of illusion?" The handsome Emperor Di Wu couldn't help but ask.

The seemingly normal scene before them contrasted sharply with the unsettling fact that "Emperor Yuan had fallen."

It all seemed too normal, making Di Wu wish they were in the enemy's illusion, not reality.

Di Ming didn't even turn his head, but merely glanced indifferently in the direction of Di Wu.

There was no physical gaze, but a heavy pressure of will, even through the array, made Emperor Wu's divine body stiffen and instantly shut his mouth.

Di Ming, the foremost figure of the ancient kingdom's will, had already tempered his mental will to the limit allowed by the origin continent.

To speak of illusions or deception in his presence is almost an insult.

Dief raised his hand, stopping any potential internal disagreements.

"No matter what it is, if it can make Di Yuan disappear silently within his own palace, we cannot afford to be careless in the slightest."

"Maintain the formation. Follow me into the palace to investigate."

No emperor raised any objection.

The eight people maintained the "Eight Phases of Hunyuan Space" formation, which resembled a mobile war fortress, slowly descending in height and penetrating the outer defensive light barrier of Yuandu.

Even after entering the territory of Yuandu, and even after repeatedly confirming with their divine senses that this was real, the eight emperors still did not remove the formation.

Not only did they not retreat, but the flow of the formation became even more secretive and refined, ready to unleash a devastating attack or absolute defense at any moment.

no way.

Di Yuan is an emperor who resides in his own stronghold, surrounded by numerous restrictions and countless backup plans.

He just died like that.

They couldn't even issue a warning, left no trace of the battle, and had no idea who the enemy was or what methods they used.

This is even more chilling than a direct, devastating attack from the enemy.

The unknown is the most terrifying.

The eight people walked through the silent palace corridors to the deepest part of the palace.

The blood pool remained dark red, but the figure that had been sitting there was no longer visible on its surface. The jade platform beside the pool was empty.

Instead, the bottom of the pool was replaced.

Di Yuan's divine body lay quietly beneath the viscous, dark red liquid, his eyes closed, his face serene, and his posture still seated cross-legged.

The eight emperors' gazes locked onto the silent body at the bottom of the pool the moment they stepped into this place.

Without needing to use their divine senses to explore deeply, their eyesight and perception were enough to penetrate the blood pool and see every detail.

Intact, undamaged, deathly still.

Difu stood by the pool, his body surrounded by the faint glow of array formations.

With a thought, a divine force slowly probed the surface of the pool—this action was not for discovery, but for more cautious confirmation.

As fingertips touched the surface of the pool, a faint light seeped in, and divine sense swept over every inch of the divine body at the bottom of the pool.

The result was consistent with what was seen.

"At the bottom of the pool," Emperor's voice rang out in the array connection, confirming the fact that all the emperors had witnessed.

"Emperor Yuan's divine body is intact and lies at the bottom of the pool. There are no external injuries, no energy disturbances, and no signs of soul disintegration."

He paused, then slowly uttered the most intuitive and absurd conjecture that had been swirling in his mind for a long time: "It's like being cursed to death."

As soon as he finished speaking, the auras of the other seven emperors simultaneously solidified within the linked formation.

The next instant, several gazes, through the invisible barrier of the formation, all fell upon one of the figures—Di Chu.

Emperor Chu cultivated the Great Dao of Destruction and used it to achieve the ultimate realm of life form. The Great Dao of Destruction inherently contains the powerful ability of "curse killing".

When it comes to understanding and mastering bizarre methods such as curses, soul destruction, and cause-severing, he is undoubtedly the most authoritative among the emperors present.

Di Chu, who was being targeted by several gazes, was visibly taken aback.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"If I had that ability, would I be standing here with you investigating this headless case?"

"Di Yuan died so suspiciously, who's next? Aren't I afraid?!"

"No one said it was you." The other emperor, Di Yan, spoke in a deep voice, "I'm asking you, in your view, does this method of death resemble—a cursed killing or something similar?"

Di Chu took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. His gaze swept over the silent divine body at the bottom of the blood pool again. His brows furrowed slightly as his perception of the Great Dao of Destruction spread over it, analyzing and deducing.

After a few breaths, he slowly shook his head, his tone carrying a resolute denial: "It doesn't seem like it. At least, it's not any known 'curse of death' within the Source World that I know of."

He paused, organizing his thoughts: "With my ultimate power to destroy the Great Dao, if I were to act recklessly and with all my might, it is indeed possible to kill an ordinary second-level God King from a great distance using the 'Curse Kill' technique."

"But the cost would be enormous, and it would leave behind crystal-clear causal traces, making it impossible to be so clean."

"If it were truly possible to instantly kill an emperor with a curse and erase all traces of cause and effect and the spellcasting."

"The one who cast the curse could not possibly be limited to mastering the complete Great Dao within the Source World in terms of the art of destruction. He must have already forged his own, higher 'path' on this path."

Silence spread among the eight emperors.

Di Chu's analysis, instead of dispelling doubts, pushed that unknown terror to an even deeper level.

The silence lasted for several breaths.

Difu slowly broke the silence: "Do you think it might be related to that mysterious 'cleaner' who specifically targets the most heinous sinners on the continent lately?"

The cleaner, the cleaner.

The figure of Hu Yanbo, the great sin cleaner, was slowly walking from the border of the Thunder Ancient Kingdom into the depths of the ancient kingdom.

As the main body approached Thunder Mountain step by step, the spiritual will left behind in the infinite space was also not idle.

Within an infinite space, an island lies in the heart of the lake, shrouded in mist that blankets most of the lake, creating a tranquil and deserted atmosphere.

"The Great Dao of Cause and Effect, the Second Realm," Hu Yanbo murmured, his voice fading into the mist.

He sat cross-legged on the shore, his gaze fixed on the calm lake surface ahead, a thought stirring in his mind.

An invisible force, imbued with defying logic, naturally emanated from his fingertips and drifted forward.

This force swept through the air.

Wherever it passed, space was like a thin silk being sliced ​​by the sharpest paper cutter, silently tearing open a smooth black slit.

The gap is not a simple tear in space; at its edges, light flows unnaturally backward, and the drifting trajectory of dust appears to be briefly reversed.

Then, this wisp of power condensed in mid-air, transforming into an extremely simple yet seemingly infinitely complex gold and silver two-tone secret pattern.

The secret runes slowly rotated, and with each rotation, their shape and the Daoist aura they emitted underwent a subtle reversal.

The secret pattern continued to evolve, and as it did, the mist around the island began to swirl irregularly, the lake below rippled, and even the island itself, which was rooted in the earth, trembled very slightly.

The demonstration lasted for about three breaths.

Three breaths later, the secret patterns dissipated, all the strange phenomena subsided, and the lake returned to calm.

Just then—

The silver infinite space mark in Huyanbo's palm warmed slightly, and a stream of information silently entered his consciousness: "Trial participant: Origin Continent, Huyanbo".

"Based on the Great Dao of Cause and Effect, it deduces in reverse to open up and perfect a completely new branch of the Great Dao. New Great Dao rating: Top Grade."

Reward points: 100000.

"On this new road, you have taken a solid second step. The road ahead is long and requires continued effort."

"Total reward points: 309970 points."

On the island in the middle of the lake, Hu Yanbo raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Tsk."

"Why is Senior Yuan's spending the same as last time?"

What I just demonstrated was the power of the second level of the "Great Path of Cause and Effect".

The reward points I received were the same as when I first opened this branch of the path.

Hu Yanbo gazed into the boundless mist deep within the island, as if he could penetrate space and see the being high above the primordial chaos.

"I should be taking this very seriously—" Hu Yanbo thought to himself.

"Maybe he was even watching when I was 'demonstrating' it just now?"

"It won't be above 'Special Grade,' it'll only be 'Perfect.'"

"While my second-level Dao of Cause and Effect is remarkable, it is ultimately only the second level, far from a complete Dao. If this is considered 'perfect,' then where do those Daos of Fusion that have truly reached the level of a complete Dao within the Origin World go?"

"Senior Yuan's evaluation system must always leave room for compromise."

"Besides," Hu Yanbo withdrew his gaze, shook his head and chuckled, "if I were to receive a 'perfect' rating later, would I have to create a completely new rating?"

Reward points are certainly useful; they are resources.

But along the way, what he truly relied on was a part of himself, namely himself.

He used very few of the reward points from the infinite space.

Originally intending to cultivate the cause and effect of life, I purchased the first level of "Record of Cause and Effect Life Source" for thirty points.

I spent 9,800 points to purchase the "World Soul Lotus" to repay part of the debt owed to the God Emperor's will.

The total was less than ten thousand, purely for icing on the cake.

For example, this is the third time he has used his reward points.

After heading to Thunder Mountain to kill the three monarchs of the Thunder Ancient Kingdom who were most deeply involved with the Black Vulture Ancestor and were also burdened with sins.

Let's have a go at the pinnacle of the Thunder Ancient Kingdom, and even the pinnacle of the entire Origin Continent—the Thunder Ancestor.

The "causal path" is not a true, costless "words becoming law".

It is more like a pen, with ink as the "cause" and words as the "effect".

The more amazing the "story" you want to write, the more expensive the "ink" you have to pay.

"The Decisive Result" - Slaying Emperor Yuan and three monarchs.

He, Huyanbo, also needs to pay for the cause of this result.

For example, when this cycle of the Origin World ends.

After all, before the end of this Origin World Reincarnation Era, Emperors and monarchs like Di Yuan and Lan Duo, who had not fully mastered the Origin World's fundamental Dao, could not remain in the Origin World of the new era.

At that time, Huyan Bo was able to easily kill them, and thus, the cause and effect were repaid.

For example, waging war against the Thunder Kingdom and the Flame Wind Kingdom.

In a great battle, people inevitably die; it's normal for some emperors to die as well.

Another example is the formulation of new rules for the continent of origin.

"Let's check the treasure information," Hu Yanbo thought, focusing on the silver mark sinking into his palm.

In his mind, a list of treasures far more complex and profound than before slowly unfolded.

As his reward points exceeded 300,000, the exchange level that the "Infinite Space" opened to him obviously also increased by a level.

At the top of the list, the treasures that used to cost tens or hundreds of thousands of reward points are no longer there, but rather a uniform collection of rare items starting at "hundreds of thousands" and even reaching the threshold of three hundred thousand.

Hu Yanbo's gaze swept quickly across:

[Nameless Broken Blade] (Fragment)

Redemption Requires: 30 Reward Points Description: A broken blade originating from an incredible place, its material surpasses ordinary understanding, and it carries an inextinguishable concept of "severing".

Those who cultivate through the three paths of destruction, cause and effect, and matter are all suitable to exchange for these items. By comprehending them, they may be able to break free from their shackles.

Warning: This item possesses excessive malevolent energy. Those whose will has not reached the perfection of a Divine Emperor risk being assimilated or annihilated by prolonged contact.

Note: Do not take it out of the infinite space.

【Primordial Flame】

Redemption Requires: 28 Reward Points. Description: Taken from the prototype of "World Fire" in an incredible place, containing the most primal "creation" and "life".

The mystery of the birth of "order".

It is an unparalleled treasure for cultivators who focus on the Great Dao of Life, Boundless, and Flame.

With this spark, one can nurture a simulated scene of "the creation of heaven and earth" within the body, deepening one's understanding of the essence of the source world and the origin of the Great Dao.

Warning: The fire is extremely unstable and must be constantly nurtured and suppressed with one's own Great Dao and will. Once out of control, it risks burning away all one's foundation.

It is forbidden to take it out of the infinite space.

Hu Yanbo was extremely envious of each and every treasure.

"In Yuan's plan," Hu Yanbo thought to himself, "I'm afraid only the very best of the best are qualified to exchange for such a treasure. If you don't have the talent, it would be a waste to give it to someone who doesn't."

My gaze continued downwards.

Suddenly, a description of a treasure caught his eye.

【Qiankun Two Qi】: 22 reward points Description: These two qi are the relative concepts and transformations of "fixed" and "change", "clear" and "turbid", "heaven" and "earth" that a certain lord separated from an incredible place at the moment it was born in the primordial space.

It can be refined individually, or you can try to re-integrate the two energies to experience their profound mysteries.

It has a near-fundamental inspirational effect on understanding the great principles of cause and effect, time and space, and other opposing yet unified concepts.

Reminder: The two energies are of extremely high rank. Refining and fusing them requires a very deep foundation in the corresponding Great Dao. Otherwise, one is very likely to suffer a backlash from the two energies, with the pure and turbid energies flowing in opposite directions, resulting in damage to one's own Great Dao foundation.

After the two energies leave the body, if there is no special means to seal them, they will slowly dissipate over time and return to the origin.

Note: Do not take it out of the infinite space.

"The two energies of heaven and earth—" Hu Yanbo murmured to himself.

"Qianqing" represents Heaven, Yang, stability, and result.

"Kun Zhuo" represents earth, yin, change, and cause.

The core of his "Great Way of Cause and Effect" is the reversal, cycle, definition, and repayment of "effect" and "cause".

"Result" often represents a certain "predetermined", "outcome", or "tendency towards a certain state";

The word "cause" represents "change", "source", and the process of "tending towards change".

This subtly reflects the binary opposition and unity of "heaven and earth," "purity and turbidity," and "fixedness and change."

"This is the natural treasure I've been searching for."