Listening to Su Yang’s words, Dao Ji’s expression didn’t reveal anything special; it was merely mournful.

"The world is unpredictable!" Dao Ji sighed softly, "During that battle, I told the Holy Daughter not to act impulsively. But she wouldn’t listen to me and, when I wasn’t looking, went alone to the Guardian Land. By the time I discovered this, everything was already too late. Although I later stormed into the Guardian Land and killed many Guardian Gods for this matter, it was still too late to save her. This was all my failure!"

Su Yang remained suspicious of Dao Ji’s words. He didn’t respond directly; he just sighed occasionally.

After a while, Dao Ji seemed curious and began asking about what happened after Su Yang entered that planet.

Su Yang briefly recounted his experience, but he didn’t mention taking three boxes from that planet. Although Dao Ji seemed genuinely kind, Su Yang was still wary of him.

After chatting for a bit, Su Yang conveniently shifted the topic to the current situation involving the Guardian Gods, and smoothly asked Dao Ji about his views on them.

Hearing this, Dao Ji sighed and said, "The Tao Sect and the Guardian Gods were originally supposed to leave each other alone. However, after this incident, the Tao Sect and the Guardian Gods are certainly going to stand on opposing sides."

"So, Senior Dao Ji, are you willing to help us fight against the Guardian Gods?" Su Yang quickly asked.

"At this point, it’s the only option!" Dao Ji slowly nodded, looking up at the distant sky, he said solemnly, "The Tao Sect hasn’t intervened before because I knew that doing so would involve the entire Tao Sect. But now we have no choice. The Human Clan and the Demon Beast Clan have already gone to war with the Guardian Gods. If the Tao Sect doesn’t join, once the Human Clan and the Demon Beast Clan are defeated, we would be next. Although I’m not the Holy Daughter and lack such selfless intentions, I understand that when the nest is overturned, no egg can remain intact. With the Guardian Gods waging an all-out war, the Tao Sect can evade for a time, but not forever. This battle must be fought!"

Hearing this, Su Yang felt very delighted. With the Tao Sect joining the war, the battle situation could change significantly. Not to mention, Dao Ji alone could hold his own!

"By the way, Senior Dao Ji, how is it that your power is so much stronger than the Great Saint Emperor?" Su Yang asked in surprise, "The Great Saint Emperor is already at the Peak Realm of a Saint Emperor!"

"Because I’m no longer at the Saint Emperor level!" Dao Ji said softly, "My power has already stepped into the Earth-level Realm with one foot!"

"What!?" Su Yang widened his eyes, completely incredulous. Wasn’t it said that after the ancient war, there was no more earth-level and heavenly-level spiritual energy, and it was impossible for earth-level and heavenly-level powerhouses to reappear? How is it that Dao Ji could reach such a level?

Seeing Su Yang’s shock, Dao Ji calmly said, "After the ancient war, it’s not entirely true that there was no earth-level and heavenly-level spiritual energy. In fact, some remains from ancient ruins still contain earth-level and heavenly-level spiritual energy. Additionally, some powerful ancient divine artifacts still have residual spiritual energy. By relying on these, one can advance further!"

"I see!" Su Yang realized, recalling the divine artifacts in his possession. If he could utilize these, could he advance into the Earth-level Realm?

The main issue, however, was how to harness the spiritual energy within these divine artifacts.

"I had no idea these divine artifacts still held residual spiritual energy!" Su Yang said with emotion, "I once obtained such a divine artifact, and its power was indeed impressive. Unfortunately, it was later taken by a Guardian God. As for the spiritual energy inside, I honestly didn’t know. Otherwise, I would’ve tried to see if I could advance further!"

"If you possess a divine artifact, you could attempt to use it, though it’s not guaranteed to be effective!" Dao Ji explained, "Not every ancient divine artifact contains residual spiritual energy. In truth, those that do are extremely rare. Most divine artifacts have none. Otherwise, why would only one Main God have stepped into that realm in the vast Guardian Land? And in this expansive Great World, why are there so few who’ve entered that realm?"

"Is there any way to determine if a divine artifact contains spiritual energy?" Su Yang asked.

"There’s no way!" Dao Ji shook his head, "Our cultivation has always been a matter of chance, achieved through serendipity. As for how to harness a divine artifact’s spiritual energy, it’s not something even I or the Kunpeng Great Saint Emperor, or the Main God of Guardian Land, could determine. If that Main God knew, he would’ve already collected all divine artifacts in the Great World for study. How could there be any left outside?"

"That’s true!" Su Yang nodded while pondering about the divine artifacts in the Nine Realms. With so many divine artifacts in the Feather Spirit Palace, surely one might have residual spiritual energy. If these could be used in cultivation, perhaps several powerhouses could emerge into the Earth-level Realm.

The Human Clan currently lacked such powerhouses. If they emerged, the hope of opposing the Guardian Gods would be significantly enhanced.

As for Dao Ji, although he claimed to ally with the Human Clan against the Guardian Gods, Su Yang remained cautious and distrustful. His mother’s faked death to deceive Dao Ji surely had its reasons. Until the situation was fully understood, Su Yang couldn’t completely trust him.

"By the way, when did you leave that planet?" Su Yang suddenly asked.

"Hmm?" Dao Ji was taken aback, clearly puzzled by Su Yang’s question. He looked at Su Yang in confusion and said, "We left less than a thousand years ago. Why?"

"Less than a thousand years?" Su Yang was surprised; this timing didn’t match the disappearance of the Kunpeng Great Saint Emperor.

"Is there a problem?" Dao Ji asked curiously.

"Uh..." Su Yang thought for a moment and then asked, "Do you know about the disappearance of the Kunpeng Great Saint Emperor?"

"Oh, you’re referring to that!" Dao Ji nodded, "The jade talisman of the Kunpeng Great Saint Emperor does indeed contain the aura left by my Jade Pendant, right?"

Su Yang was astonished that Dao Ji knew about this. Did he also know the secret behind the Kunpeng Great Saint Emperor’s disappearance?