“My son, reading books? I’ve brought some of your favorite treats.” Yingshan Liehu flipped his hand, effortlessly holding a wooden tray laden with bamboo steamers and jade plates filled with delicacies, their fragrant aroma wafting through the air.
Dongbo Xueying had once traversed countless realms in pursuit of the Annihilation Fiends, sampling delicacies from every corner. Now, reborn in the Heart Realm Continent, aside from devouring countless tomes, he often frequented renowned restaurants and humble roadside taverns in Huolie City. By now, many scions of noble families in the city knew… Young Master Xueying had a penchant for fine cuisine.
“Old Tian, I’m going into seclusion for cultivation. No disturbances, no matter who.” With that, Dongbo Xueying turned and slipped away.
“My son, my son!” Yingshan Liehu hurried after him.
But Old Tian stepped forward, blocking his path. “Young Master Xueying is in seclusion. No disturbances.”
“Tsk.”
Yingshan Liehu could only pout in resignation, plucking a pastry from one of the steamers and popping it into his mouth. “Such delicious treats, and he won’t even eat them… Hmph, I’ll give them to Xinglan instead.” With that, he turned and went off to find Rong Xinglan.
Old Tian watched the scene unfold and muttered under his breath, “That Yingshan Liehu really has no shame.”
The two Black Flowing Cloud Beasts sprawled nearby cast a glance at the departing Yingshan Liehu before lazily closing their eyes and resuming their slumber.
—
“Ugh. Can’t hit him, can’t drive him away, and he’s so shameless… What a headache.” Dongbo Xueying retreated into a towering pagoda, its interior swirling with chaotic spatial currents. At its center floated a massive stone slab, roughly ten feet in diameter. The moment he entered, he appeared atop the slab, sitting cross-legged.
Spatial turbulence swirled around him, some of it seeping into his body.
This was the Void God Pagoda, specially purchased by the Huolie Marquis Estate for Dongbo Xueying’s cultivation of the *Twelve Forms of the Southern Cloud Saint*.
“My father in this life?” Dongbo Xueying shook his head.
Deep down, he disliked Yingshan Liehu.
Before his birth and the revelation of his prodigious talent, Yingshan Liehu had cared little for his children’s well-being, indulging only in his own pleasures. He’d shown no affection toward Rong Xinglan either. These facts alone made Dongbo Xueying resent him.
But…
After his birth, his brilliance was undeniable. Yingshan Liehu began visiting frequently, all smiles and enthusiasm. Dongbo Xueying could ignore him, but Yingshan Liehu turned his attention to Rong Xinglan, showering her with gifts, delicacies, and trinkets. Though Rong Xinglan knew it was flattery, she gradually softened toward him.
With Rong Xinglan and Yingshan Liehu growing closer, Dongbo Xueying could only avoid them as much as possible. “Fine. As long as Mother is happy, and he doesn’t cause trouble… Let him be her little joy.”
“Since I’m in seclusion, I might as well focus on cultivation.”
Dongbo Xueying glanced at the book in his hand before stowing it away—another volume detailing the exploits of the Southern Cloud Monarch.
Over the years…
He had collected countless books and intelligence on the Southern Cloud Monarch. From these, he learned that the monarch had long reached the pinnacle of Void Transformation and even possessed clones. This convinced Dongbo Xueying that the Southern Cloud Saint Sect held great promise, worthy of his dedication.
—
Stowing the book, Dongbo Xueying sat cross-legged on the floating slab and began his cultivation.
Unlike others, he faced no bottlenecks in mastering the *Twelve Forms of the Southern Cloud Saint*. After all, the simplified version’s highest level only matched the ninth layer of the Divine Palace’s strength. Combined with the Southern Cloud Monarch’s formidable prowess, the techniques were far easier to learn—akin to creating eighth-layer moves in the Star Tower in his past life.
Moreover, the similarities between the two source worlds’ void laws meant no obstacles.
His other primary path, the *Path of the Illusory Realm*, progressed far slower due to vastly different fundamental principles. This was why Dongbo Xueying aimed to reach the Chaos Realm through the Void Path first—a stronger soul would accelerate his mastery of the Illusory Realm.
“Rumble—” His body trembled.
Embedded within the Void God Pagoda were eight prismatic crystal pillars, generating spatial turbulence that continuously seeped into Dongbo Xueying’s body, reshaping it. The rare treasures he’d ingested nourished his bones and blood, enriching his lineage. In truth, this pagoda was primarily designed for cultivating the *Southern Cloud Saint Body*.
The *Twelve Forms of the Southern Cloud Saint* included a crucial body-refining technique—the *Southern Cloud Saint Body*.
Advancing this technique required absorbing the essences of countless rare treasures, tempering the body as if it were a divine weapon. At its peak, every part of the body could serve as a weapon—indestructible, capable of Void Transformation, and unparalleled in spatial evasion.
Thus, the *Southern Cloud Saint Body* was a near-perfect survival art, one reason the Southern Cloud Saint Sect, hailing from a second-rate nation, ranked among the Heart Realm Continent’s top ten sects.
—
Time flowed unnoticed.
“Hmm?” Dongbo Xueying suddenly paused, sensing something.
“Eight thousand years already?” He nodded slightly. His plan had been to break through to the Unity Realm at this milestone. Though time had slipped by unnoticed, his subconscious had marked the moment.
“I’ve mastered the fourth and fifth forms of the *Twelve Forms of the Southern Cloud Saint*.”
Dongbo Xueying remained seated.
Boom.
Invisible blades of void energy erupted from his body, slicing through the surrounding space, sending ripples through the void. The sheer force even faintly echoed the prowess of Chunyu Weiyi.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
His body flickered rapidly, teleporting across the pagoda’s interior before returning to the slab.
“Teleportation mastered too.” Dongbo Xueying nodded.
The fourth and fifth forms of the *Twelve Forms of the Southern Cloud Saint* were sixth-layer Divine Palace techniques.
The sixth and seventh forms reached the seventh layer.
The eighth form, however, was a seventh-layer technique for Chaos Realm experts. Some Chaos Realm overlords couldn’t even reach seventh-layer strength using Unity Realm insights alone. Thus, the eighth form incorporated Chaos Realm principles, enabling most overlords to achieve seventh-layer power—the threshold for becoming a marquis.
The ninth and tenth forms were eighth-layer techniques.
The eleventh and twelfth forms reached the ninth layer.
“I’ll take a stroll to clear my mind, then return to break through to the Unity Realm.” Dongbo Xueying rose, utterly unfazed by his current strength.
Sixth-layer Divine Palace…
In the Marquis Estate, fifth-layer disciples could become elders. Sixth-layer outsiders, if loyal, could also join the elder ranks. Experts of this caliber could easily secure high-ranking positions with privileges in the Southern Cloud Saint Hall. In the other source world, some newly ascended Chaos Realm overlords barely reached sixth-layer strength.
Exiting the Void God Pagoda—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The two Black Flowing Cloud Beasts guarding the pagoda immediately bounded over. In truth, the courtyard surrounding the pagoda was heavily guarded. During Dongbo Xueying’s seclusion, only the Marquis himself would dare intrude.
“Let’s take a walk.” Dongbo Xueying had grown slightly taller, now resembling a handsome youth.
—
Soon, a carriage drawn by two dragon beasts glided through the sky. The handsome youth sat within, two Black Flowing Cloud Beasts sprawled at his feet. Old Tian stood beside him, while nine personal guards flanked the carriage.
Whoosh.
The carriage soared beyond the estate.
“Young Master, where to first?” Old Tian inquired.
“Six Truths Tavern. It’s been too long since I’ve eaten—my stomach’s growling.” Dongbo Xueying chuckled. The two beasts at his feet let out pleased roars—evidently, they too were fans of the tavern’s fare.
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