Origin Paradise!

"Please lead the way," Jiang He nodded and said. He was very interested in Huo Dou Wang, whose offspring bloodline might be suitable for Lao Hei. Both of them were large black dogs, so there was a basic compatibility.

The biggest problem, however, is how much of the bloodline can be inherited during a transplant. Old Hei cultivates the true form of a three-headed demon wolf, not a pure canine breed, making it difficult to obtain the full potential of his bloodline.

The coal miners danced and gesticulated wildly, expressing their emotions without any attempt to conceal their feelings. When the cloud falcon fell from the sky, everyone thought it was just an ordinary blessing from heaven, but little did they know that an even greater blessing was yet to come.

Tan Min is born to wield fire. The stronger the fire, the higher the status. The ultimate level of fire control is equivalent to that of the king "Tan". The only difference lies in the strength of the two.

……

A valley deep in the plains.

Hundreds of thousands of coal miners live here.

The charcoal workers burn all sorts of things into charcoal, which becomes their food. Their excrement, including that of the tamed wolves they raise, is scorching hot coals.

Magma flowed across the ground, and the toxic smell of sulfur lingered. At the center of hundreds of magma channels stood a Fire Rock Palace. The hundred-meter-tall Huodou King lay on the ground at the entrance, his body majestic and enormous. A large group of coal miners transported magma to water Huodou King's fur. He was the guardian of the Fire-Hating Kingdom.

Inside the Fire Rock Palace, King Tan was entertaining distinguished guests from the superior country.

The central government of the Great Zhou Dynasty consisted of three dukes and six ministers, all of whom were true giants at the peak of the Gold rank, clearly distinct from ordinary Gold rank members, each having established their own domain.

The Minister of Rites and Ceremonies, Zongbo, was in charge of rites and sacrifices. He had traveled to most of the foreign countries and vassal states on this trip to prepare for the wedding ceremony of King Ji You of Zhou after his ascension to the throne.

Each country was required to send the most handsome man in its territory, and after layers of selection, one person would be chosen to be the queen. However, because King You of Zhou was the most powerful king in history and lived for more than a thousand years, it was difficult for him to reproduce. Therefore, the positions of concubines were abolished, and even the queen was only a symbolic choice.

"Lord Zongbo, please look at this boy." The king, Tan, respectfully introduced the young Tan people beside him to the Heavenly Official.

"Charcoal Fire, eighteen years old, a descendant of the Fire Clan, is the most talented person in the Fire-Slaying Kingdom today. He will soon enter the Silver Realm. Before the Heavenly Official arrived, Charcoal Fire had already fallen in love with my daughter, but my country is willing to do everything in its power for the sake of the superior nation and offer this son to him."

The Minister of Spring and the Minister of State examined the charcoal fire for a while. The other person had an ape-like figure, a round face, and was as black as charcoal. He looked very distinctive, but did not conform to the mainstream aesthetic of the Zhou people, especially under the rule of the empress.

However, he hadn't originally planned to recruit suitable candidates in foreign lands. But since he had gone to the Marquisate, he couldn't avoid coming to foreign lands. The Great Wilderness was full of dangers, and so far only one or two out of ten places had been explored. Foreigners were people he needed to win over.

"I remember that before we came here, the swamp people's ruler said that the coal people had repeatedly elected young rulers, but they all died unexpectedly. Six of the ten sons of Huodou are gone." The Spring Official Zongbo said meaningfully, "Rulers who are too harsh on their subjects rarely have a good end."

Unlike the succession system of the Great Zhou and the Marquisate, the foreign lands are more like tribal groups, with powerful and intelligent members serving as leaders.

For "Tan", all the young kings are enemies who will threaten them in the future. The same is true for the pure bloodline of the Huodou King. Only by keeping the purest bloodline in their own hands can they be secure. However, according to the rules of the clan, the young kings have the right to choose their partners. Behind the rules is that Huodou must consume fire to survive.

The Kingdom of Yanhuo belongs not only to the Tanmin (Charcoal People) but also to Huodou (Fire Fighters), and is ruled by two kings.

The Spring Official Zongbo subtly reminded the other party that he did not want to see the Yanhuo Kingdom collapse, and that Tan's actions were about to cross the bottom line of the King Huodou outside the gate.

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency, everything is as solid as a rock." King Tan chuckled, but his eyes showed no concern.

"Hehe, then you'd better take care of yourself. I didn't come here today for such trivial matters."

The Minister of Rites gradually sat up straight and said, "Your Majesty, do you think this young man can be preliminarily selected?"

Upon hearing this, King Tan was initially bewildered, then his expression turned to extreme terror. He left the rock chair and knelt on the ground, his whole body trembling slightly. In the vast wilderness, there was only one person who could now be called His Majesty.

Behind the Minister of Spring and the Minister of Rites, a magnificent and graceful figure appeared. Her figure was ethereal, and she wore a crown and black robes with sun, moon and dragon patterns woven on the shoulders. Nine blurry cauldrons surrounded her. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, but unfortunately, her noble aura and majesty were too strong, making her appearance unremarkable.

"You're trying to fool me with a monkey?"

"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words!"

Chapter 324 Substitution of Power

Huoyan Hall.

The king knelt on the ground, his expression complex.

The ruler of the upper kingdom was indeed powerful, but he was also notoriously arrogant.

In his eyes, his own clansmen were all beautiful, and when facing the Minister of Rites, they had to carefully hide their disdain to avoid causing trouble.

The moment the projection of King Zhou Ji You appeared, the King Huo Dou outside the door suddenly banged his head on the ground, revealing a terrifying gap between the two that was so vast it defied comprehension.

Inside the main hall, the charcoal fire that had been lit by the boy underwent a strange transformation.

"What's wrong with me...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Charcoal Fire died standing still.

The Minister of Spring and the Minister of Rites shut his mouth. This was His Majesty's power of substitution. Because death replaced life, the charcoal died. Just as not all gold has a domain, not all saints (legends) have power. His Majesty's power is an extremely rare and powerful type, containing primal evil.

This is why they could kill their rulers, fathers, and brothers, and killing across thousands of miles was nothing more than commonplace.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. King Zhou, Ji You, seemed to be pondering how to punish his ministers for deceiving the king.

Suddenly, someone came up to the hall to report.

"Your Majesty, we have found the young king again!"

King Tan was as if he had been granted a general amnesty; he was truly afraid that he would be killed on the spot.

"Have him come here quickly!"

The atmosphere inside the hall immediately relaxed.

The Minister of Spring and the Minister of State earnestly advised, “Your Majesty, foreign lands are the dogs and horses of the Great Zhou, the bulwark of our borders. With a little skill, we can make them our vanguard. Why do you wantonly kill them? I am old, my eyes are dim and my ears are deaf. After I pass away, how can Your Majesty put my mind at ease?”

"Strength is the ultimate principle; those with extraordinary abilities fear power, not morality..."

King Zhou Ji You suddenly stopped speaking. She turned to look at the palace gate, her eyebrows slightly raised, seemingly somewhat surprised.

The Minister of Rites followed the gaze and was equally taken aback.

The newcomer was exceptionally handsome, tall and slender, with gleaming white-gold hair and an unparalleled face. A blood-red moon mark between his brows added a touch of eerie beauty, and his eyes were cold, as if he were born without the ability to smile, his demeanor as icy as ice.

Several clueless coal miners started dancing around him, creating a somewhat eerie atmosphere.

"What's going on..." King Tan was stunned. The young king was actually a Zhou person. His people were bald and ignorant, but he had been to the capital of the Great Zhou.

"Can the person who comes leave their name and whether they are married?" The Minister of Rites' eyes lit up.

Jiang He calmly replied, "I'm sorry, not at the moment."

The golden giant before him was kneeling on the ground, the scene was more severe than ever before. The guy who asked the question was far stronger than he had imagined, not to mention the countless extraterrestrial beings behind him. If his name were to be mentioned, the consequences would be unpredictable. This golden giant was practically a slave, and he would rather take the risk.

"What do you mean?"

"Sudden death..."

"No, it should be Bao Si."

The Minister of Spring and the Minister of Rites muttered incantations, his expression one of sudden realization.

Jiang He: “…”

Puns are disgusting, aren't they?

The Minister of Spring and the Minister of State gestured for the other man to sit down. This fellow was unaware of who he was meeting. He would thank him later. According to the traditional customs of the Great Wilderness, any foreign country or vassal state that reached the Silver level was entitled to a name. Deceiving the emperor in front of His Majesty would result in death.

"Did you come here with a premeditated plan?"

“I have come for the bloodline of the King of Calamity,” Jiang He said bluntly, “and I am willing to pay an equal price for it.”

“Give him a Huodou,” Ji You suddenly said.

Jiang He remained silent. The situation was not good. Free things are the most expensive. He was confident that he could make a deal with the king if his blood poison advanced to the Undying level, but the current situation was clearly unexpected.

The king personally brought back one of the offspring of the King of Calamity, and then forcibly stuffed the large black dog into Bao Si's arms.

"Breathing techniques, alchemical potions, special armor..."

"No need. You come back to the palace with me."

"Farewell."

Jiang He activated her animal companion teleportation ability.

But in an instant, a strange power descended.

He didn't teleport back; instead, he vanished into thin air, and the Power of Substitution changed its target.

The five-color simplified domain is released.

However, the domain failed to unfold for a long time, so the Power of Substitution was activated, changing the specific time for the domain to unfold.

The power of the fifth-order life form was fully revealed.

Jiang He remained calm. Theoretically, all his current methods were meaningless, and his life and death were not in his own hands. However, he was not entirely without options. After two tests, the answer was obvious: the power still needed to be activated to be effective, and the prerequisite for substitution was to be targeted. Therefore, he only needed to be faster than his opponent.

"Lilith."

"here I am."

In an instant, Jiang He gained the thought speed of a deity.

Time seemed to stand still. King Tan and the Spring Official Zongbo became mere background figures, while Ji You moved her eyes at an extremely slow pace, a hint of anger appearing on her face.

Jiang He activated his partner teleportation and disappeared from the Fire Rock Palace, a notification sound ringing in his ears.

[Hint: Your human curse has ended ahead of schedule]

Inside the palace.

The world seemed to have gone awry. The Minister of Rites blinked in disbelief. Someone had actually managed to escape right under His Majesty's nose.

The illusory image and the real one were swapped, and Ji You descended upon this place from the capital city thousands of miles away.

"Light the beacon fires, summon the feudal lords, and have them find it for me!"

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" The Minister of Rites exclaimed in horror, "The beacon fires should not be lit unless the royal territory is shaken. This matter concerns the fate of the nation; it cannot be treated lightly!"

"My mind is made up." Ji You waved her hand. Zong Bo was completely unaware of the inside story. The Primordial Sins would eventually meet, but she did not expect it to be so sudden. There was probably some element of fate involved.

If arrogance and gluttony combine, the offspring born will likely have unlimited potential from birth. The importance of a future top-tier fighter to the dynasty and the state is self-evident.

As for Gluttony itself, it should currently possess the ability to integrate various extraordinary abilities. Once it reaches a high level, it will basically be synonymous with invincibility, and it must not be allowed to continue to grow.

"The greed of gluttony can never be satisfied."

"Then let's raise it."

Ji You felt that killing him would be safer, but when she thought of his appearance, she felt it was a bit of a waste. The Great Zhou had gone through many hardships, and she should set an example by being diligent and thrifty.

……

Yuwang City.

The giant white snake dragged the island tortoise back, while thousands of vicious soldiers busied themselves cutting and storing the food, like worker ants with a well-organized division of labor.

Jiang He teleported to the top of the white snake's head and immediately flapped his wings to leave. He used plant control to destroy the traces he left along the way. The plants in the Dark Forest grew rapidly, and the trees that had been damaged by dragging the Land Island Turtle quickly grew back.

Back in Yuwang City, Wuhe reported that, given the dangers of the forest, the Flying Bird Legion has not yet been able to explore it further.

"...There is a giant tree in the center of the forest..."

"...Native inhabitants live outside the forest..."

"There are three things to do next. First, I will refine the ivory of the White Elephant King to strengthen Aya and Lao Hei's weapons. Second, I plan to eat all the turtles on the island and temporarily expand the chef team to two thousand people. Third, I will transplant the Huodou bloodline into Lao Hei."

Jiang He briefly introduced the situation he had discovered on this trip. Encountering the mysterious woman was both an accident and part of the human calamity. It should have been extremely troublesome, but he managed to get outside help.

Lilith emerged from the spiritual world, smiling brightly, and said, "If she wants to kill you, then I will have to exhaust my soul power. Don't leave the Dark Forest for the time being. Unless we use all the power of the Great Zhou, the border natives will not be able to break into Yuwang Valley."

"Thank you," Jiang He said. To be frank, the other party had cooperated very well before. Otherwise, he might have had to make a trip to the capital of the Great Zhou Kingdom, and the prospects would not be optimistic.

Chapter 325 The Battle to Reclaim Survival

2028 11 Month 10 Day.

Yuwang City.

Due to the immense threat outside the Dark Forest, Wuhe ordered all legions to suspend exploration and investigation activities. Faced with a powerful force possessing legendary creatures, he wisely chose to temporarily avoid confrontation.

In the center of the city, a simple double domain covering a radius of 300 meters continued to shrink, gradually transforming into an alchemy workshop roughly the size of a normal boiler.

Five-colored flames blazed fiercely, and the extreme high temperature made the inside incredibly hot. After a long night of continuous refining, the two tusks of the White Elephant King melted into molten white jade iron.

Jiang He used the Möbius Time Ring to refresh himself, causing the silver energy, which was in the [Curse of the Earth] state, to be fully replenished.

He poured a portion of molten white jade iron into a piece of undead-grade blood poison. The bright red gradually mixed with the white jade color, harmonizing with each other, and finally intertwined to create beautiful red and white patterns. Then, Zhuang Ya's main weapon—a rare-grade heavy sword—was placed into it. The extreme high temperature caused the sword to melt rapidly and fuse with the red and white molten iron.

Gusts of scorching wind howled through Yuwang City. Lilith stood with her hands behind her back, supervising the alchemy workshop and occasionally offering pointers.

"The most fundamental and crucial aspect of the weapon branch of alchemy lies in how to preserve the extraordinary elements within the materials. This is the key factor that distinguishes weapon alchemy from mere destruction."

"To improve the quality of weapons, extraordinary factors must be combined, sublimated, and transformed. For most alchemists, this is a subject worth studying for a lifetime."

"But you are different, you are a glutton."