Transformation, Minor Rejuvenation Pill, devouring power, cultivation technique advancement, concealing all matters, short-term power boost, enslaving others, Primordial Blood, altering the flow of time in Five Elements Heaven...

These are the functions of the first nine petals of the Divine Lotus. Although Hou Yuxiao lost Hexi, he led an army northward to conquer cities and capture territories, seizing much land, including a capital city with a population of over 80 million. Naturally, his accumulation of virtue and karmic obstacles greatly increased during this period.

And during this process, the tenth white petal of the Divine Lotus was illuminated.

The function of the tenth white petal is retrospection.

To be precise, it is time regression.

As long as he expends virtuous deeds, he can see any past event that occurred in a given place, and the deeper the connection with himself, the less virtue it consumes.

......

At this moment, Hou Yuxiao's expression was somber, with only one perplexity in his mind:

That is, how did Sikong Yue know!

He hadn't even told Hou Yucheng, Hou Yuduan, and others about time regression.

Sikong Yue knew he had the Divine Lotus and could use virtuous deeds and karmic obstacles, but how could she be so clearly aware of the functions of his Divine Lotus petals!

Is this woman truly omniscient?

Hou Yuxiao's pupils trembled, and he couldn't help but feel a bit chilled.

He even lost confidence in Duanmu Hong asking him to retrospect the events of nine years ago, as Duanmu Hong was so certain, and Sikong Yue declared before leaving that he would open the Divine Sect's treasure vault in a month. Could it really be accomplished after his time regression?

"National Master Hou, don't worry, it's a good thing. The Sect Hierarch has already said, even if after the time regression, you are still unwilling to open the Divine Sect's treasure vault, she won't force you."

......

Hou Yuxiao took a slight breath, a glimpse of coldness in his eyes. He certainly didn't believe Sikong Yue would be so agreeable, and the reason Duanmu Hong conveyed this message was simply that Sikong Yue was confident that as long as he regressed time, he would inevitably open the treasure vault.

There was reassurance in this, but also provocation...

"I have to see what makes you so confident!"

Hou Yuxiao slightly furrowed his brow, a hint of challenging Sikong Yue arising in his heart as he quietly activated the virtuous deeds in his Sea of Consciousness, infusing them into the tenth petal of the Divine Lotus.

The petal in the Sea of Consciousness burst into a brilliant light, and outside, his pupils turned into black and white dual colors, as the time in this room rapidly began reversing in his eyes. Skipping some unnecessary scenes of the original Yunding Gang, Hou Yuxiao quickly saw the scene from nine years ago, on November 25, in New Yu Era 1324, when he and Zhan Taiqing were being chased by people from Qinjian Villa and hid here.

...

"Spare the lives of us two old men!"

On the soft couch, the nameless gang leader of Yunding Gang, holding a concubine, knelt in terror, pleading for mercy as he saw the two stumbling in from outside the door.

Back then, he had just used virtuous deeds to elevate his cultivation, and the karmic obstacles were excessively high, leaving his emotions nearly uncontrollable, with a murderous intent burning within him, killing the gang leader of Yunding Gang with a casual wave of his hand.

"You still dare to make a commotion? Are you seeking death!"

"Heh heh heh heh..."

Hou Yuxiao's brow slightly furrowed. What happened after this mocking laugh nine years ago, he could no longer remember because, at the time, the karmic obstacles were too high and his mind was completely lost. He only vaguely remembered that Zhan Taiqing helped him, but how exactly Zhan Taiqing helped him was unclear.

Now, fortunately, he could see clearly...

Zhan Taiqing took out a willow branch, flicking a droplet of water onto him. At that time, despite having lost his mind, a hint of enjoyment surfaced on his face.

"This Jade Pure Water has accumulated the Holy Church's merit for over a thousand years, using it to dispel your karmic obstacles is quite a favor to you, hmph!"

Hou Yuxiao's face showed a slight trace of peculiar expression. Indeed, back then, he owed Zhan Taiqing quite a favor.

But immediately following that, in the regressing time, Hou Yuxiao saw himself rush forward and bury his face in Zhan Taiqing's chest, whereupon his expression changed.

He even started ripping at Zhan Taiqing...

"Hou Yuxiao, stop."

"Stop it, no..."

"This sovereign... this sovereign... will kill you."

...

After watching the entire process, Hou Yuxiao was left standing in place, stunned, as the divine light of black and white dual colors faded from his pupils, his expression still stiff and unable to return to normal.

Immediately, his face changed drastically, he turned sharply, and saw Zhantai Wuyuan standing not far from him, his pupils flashed with a mixture of astonishment and... emotion.

"You... he..."

Hou Yuxiao raised his hand to point at Zhantai Wuyuan, wanting to voice his question in bewilderment, but realized that Zhantai Wuyuan couldn't see the memory images he had just reversed, so he turned his head to look at Duanmu Hong, giving him a questioning look.

Zhantai Wuyuan's expression was still vigilant. He didn't know what Hou Yuxiao saw, only remembering that his aunt told him before heading north, Hou Yuxiao would surely open the Divine Sect's treasure vault to let him in. Initially skeptical, he couldn't help but start to believe upon seeing Hou Yuxiao's expression.

Duanmu Hong said nothing, only receiving Hou Yuxiao's questioning gaze and, with an exceedingly subtle nod, provided his answer.

This nod hit Hou Yuxiao like a bolt of lightning, leaving him utterly stunned...

Zhantai Wuyuan was his... son!

Hou Yuxiao froze, suddenly recalling that nine years ago, in the Yunding Gang, Zhan Taiqing's temperament changed drastically those following two months, treating him with sudden beatings and scolding, changes in diet too. Initially perplexed, he later learned from the Yunding Gang members that the former gang leader's wife was pregnant. He thought back then Zhan Taiqing was feigning for an act, as they were pretending to be the gang leader and his wife at that time.