Chapter 275: Chapter 144: Like a Demon Lord Descending from Heaven, Truly a Tai Sui God in the Mortal Realm

However, a Divine Monarch this powerful had only brought Zhong Ming’s physical strength to the Extreme Realm, not to the point of Breaking the Norms.

’Breaking limits and defying common sense... this truly isn’t something an ordinary person can achieve. My Divine Soul and Insight managed to Break the Norms before, but besides my own efforts, the help from Heaven Rewards Diligence was indispensable...’

Zhong Ming wasn’t disappointed that his physical strength hadn’t surpassed its limits. His gaze shifted, landing on his other Cultivation Technique: Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation.

At this moment, the progress of his Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation had reached the Second Realm of Insight (72904/84000), just a single step away from a breakthrough.

Its rapid progress was due to several factors. Mind Reading provided a boost, and Great Dream of Thousand Years tripled his effective chanting time. Moreover, the improvement and advancement of *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch* had also been a major catalyst.

’Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation requires chanting and comprehension. It seems like a Daoist Skill, but it’s not. It’s a Basic Technique belonging to the Body Forging school.’

’The purpose of this Cultivation Technique is also inextricably linked to a Cultivator’s physical body—it allows one to awaken the latent power within the flesh, the Divine Treasures.’

’And in the process of cultivating *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*, I inevitably grasped many abilities related to apertures, sinews, bones, the spine, and flesh... The Power of Origin from the Demon Star Tai Sui unlocked my body’s shackles, giving me an unprecedentedly profound understanding of my own physical form.’

’What’s more, within the Great Dream of Thousand Years, I’ve even dissected my own body, experimenting on and destroying thousands of them...’

In short, all these factors combined to elevate Zhong Ming’s understanding of his own physical body to an unprecedented level.

And since Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation was so closely tied to the physical body, its cultivation progress naturally soared as well, like a rising tide lifting all boats.

’The little time I have left is enough to bring Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation to completion and achieve a breakthrough within the Great Dream of Thousand Years. Plus, I still have the Fruit of Origin. If I consume it, there’s a high probability I’ll awaken a Divine Treasure related to my physical body.’

’If my physical body also Breaks the Norms, then with my Divine Soul, Insight, and body all having Broken the Norms, I’ll stand a fighting chance against the newly advanced Daoists of the six Major Sects!’

WHOOSH...

After reviewing his abilities, Zhong Ming took a deep breath, lay down under a tree, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep slumber.

Then, within the Great Dream of Thousand Years, he activated Mind Reading and began to slowly chant the full text of the Daoist Canon. "Before chaos first parted from the great void, the Dao Ancestor’s great path hung suspended in purple mist..."

VMMMM...

As the sound of the Dao spread, a unique rhythm began to emanate from Zhong Ming.

...

While Zhong Ming was engrossed in his cultivation, the other two powers in Qinghe Commandery Mansion also reacted to the Divine Void Sect’s arrival.

Neither the six Major Sects of the Prefecture City nor the Salvation Society were pleased by the Divine Void Sect’s arrival.

The six Major Sects saw them as ravenous wolves, here to snatch their prize.

As for the Salvation Society, their arrival spelled immense trouble.

Yet, in the end, neither side showed any sign of backing down.

"So what if they’re a super sect? Even a mighty dragon can’t crush a local snake. With just one True Disciple, they can’t affect the grand scheme of things. Ruan Shi, when you see him in the Star Secret Vault, don’t hold back. Defeat him with everything you have!"

"Yes, Elder." Ruan Shi nodded slightly, a sharp glint flashing in her cold eyes. "I will not fail to carry out my orders."

On the other side, the members of the Salvation Society, the Five Viscera Divine Sect, and the followers of the Ten Thousand Heads King Buddha showed no fear upon hearing the news.

After a long, deep look at the Divine Void Sect’s Flying Ship, Yang Xiao turned to Ji Qingfeng beside him and said confidently, "Young Master Qingfeng, rest assured. My contacts have also played their trump cards."

At this, Yang Xiao’s expression turned incredibly sharp. "This time, no matter who they are, once they enter the Star Secret Vault, they will die!"

...

And so, in the final moments before the Star Secret Vault was to open, both the Salvation Society and the six Major Sects had made their final preparations.

Their meticulous planning filled both factions with confidence about their chances of victory in the upcoming Secret Vault expedition.

At this point, they no longer even considered Zhong Ming their greatest threat.

Even Qin Zhou, who had previously been so interested in Zhong Ming, had shifted his focus to the True Disciple from the Divine Void Sect.

Beyond these two major factions, the ordinary Cultivators of Qinghe Commandery Mansion were also eagerly awaiting the opening of the Star Sea Secret Vault.

The younger generation of Cultivators dreamed of obtaining a Heaven-defying Treasure from the Secret Vault and achieving a meteoric rise to power.

"The treasures within the Star Sea Secret Vault are countless! Even if we can’t compete with the True Disciples of the six Major Sects for the greatest opportunities, with a Secret Vault this vast, even the scraps they leave behind would be enough to benefit us for a lifetime."

The older Cultivators, though not qualified to enter the Secret Vault themselves, were filled with anticipation for the spectacular duels to come.

Moreover, the outcome of the Star Sea Secret Vault would indirectly influence the political landscape of Qinghe Commandery Mansion, which made them all the more invested.

Amidst the crowd’s anticipation and tension, time flew by in the blink of an eye. Soon, the day of the Star Sea Secret Vault’s official opening had arrived.

On this day, at the crack of dawn, the True Disciples of the six Major Sects and the ordinary Cultivators of Qinghe Commandery Mansion surged toward Crescent Lake like a tide, packing the entire shore until not an inch of space was left.

The great figures of Qinghe Commandery Mansion, along with the invited Sect Leaders and elders from the various Major Sects, were no longer as elusive as they usually were. They all boarded the luxurious Flying Ship prepared by Prince Qinghe, quietly awaiting the opening of the Star Sea Secret Vault.