Still, in his bid to play the loving father, Shenzhuo gave Xinzi two pieces of crucial information. First, there could only be one Glorious Eye of Heaven and one Dark Eye of Heaven. The two stemmed from the soul, and should exist in any body that the owner’s Divine Soul inhabited. This meant that the Glorious Eye of Heaven in Xinzi’s Zhen-body was, either a copy based on Shenzhuo’s genetics, or an incomplete product still in the process of awakening.
Second, without the Swallowing Skill, one couldn’t master a Breath—even a Limited Breath. This meant that, without exception, all Primeval Deities…possessed the Swallowing Skill. Yongye, Yanglong, Doumu, Yudi, Wahuang and Shenzhuo…all possessed the demons’ unique ability.
This could explain why at his birth, Xinzi managed to devour half of Shenzhuo’s cultivation as well as 81 Gods of the Night Pantheon. He likely inherited a stronger version of his parents’ Swallowing Skill, a version that till now stayed dormant.
But why was he born with a stronger skill? Assuming that the fleshly union of two Primevals would produce a child with Primeval potential, there was no reason why Xinzi’s Swallowing Skill and cultivation potential should exceed his parents.
’Or is it because of Yongye’s cultivation method? The One-Thousand Incarnations of the Supreme One? It’s through that method that she evolved into the superior Thousand-Faced God. If it could change her lifeform level, who is to say that it didn’t impact her fetus?’ Myriad conjectures shifted in Xinzi’s mind, but eventually, he realized that random assumptions could only get him so far.
’Never mind. I’m still lacking in crucial information. Without that info, I can’t solve the puzzle of my birth. Still, we’ve made good progress, and that’s enough for now.’ Xinzi’s thoughts paused here, and he placed his hands on the Nine-Jade Crown.
’Shenzhuo, you should know that in the Hengye clan, Zhen is a title, not a name. Till I met my master, I didn’t have a name. Perhaps that is why till now, regardless of the benefits that I could get from doing so, I have never considered…betraying him.
Shenzhuo, if only for that detail, you will never be able to replace my master. But you can try, and I will exploit you…with no reservation.’ Xinzi’s lips curled up, and he returned to the Grand Tribulation Platform, sitting crossed-legged and resting his hands on his knees.
White grumbling lightning raced through the sky, heralding the series of tribulation lightning bolts about to slam into Xinzi. The first fell with ear-piercing force, yet failed to shake Xinzi’s body. The second followed on the next day, then the third and fourth. Each bolt felt slightly stronger than the previous one. At first, the bolts were equal to Xinzi’s late-stage Pulse Condensation cultivation base, but as days passed and the numbers ballooned, they quickly exceeded the Golden Core realm.
With each bolt that struck him, Xinzi took a deep breath, attempting to unite Swallowing Skill and Five Elements Transmutative Technique in his diaphragm. With the Five Elements Transmutative Technique, Xinzi’s Swallowing Skill progressed at a rapid pace. But the backlash of siphoning a multitude of elements and particles in a single breath made him vulnerable to incoming lightning bolts.
Warm blood trickled down Xinzi’s lips and nose. Aware that he couldn’t go on like this forever, Xinzi shifted his approach, replacing the Five Elements Transmutative Technique with the Heavenly Dao to first master the Dao Breath.
The gains on his Swallowing Skill were not as obvious. But Xinzi’s cultivation, constitution and non-demonic energies improved at a steady pace. And as the bolts grew more potent, Xinzi savored the electric, searing pain, growing his Holy Force through masochistic indulgence.
His secluded cultivation thus started. Meanwhile, in the Clear Heart Monastery, Abbot Qingxin played a game of Go with the monastery’s eldest disciple: Fahai.
”Fahai, I understand why, as a human, you feel such strong animosity towards Mysterious Beasts. You’ve seen firsthand the carnages that Mysterious Beasts can inflict on innocents. How base hunger can lead them to gorge on human lives. I understand, but your heart is too prejudiced. Sentient Mysterious Beasts aren’t a monolithic block of destruction. By demonizing the whole due to the actions of the few, you’re letting prejudice take control of your heart and cripple your Holy Road,” while moving a black piece, Qingxin said.
”Abbot, I can agree on anything you say, anything except this. Let’s not even mention the sentient ones, there are far too many non-sentient Mysterious Beasts—creatures controlled by primitive instincts—for me to try to contextualize the situation. Mysterious Beasts, demons, and all that consort with them are the bane of humanity and must be exterminated at all costs. Only when those freakish pests have been dealt with can humanity aspire to peace and harmony,” Fahai declared and slammed a white piece down.
”The Golden Lotus Temple refuses to come out of isolation and assist the common people. I have limited strength and shallow potential, so I don’t dare to aspire to much. But I do hope that one, a righteous monk will emerge to lead all Lianist practitioners to eradicate the filth. On that day, I will put my life on the line to assist that monk!” Fahai’s fists trembled and his eyes burned with determination.
”I see. And what will you do about rapacious humans?”
”What?”
”You do realize that most of the tragedies that humans face are caused by humans, right? So what will you do about the crux of the issue?”
”It’s not the…”
”It is. Divines prey on divines, spirits prey on spirits, demons prey on demons, and humans prey on humans. The abuse inflicted by other species might give you a stronger impression, but barring cases of complete enslavement, they’re never the primary issue. So, by your own logic, to save humanity from the tragedies you so despise, you first have to deal with the humans. How will you accomplish that? Extermination?” Qingxin seriously asked.
”Huh…I…haven’t—” Fahai stuttered, but before he could find his words, Qingxin slammed his fist into the eldest disciple’s skull, making his face crash into the go table before kicking him out of the room.
”Copy the Sutra of Enlightened Education 1,000 times. If you dare to take a break, I will make sure you won’t be able to sit for 100 years.”
”Y-yes, abbot!” Full of grief and indignation, Fahai picked himself up and headed straight to the Repentance Hall.
Meanwhile, alone in his study, Abbot Qingxin heaved a sigh.
”There is nothing more terrifying than a righteous zealot. Fahai, how can I make you see the light? If only Xinzi was here,” Abbot Qingxin whispered and, following another sigh, lay on his side. At that time, the world seemed to enter a static state.
A whirlwind of dark energies took shape at Qingxin’s back, and as his eyes widened in disbelief, a tall and slender man appeared behind him—his eyes as cold as a winter night.
Qingxin tried to shift his body, but the intruder’s cultivation crashed upon him, suppressing any attempt at resistance.
”You’ve become weak, so weak that it’s disgusting. I feel so ashamed for having once looked up to you,” the intruder said, his voice making Qingxin’s body tremble uncontrollably.
”B-Baxian?”
”Silence. The boy Xinzi, do you want him to live?” Baxian didn’t beat around the bush, speaking with a bone-chilling tone that put Qingxin on maximum alert.
”W-what…do you want?”
”How quaint. Hengye Wuxin, you have so much heart to offer to all those that aren’t your direct kin.” Baxian sneered, and for the split of a second, conflicting emotions flickered through his eyes. But right afterward, the God-Child returned to cold focus.
”Never mind, bring me the Relics of a Saint, and the boy will live. I don’t care how you do it, but I want it within three years. Otherwise, you can add the boy’s corpse to your list of regrets. Don’t forget, my favorite activity is to watch you shed tears, so I will not hesitate to use your treasured disciple to that end.” Bottomless waves of killing intent soared from Hengye Baxian, and leaving those words behind, he vanished from the scene.
Left alone, Qingxin broke into a cold sweat, and without delay, vanished from the Clear Heart Monastery.