"I've long heard of Xirong Manor Master's renowned name," Doukou Hong said with a smile, clasping her hands.

She spoke cordially, while pondering internally about possibilities such as forming an alliance or capturing him.

Yet tracking with Dharma Aspect isn't such a simple matter.

The opponent's combat power is strong, and being bold enough to come represents a certain level of counter-intelligence awareness.

"It's just an empty reputation."

Ning Zheng waved his hand and smiled warmly, "In the past, we were able to gain fame across the Nine-State thanks to our collaborations with everyone. Going forward, I hope to deepen our cooperation."

"That's only natural,"

Doukou Hong beamed, "We have the latest research on Celestial Spirit Roots here. Do you want to take a look? It seems perfect for crafting Magical Artifacts."

"I'm certainly interested," Ning Zheng chatted with them like old friends, laughing.

He was accustomed to dealing with the Nine-State's top Great Powers and didn't know the meaning of stage fright.

Even when facing Xin Xichen, the Nine-headed Dragon Emperor, Phoenix Yi, and Cursed Old Man, he wouldn't flinch, let alone these academic professionals?

In the eyes of the world, he, as Xirong Manor Master, was regarded as the foremost scholar across the Nine-State, although it was often the case that those unlearned blacksmiths swindled and schemed, setting him up in this position.

Moreover,

Ning Zheng already knew they had begun tracking him using Dharma Aspect.

Yet he remained utterly unafraid.

Because he had fully fortified himself, with all sorts of Divine Techniques pulled to the full configuration level of the One Heart Realm, the powerful Yin Spirit Root naturally feared not the soul magic used to trace him.

Furthermore, his 500,000 Qi Fortune Value was ever-present, which was a stroke of good luck.

And this was the reason for his bold appearances.

Ning Zheng conversed with Doukou Hong and others for a while, feeling satisfied.

It turned out, one must strengthen oneself to appear openly.

Otherwise, back when he had just emerged, he would run around in fear that these beasts might capture him.

Power is the source of his confident foundation!

At this moment, as Ning Zheng was holding a grand gathering, acting as host, visiting and offering tea and wine to various factions, engaging in discussions, suddenly a terrifying message came:

"The Sea Race has started fighting!!"

Upon hearing this news, Ning Zheng remained completely calm; indeed, the great battle between Phoenix Yi and Cursed Old Man had commenced.

And this was a battle of forces.

The Seven-headed Immortal Phoenix from the Phoenix Race faced the Ghost King forces behind the Nursery.

All at once!

The scene burst into uproar, countless cultivators setting down their cups and talking noisily.

"Now, the strongest might not be our Human Race anymore, but instead the Phoenix and Ghost King tribes."

"Indeed, the Phoenixes mostly possess Five Elements Immortal Spirit Roots, while Ghost Kings have fortified their foundations, presumably now possessing Five Elements Immortal Spirit Roots."

...

Currently, the era of Immortal Spirit Roots has just begun.

Besides the Ghost King, other Immortal Spirit Roots generally have deficiencies, and those in the Self-Transformation Realm are unwilling to walk the path of deficiency, hence retaining the Celestial Spirit Roots, not keeping up with the current iteration.

Thus, the power of this version lies with the Immortal Path Ghost King.

Xin Xichen from the Human Race indeed awakened, becoming a legitimate Immortal Spirit Root.

To say the Seven Great Immortal Phoenixes and the Ghost Kings behind the Nursery are the two most powerful known forces is quite fitting.

But now, have they gone to battle?

"This battle will determine the outcome across the Nine-State!"

"Let's go and see."

"This world is becoming increasingly chaotic."

"Fighting daily, fighting daily, not giving us brothers a chance to gather and chat over tea."

Hence, all Sect Leaders and big shots put down their cups, joining hands and rushing to the battlefield.

Doukou Hong clasped her hands, saying: "We must go through the teleportation array to the Sea Race."

"You go ahead, my main body isn't here, but I will soon arrive," Ning Zheng, acting as Xirong Manor Master, nodded. With a swoosh, he transformed into a meteor and shot into the sky.

Doukou Hong watched the direction he disappeared in and sighed, "Let's go, we'll use the teleportation array."

...

...

East Sea.

Bone Demon Royal City raised an ark, speeding towards the location where battle had erupted.

White Tiger and Black Tortoise Race leaders were also on board, preparing to see what was happening.

To be honest.

They might not necessarily assist the Phoenix.

The Four Great Divine Beasts are supposed to be interconnected, but, in reality, trust isn't absolute.

While the historically accumulated Ghost King forces clearly aim to conquer the East Sea, formally emerging, forming a significant group.

And this group is a mixed lot, not just with Human Race Ghost Kings but also Beast Race Ghost Kings.

For example, the owner behind the Nursery isn't human, seemingly a bird Ghost King.

Thunder Hammer Duke revealed a hint of regret, "I've heard that the neighboring Xirong Divine Craftsman is holding a sales conference, announcing their formal emergence, and the true Xirong Manor Master will appear. It's a shame I can't attend; a major battle is breaking out here."

"Quite a coincidence." White Tiger Saint Child mused, "Xirong Manor Master is emerging, and the nearby Ghost King forces also want to appear, coinciding altogether."

"It indeed might be a coincidence."

At this point, Detective Yan Shuangying said, "After all, it's happening after the Pseudo-human Calamity, marking a time when everyone is free and available."

The White Tiger Saint Child thought for a moment and felt it made sense.

With a swish.

Very quickly.

The Human Race's ark also swiftly started, approaching the battlefield, lining up alongside their ark.

From the Teleportation Array on the Human Race's ark, cultivators were transported over. Doukou Hong shouted from afar, "Can we come up for a gathering?"

"Of course," Thunder Hammer Duke said.

Thunder Hammer Duke had a good relationship with the Human Race, sharing the same circle, often engaged in technical exchanges.

Technology knows no borders, nor races; being able to converse is a good thing.

Soon, Doukou Hong boarded the ship, glanced at everyone, and then looked towards the distant war, "Unexpectedly, the battle has started here. We're a bit busy today."

"It's a pity I couldn't visit your side," Thunder Hammer Duke regretted a little.

Doukou Hong glanced at the Bone Demon Emperor who just walked out, clasped his hands, and said, "This must be the Bone Demon Emperor of the East Sea, right? I've heard so much about you."

Ning Zheng, who happened to rush over, nodded, "Greetings, the legendary first Spirit Farmer of the Nine-State, the Doukou family, truly lives up to its name."

Doukou Hong nodded, looking at the Sea Race Emperor sitting in the chair, thinking of the leader of another force just now, the Xirong Manor Master sitting in a chair:

"Where is the Xirong Manor Master, hasn't he come yet?"

She was somewhat puzzled, looking around.

In the distant battlefield, underlings of Phoenix Yi and the Cursed Old Man each sent out a clansman to fight, the battle was fierce, with sea water surging, and the surrounding underwater mountains were shattered.

Apparently, both sides were testing each other.

Boom boom boom!

In the distance, the great battle erupted.

"Everyone, have tea." A Bone Demon maid started brewing and serving the guests.

The Bone Demon maids were sending messages in secret:

"We're so tired of rushing here."

"We just served them tea, and now again."

"And it's the same group of people."

"Don't be annoyed, this is quite entertaining and tests our acting skills. We must show different personalities and actions from the last batch of maids."

"A bit challenging indeed."

...

Though they said they were annoyed, they were actually very happy inside.

Because the feeling of secretly acting superior and keeping all the experts in the dark was hugely satisfying!

Ning Zheng also held his tea, quietly observing the distant battle, "These two have Immortal Spirit Roots, and both are Five Elements Immortal Spirit Roots, their combat power is fierce."

Both sides had already deployed five-element level Immortal Spirit Roots, fighting beyond the conventional Self-Transformation Realm combat power of the old era.

"Five Elements Immortal Spirit Roots are indeed becoming popular," Ning Zheng sighed.

"It's inevitable."

Next to him, Doukou Hong, who had the deepest insight into spiritual roots, said, "Why are Five Elements Spirit Roots difficult? Mainly because mortals can bear at most Dual Spirit Roots when opening Three Flowers; planting five spirit roots at once would explode their bodies!!"

"But the Ghost King doesn't have this worry. After awakening, they can reset their foundation and replant spirit roots... Mortals can't bear it, but those in the Self-Transformation Realm can. Planting all five spirit roots at once might make them explode a dozen times, but after recovery, their foundation will be reshaped."

Ning Zheng understood.

At the Self-Transformation Realm level, planting Five Elements Spirit Roots posed basically no risk.

Of course, the premise is that you become a Ghost King.

But awakening as such a high level of existence, how difficult is it?

"Then won't your Xin Dynasty Saint suffer a loss, as he only has Dual Spirit Roots?" Yan Shuangying asked.

"Not necessarily,"

Doukou Hong said, "Yin Yang Immortal Spirit Root is known for its strangeness, not particularly strong in combat power... Five Elements Spirit Roots generally excel in straightforward combat power, not in being strange or unique... It has now inherited both characteristics."

Five Elements Spirit Roots have strong combat power but often lack strangeness.

Yin Yang Spirit Root is renowned for its cleverness.

In a real fight, it's not just about trading blows to see who hits harder; the outcome depends on many factors.

"The fight is indeed fierce," 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Ning Zheng watched the two fighting figures in the distance. Xin Xichen probably couldn't beat these two, but his dirty tricks had quite the chance.

He silently observed, learning combat experience.

Just then.

A meteor suddenly appeared in the sky, violently crashing into the battlefield with a loud explosion.

A violent pit appeared in the sea, and a massive white wave engulfed numerous cultivators. Everyone stared dumbfounded as a figure rose from the sea floor's meteor crater, muscles bulging.

"Future juniors, you're fighting fiercely. Here I come."

His skin was as hard as marble, with lightning flowing like liquid sparks.

His face was indigo, hair like cinnabar, hook-shaped nose, protruding teeth, and large drooping ears with a pair of earrings. His forehead bore three eyes, each glaring in anger, with a pair of furious spiral horns pointing skyward.

His feet were not human feet but massive eagle claws, gripping the ground fiercely, exuding a suffocating sense of power.

His enormous wings spread behind him, with golden drums rotating, left hand holding a wedge, right hand a spike.

The monster spoke, "I, the ancient Divine Thunder God, judge human deeds, wield the law of heavens, and slay the guilty."

Whoosh.

A thunderstorm descended, changing the color of the world.

Fish flipped up with white bellies, forming a squirming, twitching mass of fish.

An inexplicable tension and pressure made everyone breathless.