Chapter 1355: The Codices

In a grand hall.

Dongbo Xueying sat opposite a man with deep blue hair, which was unkempt, his face covered in a thick beard. Yet, his eyes seemed to contain boundless wisdom, and between his brows lay a faint slit, concealing a third eye.

“It’s rare indeed for the Flying Snow Divine Emperor to seek me out,” the blue-haired man said with a smile.

“Divine Emperor Liexi,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “I’ve come today to request a glimpse of your cultivation scriptures.”

Among the over three thousand powerhouses of Chiyun City, true Dao-comprehenders were exceedingly few. The vast majority had reached their level through the innate Hunyuan bloodline within them. And among those who comprehended the Dao, those skilled in the ‘Void Path’ were even rarer.

Among the dozens of top-tier experts in Chiyun City, only one—Divine Emperor Liexi—had reached the Divine Emperor Perfection level in the Void Path. As for those at the late-stage Divine Emperor level in the Void Path, there were merely eight.

“The *Eightfold Celestial River* is indeed the pinnacle of my cultivation achievements. Through it, I attained the form of a semi-Hunyuan lifeform,” Divine Emperor Liexi nodded. “Such scriptures are not something I share lightly.”

“Name your conditions, Divine Emperor Liexi,” Dongbo Xueying said.

“For others, I wouldn’t even entertain the request. But for the Flying Snow Divine Emperor, I’ll make an exception.” With a wave of his hand, Divine Emperor Liexi tossed over a wooden token. As Dongbo Xueying caught it, he immediately sensed the information contained within.

Boom—

A flood of knowledge surged into his mind.

The *Eightfold Celestial River* was the only complete method Dongbo Xueying had obtained that could lead to a semi-Hunyania lifeform. In truth, the *Hunyuan Seven Strikes* bestowed upon him by Yuan had not included the method to achieve a semi-Hunyuan lifeform, for the path toward becoming a Hunyuan lifeform required forging one’s own way. Only by carving out his own path could one truly master it. Unlike the innate Hunyuan lifeforms, who were born with Hunyuan laws yet could barely harness their full potential.

A semi-Hunyuan lifeform could not simply imitate another.

To do so would be a mistake.

This was also why ‘Xia Huang’ and ‘Dongbo Xueying’ had ultimately parted ways—each had their own convictions about the correct path.

The *Eightfold Celestial River* was one such path, entirely different from Dongbo Xueying’s own.

The Eightfold Celestial River…

At its core, it was an array.

Divine Emperor Liexi was a master of formations, using them to manifest the void. Later, his arrays transformed into a celestial river, marking his attainment of the ultimate realm of a Cosmic God. Each revolution of the celestial river was akin to an elevation of the world’s level. The *Eightfold Celestial River* even brushed against the profound structures of the Hunyuan space itself.

“These eight revolutions of the celestial river—their composition feels almost comparable to that of a Source World, albeit cruder,” Dongbo Xueying mused. The structure of a Source World was not overly complex, yet the deeper one delved, the more intricate and flawless it revealed itself to be. Even the weakest of lifeforms could thrive within it.

In contrast, worlds like the Thunder World or the Sacred World were uninhabitable for the weak.

A Source World could accommodate everything, from the lowliest ant to the mightiest Hunyuan lifeform—though the latter would find their power suppressed within it.

“My thanks, Divine Emperor Liexi. Should you ever require my assistance, do not hesitate to ask,” Dongbo Xueying said. Since their paths diverged, he could at least study and integrate aspects of the *Eightfold Celestial River* into his own.

“We walk the Void Path together—mutual support is only natural. Should the Flying Snow Divine Emperor also attain a semi-Hunyuan lifeform, I would humbly request to study the cultivation method you devise,” Divine Emperor Liexi replied.

“That is only fair,” Dongbo Xueying agreed readily.

“There is one more request I hope the Flying Snow Divine Emperor will grant,” Divine Emperor Liexi added.

“Speak freely,” Dongbo Xueying urged.

“I know that the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor has invited you to join his team in hunting the Hunyuan prisoner, the ‘Silent Ice Mountain Master.'” Divine Emperor Liexi said. “I presume that, aside from the heart and blood, the corpse will ultimately belong to you. Am I correct?”

Dongbo Xueying’s mind stirred slightly, but he nodded without denial.

Divine Emperor Liexi continued, “I wish to study the corpse of this Hunyuan prisoner alongside you—for a period of one hundred million years. Would that be acceptable?”

“Study it together? A hundred million years?” Dongbo Xueying pondered briefly, while Divine Emperor Liexi waited with bated breath.

For Dao-comprehenders like them, the chance to study a Hunyuan prisoner’s corpse was an immense temptation.

“Very well. When the time comes, we shall study it together and exchange insights,” Dongbo Xueying agreed. A mere hundred million years was a concession he could make.

—

Divine Emperor Liexi was the only one to impose additional conditions. As for the other eight late-stage Divine Emperor Void Path cultivators in Chiyun City, Dongbo Xueying proactively offered to exchange two Divine Emperor Perfection-level Hunyuan lifeform corpses for their scriptures. All eight were more than willing, eager to foster goodwill with Dongbo Xueying. Thus, he effortlessly obtained eight more cultivation methods.

Though these scriptures only reached the late-stage Divine Emperor level and followed different paths, they still held valuable insights.

By studying these nine Void Path scriptures—absorbing and refining their essence—Dongbo Xueying deepened his understanding. He also continued his examination of the twenty-one Hunyuan lifeforms.

In the days that followed, he frequently engaged in sparring matches with fellow cultivators. The experts of Chiyun City were more than happy to oblige, and through these battles, he tested his theories. While not as perilous as facing true Hunyuan lifeforms, these duels exposed him to the bizarre and unpredictable techniques of other cultivators.

Hailing from different worlds, their unique skills sometimes left Dongbo Xueying utterly astonished.

—

Nine scriptures. Corpse analysis. Sparring matches.

Dongbo Xueying’s foundation grew ever more profound, and his Hunyuan body-refining technique steadily improved.

“Whoosh—”

The wind howled, and snow swirled through the air.

Dongbo Xueying sat alone beneath a pavilion, watching the falling flakes.

“To become a semi-Hunyuan lifeform… How arduous the path is,” he mused silently. Despite his deepened accumulation, neither his Void Path nor his Illusory Dream Path had reached the level he desired. He was still some distance from a semi-Hunyuan lifeform, and stabilizing his body remained a challenge. As for the Illusory Dream Path, though his third killing move was already extraordinary, even with the Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl, creating a fourth remained elusive.

“Unknowingly, three hundred billion years have passed. It’s time to set out.”

Dongbo Xueying smiled faintly and turned his gaze toward the corner of a distant corridor.

From around the bend emerged a handsome, bald youth—none other than the ‘Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor,’ one of Chiyun City’s three rulers.

“City Lord Nine-Heads,” Dongbo Xueying rose to his feet.

“How fares your training, Brother Flying Snow?” the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor asked with a grin. “Are you ready to hunt the Hunyuan prisoner?”

“From the day we made our agreement until now, three hundred billion years have passed,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “You’ve allowed me ample time to cultivate. Regardless, now that you summon me, I shall depart at once.”

“Ever since the three hundred billion years elapsed, I’ve had scouts monitoring the situation. Only today did we confirm that the Silent Ice Mountain Master has begun his patrol anew,” the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor said. “The moment he emerged, I came straight to you.”

…