Chapter 344: Rule Seed

“That Mingye is right nearby.”
Chen Xiao felt the jade talisman tremble, and his heart stirred as he stopped in his tracks.
Ahead, that point of light pierced the darkness in the void, though it was impossible to discern what it actually was.
However, Chen Xiao sensed countless terrifying auras flickering faintly in the vicinity. Though these auras did not belong to the Supreme God, their strength far surpassed Chen Xiao’s.
Now, Chen Xiao finally understood that there were always those above him—he was by no means the greatest under the Supreme God.
According to legends, in ancient times, when the divine realm still existed, there were some gods who could, with their true divine bodies, destroy the Supreme God—its true form, not just its clones.
Chen Xiao could escape death in front of a lower-ranking Supreme God, but he could never destroy the Supreme God itself.
Though this divine realm had fallen, it remained incredibly mysterious, even more dangerous than the previous one. Who knew what other powerful entities might still remain?
With the power of Yin and Yang combined with the power of Zizaitian, Chen Xiao could use Tianlongyou to hide his presence from the Supreme God. Yet he remained cautious, not daring to be careless.
The closer he got to that light source, the more violently the celestial map in his hand and the jade talisman trembled.
Suddenly, a powerful presence surged from near the light source, driving away several hidden powerful auras.
“Child who holds my Soul Jade Tablet, you’ve finally arrived.”
Suddenly, an extremely aged voice sounded in Chen Xiao’s ear—no, it came from the jade talisman in his hand.
Hearing this voice, Chen Xiao felt a sense of certainty. His figure emerged from the disguise of Tianlongyou.
“Youth Chen Xiao, meet your senior Mingye.”
Standing in the void, Chen Xiao bowed slightly. He had already guessed that the speaker must be Mingye, the ancestor of the Siniye family mentioned by Xueye Canhua.
The jade talisman in his hand was indeed his Soul Jade Tablet.
Suddenly, the darkness around the light source receded like tide pulling back into the sea. The originally thumb-sized light source expanded rapidly, covering an area of a hundred miles around it.
“This?!”
Chen Xiao stared in disbelief at what he saw. He could clearly sense that it wasn’t the light devouring the darkness, but rather the darkness expelling the light!
A man with eyes as black as darkness stood before Chen Xiao. Dressed in black, with black hair and deep black eyes that seemed to reveal the true nature of darkness, he stood there.
A utterly absurd idea arose in Chen Xiao’s mind: perhaps all the darkness in this fallen divine realm was created by this man—this darkness existed because of him!
Chen Xiao shook his head violently, forcing himself to discard this absurd thought. The divine realm was boundless, even larger than a hundred star systems combined. Even the Supreme God could not fully explore it.

How could such a vast world turn into a dark realm just because of one person?
“Hehe, I never expected my descendant to give my Soul Jade Tablet to such a strange kid as you.”
Ming Ye’s pitch-black eyes glanced at Chen Xiao briefly before he started laughing.
Facing Ming Ye’s gaze, Chen Xiao felt as though everything inside him had been seen through.
However, hearing his words, Chen Xiao was stunned—was there anything else behind coming to Ming Ye with the Soul Jade Tablet? Was it not just to help the Siye Family find their ancestors?
“Elder…”
Chen Xiao spoke hesitantly. Instantly, he became cautious. The Sword of Life and Death, the Dual Elements Divine Entity, even the Water and Fire Origin Diagram in his dantian all began to tremble, ready to launch a full-force attack at any moment.
In the Divine Space, Shui Miao was also nervous. Through Chen Xiao’s thoughts, she stared intently at this man who resembled darkness, seemingly determined to uncover memories that had slumbered since ancient times.
“Kid, there’s no need to be nervous.”
In Ming Ye’s eyes, it seemed nothing about Chen Xiao could be hidden from him.
“Let me introduce myself first. You already know my name—Ming Ye. But in the ancient divine realm, many deities like to call me Night God Lord.”
Ming Ye laughed, his words carrying an indescribable sense of vicissitudes.
“Night God Lord!”
In the Divine Space, Shui Miao exclaimed out loud.
“Hehe, little Shui Miao, you finally remembered me.” Ming Ye had already seen through the Divine Space and even Shui Miao’s existence. He glanced sideways with a half-smile.
“Come out, little girl. There are no restrictions here for you.” Ming Ye waved slightly, and a tiny crack appeared in the void. Shui Miao’s graceful figure slowly emerged from it.
“I pay my respects to Lord Night God Lord.”
Shui Miao bowed slightly at Ming Ye.
Shui Miao, who even disregarded the Dominators, bowed to Ming Ye—proving just how extraordinary his status must be.
“Shui Miao…”
Seeing Shui Miao get along well with Ming Ye, Chen Xiao felt a little relieved. Anyway, he trusted Shui Miao; she would never harm him.
“Chen Xiao, this lord is the deity who governs the rules of night in the divine realm—Lord Night God Lord,” Shui Miao said to Chen Xiao with a smile.
By now, Shui Miao resembled a true human—she smiled when happy, frowned when nervous, no longer maintaining the same expression as before.
“You little girl can even smile?”
Ming Ye looked at Shui Miao, a hint of disbelief crossing his face. He seemed to understand what kind of being she was—a spirit, a spirit born from a space, not even a true lifeform.
Chai Yunke, and even the Book Spirits in the Book Realm, were lifeforms born from books and artifacts—true lifeforms, different from Shui Miao.
Shui Miao didn’t even possess ordinary emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.
“Could it be that that guy, Ming Shui, has already reached the realm of creation?” Ming Ye was somewhat dazed.

“Lord Mingye is joking. If the Water God Lord truly possessed the realm of creation, how could he have perished during the great calamity? Shuimiao is now a true living being, thanks to Chen Xiao’s help.” As she spoke, Shuimiao turned her head and smiled sweetly at Chen Xiao. In an instant, Chen Xiao felt dizzy.

Shuimiao was an incredibly powerful spirit created out of nothing. Everything about her was modeled after the most perfect existence in nature, and she possessed a stunning beauty. Even any man in the world would likely be unable to resist her allure.

As Chen Xiao was distracted, the Primordial Deity of Yin and Yang in his mind sea rotated slightly, and waves of Yin and Yang energy surged forth, instantly stabilizing his mind. Guided by this energy, Chen Xiao’s thoughts began to analyze rapidly—identifying the true nature of this Mingye, the Night God Lord, and the so-called Water God Lord.

“Controlling the rules of night…” Chen Xiao took a sharp breath. He seemed to have understood something. The absurd idea he had before was now confirmed—indeed, the darkness in this divine realm was brought about by this man who resembled night itself.

“Is a God Lord an existence above the Primordial Deity, one who controls the rules?” Chen Xiao was secretly astonished. Rules were not under anyone’s control; even the rulers could only exert slight influence, not true control. Yet this man directly controlled the rules of night, turning the entire divine realm into darkness—proof of his terrifying power.

“Oh?” Hearing Shuimiao’s words, Mingye was momentarily stunned. He examined Chen Xiao carefully from head to toe before saying, “This boy’s body contains a mix of powers, with just one unprecedented and strange force added. His realm is pitifully low—far below even the Primordial Deity realm. How could he possibly transform you into a living being?”

“Lord God Lord, he may not have the ability to create life, but he helped me understand the true meaning of life,” Shuimiao said with a smile. “Even a small plant has its own joys, sorrows, emotions, and feelings. During the time I spent with Chen Xiao, I realized this truth, influenced by that amazing planet called Earth. Most humans on Earth are ordinary beings without great power, with lifespans of only a hundred years. Yet, in such a short life, their experiences are richer than those of many gods who live for billions of years.”

At this moment, Shuimiao acted like a mischievous girl sharing something with an elder.

Hearing her words, Mingye wore a faint smile.

“That’s right. The true meaning of life lies in one’s own emotions. In comparison, those gods seem like emotionless spirits.”

Chen Xiao listened to their conversation and nodded slightly. He understood that if Shuimiao remained by Canrillas’s side, she would still be a spirit, not a true living being. Only by experiencing everything in life and developing emotions could one truly be considered alive.

However, at this moment, Chen Xiao also harbored his own wariness. Although the Primordial Spirit Fire, the Heavenly Map, and the power of the Two Principles were all clearly visible to Ming Ye, the fragment of the laws of life and death he had grasped was tightly hidden deep within his soul, with not a hint of it leaking out unless he chose to reveal it or his soul was destroyed. Yet Ming Ye, despite being able to see through the water and fire primordials in Chen Xiao’s dantian, paid no attention to it; in his eyes, that Primordial Spirit Fire was merely another form of power. Chen Xiao remained silent, watching quietly to see what Ming Ye would do next. He knew that Ming Ye would speak in such a manner only because of something extraordinary. After all, Ming Ye was a being who surpassed even the Supreme God. “Hm? There’s a trace of the Destroyer God’s aura on you?” Suddenly, Ming Ye raised his eyebrows slightly and reached out with his right hand, pulling out the Shadow of the Netherworld that had merged into the Heavenly Map. As that shadow moved, the figure of a woman in black gradually appeared—it was Jing Ning, the mysterious woman from the Netherworld. “This humble girl, Jing Ning, greets Lord Ming Ye.” What emerged was her true form; the Shadow of the Netherworld had been altered by her, turning it into nothing more than a portal. “So it’s you, little girl. I wondered—since the previous Destroyer God has fallen, you must be the one who took his place and controls the laws of destruction.” Ming Ye smiled slightly as he looked at Jing Ning, the current Destroyer God. A cold sweat trickled down Chen Xiao’s forehead. The reason he had boldly refined the Fragmented Map of the Netherworld was first, his great confidence in the power of the Two Principles, and second, his belief that this woman was a ruler-level figure. But now it seemed she was actually a god-level being on par with Ming Ye, capable of controlling laws. “These big shots are playing games and dragged me, a mere nobody, into it,” Chen Xiao muttered discontentedly. Clearly, Jing Ning had not discovered the existence of the Supreme God’s Space before, indicating that her strength was far inferior to Ming Ye’s. “Little brother, we meet again. Where’s that little one, Xi Xi?” As soon as Jing Ning saw Chen Xiao, she thought of Xi Xi right away. Helpless, Chen Xiao pulled Xi Xi, who was enjoying herself in the Supreme God’s Space, out. “Mm, Sister Jing Ning.” Xi Xi, who had been upset just moments ago, immediately broke into a radiant smile upon seeing Jing Ning and rushed at her, burying her little head deep into Jing Ning’s soft chest. “That shameless cat,” Chen Xiao murmured, watching Xi Xi’s behavior. Now, with two supreme gods standing before Chen Xiao, and Shui Miao outside watching with wide, smiling eyes, Chen Xiao wasn’t at all flustered. Unfazed by the mystery between the two gods, he simply sat down on the ground. “Eh…” Seeing Chen Xiao’s reaction, Ming Ye shook his head slightly. “Since you’ve obtained my Soul Jade Tablet, you must become my successor and inherit the laws of the night.”

Mingye saw Chen Xiao and suddenly spoke up.
“What?!”
Hearing Mingye’s words, Jingning and Shuimiao both raised their heads, staring at her in disbelief.
“Great Lord of the Night, you want Chen Xiao to inherit your laws of the night?” Shuimiao frowned deeply, quickly calculating something in her mind.
“Chen Xiao, those various forces within your body must be traps set by those celestial beings. If you achieve perfection in cultivation, it will revive the nine great emperors of the celestial race, using your body as a crucible to reappear in this world.”
Mingye said, frowning.
“Elder Mingye, I’ll ask boldly,” Jingning said at that moment. “Is there anything wrong with the celestial race returning to the universe and taking control of it? If it weren’t for the nine great emperors of the celestial race working together to suppress those beings from another dimension, how would the realms of gods and darkness have had the chance to seal off the celestial realm? Without the celestial realm, perhaps the entire universe, the underworld, and the realm of gods would be occupied and consumed by those alien races.”
Jingning held her head high, looking straight at Mingye.
“The celestial race returning? That depends on whether Chen Xiao is willing. When the nine great emperors are revived, it will be his death moment—his soul will be destroyed. Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the return of the celestial race?”
Mingye looked at Chen Xiao with a half-smile.
“Who cares if they die?” Chen Xiao rolled her eyes.
“That’s exactly it. If you inherit my laws of the night, you can use their power to break free from your fate and escape the control of those celestial beings.” Mingye’s tone was filled with endless temptation.
“Great Lord of the Night,” Chen Xiao said, looking at Mingye and frowning slightly. “If I inherit your laws of the night, what about you? You don’t need to sacrifice yourself to help me, right?”
“I? I was severely damaged during the last great calamity, and my lifespan is almost gone. That’s why I handed over my soul jade slip to my descendants, asking them to find a successor for these laws.”
Mingye paid no attention to Chen Xiao’s words and said with a smile.
“Elder,” Chen Xiao glanced at Jingning and then at Mingye.
Mingye understood what Chen Xiao meant. With a slight gesture, Jingning’s body was sent away involuntarily, leaving only a dazed little black cat blinking sadly.
“Alright, now you can speak. I don’t have much time left.” Mingye said, looking at Chen Xiao.
“Elder, I want to ask—what would happen if two sets of laws coexisted within one body?”
Chen Xiao hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to ask.
“Two sets of laws coexisting?” Mingye frowned. “Each law is an unbreakable law of nature. Such a thing has never happened before. As for what would happen, I’m not sure either.”
Mingye said, frowning. The next moment, his expression froze.
Chen Xiao had already raised her right hand. At the tip of her finger, a black-and-white light flickered—resembling a tiny diagram of the Two Principles, but hazy and formless, existing somewhere between being and non-being.

Within this black-and-white light, two utterly opposite, extreme manifestations were constantly spreading—these were the rules of life and death that Chen Xiao had grasped.
“The rules of life and death!”
Ming Ye took in the glow in Chen Xiao’s hand and gasped sharply.
“A rule that has never been controlled by anyone throughout history. To master the rules of life and death means mastering life and death itself, dominating all living beings, including even the gods!”
A glint appeared in Ming Ye’s eyes. “If your mastery of these rules reaches perfection, you might even be able to turn death into life and life into death for living beings.”
Chen Xiao and Shui Miao had been watching Ming Ye’s expressions closely. Although he was shocked, there was no trace of greed on his face, which relieved the two of them.
“You’ve already understood the rules of life and death. If I were to give you the rules of night, it would completely erase your future…”
Ming Ye frowned slightly, then tapped his fingertips—something black, resembling a seed, shot straight toward Xi Xi, who was dazed nearby.