The surrounding crowd could not hide the shock in their eyes. Thirty-two times? In other words, one day here was equivalent to nearly three years in the outside world.
Zong Shou, however, was shaking his head. If he relied purely on the Zhou Shu (Cosmic Scroll), he would save a great deal of spirit stones.
Yet, the Zhou Guang Dian (Hall of Cosmic Light) possessed advantages that the Zhou Shu lacked: its immense area and its ability to provide abundant spiritual energy.
Unlike the Zhou Shu, where the deep reality of time didn't change simultaneously with the time acceleration, causing the spiritual energy to thin out, the Zhou Guang Dian was different.
Though the Zhou Shu was a divine treasure, it was ultimately a canonical text recording the Dao.
The Zhou Guang Dian, conversely, was an artifact created by the Instantaneous Space Dragon Clan specifically for cultivation, designed to help their descendants comprehend the Great Dao of Spacetime.
Their functions were fundamentally distinct; the two could not truly be compared.
One day inside the Zhou Guang Dian was equivalent to thirty-two days outside. With the spirit stones Zong Shou had plundered from various demonic sects, he could sustain the acceleration within this inner hall for four months.
Everyone present understood the preciousness of time; even wasting a single moment meant significant spirit stones were consumed for nothing.
After this day, everyone found a secluded corner within the hall, facing the wall in intense meditation.
Their goal was not only to amass enough true force and soul energy for a qualitative leap but also to comprehend the Instantaneous Space divine abilities recorded within the Zhou Guang Dian.
The laws of spacetime were universally acknowledged as one of the most mysterious and difficult laws to master among all Great Daos.
Even grasping a single divine ability at this juncture would bring immeasurable benefits throughout their lives.
Zong Shou's routine temporarily returned to a state of calm. He continued to pore over the demonic classics daily, studying and deducing, striving to extract their essence to nourish his own cultivation.
Then, every nine days, Zong Shou would temporarily set aside these demonic texts to resolve the lingering doubts in the cultivation paths of those within the hall. Occasionally, when inspired, he would speak eloquently and incessantly, expounding upon the ultimate truths of heaven and earth he had comprehended.
This was termed 'Preaching the Dao'—in reality, it was a means of organizing what he had learned through verbal articulation.
His studies were too broad, making it difficult for him to form a coherent system. Now that he had the time, this was the perfect opportunity to integrate his knowledge.
The others in the inner hall were utterly fascinated. They felt that Zong Shou’s knowledge was truly vast, seemingly encompassing everything under the heavens and upon the earth.
Every doubt in cultivation seemed answerable by Zong Shou.
They began to place increasing importance on Zong Shou’s weekly sermons.
Even pausing at a critical juncture in their practice, they would ensure they heard every word Zong Shou spoke.
The Dao Zong Shou preached was practically all-encompassing, touching upon everything. Moreover, it was presented from a high vantage point, not limited to one specific area, dissecting the connections between various Dao laws with perfect clarity.
He could instantly cite classic texts, elaborating on principles that were entirely novel to them.
While not every point might be immediately beneficial to their current level, it broadened their horizons significantly. Though perhaps not useful now, it would certainly be relevant when their cultivation reached higher realms.
Sometimes, listening, their minds would suddenly clear, and long-standing confusions in their practice would be instantly resolved. They even realized questions they hadn't known they possessed.
Time flowed, and another month passed in the blink of an eye.
Although Zong Shou was within the Zhou Guang Dian, thanks to the secret guards of the Zong family, he remained perfectly informed about the situation in the outside world.
At this time, the Southern Five Continents had just been pacified, and the rebellions in Donglin and Nanfengyun Continent were only recently suppressed.
Although the situation was stable, the potential for deterioration lingered. Hence, he and Kong Yao, among others, could not dedicate themselves entirely to cultivation, daring not slacken their vigilance regarding changes in the external situation.
Fortunately, what brought comfort was that since he ascended the throne as Emperor, the situation within the Great Qian had been improving daily.
Perhaps the Daoist and Confucian sects, having lost the support of the demonic path, were truly preparing to yield, and the cultivation world was gradually stabilizing.
However, what Zong Shou cared about most were Yin Yu and Chong Xuan in the Imperial Capital.
He still had not located the tomb of the Qin Emperor. His only recourse now was to monitor the movements of these two individuals to react swiftly.
These two had been inactive recently, yet children born at noon—the time when the Yang energy between heaven and earth was at its peak—continued to disappear around the Imperial Capital.
Zong Shou had expected the Daoist and Confucian sects to notice this anomaly by now and intervene. Yet, these two sects remained surprisingly silent.
This left Zong Shou somewhat bewildered. The Daoist sect he could perhaps understand. But why had not a single master from the Confucian school stepped forward?
The Confucian school had many hypocrites, but those esteemed as great Confucian scholars, at least in terms of character, rarely had anything blameworthy attached to them.
Though puzzled, Zong Shou did not dwell too much on it; he himself was no saint.
Though angered in his heart, he knew that interfering now would not only fail to restrain Yin Yu and Chong Xuan but might instead spark another round of conflict—a confrontation between the Six Teachings.
He had no winning chance himself, and the threat of the Night Demons from the Outer Regions was approaching. If the conflict dragged on, it would only result in the needless sacrifice of soldiers and widespread misery.
If he were a commoner, he would certainly indulge his desires for revenge, and if he found Chong Xuan displeasing, he would strike him down with a single sword!
But Zong Shou was, after all, the Emperor of a nation now. Even if he pitied those children, he had to prioritize the safety and lives of his subjects.
What truly preoccupied him, however, was Jin Buhui, still imprisoned in the Ministry of Rites Celestial Prison in the Imperial Capital.
The news received from the Sword Sect was hardly encouraging.
“Several attempts, all ending in failure. Meaning, this person cannot be rescued?”
Zong Shou felt a coldness and helplessness creep into his heart.
“Jin Buhui, you fool! You used to be quite clever, but now you’re truly an idiot! A genuine, honest-to-goodness blockhead!”
While cursing under his breath, a hint of cold, sharp killing intent flickered in Zong Shou’s eyes.
That fatty was one of the few people in this world, besides Lei Dong, whom he considered a friend.
No matter the intentions of the Great Shang, or what they planned to do with Jin Buhui, he would sooner or later make Yin Yu regret his actions profoundly.
He only hoped Chong Xuan was smarter and would not cross his bottom line!
Half a month later, Shen Yuexuan finally arrived in the Cloud Realm, bringing with him that sword embryo.
It still possessed an ethereal quality; compared to the original Innate Purple Dawn Profound Gold Qi, the intent of its innate nature was stronger, and its aura even more sharp.
Furthermore, it carried an added weight.
Zong Shou guided his divine sense and took it into his hand. This sword embryo was currently in the shape of a pill; it required an infusion of his intent to unfurl and reveal a faint sword shape.
A massive array structure already existed within it, much of which was blank, awaiting his spiritual inscription.
However, the portion that had already taken shape was already a source of immense delight.
He instinctively sensed that the function of this object would likely be no less than that of the Abi Imperial Throne.
It was just that this sword was slightly different from what he had anticipated—not weaker, but far stronger, exceeding his expectations by a large margin!
Shen Yuexuan had promised him a surprise, and he had certainly not disappointed.
His spiritual sense permeated the entire sword body, exploring its internal mechanisms.
Then, Zong Shou suddenly froze, looking at Shen Yuexuan with astonishment.
His spiritual consciousness had just detected an object within the sword body. Besides that, there were several types of innate qi entirely different from the Innate Purple Dawn Profound Gold Qi.
“It’s the Thousand-Eyed Crimson Pupil Stone—”
Shen Yuexuan had been observing the Zhou Guang Dian with some curiosity. Seeing Zong Shou’s gaze drift over, he nodded with a slight smile, “This is the surprise I mentioned, Your Majesty! This material lies between a phantom stone and the crystallization formed after the death of a Thousand-Eyed Demon Beast from a thousand worlds away. This stone was extracted from a Thousand-Eyed Demon that was thirteen thousand years old, making it perfect for the core of this sword. This item is of no use to me, so I might as well gift it to Your Majesty. It might be of some help!”
Upon hearing this, Zong Shou let out a wry laugh.
The Thousand-Eyed Crimson Pupil Stone was recorded in the collection of scriptures belonging to the Cang Sheng Dao.
The Thousand-Eyed Demon was actually a type of multi-eyed spider, possessing a thousand eyes that could refine sharp metallic qi, spitting it out from their eyes to wound enemies endlessly.
Legend had it that a Thousand-Eyed Crimson Pupil Stone over ten thousand years old could not only purify and refine various types of sword weapons but also enable one’s divine sense to divide from one into a thousand.
Furthermore, this material, when used in alchemy and consumed, could significantly boost the quality of one’s true force and soul energy; it was a rare and supreme treasure.
Dividing his divine sense could allow him to manipulate the Three Thousand Stars and the Ten Absolutes Imperial Dao Annihilation Sword Formation with greater ease.
And if this material were integrated into the Primordial Unity Soul Sword, it could also purify the Kingly Qi gathered within.
It was certainly not just ‘perhaps of some help,’ as Shen Yuexuan claimed.
However, he still had an unresolved doubt; this did not explain the presence of the three innate energies of Earth, Wood, and Fire within the sword embryo—
Though faint, they dramatically altered the quality of this sword.
“I have heard that any ruler of a nation cannot be separated from the concepts of She (altar of earth) and Ji (altar of grain). She symbolizes the earth of the Five Directions, and Ji refers to the Five Grains. And our Great Qian rose with the virtue of Fire. Since this is the Kingly Sword Your Majesty requires, these factors could not be ignored.”
Shen Yuexuan stated calmly, seemingly unconcerned about the precious materials he had invested.
“In truth, I do not possess many Innate Qi materials of the Heavenly Rank, I only added a small measure.”
Zong Shou offered no thanks, merely nodding slightly. He had noted this matter in his heart.
Though Shen Yuexuan described it lightly, the materials this person invested were absolutely top-tier rarities, hard to find anywhere!
Looking at the sword embryo, which had shrunk back into a pill in his hand, Zong Shou grew increasingly delighted.
Sharp, agile, and heavy—this was simply the most ideal sword artifact.
Provided the spiritual markings and divine spells he inscribed later were not subpar, this sword’s future would absolutely rival that of a Refined Spirit weapon.
“Right!”
Suddenly remembering something, Zong Shou slapped his forehead and drew Xiao Jin out of his sleeve.
He remembered that piece of wing-shaped black iron. A month and a half had passed in the outside world, but in the Zhou Guang Dian, four years had gone by.
He wondered if this little creature had swallowed that black iron yet?
He saw that the little fellow looked somewhat depleted. It spat something out, and then its entire body curled into a ball.
Zong Shou couldn't help but freeze. The object it spat out was still wing-shaped, completely undamaged. His spiritual sense was still unable to penetrate it.
Was there truly something in this world that could escape Xiao Jin’s body intact?