Chapter 539: Opening the Mountain and Receiving Auspiciousness, Extracting the Mountain's Essence, Naming the Fengshan Rite

Inviting Yan Ao and Lu Ya to come out typically requires a grand ceremony, but with Bovard, it was entirely different.

The meeting was clandestine. Apart from Lancheng, Lu Ya, Yan Ao, and a few other Divine Kings, no one else would know that Bovard had become Zhao Xing's protector.

There was no "invitation" needed either, as Zhao Xing didn't owe Bovard a favor. Bovard was there to atone for his sins; if anyone owed a favor, it was to the Samsara Divine Palace.

With a gentle flutter of Palace Master Lu Ya's wings, the next moment Zhao Xing found himself and the Martial God Yan Ao at the Samsara Divine Palace.

It was still the familiar bronze gate, the familiar graveyard, and the guardian was still Hall Master Tuning.

However, when Zhao Xing saw Bovard again, the latter was no longer disheveled and chained before a tombstone.

A delicate courtyard had been built at the site of the original Divine Evolution Stele.

Upon entering the courtyard, Zhao Xing noticed that Bovard had changed into clean clothes, his hair neatly tied with a white jade hairpin. His expression had softened, as if he had gained humanity.

His eyes were filled with wisdom, as if he had returned to his former appearance as the spirited Grand Elder.

Bovard was kneeling at a desk. Seeing Yan Ao and Lu Ya appear, he immediately straightened up, saying, "Sinner Bovard greets Divine Lord Yan, Palace Master Lu Ya, and the Primeval Mountain Head."

Had Bovard really changed? Had he been taught to become like this? Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned. He even doubted if this was truly Bovard, but a quick check on his panel confirmed it was.

Zhao Xing cupped his hands in greeting but remained silent.

He didn't know how to address Bovard; the man was no longer the Grand Elder of the Academy City and was still a sinner.

Hall Master Tuning from the side brought over a tray, on which lay a divine artifact very familiar to Zhao Xing.

"This is the Great Dao Golden Hoop, crafted by Divine General Jieluo," the little yellow duck whispered from his shoulder. "Put it on Bovard, and he will become your third protector."

No wonder it seemed familiar; this was the divine artifact version of the Enlightenment Golden Hoop.

However, the Great Dao Golden Hoop lacked the "enlightenment" function; instead, it imposed restrictions.

After Zhao Xing placed the golden hoop on Bovard, he also saw multiple chains appear within Bovard's scholar core, the Dao Scripture Dao Tree.

The secret patterns on the chains bore chaotic markings, and the mist emanating from them made Bovard's multiple professional cores appear illusory.

Bovard's other professional cores, such as the Boundary Core of the Self-Sect Sages, the Golden Body of the Qi Sect Martial Artists, the Sword Heart of the Sword Sect Martial Artists, and the Immeasurable Measure Master of the Mechanist, all became blurred under the influence of the mist.

"If Bovard's abilities are restricted, how can he protect me?" Zhao Xing wondered. Hall Master Tuning explained from the side, "Bovard is currently a Divine General. Without restrictions, almost no Divine General could defeat him."

"The Great Dao Golden Hoop limits Bovard's full power, but his remaining strength is still formidable."

"You are now the master of the golden hoop. Once Bovard wears it, he cannot harm you."

"There is an incantation on the golden hoop. If Bovard harbors ill intentions, it will glow, and you can calmly recite the spell to make him suffer unbearable pain, completely losing his combat ability."

Zhao Xing looked closely and indeed found an enigmatic incantation on the chains within Bovard's Life Palace, though it was currently gray.

"Of course, you only have three chances to use it."

"If you exhaust these three chances, the power of the Great Dao Golden Hoop will diminish, and Bovard will fully understand the artifact's effects, allowing him to remove it himself."

Hall Master Tuning's explanation gave Zhao Xing a general understanding of the Great Dao Golden Hoop.

As a Divine General-level scholar, even the Great Dao Golden Hoop could only completely suppress Bovard three times.

After three uses, Bovard would have a chance to break free.

"I've become Tang Sanzang, and Bovard has become Sun Wukong," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Ultimately, Bovard's strength was terrifying; it would be too great a pity to kill him.

Yet, using him couldn't be done with complete peace of mind.

The Great Dao Golden Hoop, crafted by Divine General Jieluo, could only be used three times.

After three uses, Bovard would be able to decipher and break it.

"Thank you, Hall Master Tuning."

Zhao Xing stayed in the Samsara Divine Palace for two months, mastering the incantation for the Great Dao Golden Hoop.

Afterward, Bovard was taken into his inner world.

When Zhao Xing opened his eyes, Yan Ao spoke, "Zhao Xing, your two overt and one covert protectors are in place. It's time for you to embark on your journey."

"During your travels, we will only intervene in two specific situations."

"What two situations?" Zhao Xing asked.

"A god, or a place of death," the little yellow duck said in his ear. "If you encounter a demigod, we won't get involved."

"Seniors, does it not matter how many demigods there are, their rank, or if they are from the evil god faction?"

"No, it doesn't matter," Palace Master Lu Ya mused. "But rest assured, if such a situation truly arises—"

"What then?"

"I will collect your corpse, if there's anything left of it."

Zhao Xing was speechless. Was he being teased?

But upon reflection, if enemies from the Divine Realm didn't appear, he truly didn't have much to worry about when facing demigods.

As the Mountain Head of the Primeval Hill, he already possessed three immensely powerful divine artifacts, was proficient in various spells, even divine spells, and had thirty-one tiers of destiny.

Demigods indeed found it difficult to pose a threat to him.

Unless it was Bovard or Guluo River in their demigod eras, but how many heaven-defying demigods like Guluo River and Bovard existed in the boundless space-time?

Even if the past faction had such figures, would they be willing to send them on a mission to kill him?

The protective Divine Generals were primarily there to ensure his survival in dangerous places.

If a Sage became a god by only cultivating the origin, it would naturally be safer.

To achieve universal enlightenment, one must observe the wonders of the cosmos and experience natural disasters and earthly transformations.

The Ten Directions Mountain, Chaotic Sea, and Underworld Ancient Mountain were all places Zhao Xing had to visit, forming part of his travel plan.

Zhao Xing's journey began the moment Bovard became a protective Divine General.

The human race's high-level officials provided a list of travel destinations: the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands Map.

Zhao Xing quickly scanned it. The list encompassed all the peculiar and dangerous places in the Ancient River Realm, many of which he had never even heard of.

"The Nine Heavens and Ten Lands Map covers all cosmic regions ruled and explored during the Era of Five Emperors."

"There are hundreds of millions of star coordinates for demigod-level exploration sites alone, and tens of thousands marked as god-level exploration sites?"

"The Era of Five Emperors was truly a glorious time, to have governed such vast territories!" Zhao Xing couldn't help but exclaim.

Times had changed; there was no longer talk of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands because, as the universe entered its quietus phase, the desolation intensified. Due to artificial migrations, many locations had lost their former glory.

Traveling there now would inevitably be a wasted effort.

However, the map still held immense value, as Zhao Xing could travel to those places in the future by traversing space-time.

The "Nine Heavens and Ten Lands Map" was akin to a space-time manual.

Zhao Xing turned his gaze to the Shenluo Barren Domain. The Shenluo Barren Domain alone contained over seven thousand secret realms, and there was even a star point explicitly marking the Fengchan Ruins and Fengchan Ancient Land.

A star point represented an area, and Zhao Xing immediately recognized that this particular area contained the location of the Xuanhuang Realm.

Zhao Xing's thought activated the light point, which glowed red and formed four crimson characters: "Forbidden to enter."

"As expected, the Samsara Divine Palace knows about the Fengchan Land. The Samsara Divine Palace has sealed off the current Xuanhuang Realm, and I don't know when it will open."

Zhao Xing looked away. Since it was forbidden, he naturally wouldn't violate the taboo.

"Where should I go for my first journey?"

In the courtyard's bamboo room, Zhao Xing quietly pondered.

"The progress of the three major cultivation methods determines the progress of cultivating origins to become a god."

"The Self-Sect's 'Primordial World' cultivation method requires treasures almost all related to small worlds, such as World Cores and various Boundary Stones."

"The Earth Advantage Sect's 'Ultimate Land' cultivation method requires treasures related to geomantic veins and soil."

"The Celestial Timing Sect's 'Great Sun Sea' cultivation method primarily involves collecting polar star origins and strands of aurora."

Zhao Xing thought carefully and decided to first focus on cultivating the Primordial World and the Great Sun Sea.

Because the progress of the Earth Advantage Sect's cultivation method was relatively easier to advance.

After all, he was the Mountain Head; many tasks didn't require his personal involvement, so he could allocate less energy. When he traveled, he didn't need to put effort into acquiring certain materials; observing and comprehending would suffice.

The Primordial World and the Great Sun Sea, however, he had to rely entirely on himself for.

Guluo River's assistance was limited to Divine General Huali and a few divine arts. Material assistance? Guluo River himself lacked divine artifacts from the Self Sect!

As for the Celestial Timing Sect's cultivation method, he had to rely even more on himself. This was because, in the current era, the Celestial Timing Sect's influence among humanity wasn't strong; sect masters and national rulers at most were demigods.

"And the Celestial Timing Sect's forces see me as an ancestor. I want to lean on them, but they want to lean on me," Zhao Xing muttered.

"If I were to ask about polar star origins, people might not even know what that is... Hmm? It seems there's one faction that has information on this."

Zhao Xing suddenly recalled a faction he had heard about when he met the four Venerables — Wanying, Sheng Yi, Fuping, and Haoyu — in the City of Souls: the Chasing Light Society.

"The Chasing Light Society is an organization founded by the 'Cosmic Historian' faction among historical scholars."

"Time, time refers to historical scenes reflected in the brilliance of the polar stars."

"I wonder if this faction was absorbed by Bovard."

Zhao Xing's consciousness immediately entered his inner world and found Bovard in a corner of the boundless continent.

Within his inner world, Zhao Xing had also limited Bovard's activity area, though this area was still quite vast.

After entering, Bovard created a manor for himself. He used magic to alter the weather, with white clouds drifting in the sky, wheat fields and fruit trees below, and even cultivated vegetable seedlings behind the manor.

At this moment, Bovard had shed his opulent magical robes and, after watering his vegetable patch, went to fish by the lake behind the manor, looking very relaxed.

"Bovard used to be so pragmatic, even extreme, but now he appears detached from worldly affairs. Is this his way of 'divine seclusion'?"

Speaking of which, Bovard had only been a god for a few thousand years. Once one became a Free God, they would begin their "divine seclusion," at least reaching a semi-secluded state to delay the divine tribulation.

The days of imprisonment also counted as a form of "divine seclusion." The current Bovard had a sense of having shed all worldly splendor.

"Grand Elder." Zhao Xing's consciousness materialized, appearing beside Bovard. "Mountain Head can just call me Bovard. I am merely a secluded god atoning for my past deeds."

"Just now, there were gods from the Samsara Divine Palace watching outside. In my heart, you are still the Grand Elder who saved me," Zhao Xing probed.

Bovard smiled dismissively upon hearing this.

"Mountain Head, please speak your mind directly."

Seeing this, Zhao Xing stopped beating around the bush: "Elder, do you know of the Chasing Light Society?"

"Yes," Bovard nodded. "The Chasing Light Society was established by a group of cosmic historians who chase the light of the polar stars."

"Most of these individuals do not reside within human territories; they have traveled to very distant places."

"They only occasionally send back some academic achievements, primarily communicating through the City of Souls."

"Can the Elder command them?" Zhao Xing asked.

"No," Bovard shook his head. "I did not absorb this organization."

"Why not?" Zhao Xing was stunned. Logically, members of this organization should be very powerful; to chase the light of polar stars, they would at least need Samsara Realm strength.

Bovard spread his hands, saying, "Although they are strong, they require a lot of funding, and most of them are not in the Xuanling Star Region. What good is mere verbal allegiance?"

"The Academy City had no operating forces of its own, relying entirely on funds from various nations. How could I afford to bother with them?"

Zhao Xing was speechless.

He hadn't expected it was due to poverty that no contact was made.

But it made sense. If Bovard hadn't found the Transmission Tower after taking over the Academy City, he wouldn't have had the funds to implement his god-creation plan. It was only after acquiring the Transmission Tower that he could obtain vast wealth and access to Xuanling historical texts by selling entry slots.

However, this good fortune didn't last long, as Zhao Xing himself reset his Transmission Tower quota to zero.

Later, Bovard finally became a god but was soon suppressed, leaving him no time to consider matters related to the Chasing Light Society.

Having received his answer, Zhao Xing was about to leave.

However, Bovard then added, "Although I didn't absorb them, Feng Chen once contacted three leaders of the Chasing Light Society."

"You can ask him."

Zhao Xing's heart brightened: "Thank you."

Primeval Hill, Academy City.

Feng Chen's fingers traced a series of secret runes in the air: "Sage Zhao can record this string of sun secret runes, then find a giant sun star in any super-first-rate galaxy and transmit them."

Zhao Xing's Mountain Dharma Body asked, "How long will it take for the three leaders of the Chasing Light Society to receive the message?"

Feng Chen shook his head: "That I don't know. Venerables Xuyang, Ji Wen, and Cassie have been gone for too long. The last time I received a reply was five thousand years ago."

"However, once contact is established, they can communicate with you through spiritual or karmic means."

Five thousand years? That's truly a long time!

However, Zhao Xing could do nothing about it. The three leaders of the Chasing Light Society had already ventured far from the Xuanling Star Region. Once outside the Xuanling Star Region, without the communication and transportation systems established by humanity, everything would become very slow.

"Elder Feng, is there still no news of Poincaré?" Zhao Xing casually asked.

"No," Feng Chen shook his head. "Although there are many scholars named Poincaré, we have searched everywhere these past years. None fit your criteria."

"If you don't consider the possibility that the person you're looking for hasn't been born yet, then there are only two scenarios."

"What two scenarios?"

"Either Poincaré is a historical figure, or he is in the Divine Realm and has completely entered divine seclusion."

Zhao Xing could only put this task aside.

Searching for historical figures or those in complete divine seclusion was immensely difficult.

Especially in a state of complete divine seclusion, it was almost impossible to find someone.

Complete divine seclusion meant all clues had been erased; even Fatesters couldn't deduce anything unless the individual actively broke their divine seclusion and interacted with the outside world.

However, since the name Poincaré appeared in the task, it wouldn't be a complete divine seclusion. True divine seclusion meant even the name wouldn't be known, and all traces of existence would have been thoroughly eradicated.

"Thank you, Grand Elder." After Zhao Xing finished his inquiry, his Mountain Dharma Body dissipated.

In the 128th stellar year of the Third Era of the Barren Domain, Zhao Xing transmitted the sun secret runes provided by Feng Chen via the giant sun star located in the Primeval Hill.

In the 134th stellar year, Zhao Xing's clone was still at the Origin Heavenly Palace, conducting the ceremony to request Divine General Lu Ya's protection.

However, his true body, along with the four Divine Generals — Yan Ao, Lu Ya, Huali, and Bovard — secretly arrived in the territory of the Ten Thousand Rivers Demon Nation in the Xuanling Star Region.

"The Ten Thousand Rivers Demon Nation has a 'Six-Winged Mountain,' which is part of the 'Feather Sound Mountain' among the Unknowable Mountains."

"The Feather Emperor created divine sounds, and the mountain grew with the sound, increasing by one pole daily after the five divine sound feather scales were created."

"Because its upper half was purely condensed divine sound, capable of emitting the sound of the Great Dao throughout the human territory, Feather Sound Mountain became a super-mountain, one of the divine mountains of music."

"However, since its creation, no one has been able to ascend beyond its halfway point, as no one could become the Feather Emperor's true confidant."

"Thus, Feather Sound Mountain also became an Unknowable Mountain."

"Later, Feather Sound Mountain ceased emitting the sound of the Great Dao. The mainstream speculation is that its upper section, representing divine charm, was cut away by the warring Feather Emperor."

"The original mountain body only emitted 'Sacred Sounds' of the twelfth rank, not divine sounds."

"Later, this part of the mountain also became an object of contention. Eventually, one portion was cut away and remained in the Ten Thousand Rivers Demon Nation, becoming 'Six-Winged Mountain,' while the other part stayed within the territory of the Ancient Guoyu Nation."

It was Bovard speaking. He was projecting his voice towards the sky within Zhao Xing's inner world, and Zhao Xing, as the master of the inner world, could hear Bovard's voice as if he were the Heavenly Dao itself.

"Six-Winged Mountain's ranking among the Mountains of Knowledge has fluctuated, primarily due to the differing evaluations by successive Mountain Heads of your Primeval Hill."

"Some Mountain Heads who liked music theory rated it higher, and its ranking would move up."

"At its highest, the mountains related to the Five Divine Sounds all reached the top twenty among the Mountains of Knowledge; one even ranked sixth."

"By the generation of Venerable Meishan, he ranked Six-Winged Mountain seventeenth, dropping three places from the previous Mountain Head."

"For your first travel destination, you chose the Ten Thousand Rivers Demon Nation, and you're traveling incognito. Are you coming specifically for this mountain?"

Zhao Xing smiled, "I do have that idea, but it's not the main objective."

After becoming the Mountain Head of the Primeval Hill, he wasn't entirely a hands-off manager. Some official duties still required his attention as the Mountain Head.

Opening the mountain for blessings, extracting mountain essence, and sealing the mountain with a name.

These were the first tasks for a newly appointed Mountain Head of the Primeval Hill.

If Zhao Xing hadn't needed to invite Divine Generals for protection, this would have been his very first task.

It served to both display the status of Primeval Hill, proclaim its prestige, and offer practical benefits.

Opening the mountain for blessings meant drawing upon the luck of spiritual mountains, a way to increase one's destiny.

Extracting mountain essence involved collecting "mountain spirits" born within great mountains and absorbing them into the Ultimate Land.

Mountain spirits are not living beings but rather intelligent mountain treasures nurtured within spiritual mountains.

They have many uses: refining mountains, crafting artifacts, enhancing cultivation methods, and even assisting individuals in overcoming tribulations.

Back then, all the gods of the Primeval Hill believed that Venerable Meishan, Wei Zizhan, possessed talent superior to Mountain Master Kuang Chuan.

Why was Kuang Chuan only a sixteenth-tier demigod, while Wei Zizhan could surpass the eighteenth tier?

It was because he became the Mountain Head, gathered mountain spirits from all over the world, and helped himself overcome tribulations, significantly boosting his strength.

"According to the ancient records of the Primeval Hill, opening the mountain for blessings can boost destiny; extracting mountain essence can help overcome spiritual tribulations; and sealing the mountain with a name can advance one's divine rank."

"However, now only the first two are effective, and the divine artifact Yuanji Mountain has transformed in nature," Zhao Xing mused, stroking the divine artifact in his hand.

Since becoming the Mountain Head of the Primeval Hill, his perspective and understanding had ascended to a new level.

In the glorious era of the Primeval Hill, the Mountain Sealing method was known as the Fengchan method.

Ascending the mountain meant ascending to godhood!

But now, only fragmented words remained