Chapter 11: The Daoist Palace Secret Realm, Innate Deity

The Snow Empress, at seven hundred thousand years of age, had reached a new level of majesty; Empress Ice and the others dared not disobey her words.

"Alright, I am going to begin condensing my soul ring. You may observe," Qin Sheng said.

"Snow Empress, as we conceived earlier, please mobilize the power of heaven and earth to assist me."

"Very well."

To connect with heaven and earth using the Snow Empress's origin, it was naturally best to attempt it in the Far North.

Furthermore, because his relationship with the Snow Empress was currently good, Qin Sheng intended to let her act as a "bridge" between him and the world.

Qin Sheng took out the Snow Empress's origin and summoned his martial soul, the Spirit Control Banner.

Compared to three years ago, the Spirit Control Banner had undergone significant changes.

If it had only been a top-tier martial soul back then, it was now ranked among the super-tier.

It could now be compared to the martial souls of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion and the Ice Sky Snow Maiden.

Using the Spirit Control Banner to contain the Snow Empress's origin, he circulated the Yijin Jing. The origin dissolved, but Qin Sheng did not absorb it; instead, he used it as a medium to communicate with the heaven and earth of the Far North.

Wisps of transcendent aura diffused from Qin Sheng’s body, stirring the wind and snow.

The power of the origin flowed, outlining mysterious runes that were imprinted onto the Spirit Control Banner, making the aura of this martial soul increasingly profound and vast.

The Snow Empress watched Qin Sheng’s changes closely, waiting for the right moment to mobilize the power of heaven and earth to intersect with his martial soul.

This further triggered the Snow Empress's origin.

The martial soul, the Snow Empress's origin, and the Far North heaven and earth resonated, and a faint ring appeared.

At first, it was pale white, but after a breath, it turned light yellow.

Purple, black, red...

In a short span of time, this soul ring underwent constant transformation, reaching the hundred-thousand-year level and moving toward the level of a beast-god soul ring.

The power of the Far North became the energy source, fueling Qin Sheng’s transformation.

As time passed, Qin Sheng’s aura changed continuously, and he became increasingly in harmony with the Far North.

The wind and snow served as his clothes, the sky as his quilt, and the snow-covered ground as his bed.

At a certain moment, Empress Ice, who had not left, suddenly looked on with an expression of disbelief.

"This human, why does he suddenly give me the same feeling as you, Snow Empress?"

The Snow Empress’s eyes flickered. Could he really have done it?

The profound meanings of the *Heaven-Swallowing Devil Art* circulated in Qin Sheng’s heart, enlightening his wisdom and opening his understanding of heaven and earth.

Under his mental perception, which was now powerful enough to rival a god, the world changed; it gained many colors, representing things more essential and core.

Namely: the Laws.

With a flash of inspiration, Qin Sheng completely fused the Snow Empress's origin into the Spirit Control Banner.

Endless power of heaven and earth surged and gathered; this was not the Snow Empress's doing, but the spontaneous reaction of the Far North itself.

A cocoon of light appeared on the snowy peak, and Qin Sheng began his final transformation.

This transformation lasted for a full six months. When the cocoon shattered, Qin Sheng reappeared in the world.

The Spirit Control Banner fluttered; even without activating any soul skills, it gave off a terrifying sensation capable of shattering souls.

Perhaps the Spirit Control Banner at this moment could be called a "Heaven and Earth Martial Soul."

Beside Qin Sheng, soul rings rose one after another.

Red! Red! Red! Red! Red! Red! Red!

Seven rings, all red. Especially on the later soul rings, there were golden threads representing a beast-god.

"This, this, this... he is only a Soul Saint, how did he absorb seven soul rings that are at least a hundred thousand years old?"

Empress Ice was shocked. "And he actually killed so many hundred-thousand-year soul beasts?!"

"Quiet, Bing'er. These soul beasts weren't necessarily killed by him. Isn't Qin Sheng's seventh soul ring condensed through my origin?"

"Xue'er, why do you always speak for this human!" Empress Ice said, annoyed.

Empress Ice liked the Snow Empress, and their gender...

"Without the Myriad-Year Mysterious Ice Marrow he gave me, I would already be dead, and you would never have been able to cross the four-hundred-thousand-year threshold."

The Snow Empress lectured, "You should thank him too."

"I didn't say I wasn't grateful..." Empress Ice muttered.

"No need for thanks. The Mysterious Ice Marrow was given to you, so it is naturally yours to dispose of."

Qin Sheng’s voice rang out; he had awakened.

The Snow Empress immediately asked, "How is it? Did you succeed?"

"I suppose so."

Qin Sheng smiled. "During the seventh soul skill, the Martial Soul Avatar, the Spirit Control Banner enters a special state. At that time, heaven and earth will also assist me."

If the Snow Empress was a spirit born of heaven and earth, then the Spirit Control Banner in its Martial Soul Avatar state was an artifact "nurtured by heaven and earth."

Although this state was not constant, it still brought Qin Sheng huge gains.

The true meaning of the martial soul, the ultimate mystery of soul rings, the realization of the laws of heaven and earth, and...

The path to godhood.

Qin Sheng had always been confident in becoming a god, fulfilling the last wish of the Douluo Qin Sheng. By now, he already had a clear direction.

"That's good. Congratulations," the Snow Empress smiled.

"Alright, I've stayed in the Far North for nine months; it's time for me to go."

Qin Sheng stood up. "I live at the Chi Ling Academy in the Heavenly Soul Empire. If you need anything, you can find me there."

"If I have time, I will also come to the Far North to see you."

He hadn't finished researching the Ice Sky Snow Maiden yet.

The Snow Empress was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Good."

She sent Qin Sheng out of the Far North, her curiosity about the human world reaching a new height.

"Next, it's time for routine cultivation, improving my cultivation base, and preparing for the next Soul Master Tournament..."

The championship was something Qin Sheng was determined to win.

***

In the world of *Shrouding the Heavens*.

Inside the cave dwelling, Qin Sheng’s body transitioned from withered and silent to full, radiating even more vigorous vitality and energy.

Majestic essence diffused, and his life force was unimaginably rich.

The withered grass around him turned green again, and grass seeds in the cracks of the rocks sprouted and grew within a few breaths.

The vitality of this body had reached a level incomprehensible to mortals.

"The ninth transformation is complete."

In the Other Shore Realm, Qin Sheng had reached the peak; the Wheel and Sea secret realm was now perfected.

Qin Sheng did not slacken. He prepared to strike while the iron was hot, charging into the Dao Palace secret realm and entering a brand-new world.

Recalling the true meaning of the Dao Palace chapter of the *Heaven-Swallowing Devil Art*, Qin Sheng pondered repeatedly.

"The Wheel and Sea is below the navel, while the Dao Palace is above it, corresponding to the five internal organs of the human body, storing essence and energy without leaking, hiding the spirit so it remains immortal."

"This is an extremely powerful and important secret realm. It not only further excavates the divine energy of the human body but also prepares for the later realization of the rules of heaven and earth. It cannot be taken lightly."

Cutting off all thoughts and leaving only the most determined will to break through, Qin Sheng closed his eyes and began his breakthrough.

Above the Wheel and Sea, a portal that seemed both real and illusory appeared. Behind the door stood five heavenly palaces, like a celestial court.

Qin Sheng did not hesitate or waver. The Divine Bridge grew continuously, sending him before the Heavenly Gate.

Without looking back, without hesitation, Qin Sheng pushed open the Heavenly Gate.

From Earth to Big Dipper, everything he needed to do and plan, he had done perfectly.

If not now, when?

Boom!

Heavenly music erupted. Qin Sheng arrived in a brand-new world, breaking away from the Wheel and Sea secret realm.

Outside, astonishing changes also appeared.

Five elements and five energies soared into the sky, piercing through Qin Sheng’s cave dwelling and shining on Dragon Pattern Peak like pillars of heaven, terrifyingly immense.

Such a huge commotion alarmed most of the Yaoguang Holy Land, and many people cast their gazes over.

"Someone is breaking through to the Dao Palace secret realm? What a massive momentum!"

"This phenomenon is simply shocking. Since when did the Holy Land have such an outstanding disciple?"

"It's Dragon Pattern Peak. Could it be that a genius has appeared in that lineage again?"

"This is not good..."

Discussions arose, but none of this had anything to do with Qin Sheng.

The Dao Palace secret realm requires cultivating the five internal organ divine treasures, divided into five heavens.

The cultivation of the five internal organ divine treasures has a sequence, but it is not fixed; it depends on personal choice.

One can cultivate the heart divine treasure first, or the spleen divine treasure first; neither is wrong.

Qin Sheng had long planned which one to cultivate first.

The Lung Divine Treasure!

This connects to the divine path of spiritual energy. Cultivating this divine treasure first would make his magic power more vigorous and greatly accelerate the speed of absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, with infinite benefits.

The Dao Palace secret realm was filled with mist, making it unclear. Qin Sheng followed his instinct and intuition, finally arriving at the Lung Divine Treasure.

Inside the divine treasure was a prototype of a deity, waiting for him to strengthen it.

Essence is the foundation of a person. In the Dao Palace secret realm, one needs to transform essence into spirit, nurturing a Dao Palace deity.

If a person can nurture the spirit, they will not die. The five gods are always present, connecting the five energies, linking heaven and earth, continuous and eternal in the world.

Innate essence transforms into spirit, and acquired essence nourishes the deity.

Qin Sheng entered the Lung Divine Treasure, and the incredibly vigorous vitality and essence exploded within his body, causing his physical body, magic power, and primordial spirit to transform rapidly.

He was officially promoted to the first heaven of the Dao Palace.

Moreover, something unexpected happened.

A star in the infinite land flickered, and a point of light appeared within Qin Sheng’s body, merging with the deity prototype in the Lung Divine Treasure.

Then Qin Sheng felt that he had gained an extra perspective; his consciousness appeared on the Lung Deity, taking control of it.

Qin Sheng gasped, "I have become 'me'?"

Qin Sheng felt carefully and discovered that the Lung Deity was very special. It could actively absorb the essence of heaven and earth, contemplate scriptures and secret techniques, evolve magic, and even be summoned to the real world to fight!

"It's equivalent to having another 'me' cultivating?" Qin Sheng was shaken.

"And I can feel that the deity's power grows as it cultivates."

"I have only just broken through, but if the Lung Divine Treasure is perfected, this deity will likely be even more astonishing."

He had never heard of anyone's Dao Palace deity being so miraculous; it wasn't even recorded in the *Heaven-Swallowing Devil Art*.

In fact, this devil art required one to swallow the five internal organ deities in the Dao Palace secret realm...

However, under the influence of his golden finger, the Lung Deity mutated, and Qin Sheng naturally would not swallow it.

"Five deities, like five divine selves. Perhaps my Dao Palace secret realm will be unprecedentedly powerful."

Qin Sheng’s heart surged; he felt there was great potential.

He stretched his body, and the tyrannical power gave him the illusion that he could pierce the blue sky.

Qin Sheng walked out of the cave dwelling, and the voice of the Dragon Pattern Peak Master rang in his ears.

"Come see me."

Qin Sheng did not dare to delay and hurried up the mountain.

The Dragon Pattern Peak Master looked at Qin Sheng and nodded with satisfaction.

"In just one year, you have broken through to the first heaven of the Dao Palace. Your foundation is amazing, and your roots have not been neglected. Qin Sheng, you did not disappoint me."

"However, your breakthrough this time has alarmed quite a few people. Many experts are now paying attention to you."

"Will someone attack me?" Qin Sheng was a little worried.

The Dragon Pattern Peak Master smiled. "Competition within the Holy Land is very fierce, and many people are intentionally suppressing and targeting our lineage. But it doesn't matter; it's just a little frost and snow."

"As for you personally... the challenges you face will not be small."

Qin Sheng thought for a moment and said

"Peak Master, I want to leave the Holy Land for a while."

"Reason?"

Qin Sheng’s voice lowered. "Swallowing the origin is, after all, the true method of practicing the Holy Art. There are too many restrictions in the Holy Land."

"Hahaha."

The Dragon Pattern Peak Master laughed. "Good, very good. Qin Sheng, I am very happy that you have such realization."

"The Heaven-Swallowing Immortal Art can never be perfected by bitter cultivation alone; you must kill!"

"I will pass on the Four Extremes chapter of the Holy Art to you in advance. Go. Elder Li will give you enough resources to support your cultivation outside."

"Qin Sheng, I have only one requirement for you."

"If you kill, kill cleanly. You cannot expose our existence. Do you understand?"

Qin Sheng nodded in agreement and left at the signal of the Dragon Pattern Peak Master.

"Another person controlled by demonic nature. It seems we can only proceed with the harvest."

A hoarse voice sounded behind the Dragon Pattern Peak Master.

"Ha, that's fine." The Dragon Pattern Peak Master’s laughter was full of coldness.

"However, his talent is good. We must nurture him more so that we can raise a great medicine."

"Hmm, we can pick him before he loses control. No rush."

But regardless of what the Ruthless Lineage was planning, it had nothing to do with Qin Sheng at this moment.

After receiving a large amount of resources from Elder Li, he went straight out of the Yaoguang Holy Land and looked toward the direction of the Yan Kingdom.

Now, he was going to attack the tomb of the Qing Emperor!

To declare war on the Great Emperor's Holy Heart!

To declare war on the Green Lotus Emperor Weapon!!

To declare war on the Desolate Pagoda!!!