CHAPTER 555: 286, ENCOUNTER WITH CHI YUAN AGAIN, PURSUIT, AND CONTINUOUS FIERCE BATTLES!

The Chiming Imperial Dynasty, aside from the Zhongtu Dao State, essentially treated the other continents using a Gu-cultivation model, harvesting them periodically.

If they wanted to carry out such actions covertly, the best method was to tamper with the history and Ancient Books of the other states, erasing any mention of the Zhongtu Dao State, as well as the names of other major continents and Sea Areas from ancient and primordial times.

"Since you mentioned the Purple Yin Realm, you should have a map of the Purple Yin Realm..."

Xu Xing raised his head, his gaze towards the red-clothed woman instantly turning several degrees colder. At the same time, his momentum surged, and strands of Nascent Soul Pressure emanated from his Dao Body.

If he could obtain the map of the Purple Yin Realm’s ancient and primordial period from the red-clothed woman, it would be immensely valuable. To him, it was far more precious than any compendium of the Ascending Dragon Gate’s cultivation methods.

A map is useless to ordinary cultivators. However, to him, the Butian Sect Leader, it might not be.

Beyond East Huangzhou lay a vast, endless sea. But with a map of a realm, one could follow its markings to find Lu Continent. Then, one could either expand their territory or retreat into seclusion for self-preservation...

The Tribulation Crossing cultivators of the Chiming Imperial Dynasty could be compared to Immortal World Immortals. However, they likely lacked the ability to move heaven and earth. This Purple Yin Realm Map, even if the place names had changed, the general geographical features should remain largely the same.

"The Purple Yin Realm Map..."

The red-clothed woman hesitated, unwilling to easily part with such a priceless treasure. Whether in the present or in ancient times, a map of a realm was a secret accessible only to the high-level members of major powers. If she handed over the Purple Yin Realm Map, she would lose another bargaining chip in her negotiations with Xu Xing.

"It seems Sir is unwilling to cooperate."

"So be it," Xu Xing said, shaking his head.

With that, he let out a cold snort. His Divine Sense directed the Sun True Fire floating in mid-air to converge once more, burning the red-clothed woman’s remnant soul.

In an instant, the entire Stone Chamber transformed into a sea of golden fire. The red-clothed woman wailed continuously within the flames, the aura of her remnant soul visibly weakening. Unlike the previous time when Xu Xing had forced the red-clothed woman out of the Painting Scroll, this time he seemed genuinely intent on using the Sun True Fire to push her to her death.

Time passed, moment by moment.

Finally, the red-clothed woman could bear it no longer. She transmitted her plea to Xu Xing via her Divine Sense, "Daoist friend, please quickly withdraw your Divine Power! I will draw the map of the Purple Yin Realm immediately..."

She didn’t doubt for a moment that Xu Xing would actually burn her to death with the Sun True Fire.

The cultivator before her was no ordinary Bottom-level Cultivator; he was a Mighty Primordial Nascent Soul Dao Monarch. In any era of the Purple Yin Realm, such a figure would never be considered weak. A cultivator of his stature wouldn’t lack for opportunities; her existence was not indispensable to him. If she died, she died.

Xu Xing nodded. With a flick of his sleeve, he lessened the intensity of the Sun True Fire. Simultaneously, he retrieved a blank Jade Container from his Storage Bag and tossed it to the red-clothed woman.

"This is the map of the Purple Yin Realm."

"It should be correct."

"However, so much time has passed. I don’t know if the map I saw in the Abyss Sea Dragon Palace back then might have inaccuracies now..."

The red-clothed woman tossed the Jade Container to Xu Xing.

The Source Sea... it’s actually at the border of Nanyan Continent and East Huangzhou, a bit closer to East Huangzhou...

After obtaining the map of the Purple Yin Realm, Xu Xing immediately began to examine the Source Sea and Boundless Sea that the red-clothed woman had mentioned.

But the Boundless Sea... It’s in the Zhongtu Dao State...

Xu Xing’s eyes flickered several times.

The Zhongtu Dao State depicted in this Purple Yin Realm Map was different from the region his Fate Deduction had indicated. It was situated among the various continents, truly at the center of this realm. Its area was more than ten times the size of East Huangzhou.

The Zhongtu Dao State is an Upper Boundary Realm. The power of Tribulation Crossing cultivators alone wouldn’t be enough to move such a vast territory as the Zhongtu Dao State into a separate realm, so...

Xu Xing recalled what the red-clothed woman had mentioned earlier about Emperor Chengyun of the Longevity Immortal Dynasty. In ancient times, Emperor Chengyun, with the aid of Immortals, established an Immortal Dynasty and conquered all directions.

Perhaps this Zhongtu Dao State was the result of Immortals aiding Emperor Chengyun of the ’Longevity Immortal Dynasty.’ They might have helped him move heaven and earth, elevating it to an Upper Boundary Realm. It could then have become a territory directly administered by the conquering Immortal Dynasty.

"Sir, now that you have acquired the Purple Yin Realm Map, can you spare my life? I am willing to take a Dao Oath. I swear not to divulge any secrets of this place or any information about you, Daoist friend..."

"Nor will I seek revenge against you, Daoist friend."

Seeing Xu Xing put the Jade Container holding the map into his storage, the red-clothed woman performed a respectful bow in mid-air, pleading. Having spoken, she hurriedly pointed to the heavens, swearing the Heart Demon Oath and Dao Oath.

"Naturally."

At this, Xu Xing waved his sleeve, recalling all the Sun True Fire floating in mid-air into his body, revealing a path to the outside world.

However—

Seeing Xu Xing’s decisiveness and detachment, the red-clothed woman hesitated. She didn’t want to leave, remaining where she was.

She feared Xu Xing was being two-faced; saying he would let her go, but actually harboring murderous intent.

Besides, if she left the Ascending Dragon Gate’s Stone Chamber now, with her Divine Soul so weak, she would likely find it difficult to recover her strength in the outside world.

More likely, she’d be captured by some cultivator, casually eliminated, or subjected to Soul Searching and have her very essence plundered, drained of all value.

But if Xu Xing was genuinely letting her go, with such detachment...

Staying by Xu Xing’s side might not be a bad thing; they could each get what they needed.

Only by relying on someone powerful would she have a chance to find her physical body and be resurrected.

"I am a Righteous Monk, unlike those scoundrels from the Demon way. While I made no promise to spare your life just now, Immortal, you have handed over the map. Consider this as clearing your earlier deception..."